sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

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Golden Beach Cottage gUesThoUse $$
(%721 1243; r rs 2500-6000; aW) Offering
good rates for its inexpensive rooms, which
have a few homey touches (wardrobes,
mirrors and little front porches) and are
surprisingly spacious. Fancier options here
are overpriced. The cottages are located
on a beautiful patch of beach south of
Chaaya Blu.

oChaaya Blu resor T $$$
(%222 1611; http://www.cinnamonhotels.com; s/d incl
breakfast Us$215/230, chalets s/d incl breakfast
Us$245/260; aiWs) Beautifully designed
hotel that makes the most of its prime
beachside plot, where all rooms face the
ocean. Colour schemes – whitewashed walls
and cobalt blues – are offset with punchy or-
ange throw pillows, textiles and mosaic art.
The expansive lawn is a delightful base for a
day’s lounging, with a lovely 30m pool, and
both restaurants are superb.

Sea Lotus Park resor T $$$
(%222 5327; http://www.sealotuspark.com; s/d rs
9600/10,400, bungalows s/d rs 6800/7390;
aiWs) Worth considering, this beach-
front hotel has two classes of rooms: those
that are recently renovated, spacious and
modern (though set back from the sea in a
concrete block) and dated cabanas that are
poorly maintained but boast unmatched
shorefront views. Meals and service stand-
ards are pretty average.

5 ating & DrinkingE
Coconut Beach Lodge sri lANKAN $$
(%492 5712, 222 4888; meals rs 350-650; W)
Coconut Beach is the best place in town for
Sri Lankan-style home cooking. Rice and
curry, grilled seer fish and giant prawns,
plus vegie delights are all prepared with
love and served on a pretty candlelit patio.
Reserve by 3.30pm.

Silver Beach seAFooD, sri lANKAN $$
(Beachside; meals rs 500-900) A casual locally
owned beachside restaurant with a welcom-
ing owner. There’s always fresh fish (around
Rs 1200 will easily feed two people), which is
served with salad and fries, and the battered
calamari is superb too.

oCrab iNTerNATioNAl $$$
(Chaaya Blu; meals rs 1000-2500; hnoon-11pm)
A wonderful setting for a meal, this casual
hotel restaurant is perfect for a lazy lunch by
the waves or a romantic evening meal. You’ll
find a wide selection of dishes, all competi-

tively priced, with everything from Indone-

sian spicy rice with satay to succulent sea-

food (and a particularly fine crab curry). For

dessert, try the delicious berry cheesecake.

There’s an open kitchen, full bar and good

service.

Palm Beach iTAliAN $$$

(%222 1250; meals rs 1300-2600; h6.30-9pm,

closed Nov-Jan; W) Authentic Italian food,

including fine pasta and seafood, prepared

by chef Donatella; the menu changes daily

but always includes a special or two. Enjoys

a good reputation, but as it’s the only game

in town for Western cuisine, there’s very lit-

tle competition. Expect pleasant but hard-

ly memorable surrounds (it’s well off the

beach). Reserve essential.

8 Information

Uppuveli has no ATMs or banks; head to Trinco.

Jatheik GameNet Cafe (Nilaveli rd; internet

per hr rs 50; h8.30am-8pm Mon-sat)

St Joseph’s Medical Service (Nilaveli rd;

h24hr) Around-the-clock medical services.

8 Getting There & Away

i akkandy–Trincomalee buses run every 20 r

minutes; flag one down on the main road for

Trincomalee (rs 14, 20 minutes) or Nilaveli

( rs 14, 10 minutes). Three-wheelers cost

r s 350 to Trinco and rs 500 to Nilaveli.

Nilaveli

Nilaveli, the Trinco region’s other beach

resort, is far less intimate than Uppuveli,

with hotels scattered up and down little

lanes off the coastal highway – it’s around

four kilometres from one end of the village

to the other. If you’re looking for some se-

rious beach time, then Nilaveli could be

just the ticket, for the sands are golden and

the ocean inviting. Offshore, Pigeon Island

offers fine diving and snorkelling.

1 ights & ActivitiesS

oPigeon Island

National Park D iViNg, sNorKelliNg

(adult/child Us$10/5, plus boat fee rs125, service

charge per group Us$8, VAT 12%; h7am-5.30pm)

Floating in the great blue 1km offshore, Pi-

geon Island, with its powdery white sands

and glittering coral gardens, tantalises with

possibilities. A nesting area for rock pigeons,

the island is beautiful enough, with rock

pools and paths running through thickets,