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South seeks revenge at Red Bull Ride My Wave a?? second leg

Published on 30/07/2014 in Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, front page and surf. 0 Comments

After being shown up on home waters, the best surfers from Sri Lankaa??s South Coast are out to settle the score against their Eastern counterparts in the second and final leg of Red Bull Ride My Wave, which gets under way at three popular surf spots in Arugam Bay
from the 8th to the 10th of August.

8th, 9th and 10th August

Cost effexor Purchase aristocort triamcinolone With an excellent mixture of swell, wind, tide and sunny skies, the South Coast finished with 142.3 points after the opening skirmishes on their territory earlier in the year, well below the Easta??s final tally of 164.8 points. This means they have no option but to go for broke with their best tricks from double barrels to cut backs and sprays. Whilst, the East team which ruled the first leg of Red Bull Ride My Wave held in March, will seek a repeat of their previous dominance in order to complete their surf supremacy over the South team. All this sets the scene for an electric display of surfing. Street price for baclofen Continue reading ‘South seeks revenge at Red Bull Ride My Wave a?? second leg’

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ARUGAM BAY: YOUR SURFING HEAVEN

Published on 12/05/2014 in accomodation, bars, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, front page, guesthouse, restaurants, the bay and Traveler's Reports. 0 Comments

A travel report by Crazzy Travel

ARUGAM BAY: YOUR SURFING HEAVEN

Wea??ve been to many beaches, swam in many oceans and seas, but wherever we go we will always remember two weeks we spent on the most unbelievable beach in the world. We love literally everything about Arugam Bay and now ita??s high time for us to share our experiences with you.

What is Arugam Bay?

That is a 3 km long beach, situated on the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Waves here are big (the Indian Ocean, you know), and fishermen huts are tiny. It used to be a little forgotten village until it was discovered by surfers in middle-late 20thA?century. Since then, every June and August (high season), ita??s crowded with people in search of their perfect wavea??

Why Arugam Bay?

Because ofA?SURFING! It holds the 5thA?place in the list of worlda??s best surfing spots, and doesna??t seem to slow down. You dona??t need a special swim suit, license, or anything. Just come, and surf. The spot is perfect both for beginners and advanced surfers. You can take classes for just 1000 rupees ($10) and hire a board for just 800 rupees/ day ($8).

Dona??t take surfing classes

We took surfing classes and dona??t recommend it. Better learn on your own a?? just ask a tourist wherea??s the nearest spot and watch what others are doing.

Illia after 2 hours of surfing, happy and tired 🙂

How to get there?

There are two direct buses daily from Colombo to Pottuvil (a town near Arugam Bay). The bus number 98 departs from Pettah Bus Stand in Colombo at 04.45 AM and costs 400 rupees ($4). The journey takes approximately 7 hours. Then take a tuk-tuk to Arugam Bay for 500 rupees ($5).A? Otherwise, you can always hire a minivan for 18000 rupees a?? $180 (share it with other surfers to save money!).

Tuk-tuks are ready to help you out anywhere, any time of the day or night.

Where to stay?

We stayed at a lovely Sooriyas guesthouse (free WiFi, movies and cartoons, quality writing service, clean bed sheets,A? air con + fan, A?monkeys in the garden) and paid for 3000 rupees per night ($30). However, there are cheaper options, starting from 1000 rupees ($10). They are good as well, but without air con and with noise from the restaurants nearby.

Where to eat?

As most places on Sri Lanka, all restaurants in Arugam Bay have very slow service (you can easily spend 1-2 hours waiting for your meals). The only way to avoid this is either to eat at food stalls for locals (not extremely clean), or choose restaurants run by Europeans (like Gecko restaurant, for example a?? more expensive, but faster and cleaner). A meals for two would cost you around 600 rupees ($6).

Isna??t it lovely? Most places in Arugam Bay have their little surprises.

Here is our small selection of the best restaurants at Arugam Bay:

Mamboa??s a?? located right near the point, a bit overpriced, but one of the greatest places to chill out and eat after surfing (they even have ping pong and pool!)

Chili a?? best pizzas

Samanthia??s Order speman tablet Order endeporte a?? very cheap local food, spicy!

Hakeem a?? cheap, close to European food, closed on Fridays

Gecko a?? very expensive, but fast service

Siam View a?? great for drinking

Plus, dona??t forget about Sri Lankan unique bakeries on wheels: they come around 5-6 pm, play silly childish music so that you know they arrived, and sell extremely tasty and cheap bakery stuff (be sure to try their muffins!).

Anything to do except surfing?

Of course! You can enjoy hammocks on every corner, swim in the ocean or play ping pong. There is a nice Buddhist temple, yoga classes and numerous gift shops.

Something else I should know?

Again, yes. There are a lot of Muslim men working as tuk-tuk drivers, shop owners, etc. at Arugam Bay, so, girls, avoid walking wearing only bathing suit along the main road. Otherwise, you will experience irritate looks and hear someone shout at you. Also, the majority of such shops and restaurants are closed on Fridays.

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One of the surf schools in Arugam Bay.

Did we inspire you to add surfing in Arugam Bay in your to-do list? Or maybe you are surfer and can share with us your experiences? In any case, wea??re waiting for your comments!

About us:

Illia and Nastia

Wea??re a couple in love with each other and traveling. Wea??ve been to 32 countries, and it was amazing.

CrazzzyTravel is where we tell our story.

Want to get in touch? Contact us atA?crazzzytravel@gmail.com or via the form below!

source:
http://crazzzytravel.com/arugam-bay-surfing-heaven/

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Mind the Wild Life

Published on 11/05/2014 in Blogs, press coverage and wild life. 0 Comments

Two die in jumbo attacks

Two men who went into the jungle to collect bee hives, died after being attacked by an elephant in Lahugala (nr. Average cost of keflex Arugam Bay Albendazole price mercury drug Purchase etodolac 300 ) and Wellawaya on Thursday. E. A. Ajith Senaratne, 33, of Kirivehera road faced the mishap when he went into the Lahugala Forest Reserve to collect honey.

Wild Elephants are often seen on the A4 main Road to Arugam Bay

The body was sent to the Lahugala Hospital morgue for the post-mortem. Pottuvil Police are investigating. Meanwhile, D.A. Premadasa, 56, of Thanamalwila was attacked by an elephant near Kumbukkote tank in Aragama. He was pronounced dead at Wellawaya hospital.

The body was handed to his relations after the post-mortem. Wellawaya Police are investigating.

– See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=police-legal/police-log-10052014#sthash.4XhvwIiE.dpuf

Best Beach. Arugam Bay ?

Published on 03/04/2014 in Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, front page and Traveler's Reports. 1 Comment

Best Beach is …. Arugam Bay ?

I had a lot of non-beach activities planned for my two weeks in Sri Lanka a?? theA?cultural wonders of Anuradhapura, theA?Ceylon tea country andA?hectic Colombo Buy styplon himalaya , to name a few a?? which left me with enough time to visit just one of the islanda??s countless beaches, realistically. I had to make the right choice!

My friend Helene, whom I met last year in Australia, whereA?she attempted to teach me how to surf, recommended a small spot on Sri Lankaa??s east coast called Arugam Bay. Helene assured me that although a??A Baya?? has mostly gained fame among surfers a?? this is why she has visited it so often over the past decade a?? ita??s also awesome for swimming, sunbathing and generally lazing around.

I knew Helene was correct in her recommendation immediately upon my arrival in Arugam Bay a?? the sexy, shirtless man who greeted me when I arrived was just the beginning. Leta??s take a look at why Ia??m so certain Arugam Bay is the best beach in Sri Lanka, even though ita??s the only Sri Lanka beach Ia??ve sunned my white ass on.

Arugam Bay Beaches

After checking into Arnea??s Place, a simple, comfortable strip of bungalows near the northern end of Arugam Bay beach, I grabbed my camera and headed out for a stroll.

Arugam Baya??s main beach immediately won points with me because of its exotic, multicolored sand, sparking, turquoise waters and its half-moon shape, which reminded me ofA?Palolem Beach in Goa, India. Its waves are also really something to behold, even if you dona??t surf a?? theya??re huge!

I assumed my walk, which allowed me to traipse among the dozens of wooden fishing vessels being prepped for the morning catch, would end once I reached the surf point at the far end of the beach. But I continued walking to see what appeared to be literally miles of unspoiled, virgin beaches extending into the distance.

Having explored many of these beaches during the subsequent days I spent in Arugam Bay, I can promise you that no matter what youa??re looking for a?? swimming, sunbathing, surfing or eye candy, be it sexy surfers to perv at or pristine, natural scenery a?? Arugam Bay has you covered, from a beach perspective.

Activities Near Arugam Bay

Sri Lanka is a small island, and while Arugam Bay is considered a relatively remote destination (more on why in a second), it is in close proximity to a number of non-beachA?activities.A?The most popular of these is Yala National Park, home to a diverse range of wildlife that includes elephants and cheetahs, among other highlights. Continue reading ‘Best Beach. Arugam Bay ?’

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The rising tide in Lankan surfing

Published on 23/03/2014 in Arugambay Surf Club, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, front page, surf, Surf competition and Surf Federation News. 0 Comments

The Rising Tide in S. L. Surfing

From Arugam Bay with its legions of thunderous marching waves to the enchantingly golden seas and beaches along the southern coastline, surfing in Sri Lanka has seen a sizable structural shift. From existing entirely as a healthy pastime and tourism tool, in recent years it has thrown on a thicker cloak of sporting legitimacy, stitched together by a collection of passionate practitioners and benevolent organizers of surfing projects and competitions.

Sri Lanka on March 15th, 2014

Last week saw the beginning of one such helpful competition, Red Bull Ride My Wave, a unique local surfing tournament which matches up surfers from the countrya??s two renowned hubs for the sport, the eastern and southern coasts.

By doing this the competition aims to discover the islanda??s best surfers, foster friendly rivalry and promote and develop the sport. The competition is being staged in a two-leg format, with the opening round in the south coast ending on March 15 before action resumes in Arugam Bay from August 5-7.

Surfing on unfamiliar waters, the men from the east nevertheless managed to pull off an upset, spearheaded by Asanka, a name synonymous with the sport locally. Asankaa??s imaginative over-water artillery outgunned anything anyone else could pull out of their arsenal and helped him ride away with the opening lega??s top surfer title.

a??I am delighted with the result. It is a reflection of the hard work of each surfer. It was an honour to captain this team,a?? Asanka revealed.

a??This is going to be good for the future of surfing in Sri Lanka. I am also very proud to be named the best surfer from the three heats as there are many good surfers on both teams.a?? Continue reading ‘The rising tide in Lankan surfing’

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A Scotsman at Arugam

Published on 20/01/2014 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, front page, press coverage, surf and Traveler's Reports. 1 Comment

At a frienda??s wedding recently, about halfway through the best mana??s speech, I suddenly realised I was embarrassed about something Ia??d never been embarrassed about before.

Back in the late 1990s, when my family lived in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, my brother and I, still in our teens, took full advantage of the islanda??s enticing surf geography, exploring the reef breaks of Hikkaduwa on the west coast and the endless point break at Arugam Bay Buy phytopharm hoodia gordonii on the east A?Coast.

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A surfer at Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka, in 1998, when the area was outside the government declared safe zone

The journey to Arugam was a bit of a mission, involving a long, noisy overnight bus ride and bleary-eyed stop-and-searches at various military checkpoints on the way into Eastern Province, but at this stage in Sri Lankaa??s history, hostilities between the Tamil Tiger separatists and government forces were at a relatively low ebb, so Arugam, although sandwiched between two parts of the country deemed out of bounds, was considered quite safe. As a result, during the dry summer months, when Colombo and the west coast were battered by monsoonal rains, Arugam was busy with tourists, and in particular surf tourists a?? mostly Australians and a few Brits a?? happy to put up with the gruelling bus journey and basic living conditions in exchange for days on end of perfect, warm-water waves.

Arugam was heaven, but as with all popular surf spots there was a pecking order. When a big set rolled in, the wild-eyed, tangle-haired Aussies living in the jungle on rice, water and whatever bugs they could catch got priority, and everyone else had to wait their turn. There were plenty of waves to go around, but in between sets there was much talk of other spots nearby, almost as good as Arugam but a?? because they were outside the government declared safe zone a?? going completely unridden, day after day, season after season. One of these waves was called Okanda Point, and when my friend Phil flew out from the UK for a little surf safari, we decided wea??d try and ?find it.

The road running south out of Arugam had been closed by the army, so the only way in to Okanda was by boat, and for that wea??d need to find a fisherman who was prepared to take us. Thanks to some subtle enquiries from our friend Gamini, who ran the B&B where we were staying, we found a guy who would ferry us there for a reasonable fee. He hardly spoke any English, so Gamini translated the rules for us before we left: a??Hea??ll take you to Okanda, but no further; he doesna??t want to drop you too close to the shore so youa??ll have to paddle in to the break; hea??ll motor against the current while you surf so he can keep you in sight; and when he starts waving it means hea??s running out of fuel, so youa??ll need to paddle straight back to the boat.a?? We agreed, and ten minutes later, Phil and I were sitting in a little fibreglass skiff, bouncing in and out of a promising five-foot swell and heading a?? technically, at least a?? into a war zone.

Which brings us back to that wedding a?? Phila??s wedding a?? and his brothera??s best mana??s speech. After winding up a choice anecdote about Phila??s early sartorial choices he glugged a bit more champagne and said: a??And then, of course, there was the time Phil and Roger went surfing in a war zonea??a?? Ia??d never had a problem with our Okanda adventure before, but a?? stated baldly like that a?? the whole idea made me cringe. It made us sound like Jeremy Clarkson and AA Gill racing tanks in Iraq. a??Therea??s a war there? Great! Leta??s go and get some extreme kicks!a??

All of a sudden, I felt like the most culturally insensitive guy in the room.

Still, at least Phil and I have the excuse of having been young and naive. Ever since the wedding, Ia??ve become increasingly aware of how the extreme sports industry and associated media are using conflict zones as backdrops for films and magazine articles. Take, for example, this idiotic headline to a recent feature in a national paper about climbing on Nanga Parbat: a??Facing down terrorism on the killer mountaina??. Subtext: climbers are gnarly, but these guys are even gnarlier a?? they climb in a place where terrorists are trying to kill them! Extreme sports are supposed to be about celebrating life, not fetishising death; somehow, somewhere along the line we seem to have forgotten that.

source:
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/roger-cox-extreme-sports-should-celebrate-life-1-3273325

A fishing they go in Vakarai

Published on 29/12/2013 in front page and stop over Ideas. 1 Comment
By Jayantha Jayewardene

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Those of my vintage and earlier remember Vakarai with nostalgia. This was in an era now long gone. Many, including planters, used to go to places like Arugam Bay, Naltrexone buy usa Passikudah, Panichankerni, Vakarai and Verugal, all of which are on the East coast, for rest and relaxation and to also indulge in shooting, fishing and sea bathing. Wild and undeveloped, these places offered a totally different environment and atmosphere in which to relax. Shooting pig and jungle fowl was for fun and the spoils were for the pot. Excess wild boar flesh was given to the trackers and the villagers who lived in those areas.

To reach Vakarai you had to cross a ferry at Panichankerni. Now there is a brand new bridge that was opened recently. On the other side of the ferry was a two bed-roomed Rest House and visitors generally booked the entire Rest House. The Rest House Keeper at Vakarai was, in the manner of many of his kind all over the island, a great cook and good at general hospitality. Some Rest House keepers were great raconteurs sometimes drawing the long bow. This Rest House is now no more having gone in the tsunami.
I have a small beach house in Panditivu, North Vakarai and these observations on the fishing in the sea in front of my place and along the beach were made from many visits to Vakarai. Continue reading ‘A fishing they go in Vakarai’

Merry Christmas

Published on 24/12/2013 in From our own Correspondent and front page. 0 Comments

Best Wishes for the Season!
And
Don’t overdue it.

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& A Happy New Year 2014

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Hauling across the waves of Arugam Bay

Published on 24/10/2013 in Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, front page, surf, Surf Federation News and the bay. 0 Comments

The Sunday Times:

Well before the sun makes its patient ascent into the skya??s magnificent canvas of crimson, blue and white, Gabriel Villarana??s silhouette is etched against Arugam Baya??s Zoloft versus generic think sand dunes.

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Ready for the swell in Arugam's crystal clear waters

With his sleek surf board tucked like a wand under his arm, one of the worlda??s top surf stars makes a beeline to the brilliant blue sea, to conjure his unique magic on the rising tide.

Gliding majestically across the waves, Gabriel evokes two powerful and distinctly different emotions.

First there is the passion which seems to constantly linger over him during his entire time in the water, mottled with boyish exuberance and excitement.

And then a sort of naked aggression, present in each graceful twist of his lithe and muscle-bound body, as he battles to master the raging waters.

The 29-year-old Peruvian has now had plenty of opportunities to size up the seas of Arugam Bay and has seemingly blended seamlessly with its surroundings.

When he first arrived at the popular surf destination in 2010 for official competition, Gabriel realised that the waters near A-Bay possessed huge potential for the adrenaline-fueled acrobatic maneuvers he regularly pulls off.

This understanding prompted Gabriel to respond positively when Red Bull searched its pool of surfers for a suitable candidate to lead its Local Hero Tour in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and unearth a top surfer from each country.

a??When they asked for a volunteer athlete from Red Bull I was like, a??Yea I want to comea??.

Thata??s why it is so important to have international contests because then you show the world that you guys have good waves and a nice country,a?? Gabriel explains.

Gabriel quickly re-immersed himself in the waters and ways of Arugam Bay, mentoring the gifted local surfers on the finer points of the sport while grabbing every possible chance to test his own considerable powers in the waters.

His artistry at the crest of each wave and his rugged good looks easily communicate why Gabriel is such a top-ranked surfer on the international circuit as well as a global poster child for the sport.

His fearlessness while surfing is exemplified by his regular participation in Big Wave events, which pit participants against tsunami-sized walls of water.

Surf sites across the internet are littered with videos of Gabriel navigating these gigantic waves, which would leave most people paralyzed with fear.

For Gabriel though, these monstrous bodies of water are enormous caches of adrenaline and once on them he is a sight to behold.

His arms confidently outstretched and eyes aflame with focus, he waits crouched in anticipation for the right moment to unleash his own flood of creativity.

Back at Arugam Bay, the waves, although smaller, propose their own unique field of obstacles to Gabriel and a battalion of other surfers from Sri Lanka and the rest of the world.

“Ita??s a really good wave. Ita??s a proper wave. Ita??s long and has good sections which you can do a lot of stuff on. Ita??s really hard to find a wave like this. There is a lot of potential here and a lot of potential for the near future,a?? Gabriel opines.

This environment has fashioned a fine bevy of Lankan surfers, and the Red Bull Local Hero Tour threw a bright spotlight on the best of them.

After several rounds of competition and a series of lectures from Gabriel, Praneeth Sadaruwan was crowned the countrya??s Local Hero, after he was found to be the surfer who demonstrated the most promise in the water while also proving to be the most receptive to the advice given.

Praneeth, who is now in the Maldives with Gabriel helping him search for their Local Hero, says that he benefited greatly from Gabriela??s guidance and would continue to adorn his style and preparation with the technical nuggets and training tips he received.

a??Everyone learnt a lot from Gabriel. He kept saying youa??re doing good but you need to keep trying new things and do them properly. So he taught us very well,a?? Praneeth revealed.

After he is done with the pristine beaches of the Maldives, Gabriel will pick up his board and head back into Big Wave competition in his continual quest for the perfect wave and a top place finish.

“The Big Wave event has five contests a year with the biggest waves in the world. Right now Ia??m in the top six in the world and in the near future I would like to make it into top three and eventually go on to win the title.a??

His career is likely to haul him across varying pattern of waves, cultures and people.

If the unrestrained love he expresses for the Arugam Bay surfing landscape is a suitable barometer for his future travel plans, Sri Lanka is likely to see a lot more of Gabriel Villaran and his exhilarating brand of surfing.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/sport-news/35650-surfing-hauling-across-the-varying-pattern-of-waves-of-arugam-bay.html

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Arugam Bay: An exotic, eclectic experience

Published on 20/10/2013 in From our own Correspondent, front page and Traveler's Reports. 0 Comments

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By David Stephens
Why travellers from around the world flock to this surfersa?? paradise

The unusually large waves, bellowing like blue behemoths performing a roaring symphony to an enraptured audience of the suna??s finest rays, draped in gold and crimson garments.

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Sun RISE at Arugam Bay

The droves of surfers, carrying their sea-scarred boards along the deep dunes while gazing toward the water in anticipation of the battles ahead. The uncomplicated cabanas and roadside shops, filled with people wearing bright smiles and colourful beachwear. Nothing at Arugam Bay seems normal to an outsider. It is as though someone switched channels on life and brought the volume down by several decibels.

Yet ironically, it is the outsider who has essentially built and come to define this quaint little beachside community, a few kilometres from the town of Pottuvil. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, much of Arugam Bay, known locally as Ullai, was left in ruins. With its infrastructure in shambles, Arugam Bay banked on its reputation as a surfing hotspot with foreign visitors to rebuild.

As it turned out, this strategy did not just resuscitate local life, but imbued it with a fresh dimension as travellers from all parts of the world, who flocked to Arugam Baya??s pristine beaches, transformed it into one of the worlda??s top surfing destinations.
In a way, according to a cook at one of the many compact restaurants that line the main road (who, in line with the skewed reality of the area, is an economics graduate), these events also isolated Arugam Bay from the rest of the country.
This is felt keenly in every aspect of life here. A careful glance in any direction will quickly reveal to you a large and diverse international population. For the majority of them Arugam Bay is now a regular exotic retreat, a place with which they have integrated seamlessly. Along the beach it is not at all unusual to see Sri Lankans and tourists from everywhere between Australia and America engaged in the animated conversation which only blossoms between close friends.

Getting ready to ride the waves

Along the beach this deep familiarity and friendship is even more conspicuous as local and visiting surfers exchange opinions on the waves and surf techniques as well as personal anecdotes. Their echoes of laughter crescendo with the slap of a back, thigh or arm, a familial gesture in an atmosphere of acceptance. There is an electrifying bolt of camaraderie, which surges as high as the tide, whenever someone, who pulls off a masterful sequence of manoeuvres in the water, is applauded.
After an exhausting spell amidst the waves, most surfers gather at the small restaurant housed at the main Surf Point, the principal battleground where the water is at its most violent.

The sparsely furnished yet charming eating house opens out on to the Surf Point in a way where it has become an essential part of it, a recuperation zone where surfers take stock of their daya??s performance while refuelling for another run of the waves.

Away from this central hubbub, in a quieter corner of the main surfing area, 15-year-old Dixon cradles a board almost thrice his size as he trots enthusiastically through the watera??s white wake. Although particularly pint-sized for his age, Dixon sheds his diminutive stature once he weaves his way among the seaa??s mighty ridges and caverns. With his body tilted, arms aloft and face twisted in concentration, Dixon transforms himself into Prospero, conjuring up a magical repertoire through his board to tame the encroaching tempest.

Although most of life at Arugam Bay is shrouded in a mist of friendship, understanding and respect, it does possess an exploitative underbelly. The main manifestation of this is the exorbitant pricing of food, lodging and transport. Do not be surprised if a plate of rice and curry sets you back over Rs. 1,000 or a ride of a few kilometres from the beach in a tuk-tuk lightens your purse by more than that amount.

But looking away from the huge rippling waves with their hordes of surfers and the crass capitalism of some establishments and individuals, there is one more mask on Arugam Baya??s eclectic visage: a unique nightlife.

By 11.30 p.m. on a Saturday night, beachside clubs are packed like a can of sardines. With strobe lights flashing, beautiful and exotic women gyrating and bare-chested, long-haired Lotharios bordering the dance floor, Arugam Baya??s nocturnal haunts are oftentimes more alive than any of Colomboa??s.

Yet there is no sense of superficiality, no intoxicating clouds of perfume and cologne, no judgmental glances or legions dressed in their Sunday best. There is just music, dancing, conversation and uninhibited fun. You are free to be yourself and are toasted for it.

In a way that pretty much is the underlying philosophy of the entire Arugam Bay experience. It is a soothing brew which calms your senses and speaks to your soul. And much like the cascading waves and procession of picturesque sunsets, it is easily accessible to anyone who wishes to find it.

source:

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/131020/plus/arugam-bay-an-exotic-eclectic-experience-66102.html

Surf Mobbin’ in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Published on 02/08/2013 in Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, front page and Traveler's Reports. 1 Comment

A nice little traveler’s report

Surf Mobbin’ in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

While Arugam Bay is an all around improvement over the surf at my home breaks in San Francisco (think warmer waters, no sharks, consistent glassiness and peeling point breaks), what leaves a bit to be desired is the means to getting to the waves themselves. While the main surf point of Arugam Bay is right at the edge of town and an easy stroll over, it does unfortunately get very crowded because of exactly that ease of access. The other 5-6 myriad surf spots are between 15 min-1 hr long car rides away. I’ve never missed my trusty GTI from home in SF as much. Getting to the waves was easy, jumping in the freezing wind chop was the hard part.
In Sri Lanka, the common means of getting to the breaks involves hiring a tuk tuk for the day, where you get driven to the break, get waited on, and then get chauffeured right back. While being driven around does sound grand, it can get costly if you are staying long-term like I am – the charge is between 6-20 USD round trip depending on the destination. The tuk tuk ‘mafia’ is an interesting study in Asian business practices. During surf season (May -Oct), tuk tuks from all neighbouring provinces descend on quiet Arugam Bay and loosely collude between them (and the Police as well) to the effect that the base rates they charge can be quite exorbitant by local standards and subject to arbitrary markups on what they consider the paying capacity of the client. While a decidedly thrify backpacker like me may get the lower end of the inflated rate, an older family vacationer from, say Scandinavia, and staying at a nice resort will definitely get quoted a high rate. More interestingly though is that they artificially follow a limit of two surfboards on the roof (while it could take comfortably 1-2 more) as that allows more tuk tuks to get employed.

The tuk tuk dutifully adhering to the 2 surfboard limit

In any case, on a budgeted long stay of several months in Sri Lanka I had to look for alternative means of transport.A?After much much thinking I decided to acquire a motorcycle and get it kitted with a surf rack. This wasn’t without some trepidation though – after surviving a rickety adolescence on a Kinetic Honda on hazardous Delhi roads, I had sworn off motos for life. I do admit to renting scooters occasionally and breaking this rule to get around while traveling in Asia this past year. But buying a motorcycle seemed a big and potentially perilous step forward. Why not just rent one you might ask? Not so easy Watson. Afraid of incurring the wrath of the aforementioned tuk tuk mafia, local rental places hesitate to provide surfboard racks. A bike sans rack is only good for an occasional joyride and pointless for surfing. (unlike some of my more skilled and daring surfing brethren, I refuse to ride with one hand while clutching a surfboard with the other!)

The surfing kin of the young tuk tuk driver above.

Consequently, one weekday evening found me returning from the town of Kalumnai with my local friend and shopping advisor Kadafy, on a shiny Honda motorcycle. I chose the latter over a scooter as it would offer bigger tyres, and hence more stability and competence on sandy tracks that need to be navigated to get to the beach from the asphalt roads. I would be lying if I didn’t also admit to caving into a bit of vanity too.

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The surfrack being installed by a local welder
After spending the next few days making the rounds of the welding shop in designing and fitting a surf rack, I was finally the proud owner of a vehicle that would obey my whims to schlep me around the surf spots at my beck and call. The only thing remaining was a bit of fear I had around raising ire with the tuk tuk drivers. For I have to share parking space with them at the breaks and didn’t want to have my bike vandalised! So I have been extra courteous with them – for beneath the ruthless industry they partake in, they are nice people after all – A?and resultantly my bike has been quite safe so far. Fingers crossed. What’s funny actually is many people, tuk tuk drivers included, have already offered to buy my bike when I get ready to leave end of season. Everybody’s looking of a bargain right?!
The surfmobile (and me doing a poor impersonation of Steve McQueen)!
While I’m quite content with the bike right now, I already know my desired means of transport for my next trip here. Yup, a Tata Nano! While my Mom is a proud owner of one back in Delhi, it seems to be a handy (and hardy) means of travel here in Sri Lanka. My Aussie friends Jack and Josh rented one and have been the envy of town!
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Tragedy after the disaster

Published on 11/07/2013 in front page and hotels. 0 Comments
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The one and only main road. end 2004

….”the locals, who were being asked to make way for luxury hotels for national reconstruction, werena??t buying the plan that would turn their villages into multi-storied buildings and their children into tour guides and street hawkers. They opposed it forcefully”….

……”On 26 December 2004, a terrible tsunami struck Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The eastern coast of Sri Lanka was especially devastated as it lay in the direct path of 100ft waves that destroyed everything in their wake. Arugam Bay was hit hard and several villages were swept away without a trace…..”

Well. Ahead of it's time...

Before the 2004 tsunami, Arugam Bay was an idyllic locale on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka consisting of fishermena??s villages visited by only the most adventurous young European and Australian surfers who came there for its great breakers. The hotels were beach shacks with hammocks and their numbers were manageably small mainly because of the threat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The route to Arugam Bay was peppered with military checkpoints, and most country advisories and guide books cautioned tourists to avoid this part of Sri Lanka.
All this changed in 2002 when LTTE signed a ceasefire and access to the east coast opened up. The tourism industry touted eastern Sri Lanka as the next Phuket and visitorsa?? traffic exploded. Removal of road blocks also drew an influx of fishermen from other parts and before long Arugam Bay simply wasna??t big enough for the local fishermen and the tourism industry. Continue reading ‘Tragedy after the disaster’

The Essence of AbaY

Published on 16/06/2013 in Fun, Humour, Kitesurf, surf and Surf competition. 0 Comments
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AbaY - in a nutshell 😉

Fishing boats, Arugam Bay

Published on 30/05/2013 in front page. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

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Arugam Bay is on the list of the top ten surf points in the world. Situated on the SE coast of Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay receives the same Antarctic winter swells that hit Indonesia. The best surfing conditions are between May and November when the predominant wind is offshore for at least the first half of the day.

Boats on Arugam's Beach

Due to its location and southerly swell direction the area is dominated by right hand point breaks. Three of the point breaks Arugam Bay Point is a ten min. walk from town, Pottuvil Point and Crocodile Rock are within a half hour tuk tuk ride from Clindamycin cost rite aid Arugam Bay. There are several other surfing points that are within an hour tuk tuk ride, Panama and Okanda are south of Arugam Bay.

Nilanthasa?? Tuk tuk Service provides reliable transportation to and from any of the surfing destinations at a very reasonable rate. Nilantha also has ….. Continue reading ‘Fishing boats, Arugam Bay’

Arugam Information -SUMMARY-

Published on 22/02/2013 in front page, Historical sites, services, surf and the bay. 2 Comments

Arugam Bay, the surfer’s paradise

(March to October)
a useful summary & description.

Surf, Beach, Lagoon, Village, Beautiful Inland Landscape, Jungle, Elephant Rock & Crocodile Rock

Arugam Bay is one of the TOP 10 surf points in the world. It is also a pristine sandy beach of stunning natural beauty. Arugam Bay’s proximity to Lahugala National Park & Yala East National Park makes it a unique surfing beach.

Ladies & Lady Surfers are happy in remote AbaY

Location

Arguam Bay is located 320 km from Colombo. Some 60km due east from Monaragala, Arugam Bay is a tiny fishing village 3km south of the small fishing village of Pottuvil (12000 inhabitants) at the remote southern end of the Eastern coast & on the edge of Yala East National Park.

To the beach

The journey to the beach here takes you across some attractive meadows teeming with wildlife.

Orientation

The bay lies between two headlands & is excellent for surfing.

Beach

The wide, sweeping sandy beach in front of the village is an attraction for swimming all year-round. The beach is usually deserted, except at the southwest corner, where some fishing boats & thatch huts reveal the tiny fishing village of Ulla, just to the south of the guest house area. This is also the safest area for swimming.

Surf

‘The Point’ in Arugam Bay is regarded as a top world surf destination. It is a well lined up right hand point break, generating a clean peeling glassy wave that barrels a surfer a 400m ride right through to the inside. Additionally there are four or five high quality breaks within a radius of 30 minutes. Continue reading ‘Arugam Information -SUMMARY-‘

EXTREMELY EARLY MORNING FISHING. 4AM. ARUGAM BAY

Published on 10/02/2013 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, front page, people and Traveler's Reports. 0 Comments

There are not many places on Earth where travellers can surf world-class waves in the morning, have a have a close encounter with an elephant at lunchtime and be back in the water by mid afternoon. Arugam Bay (Aru-gam-Beh), on Sri Lankaa??s eastern coast, is exactly this, a slice of surf/chiller heaven on the Indian Ocean.
What I found particularly unique about Arugam bay was the equal racial mix of Tamil, Muslim and Singhalese families that lived peacefully in the town despite the ethnic conflicts that existed in other parts of Sri Lanka (the civil war ended three years ago).

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The days passed very happily for Loochy and I. We had a great adventure the morning of our departure to Galle in the South: fishing at 4am with 2 local fishermen, Mohammed and Mostaquim! To see what we go up to, check out the video and photos (above).
I promise this is the last post about Sri Lanka!!

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Peggy Sue
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Video editor:A?Sedef Isim
Photos: Peggy Sue

source:
http://peggysuebijoux.com/2013/02/extremely-early-morning-fishing-4am-arugam-bay-aru-gam-beh-sri-lanka/