94 • LIFESTYLE

Tag: Tips

  • 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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  • New Year – New Me!

    New Year is the perfect time for you to reevaluate your life choices and start fresh and each year I come up with at least a dozen of resolutions only to discover that I have fulfilled just one or two resolutions at the end of the year. But this year I am limiting it to 05 and I hope this would help you to make some positive changes in your life as well.

    01. Eat Healthy 
    Photo by Lily Lvnatikk

    Although this may sound common not everyone can do this right. Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean cutting off all junk food and eating all greens. It’s about having the perfect balance between each nutrient. Eating home cooked meals is the best way in my opinion to ensure that you will be getting the right amount of nutrients meals that are rightly cooked. Reduce Starchy food such as Breads and Rice and incorporate more vegetables and meats into your daily diet. Goodful and Entertaining with Beth are two of my favourite websites that inspire me to create healthy yet delicious food items in just minutes.

    Top Tip : The best time to eat fruits is early in the morning before you have your breakfast. Start your day fresh with fruits drizzled with a bit of honey and lime juice.

    02. Stay Fit
    Photo by Form

    Incorporate exercises to your daily routine. Not only it would make you physically fit but will positively effect your mental health also. If you can go to a gym that’s great but if you have no time to go to a gym, do follow Rebecca-Louise Smith and her tutorials on YouTube every day for just an hour to achieve desired results from an effective workout.

    Top Tip: Keep personalized fitness goals such as ‘loose 02 lbs in 3 weeks’ to keep you on track and also to measure your results.

    03. Unwind to be inspired
    Photo by Romain Robe

    Be it scrolling through Pinterest (yes, it is oddly satisfying and inspiring at the same time :D) or even hanging out with your friends, you need to DE-stress yourself. Do whatever that is relaxing you. Meditation is also another effective way to DE stress and relax your body and mind. Find your stress triggers, this is the first step to identify the source for your stress. Come up with a solution to eliminate stress triggers. In that way you will be able to take off the main reasons that cause you stress from your life. However, it is a long process and this is where you would need help from your family and friends. Be comfortable and communicate your thoughts with people that you are most comfortable talking with. Always remember that you would be physically healthy only if you are mentally healthy.

    Top Tip: If you had a long day, soak your feet in lukewarm water for at least 15 mins. and use a foot scrub to exfoliate your feet and later on finish it off with moisturizer.

    04. Try something exciting at least once a month
    Photo by Jonathan Daniels

    Step out of your comfort zone and engage in an adventurous and a daring activity at least once. It is even said that fear is only as deep as the mind allows. So fear not and push yourself to be more daring and adventurous. You’d be amazed to see how your perspective on your life and things around you would change.

    Top Tip: White Water Rafting at Kithulgala is one of the best ways to take control of your fear. Be sure to check out the natural pools and other activities before this historic and famous site vanishes in future.

    05. Plan Ahead
    Photo by Dan Gold

    This is where all the year calendars, bullet journals and year planners you receive at the beginning of this year come in handy. Plan for your next week and NOT the entire month because in that way you will be able to use your time and effort productively and efficiently without much of a stress. Do check out this video by Lucie at Refinery29 for some creative inspiration.

    Top Tip: Keep your journals, year plans creative and interesting by using various stickers and doodles. Just turning the pages of it would bring you joy all the while reminding you of your plans.

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    My top 05 new year resolutions for 2018 and I hope this would help you to make some positive changes in your life as well.

  • 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

  • Travelling Tips to Polonnaruwa

    Polonnaruwa is one of the most sacred and ancient cities in Sri Lanka. Also Known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is one of the cities which portraits the pride and the cultural enrichment Sri Lanka once had. If you are interested in history and archaeology; the ancient city of Polonnaruwa would be the ideal place for you to start your exploration on ancient Sri Lanka.

    Here are few tips I have for you if you are planning to visit this legendary city.

    Tip #1 – Avoid the crowd

    I personally prefer to go on vacation during off seasons. I believe it is the best way to relax and enjoy the stay without having much of a hassle. Polonnaruwa is highly visited by children during school holidays. Try to avoid months such as December, August and April since these holidays are sure to fill up the city with parents and children. Also go on weekdays as opposed to weekends as it would surely allow you to be more relaxed on your sightseeing tour.

    Tip #2 – Be best of friends with water and sunscreen 

    Polonnaruwa has proven to be one of the hottest cities in the country. The temperature at Polonnaruwa can go up to 35 °C causing an extreme level of humidity as well. This could cause you to dehydrate therefore drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated. Also this is a city which requires a lot of sunscreens so make sure you slather yourself with a lot of sunscreens before heading out to the city in the sun.

    Tip #3 – Try the local cuisine 

    If you stay at a hotel surely they would let you indulge in a western cuisine as well. But if you wish to have an authentic taste of Polonnaruwa you’ve got to try a freshwater fish curry. Hotel Giritale staff was nice enough to prepare a dish of freshwater fish curry for us when we requested one without any additional cost. Definitely it was one of the best curry dishes I have tasted so do not forget to try this dish out while you are in Polonnaruwa.

    Tip #4 – Do your research 

    We Sri Lankans take these places for granted. Since small we have been bombarded with history lessons to a point where we have actually forgotten the value of these heritage sites. Do refresh your memory on these sites before you visit them as it would surely be helpful to find these sites. Also try to know the untold stories. It is known that during the British Regime the Gal Vihara Statues were harmed by a British Official by shooting at them who allegedly wanted to know whether these statues have hidden powers. The minute he fired the bullets and turned back he was attacked by a wild elephant and was killed. If you look closely you could see the damaged spots on the statues.

    Tip #5 – Do not be afraid to explore 

    Apart from the already known sites, Polonnaruwa has some places which are hardly been visited by the tourists. Do not feel intimidated by the long route on the east bank of Parakrama Samudra which would take you to a huge rock of approximately 100 meters high. Climb that rock before the sunset and you will be treating yourself to a breathtaking and a mesmerising view of the sunset. For me, it was the best way to end my stay at Polonnaruwa.

    I hope these tips would be helpful for you if you are planning to visit Polonnaruwa. It’s a living city which speaks it’s pride of our country immensely.

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    Travelling Tips to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka