Congratulations to our team at Walkers Tours!

Walkers Tours won an astounding six awards at the Sri Lanka Tourism Awards held on the 30^th of August 2012. The Company managed to clinch the hotly contested award for the ‘Best Inbound Tour Operator (large category)’. Displaying our strength at multiple channel promotion, Walkers Tours also won the award for the ‘Best Destination Promotion Website’.

The secret to our success lies in the fact that we have a team of innovative and dynamic professionals across all levels of the Company. The fact that four of our national guide and chauffeur guide lecturers won awards for excellence in service is testament to this fact. Below are a couple of pictures of the event.



Mr. Vasantha Leelananda (EVP & Sector Head of Leisure Inbound) recieving the trophy for Best Inbound Tour Operator




Mr. Umeshi De Fonseka, Head of Leisure Inbound IT recieving the award for Best Destination Promotion Website 




Mr. Aloy Diaz - Most Outsanding National Guide Lecturer



Mr. Nalaka Pallipana - Most Oustanding National Guide Lecturer - Nature

Mr. Ajith Wijesinghe - Best Chauffeur Guide Lecturer - Culture & Heritage



Mr. Ranjith Sudasinghe - Best Chauffeur Guide Lecturer



The entire John Keells Leisure Group (City Hotels, Resort Hotels and Destination Management Companies) won 12 key awards at the Sri Lanka Tourism Awards, the largest haul of awards won by a single company.

Live Like a Local at Tamarind Gardens, Digana

Walkers Tours has established a ‘Live Like a Local’ experience with sustainability at its core. Its essence is to give back to the community whilst giving visitors an insight to rural Sri Lanka. The home of our project is the village of Digana, located 20 kilometers outside the Hill Capital of Kandy. Overlooking the Victoria Reservoir, the construction of this quaint and unique property is nearing completion. Most of the building and even the fittings are made by village craftsmen. Designed to reflect typical Sri Lankan village houses, the eight rooms at Tamarind Gardens will consist of an en suite bathroom, mosquito net and a pedestal fan.

The property is home to a working farm which includes cattle, goats and poultry. Vegetable and fruit gardens on the property contribute to the fact that all meals are prepared with home grown produce, whilst meat is sourced from the local village. Other services like laundry, maintenance and housekeeping are outsourced to villagers in the vicinity to ensure that the community directly benefits through tourism. Guests are given an unforgettable opportunity to immerse themselves in typical village life. They are encouraged to volunteer in several activities like assisting in the preparation of meals, growing fruits and vegetables and caring for livestock.





Digana is situated at the border of the dry-zone, with harsh conditions for cultivation for crops – often the only means of making a living for these villagers. The difficult environment contributes to local community needing to struggle for survival and Walkers Tours firmly believes that supporting them in any way is critical.

As a result, many projects have been introduced to help create some form of financial stability to villagers. These include helping to build chicken coops or goat pens and donating water storage tanks to ensure that families have access to clean, safe water.

This exciting new project will give visitors an enriching experience. Here, they can take a break from fast paced metropolitan life and strike a balance between having a great time and being considerate to the planet and its people.

Go Fly a Kite!

Kite flying in Sri Lanka is considered a relaxing past time. It is an activity that is mostly enjoyed by young children, especially during this time of year, as it falls in the midst of school holidays.

This year the Sri Lanka Kites Community is organising an international kite festival. The festival hopes to draw in kite flyers, regardless of age. Internationally kite flying is often considered a professional sport, with countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and India holding similar festivals each year. The Sri Lanka Kites Community aims at creating a platform for kite flyers to promote the sport professionally with participants hailing from over 30 countries across the globe.

Galle Face Green is most definitely one of the best spots in Colombo for this event, as it has ample space for all participants and is blessed with a steady flow of wind. The skies will be dotted with many colourful and imaginative shapes. Why not try making your own kite? All you will need is coconut eakles or bamboo skewers, gum, yarn and tissue paper. Try out a variety of shapes, from the most aero-diametrically favourable structures to the more complex forms.

Come fly your kite along with the rest of us on the 13^th and 14^th of October at the Galle Face Green!

Office Olympics 2012

In true Leisure Inbound spirit, our colleagues at Walkers Tours and Whittall Boustead Travel Limited (our sister company) won the overall silver medal in the Office Olympics, held on the 28^th of July 2012.

The Office Olympics was organised by a popular local radio station, with an impressive thirty two teams participating in the event. Our six member team who named themselves ‘The Y-NOTS’ included the likes of Andre Power and Asitha Jayawardana of the Nature Odyssey department, Shanendra Fernando from our Data Entry team, Sidath Jayaweera from the Chinese Market, Gayanga Botejue from Whittall Boustead Travel and Nanduni Rajapakshe of Web Sales.  The Olympics comprised of six exciting events, four of which required team effort. Out of the six grueling events held at the Olympics, our crafty colleagues managed to secure positions in an astounding four events! This meant that the Y-NOTS were the overall silver medalists for the Office Olympics 2012 walking away with Rs. 120,000 as prize money!



Rubberband Archery



Wastepaper  shootout



Concentration at its peak during an intense game of rubberband archery




Our Olympians



The Y-NOTS managed to bag medals for the following events:

Gold medal - Office chair hand ball (team event)

Bronze medal - Obstacle course race (team event)

Silver medal - Waste paper shootout

Bronze Medal - Pin your boss (darts)

Congratulations to the well deserved winners!

Fruit salad

Sweet, sour, juicy, round and even the downright strange - we have them all. As Sri Lanka is located in the tropics, it comes as no surprise that the island is blessed with a variety of exotic fruit.

A drive around the island, mostly on the outskirts of towns and cities will take you past a number of roadside stalls selling colourful fruit. If you are a fruit enthusiast, then this is going to be a gastronomical ride of a lifetime! Although I cannot describe every single fruit found in Sri Lanka (this would require me writing an entire book), I will touch on a few favourites enjoyed by locals.

At any given time of the year, you are bound to run into bunches of bananas sold by the gazillions at any fruit stall. Choose from the larger savoury bananas like Kolikuttu or the smaller sweet/sour kinds like Ambul Kesel. You are bound to go bananas over the numerous varieties and flavours waiting to be chomped on!

Mangos are my personal favourite fruit. When eating mangos, one generally looks for big flavour and little fiber. If you’re lucky enough, you will be able to get your hands on mangos from Jaffna, undoubtedly the best in the island. These deliciously sweet mangos are juicy, full of flavour and are just the right consistency when ripe.



Jaffna Mangos

The wood apple is a strange looking fruit. This peculiar bulbous fruit is brown in colour and has a hard outer layering. Once cracked, the fruit reveals a sticky brown pulp within that has a jam like consistency. The wood apple is used to make a popular drink called divul kiri, which is a definite must try on your list of Sri Lankan specialties to taste whilst on holiday.

I cannot forget to mention a few seasonal favourites. Jambu is one such fruit. These small bell-shaped, blushing fruits have a very subtle flavour comparable to a snow pear. They are often enjoyed raw or eaten with a pinch of salt and chilli for an added Sri Lankan kick!

Next let me introduce you to my dear old friend, the rambutan. Rambutan is found in South East Asia and is yet another strange looking fruit. Its red skin is covered with hairy protuberances and cannot be eaten. However once the skin is peeled away, the succulent opaque fruit is revealed. Its flavour is slightly sweet with an acidic after taste that will leave you begging for more! Rambutans are not found all year round, however when they are, you will find them piled up in glorious red bunches by the roadside and at any fruit stall. Other popular fruits include the pineapple, papaw, watermelon and of course the coconut.



A delicious mound of rambutan

Yes, our tiny island is jam-packed with a vast array of delicious fruit. Be astounded by the variety of colours, smells and tastes that greet your senses when visiting a local fruit market. It’s amazing that such a large variety of produce is grown locally in various parts of the island. I think that Sri Lanka’s fruit platter can be paralleled to its society. There are so many ethnicities found in the island, resembling one colossal fruit salad. 

International Hotel Chains in Sri Lanka

A number of international hotel chains have recognised the infinite potential of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. Many of the world’s biggest brands have shown interest in opening luxury hotels in the island.

The global giant Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, the owners of the famous Sheraton brand has made an investment of USD 80 million. The Sheraton Colombo will be a 306-room hotel which will include a Presidential Suite as well as a number of other themed suite rooms. The property will house 4 restaurants and will be located in central Colombo. The Sheraton Colombo is expected to open its doors in October 2013.

Another leading hotel brand, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has made an investment of USD 550 million on its first ever hotel project in Colombo. The hotel will overlook the famed Galle Face Green promenade and is projected to be complete by the end of 2015. Offering some of the largest hotel rooms in the city, each room will be approximately 484 square feet by 592 square feet. The Shangri-La Colombo will include a wide range of specialty restaurant concepts and numerous dining opportunities.

The most recent chain of hotels to join in on the bandwagon is the Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Group. The Hyatt Regency Hotel will be a 43 story luxury 5 star property. The property is expected to feature 565 rooms, banquet facilities, numerous food & beverage outlets and a fitness centre.

Foreign investment continues to flood in as Sri Lanka’s popularity in the tourism and leisure sector grows. The industry benchmark in terms of product offered and service standard will be raised, with well established international brands joining in and heightening competition amongst city hotels.

Chicken Curry for the Soul

Sri Lankan’s pride themselves in being culinary experts when it comes to rice and curries. We boast of the most flavourful curries that are a complex blend of spices ingeniously layered to form a fiery explosion of deliciousness. Once you try a typical traditional Sri Lankan curry, you will never turn back – I kid you not!

Rice is the staple diet for most Sri Lankans and is eaten with a variety of curries that are prepared in different methods. Various spicy condiments or ‘sambols’ also accompany any meal, adding that extra bit of punch (in the guts?) to your meal!

If rice does not interest you, do not fret! You can try out other traditional specialties such as string hoppers (a stringy noodle made out of wheat flour), hoppers (a crispy bowl shaped pancake), roti (flat bread) and thosai (a savory pancake).

Additionally Sri Lankan cuisine has been heavily influenced by Western invaders (Dutch and Portuguese), South Indians as well as Arab tradesmen.

Biriyani is an aromatic rice dish. What makes biriyani unique is the fragrant stock that the rice is cooked in. This stock is prepared with a number of various spices and meat that complement the rice perfectly. This delectable dish is extremely popular and enjoyed by all Sri Lankans.

Lamprais is yet another way of preparing rice, influenced by the Dutch. The rice is prepared in a complex mixture spices, turmeric and coconut milk. Once again the stock plays an extremely important role in its preparation, with a combination of meat being added to enhance the flavours. A number of different curries and sambols are added as accomplishments and it is packaged and served in a banana leaf. Among these curries and side dishes is blachang (a ball of finely ground prawns), frikadels (crumb fried meat balls) and brinjal pahi (brinjal fingers fried in traditional spices).

Yes, in case you didn’t believe me the first time, Sri Lanka is definitely a foodies haven. Explore the complex flavours and exotic spices of Sri Lankan cuisine and prepare to be delighted!

In the West, people often crave a warm comforting bowl of hot soup after a hard days work or when sick. Unsurprisingly this is not the case with me. As a Sri Lankan, I crave chicken curry! I yearn for a thick steaming curry comprising of tender chicken, coconut milk, garlic, cinnamon sticks, ginger, chilli powder and a number of other spices.

I believe a chicken curry a day will most definitely keep the doctor away! So forget the soulful chicken soup of yesteryear and try our chicken curry!

Here’s the recipe for those of you who would like to try it out for yourselves.

RECIPE FOR CHICKEN CURRY

Serves 4

Ingredients:-

1 large broiler chicken

1 cup thick coconut milk

2 cups diluted coconut milk

1 sprig curry leaves

1 small stem of lemon grass, chopped

1 large onion, chopped fine

2” piece of ginger, crushed

6 cloves garlic, chopped

4 cardamoms

4 cloves

3” piece of cinnamon, broken up

3 heaped teaspoons roasted curry powder

3 teaspoons chillie powder

½ teaspoon saffron

Salt and pepper

Juice of 2 limes

2 tablespoons oil

Method:-

Remove outer skin of chicken. Cut into 2” cubes or pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil and then lightly fry onions, garlic and ginger until translucent. Add curry leaves, lemon grass and cook for a minute. Next add pieces of chicken. After a minute, add diluted coconut milk, curry powder, saffron and chillie powder. Allow to simmer until chicken is cooked. Add spices and the thick coconut milk followed by lime juice. Taste and add more salt if required. Simmer on a low fire until the gravy is thick.

Time to grab that snorkelling mask!

It's the perfect time of year for snorkelling in Trincomalee. This shot was taken off the the cliff of the Koneswaran Temple. I happened to noticed a couple of people snorkelling by the rocks. Unfortunately since I was leaving for Colombo I could not do the same, but I'm sure they must have spotted the most colourful coral and exotic fish!

Enticing don't you think?

Outbound training

Last weekend the Leisure Inbound team headed to Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa, for our annual outbound training. It was a wonderful change for many, who spend most of their days planning exciting tours for others. I won’t lie, the schedule was rather strenuous and the heat did get the better of us all! But we left Hikkaduwa with some food for thought. These fun-filled activities were used as a starting point to foster team spirit and also to highlight the importance of creating a culture that is conducive to change through effective and open communication.

Whilst this trip was all about building team spirit, we did manage to have a bit of fun at our social as well! 

Just thought I would share a few pictures of us hard at work!

Have a great weekend all! :)

CASA Colombo

This retro-chic hotel is making headlines the world over! Winner of the ‘2011 Asia Pacific Hotel Award’ for ‘Best Interior Design’ and ‘2011 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence’.

Additionally the hotel has been nominated for the titles of Asia’s Leading Boutique Hotel, Sri Lanka’s Leading Hotel and Sri Lanka’s Leading Business Hotel (World Travel Awards 2012).

The hotel is located in the heart of Colombo, easily accessible as it is just off the

Galle Road.

Casa Colombo is a 200 year old mansion that has been painstakingly restored and is now a vibrantly luxurious boutique property. What’s unique about the property is its eclectic style that has a youthful appeal, nothing like Colombo has ever seen before.

Surround yourself with stylish living spaces, mosaic flooring, elaborate embellished materials and muted lighting that creates an intimate atmosphere. Each guest has their own personal Domo who will attend to their every whim and fancy. Lounge on one of the white poolside beds right next to the exclusive pink pool and taste delicacies from around the world, in a decidedly different ambiance!

                             

                                                                        

The Library

 

                       Casa Colombo has 12 uniquely designed suites that excude comptemporary style

                                                            

White poolside beds

                                                                




HVN Restaurant



Dusk at CASA Colombo

                                     

The exclusive pink pool



Art Installation



Verandah



Minneriya National Park

If you wish to view large herds of Sri Lanka’s gentle giants, then your best bet would be to head over to the Minneriya National Park between the months of July and September. It is between these months that the dry season kicks in and the elephants migrate to the park in search of water. The Minneriya Tank retains water throughout this season and proves to be the ideal thirst quencher! These elephants are said to migrate to Minneriya from surrounding parks like Wasgamuwa and Kaudulla National Parks. During this season, up to 200 wild Asian Elephants are seen grazing around the tank or taking a cool dip in the water to relieve themselves from the sweltering heat. This phenomenon is known as ‘The Gathering’.


Although I did not get the opportunity to view The Gathering at its prime in the month of August, I was able to make my way to Minneriya late last month and was pleasantly surprised! We headed to the park early evening, as we were told that the elephants begin to wander out of the thick jungle at this time since it’s always much cooler. As our jeep ambled its way through the jungle and onto the open plains overlooking the glistening Minneriya Tank, we were heralded by a herd of 20 to 30 elephants.

The sheer excitement of seeing these wonderful beasts in their natural habitat is undeniable, even for someone who has been on elephant safari before. Observing the herd closer we were able to make out individual family units including the mothers, young calves and the dominant matriarch of the herd. As we all twisted and turned, bending over backwards in order to capture that perfect shot, I began to realise that this is how elephants should ideally be viewed. Not covered in bejeweled drapery (although this is also quite a site), but in their natural habitat. Enthralled, I watched a baby calf covered in fuzzy fluff hide behind its mother whilst two calves playfully charged at one another ending up in a gridlock in the distance.






Other than these majestic beasts, the park itself makes for an interesting evening visit. Not only is the topography entirely different to the shrub jungle you would usually see in the popular Yala National Park, but this park is also home to many other animals – specifically a vast array of beautiful birds, Sambar deer and a number of interesting reptiles and amphibians. Thick dense jungle makes it slightly harder to spot the animals, however when you do it is an entirely rewarding experience. Meandering along the red earth pathways you will occasionally notice the fragrant smell of pine needles- a welcome aroma from the perfume of pungent elephant dung!






As if life couldn’t get any better, we were able to catch the rosy-pink blushing sky cast its glow over the glinting Minneriya Tank. What better way to end a day, with the company of one the worlds largest land mammals plodding along in the distance!