94 • LIFESTYLE

Tag: Review

  • Palmstone Retreat – An idyllic hideaway

    Surrounded by thick rainforests, mesmerizing waterfalls and streams, Kithulgala is a well-loved location among adrenaline junkies. 

    The Oscar-winning 1957 David Lean movie, Bridge on the River Kwai was also filmed at Kithulgala, giving this region more popularity. According to the locals, the remains of the train that blew up in the final scene can still be found in the Maskeliya river.

    Tucked away in a dense rainforest, is a small luxury boutique hotel named Palmstone Retreat where your love for nature and adventure is combined.

    Location 

    From the Kithulgala main town, you will have to travel 6km up the hills to reach Palmstone Retreat. The road to Palmstone Retreat is not the smoothest. But you will be treated to a picture perfect view on your way to the top.

    If your vehicle has less ground clearance it would be pretty challenging to travel on this road. An SUV or a 4×4 with enough ground clearance is strongly recommended.

    [googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d15839.99210051416!2d80.423923!3d7.009514!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0xd5b56557c29b312e!2sPalmstone%20Retreat!5e0!3m2!1sen!2slk!4v1568652991109!5m2!1sen!2slk&w=1000&h=200]

    Accommodation

    At Plamstone Retreat, there are three Chalets. These Chalets are built among thickets, overlooking the lush waterfall. Each Chalet has two connecting suites named as Nelum and Araliya.

    Confusing? Think of it as a simple cottage that has two rooms and can be accessed through a passage. Each Chalet can accommodate up to a maximum of 04 people.

    We stayed in a Nelum suite and this spacious room is equipped with a King Sized bed, a mini couch, a vanity, a 40” Flat screen TV with Satellite TV, a closet, an iron+ironing board, a hairdryer, a safe, a mini-bar and bathroom slippers. The en-suite bathroom is also spacious and has an inbuilt Jacuzzi. Also, there is a private deck built in each suite, facing the gushing stream.

    You will receive the same amenities at Araliya suite except for the inbuilt Jacuzzi. Instead, you will get a private plunge pool as well as a sauna for further relaxation. Palmstone Retreat is a perfect place for you to literally disconnect from the virtual world as there will be no mobile phone coverage. Nonetheless there will be complimentary Wi-Fi in each suite.

    Architecture 

    The Chalets at Palmstone Retreat are built in a way to blend in with the lush greenery at the property. All the suites are spacious and designed in a way to get plenty of sunlight during the day. The wooden floors perfectly match with the walls and the large windows give a fantastic view of the beautiful waterfall. Unfortunately, the suite we stayed in, the view was blocked by the neighbouring rubber trees.

    Due to the bad weather, the pool was not in its best condition. Nevertheless, the staff at Palmstone Retreat did try their best to clean it up but the heavy showers kept them from succeeding.

    Food

    The lobby which also acts as the main dining area is built right by the pool. You can either enjoy your meals at the restaurant or dine in at the deck in your suite. For lunch, we had Sweet Corn Soup followed by Egg Fried Rice with Devilled Chicken and Chopsuey. For dinner, we were served Chicken Minnestroni Soup for a starter. For the main course, we had Caper Marinated Chicken with Cheese on top followed by a decadent serving of Chocolate Mousse.

    Other Activities 

    Palmstone Retreat is built, bordering an enchanting waterfall. Right towards the end of the garden, there is a natural pool that will literally call you for a dive. You can also visit the popular Mannakethi Ella which is located just 30 – 40 minutes away from the Retreat. The hotel staff will accompany you on your trek and will provide you with life jackets upon your request. Apart from these sites, white-water rafting, jungle trekking, bird watching and cave exploration are some of the most popular activities in Kithulgala. The staff at Palmstone Retreat will arrange any of the above-mentioned activities upon your request. A TV lounge, as well as a pool table, are also available if you wish to spend your time indoors.  

    Kithulgala is home to some of the densest rainforests in Sri Lanka. If you are an adrenaline junkie, visit Kithulgala from January to July as the weather in these months favor all the water sports activities such as white water rafting and abseiling. However, if you are looking for a place to rejuvenate and unwind, September would be the best month to visit Palmstone Retreat as the weather would be calmer and inviting. 

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  • Amagi Aria – Beyond the ordinary comfort

    Negombo is a modest beach town located just 10km away from the Bandaranaike International Airport. The friendly local community, freshly caught fish, the lagoon and the beach are some of the main reasons why I love visiting Negombo. Inevitably, above-mentioned reasons do attract many local and foreign tourists thus housing plenty of hotels and guest houses of all scales and sizes.

    One such hotel that caught my attention when I was looking for a place to stay in Negombo last year was Amagi Aria, a four-star hotel that belongs to Amagi Hotels.

    Location

    The journey to Amagi Aria will not take more than an hour from Colombo and less than 20 minutes from Bandaranayake International Airport in Katunayake. Framed against the picture-perfect lagoon is the deck that will surely allow you to enjoy a glorious sunset. The hotel is situated in an ideal location where travelers can easily access the beach and other attractions in Negombo.

    Accommodation

    Amagi Aria offers you 68 guest rooms including 02 suites that are sophisticated and equipped with modern amenities. The Standard rooms offer you a garden view with the pool moreover the Deluxe rooms as well as the suites, offer you a glorious view of the lagoon and the city.

    The Deluxe room that I stayed in didn’t have the best view of the lagoon however, the balcony served as a great place to relax. Each of the rooms are furnished with a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a cupboard. The bathrooms are spacious and have hot water facilities. The rooms are designed with a simple and minimalistic theme.

    The pool at Amagi Aira, in my opinion may not be one of the best pools I’ve seen in a hotel. It is located right by the reception and it’s quite small in size.

    Food

    The main restaurants at Amagi Aria are Moya, Pontoon, Catamaran, Tree House, Sunset Deck, and the Lagoon. For both dinner and breakfast, I dined at the Catamaran restaurant which is the all-day dining restaurant. For both meals, they had a buffet with a variety of food items but I was not totally impressed by the range.

    Breakfast was a spread that had a mix of both Sri Lankan and Western Cuisine. If you wish to dine while enjoying the sunrise or the sunset at the lagoon, Moya, Pontoon and the Tree House are the ones for you.

    Other Facilities

    The picturesque lagoon is not the only thing that you can look forward to at Amagi Aria. In fact, they offer water sports facilities, a gym and a spa to let you make the most of your vacation. The hotel would also arrange city tours upon your request.

    Framing the magnificent lagoon, Amagi Aria aims to offer you a memorable service. Comment your thoughts on this hotel below.

     

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  • 18 Faces Boutique Hotel – A hidden bliss you can escape to

    With a living monument, the city of Galle has transformed itself to become one of the most visited and revered historical sites in Sri Lanka. A stroll in the fort will show you how the old buildings have converted this iconic fortress into an epic tourists destination.

    Although there are numerous hotels & villas to stay at Galle Fort, staying there could be quiet expensive. Earlier this year, I visited 18 Faces – an upcoming boutique hotel that not only fit my budget but also cozy and intimate. Keep reading to find out more about this newbie in Galle!

    Location

    18 Faces hotel is located just 3km away from Galle Town. Once you get to the main town of Galle, in less than 15 minutes you can reach 18 Faces hotel. Spoiler Alert – the hotel does not treat you for a magnificent beach view yet you will be treated with a well-maintained garden and an Instagram worthy pool.

    [googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3967.6596588927127!2d80.20195885147936!3d6.041350530232139!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3ae1739360477649%3A0x2f9a87d462477558!2s18+Faces+Boutique+Hotel!5e0!3m2!1sen!2slk!4v1553775292816&w=1000&h=200]

    Architecture

    Like any other boutique hotel, 18 Faces hotel has paid keen attention to detail on the interior and exterior of the hotel. The rooms are spacious enough yet cozy. Each room has its own attached bathroom with hot water facility, a cupboard, a TV, a Bluetooth speaker, a mini fridge with beverages, a large mirror and of course a very comfortable bed. Each room has it’s a distinct aroma that surprisingly calms and soothes you, especially in the night. To keep in line with the name of the hotel, headboard of the bed is decorated with the faces of uniquely Sri Lankan masks and characters from old folklore. I must admit, it was creepy and scary at first but I feel like it added more character and dimension to the interior of the hotel.

    The restaurant also carries the same rustic but modern style. The yellow and blue furnishing added a nice pop of colour while the wooden stairs and white walls balance the interior out. As mentioned, the pool at 18 Faces hotel is one of my favourite pools. It’s small yet cozy and intimate. There’s even a huge floating flamingo to keep you accompanied. The pool, to my knowledge, is open even during the night.

    Accommodation & Food

    18 Faces Boutique hotel offers stays only on B&B thus far. But with plenty of eateries in and around Galle Fort, you will get the perfect opportunity to explore the dynamics of authentic Sri Lankan Southern cuisine. Pictured below is the English breakfast I had and even though it looks like I had little to nothing, it was filling. Also, you can always ask for more.

    Additional

    If you wish to explore the city faster, 18 Faces Boutique hotel can provide you with scooters (motorcycles) at a reasonable daily flat rate. All you have to do is asking the staff and they will assist you. With under 120 USD, I was able to get the best out of my mini vacation.

    If you have been to 18 Faces, let me know your thoughts about this place and if you haven’t do definitely pay them a visit.

     

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  • Buon Appetito at Rocco’s

    Hey there, wondering what the title means? Fear not because this is a mini verdict on one of the restaurants I’ve found and fallen in love with recently. If you love pizzas and always in the lookout to treat yourself with pizzas – then Rocco’s is the place for you to go.

    With this I am starting to post mini verdicts on restaurants and cafes I visit using Six Factor Verification. These six factors would help you to choose a restaurant or a cafe to enjoy a great meal or to hang out with your friends and family.

    Follow these Six Factors I’ve listed below to know whether Rocco’s is 94 Approved or not.

    Factor 1: Food

    The most important factor and the benchmark for any restaurant or cafe is food. No matter how awesome the place looks, if the food is not tasty and delicious then it’s a no go for me. For an Italian Restaurant – Rocco’s has a wide range of food items starting from appetizers to pasta, salads, desserts and every Italian’s favourite dish – Pizzas. I must say that their pizza range is very impressive. It doesn’t matter if you are a meat lover, a pescatarian or even a vegetarian, this pizza range can serve anyone.

    I ordered a 14” Meat Fest and it was divine! It included Ground Beef, Ham, Chorizo Sausage, Bacon, Capers, Onion, Black Olives topped off with oozing Mozzarella Cheese. All ingredients used in their dishes are fresh and with an open kitchen, you can see the process of making a pizza in true Italian Style. 

    By sprinkling, a bit of dried oregano on top of the pizza did bring out all the different flavours of each meat. Truth be told, I didn’t want to try out any other dish as this was filling. So boys if you are looking for a place that can fill you up without having to spend much money, this place is for you.

    Recommended: If you are having pizzas, drink plenty of water. In that way you can truly taste each distinct flavour and you certainly can eat more. 

    Factor 2: Service

    One of the most attentive staff I have come across in a restaurant. Very friendly and they would even walk you to your table and it shows how much they value each and every customer that walks into their restaurant. Table service was relatively quick and after placing the order it took only about 20 mins. for the pizza to arrive. They would surely let you know the time you have to wait for your food when you place the order and time varies depending on the dish.

    Factor 3: Price

    If you wish to have a three-course meal the price would range from 3,000 – 8,000 LKR (inclusive of taxes and service charges) for two. However, if you are headed there just to try out a pizza, the price would range from 1,500 – 3,000 LKR for two. In my opinion, the prices are reasonable because even at Pizza Hut 02 large pizzas with extra cheese would cost you around 5,000 LKR.

    Recommended: Head over to www.roccos.lk to see the entire menu and prices for each item.

     

    Factor 4: Location

    Situated in Nawala, Rajagiriya road within about 800 meters from Rajagiriya to Nawala on your right, Rocco’s is not located in a convenient area. With the newly built flyover bridge, I myself would avoid Rajagiriya and surrounding areas during rush hours given how congested it can be with traffic. However, if you skip the rush hours during weekdays, you will be able to reach there without a hassle.

    [googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3960.876263438307!2d79.89230995147895!3d6.905396920494346!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3ae2598c8eeecc05%3A0xb7819f069949bbd7!2sRocco’s!5e0!3m2!1sen!2slk!4v1553775851290&w=1000&h=200]

    Recommended: They do have a delivery service available within the city limits of Colombo if you want to avoid the trouble of getting there in traffic.

    Factor 5: Parking

    Parking space is available in front of the restaurant which would accommodate about 5-6 cars depending upon the space available.

    Factor 6: Ambiance

    If you are looking for a cozy place to linger with your friends, unfortunately, Rocco’s is not the place for you. With regular chairs & tables inside, this place is strictly for dine in. But it would be an ideal restaurant for a date night. They even have placed miniature candles on tables to make you feel like you are in a fancy restaurant.

    All in all, Rocco’s has been able to capture the true taste of Italian signature dishes and 94 • LIFESTYLE approves Rocco’s. Comment down and let me know how was your experience at Rocco’s if you have visited and tried their food.

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    My six-factor verdict review about Rocco's Pizza at Rajagiriya. Check out if it is up to your standards!

  • Jie Jie by Jetwing – An essence of China in Sri Lanka

    Opened in January 2017; Jie Jie Beach by Jetwing is the latest addition to the Jetwing family. Located just 30 km from Colombo; it is the perfect oasis in the busy town of Panadura.

    Here are my reasons for you to visit this newly opened my kinda hideaway spot.

    #1 – No long rides to reach

    Because it’s located just 30 km from Colombo – Jie Jie Beach by Jetwing is not hard to reach at all. You can either use the Southern Express Way or Galle Road to get there. Whatever route you pick make sure you avoid rush hours from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

    [googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3962.542535623263!2d79.90394295147894!3d6.703435322878554!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3ae246268fa75e5b%3A0x757158b8cbfb45f5!2sJie+Jie+Beach+by+Jetwing!5e0!3m2!1sen!2slk!4v1553776055613&w=1000&h=200]

    #2 – Friendly staff

    Jetwing hotel chain is well reputed for their supreme hospitality services and Jie Jie Beach is no exception to it. The staff here is very friendly and attentive to all your needs. However if you need something sent to your room you might have to remind them several times to get it.

    #3 – A variety of food

    I can surely say that this hotel gives you the best and authentic taste of Chinese cuisine because most of the Chinese food items are prepared by Chinese Chefs. You can indulge in a fusion cuisine which includes both local and Chinese flavours. Also the restaurant follows a flexible and rather practical dinning times with Breakfast starting from 6 a.m. and Dinner until 10 p.m. which gives you ample time to dine in at your leisure.

    #4 – Pork! Pork! Pork!

    For all the pork lovers out there; this is the restaurant for you! They maintain a separate Pork Corner at the restaurant where they serve pork dishes only for all three meals. From bacon to pan fried pork cutlets; it is definitely a pork fiesta to your taste buds.

    #5 – Great view

    There’s nothing more relaxing and refreshing than waking up to a great view when you are on a vacation. Be it a standard room with a garden view or a  Deluxe room with a sea view; Jie Jie by Jetwing ensures that no matter which room you stay; you would be waking up to the hypothesizing waves and hum of the Indian Ocean.

    #6 – Accommodation

    Jie Jie by Jetwing has four main types of rooms including several types of suites and standard rooms. No matter which room category you choose to stay, each room is designed and built on contemporary standards providing you with a luxurious experience.

    All in all Jie Jie by Jetwing was not disappointing. Certainly there are few drawbacks such as the loud noise of trains passing by and the pool been filled with sand than water after a rainy night. However if you wish to be away from all the chaos in the city; Jie Jie certainly should be added to your list.

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    Review of Jie Jie by Jetwing - An essence of China in Sri Lanka