Despite the fatigue that inherently comes from flying across times zones, having dinner at breakfast time and all that it takes to get from booking your trip to finding yourself in that airplane seat, the journey from the airport to our accommodation is one of my favourite periods of time. There’s the ‘I’m finally here’ sensation coupled with my insatiable impulse to get right in the thick of things. My eyes are glued to the window, knowing that sleep will have its time at the hotel.

We were headed for Cinnamon Lakeside, one of the luxurious Cinnamon Hotel properties we’d be staying at during our Sri Lankan adventure. Upon arrival, our car door was opened with a smile, our baggage taken away and we suddenly stepped into refreshing coolness. If there’s anything better than the welcome hug of heat, it’s stepping back into more moderate temperatures and sighing at the glorious contrast.

Our room on the third floor was spacious and overlooked the inviting pool. We made ourselves at home and sat down with some reading materials to map out the must’s on our month-long trip.

Sri Lanka may be quite small, but it’s still many hours on a bus to travel to all the most well-known locations. We were pleased to discover Cinnamon Air, Sri Lanka’s only domestic airline, that could get us everywhere we wanted to go in minutes, rather than hours. Plus, they use these awesome looking Cessna’s that would work perfectly for my own circa late 1920’s Amelia Earhart moment. Let’s see if we can’t make it happen.

May in Sri Lanka is about coming back to life. The heat begins to reduce ever-so-slightly and the rains come pouring down. This month trees are in full bloom and fruits lay heavily burden to branches. And a world of amazing experiences are in store for you this month if you happen to be in Sri Lanka

1. Experience the Colours of Vesak

The birth, death and enlightenment of Lord Buddha is celebrated in maddening colours, lanterns and lights all across the country in a festival we call Vesak. No matter where you are during May’s full moon, heading out is most advised. Don’t forget to look out for Pandols, a traditional outdoor art installation that tells stories from the life of the Buddha.

2. Make a Vesak Lantern

The reason Vesak is so colourful owes much to the vibrant and conceptual lanterns that come together. Why don’t you try your hand at making one? Pick out some of your favourite colours when you buy the tissue paper, get yourself bendy straws or bamboo sticks and gather around the usual suspects: glue, scissors, tape, rope and of course your imagination. Having a local show you the ropes is also a good bet.

3. Indulge in a Rain Bath

After many months of endless heat, you’ll find our sheets of rain this May a perfect cool down in the tropics. Don’t be shy, get out from under the comfort of indoors and let our rains wash away our scorching days.

4. Surf’s Up!

Arugam Bay at the heart of Sri Lanka’s East Coast begins to come alive in May. Surfers from all across the world come here in hope of riding the perfect wave. This familial gathering of surfers also means that the nightlife in Arugam Bay becomes the stuff of legend.

5. Escape Inside the City

If you want to get away and still be close the conveniences of the city, plan an escape at one of Cinnamon’s 3 city hotels. Cinnamon Lakeside is especially designed to create the air of a far-away resort!

6. Immerse in our History

Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle is strewn with many historical sites housing the stories of ancient kings and powerful mythology. Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa are particularly recommended.

7. Sunrise Season

May begins our East Coast season and if you’re here this month we recommend you start at Yala and make your way up to Trincomalee, capturing the sunrise on your way.

8. Tuk-Tuk Rides

Travelling by 3-wheeler or tuk-tuk (especially outside city limits) is a must-do experience and the best mode of short distance travel in the country

9. Go Gallery Hunting

Sri Lanka’s contemporary art scene is spectacular, so we most certainly recommend that you spend a rainy afternoon inside one of Colombo’s many concept galleries.

10. Under the Sea

For the most daring of you, the best sights await. Ask for a try-dive or dedicate a few days to a PADI licence and you’re on your way to Sri Lanka’s kaleidoscopic underwater paradise and it’s haunting shipwrecks.

Visiting the Mask Factory and Museum will give you an insight into Sri Lankan traditional arts and crafts as well as Sri Lankan handicrafts. Although mask making is a very popular tradition in Sri Lanka, it is a dying tradition, and the best place to get your fill of mask lore is the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum. Upon your visit to the factory and museum you will be mesmerized by the rich history and lengthy procedure of making a mask. At the Museum you will witness two entire collections of masks belonging to the Sanni Yakuma ritual and Kolam Dance, and the primitive tools used to carve these masks. The museum also has a small library and a mask workshop as well. The mask library here is one of a kind and contains anthropological records of mask-making and the history of traditional performances that use masks.

It is a must to visit the workshop and watch the talented local artisans work their magic on a piece of wood. The carvings and the traditional colours used will give you a taste of the rich talent of these artisans that breathe life into pieces of wood. You can also buy yourself your own mask as souvenir to remind you of your adventures in Beruwala, Sri Lanka. If you’re feeling creative, purchase an unpainted mask and unmask your creativity.

The Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum is situated merely 8kms away from Cinnamon Bey Beruwala and it is just a 15-minute drive from the hotel to the factory and museum. Leave the organizing and curating of your visit to the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum to us! We will ensure everything is done and planned out for your excursion; all you need to do is let us know your preferences. Visiting the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum is one of the most important items on the Cinnamon Bey Beruwala bucket list and we will ensure that you enjoy the experience to the maximum!

We at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts and Cinnamon Bey Beruwala are ready to welcome you for a memorable and safe stay with us! With Cinnamon Care we ensure the safest way to visit your favourite paradise island and enjoy nature, vibrant history, Sri Lankan traditional arts and crafts and the rich culture Sri Lanka has been endowed with!

The ever-changing needs of 21st century living are well met in the many integrated developments popping up all over Asia today. Fully functional cities, encompassing housing and commercial spaces, shopping and entertainment all within the same compound, make life more convenient and that much richer. Let’s look at some of the key developments in the region today:

CapitaLand is the largest real estate fund management businesses in Asia, with 9 Raffles City projects that are testament to CapitaLand’s leading position in integrated developments. The company’s main focus is on building quality spaces catering to discerning tastes while offering great value in the process. The already completed Raffles Cities in Shanghai, Beijing, Ningbo and Chengdu are landmarks in their respective cities, offering a better quality of life and a much sort after address.

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated development committed to meeting Singapore’s social needs while achieving the country’s’ economic and tourism goals. The destination offers a luxury hotel, state-of-the art convention and exhibition facilities, theatres, world-class entertainment and the best shopping and dining in the region. The three hotel towers are crowned by the spectacular Sands SkyPark located on level 57. Situated on 15.5 hectares of land, the property won over 320 awards since opening in 2010. Marina Bay Sands is also the first venue in Southeast Asia to attain the ISO 20121 Sustainable Events Management certification, making it a destination for those who appreciate luxury.

Another fast-growing integrated developer is Malaysia’s Sunway Properties. An award-winning developer, Sunway builds for a better tomorrow by creating an integrated environment for living, learning, working and leisure. Sunway successfully introduced the “Resort Living within the City” lifestyle concept “Sunway Resort City. The city is. home to the world’s largest man-made surf beach and the iconic Sunway Pyramid shopping mall with its landmark pyramid and lion’s head. The township is also home to a world-class centre for education and healthcare alongside the finest in retail and commercial facilities.

Colombo city’s upcoming Cinnamon Life is tipped to be a game-changer for Sri Lanka as the country gears up for a high volume of commercial development in and around the city. Dubbed Colombo’s life capital, Cinnamon Life is also the largest private sector led development project in Sri Lanka to date.

Cinnamon Life will feature residences, office complexes, a signature Cinnamon brand hotel, retail mall, conferencing facilities, entertainment venues, fine dining and more, making it a one-stop-shop for everyone’s need. Located in the heart of Colombo, this waterfront property’s multifaceted offerings are tipped to make it the most sought after location in the city.

The world over, integrated developments are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for families looking for better living environments and more time for the good things in life.

EUNIC Sri Lanka together with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts presents the fourth edition of Cinnamon Colomboscope, a contemporary and multidisciplinary arts festival that takes place in Colombo. This year, the festival will be titled Testing Grounds: Art and Digital Cultures in South Asia and Europe and will be held from 25 August to 1 September.

Digital technology plays a significant role as Sri Lanka seeks to reimagine its future and find its unique position in an increasingly globalised, business-driven world. As in all other fields, the arts too will respond to the changes brought on – among others – by digitisation. This year, Cinnamon Colomboscope will provide ‘testing grounds’ for a new liaison between contemporary art and digital technology in Sri Lanka.

The main venue for the festival will be at the General Post Office, Fort; an iconic colonial building erected in 1895 and unused for the last 20 years. Visitors will be able to engage with audio-visual, responsive and interactive installations as well as image-based artwork in an extensive exhibition. Over 50 Sri Lankan and international artists will contribute to this year’s programme including screenings of experimental films, audio-visual performances and an online exhibition that can be accessed from anywhere. Through a series of workshops and public conversations, the festival will foster knowledge exchange between Sri Lankan and foreign artists, local and international technology specialists and the audience.

Cinnamon Colomboscope 2016 will be curated by Susanne Jaschko, a renowned expert in the field of media arts who can look back on an impressive list of international art events and exhibitions. “Testing Grounds,” she explains, “will be experimental in nature, and rich in contrast. For most local and South Asian artists, working with electronic and digital media is a new and widely unchartered field, while artists in Europe have been working with new media for over 25 years. Cinnamon Colomboscope will create an awareness of the impacts that digital technologies have on our societies and cultures – among which are data privacy and ownership issues – which need to be addressed in Sri Lanka.”

Established in 2012, Cinnamon Colomboscope is a festival that evolves and changes shape with a new curator each year.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is the title sponsor of Cinnamon Colomboscope and this event is organised by EUNIC Sri Lanka comprising the Goethe-Institute, British Council and Alliance Française de Kotte. The festival is supported by contributions from the John Keells Foundation, Cinnamon Life, Art TV, Swiss Embassy, Dutch Embassy, Turkish Embassy, German Embassy Teheran and the University of Quebec. The festival is held in venue partnership with the Postal Department.

The detailed program for the festival will be announced soon. Please visit the website www.cinnamoncolomboscope.com  for updates on the program.

“Slave Island contained a mud village, an excellent parade ground and two gentlemen’s villas. One of these had been built by the Dutch as a Freemason’s Lodge”

– Century volume of Colombo Municipal Council by H.A.J. Hulugalle published in 1965

The Victoria Masonic Temple is situated in Colombo on Sir Mohamed Macan Markar Mawatha. It is housed between the Christ Church and Al-Ameen Vidyalaya . The banquet hall of Grand Lodge and Masonic Temple to the Sri Lankan chapter of arguably the world’s oldest and most prestigious fraternity will open its doors to the audience of Cinnamon Colomboscope 2015 for the festival segment The city.Identity.Urbanity. To date, this Temple functions as the Head Quarters of the Freemason Lodges across Sri Lanka.

Masonic identity, ritual and tradition was carried across the seas to Sri Lanka by British planters according to sources at the premises, written records may indicate otherwise leaving one to navigate through speculative histories. The very first Masonic Lodge in Sri Lanka was set at the site named the Sphinx Lodge in 1861 (certain literature traces roots of Freemasonry to ancient Egypt), thus the Irish constitution of Freemasons was established in Colombo. It was followed by the St. Johns Lodge in 1839 of the English constitution and the Bonnie Doon Lodge of the Scottish Masons. To house these three lodges in the city of Colombo, the Victoria Masonic Temple was constructed in 1901.

The term Lodge as described by its administrative secretary in Masonic understanding stands for an Association. According to him, the Freemason Movement headed by the Worshipful Master of the Lodge is an Association which is non-political and non-religious. However, a pre-requisite of entrance to this elite club (restricted to men) is belief in a Supreme Being, regardless of which name one may ascribe to it. Reference to the Freemason movement in the Sinhalese language reads Siyaluma Agamkiyanne Sandhanaya, which loosely translated to an alliance of many religions.

The main doors of the Lodge lead to a grand hall showcasing the emblems of the sixteen Lodges across Colombo, Kandy and Kurunegala. A grand wooden stairwell leads to a floor of which houses its centuries old library. This library extensively covers Freemason history, antiquities, jurisprudence and literature. The classic well preserved bookcases house literature brought from London by the first Freemasons to Colombo which is still used by members.

Erected in 1901, the Victoria Masonic Temple surpasses the Antiquities Ordinance with regard to historical buildings in urban areas being over a hundred years old to prevent demolition in the face of urban redevelopment.

Cinnamon Colomboscope is a rare occasion of public gathering at the Lodge banquet hall.

By: Ramla Wahab-Salman

Often it is mentioned that Colombo is not the heart of relevance. That we are a city of imitators and late adopters, riding waves on the cusp of their cease.

I always felt that whatever this city may lack, it made up for in promise.

Colombo is Hydrogen left unattended to explode. The promise of this city’s people can barely be contained. Here is a city brimming with intricacies that will write itself into the legacies of tomorrow.

But, for now Colombo is waiting on a spark.

In its current context, what the promise of Colombo most direly needs are catalysts. Catalysts of change and transition. Cinnamon Colomboscope 2015 will consist of a talks and literature segment appropriately titled ‘The City. Identity. Urbanity.’ The literature of Colombo has seen movement in recent years. The exploration of the city and its urban identity through the convex of literature is now certainly an apt task.

The writers, poets and artists need a voice to call their own and that voice needs strength. Strength of numbers and strength of surety. Numbers and surety that widely accepted platforms in the calibre of Colomboscope are able to provide.

The idea of taking up writing or any medium of art as a career is to date discouraged. Even when the Ashok Ferrys, Karen Roberts and Shehan Karunatilakas, among hosts of others have made their mark in the regional and global communities.

This isn’t surprising. Colombo and Sri Lanka as a whole has lived in fear for decades. It’s almost as if fear and mistrust are our primary modes of living. Time will cure those wounds and from those scars will the greatest tales of our generation be spun and woven.

Till then, we must nurture and encourage, and shine light in dark corners, where the next Graetian winner may be waving down the roadside tuk-tuk or hopping the typically late salmon-packed bus.

Only by walking the path often walked can anyone find the right direction and leave their own footprints in the side-tracks. The criticality of mentorship and communal learning can be addressed best by platforms such as the Cinnamon Colomboscope, so kudos to the organizers and the very many industry veterans both Sri Lankan and foreign for signing up to empower the city’s voices.

Our story is worth being told in crowded theatres and sold out stadiums. Our past, present and future is a deserving muse for any masterpiece. As a people, we have tested and overcome adversity, as a nation we have tasted victory and defeat. There isn’t a reason that as a country, we shouldn’t speak up, as loud as we should for our story to be heard.

Make time and clear your schedules, head over to the Cinnamon Colomboscope and enrich your artistic spirit and intellect. With any luck, you’ll witness first-hand the spark that ignites Colombo’s Hydrogen, with any more luck, you just might be that igniting molecule.

Written By:  Dilshan Senaratne

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, as Sri Lanka’s premier Hospitality brand has been spearheading the process of taking Sri Lanka to the world over the recent past by organizing several high level international events. These have generated significant media publicity and awareness Internationally for Cinnamon as a brand and Sri Lanka as a destination. The latest venture of this vibrant Lifestyle brand is to host American Celebrity Photographer and TV personality Nigel Barker on a tour of Sri Lanka from the 15th to the 23rd of July.

Nigel is a celebrated reality TV show personality, noted fashion photographer, author, spokesperson, filmmaker, and former model. He is best known for his participation as a judge and photographer on the reality show “America’s Next Top Model”, and is now the host of reality show “The Face” alongside Naomi Campbell.

Nigel Barker was born in London. His father is of Irish and Portuguese descent while his mother Mrs. Gillian Barker is of Sri Lankan ancestry and was in fact a former Miss Sri Lanka!

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts will be hosting the Barker family comprising of Nigel, his wife and two children, joined by Mrs. Gillian Barker on a seven day tour of Sri Lanka. They will be visiting Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, Cinnamon Bey Beruwala and Cinnamon Wild Yala. Nigel Barker will also be endorsing Cinnamon’s Leopard Project by participating in the donation of a Steel Pen to a cattle farmer in Yala.

The Leopard Project was setup by Cinnamon to help eliminate the Man vs Wild conflict between the cattle farmers and Leopards in Yala. The project has been well received both locally and internationally and Cinnamon has been able to donate over 50 steel pens to the local farmers in order to protect their livestock.

Cinnamon will also organize a half day workshop with Nigel Barker on the 23rd of July, which will benefit the entire Fashion industry of Sri Lanka. The workshop will revolve around the themes of: The art of Fashion Photography, Modelling for Success, Building and Managing your Brand and the Inspirational Story of Nigel Barker.

On the eve of the 23rd Nigel will participate in a book signing event, where he will showcase and talk about his latest book “Models of Influence” while also interacting with those participating at the event.

President of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Ajit Gunewardene commented “We are proud to be instrumental in bringing the international celebrity Nigel Barker to Sri Lanka. As a brand, Cinnamon is committed to promote contemporary Sri Lankan art and culture as well as organize high level international events with celebrities such as Nigel Barker to promote Sri Lanka to the world.

Having Nigel stay with us is an endorsement of our brand acceptance by global celebrities. We are confident that he will leave Sri Lanka with great memories after his experience with Cinnamon.”

Nigel Barker is a key influencer and his association with the Cinnamon brand resonates well for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts as well as for Sri Lanka as a destination. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is confident that on his return he will recommend Sri Lanka as a must-visit destination.

I have just returned from an unforgettable two weeks away in Sri Lanka modelling for Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts. I was joined by five other models who are all also part of the Miss England Beauty Pageant, including Kirsty Heslewood Miss England and United Kingdom 2013-14, Rachael Barker Miss Birmingham 2013-14, Milly Tritton Miss Kent 2014, Linford Martin Mr Leicestershire 2014-15 and Andy Beard a part time model. I was already elated before I began the trip as only the day before I went away, I officially finished my 7 years of studying by handing in my dissertation and final projects. It was a dream come true to have the opportunity to go away with five other amazing people to Sri Lanka!

Sri Lanka is extremely rich in culture and heritage; we travelled to 4 different hotel locations during our stay and I experienced more than I could have dreamt of!

The Cinnamon Journey started at Cinnamon Bey in Beruwala on the Southern Coast, it was pure luxury and we stayed in beautiful suites with views onto the beautiful Sri Lankan coast. After a day of rest from travelling the work began with a photoshoot in their Rock Salt restaurant where you cook your own food. This included fish, lobster, steak, chicken and much more along with fresh vegetables and sides, it was hard to call it work when we were being photographed enjoying the experience. The next day we were up again to shoot on the hotel’s roof top bar followed by a pool shoot. One of the highlights already was working with the amazing team behind the scenes doing direction, styling, hair, makeup and much more; it meant we were able to chat and learn about Sri Lankan life and culture whilst getting ready. The same team travelled with us to the different locations and took such good care of us!

The second destination we travelled to was the vibrant Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa, also on the south coast and to my delight it was decorated with a fuchsia pink theme! On the first day we were having a wander around the hotel and beach when we came across two adult leatherback turtles! I couldn’t believe my eyes when Rosie and Sophie (named by the locals) came towards us in the sea, I even got a chance to stroke their backs, they were such calm and friendly creatures and even though they were utterly huge I felt relaxed. But that’s not all, this hotel is the perfect place to go snorkeling. On the second day at Tranz I had an afternoon off shooting and spent an hour in the gym with Linford, after we took a stroll along the beach to take in its beauty; we were in for a surprise when the locals called us over as they were releasing baby turtles into the sea and invited us to join them. I was so moved, it was beautiful and a very rare and special experience.

Soon it was time to go to our third location which was situated in the city, in the hustle and bustle of Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo. We stayed in Cinnamon Red, the country’s first ‘Lean Luxury’ hotel, reaching 26 storeys high; we were able to wake up to the view of the city and coast. It was quite surreal enjoying the rooftop pool and gym; our photoshoots came every natural to us as we were photographed enjoying the luxury bar, pool and gym with a breathtaking view behind us!

Whilst staying in Colombo I was lucky enough to take a trip into the city in a tuktuk to admire the architecture and Buddhist temples! We took along our new Sri Lankan friends working on the shoots to tell us about the Gangaramaya temple! I have never seen anything like it, it was full of Buddha’s, artwork, elephant statues and colour! On the following two days of our stay we were lucky enough to be staying in the capital for the national holiday and two day festival celebrating Vesak which is Lord Buddha’s birthday. The streets were covered in lanterns and decorations and just a few hundred yards from our hotel, crowds gathered by the lake to celebrate in the distance I saw an array of orange where hundreds of monks gathered and excitement built as the president arrived; absolutely phenomenal.

We were on the move again to our next location which couldn’t be more different! We travelled to Cinnamon Wild Yala in the Sri Lankan Jungle, it was very exciting to see animals in the wild and on our way to the hotel we saw road signs saying ‘beware, elephants crossing’. The accommodation consisted of luxury lodges with the exciting privilege of being able to see a range of wildlife on our doorstep, On our first night we saw Grey Langur Monkeys jumping across our roofs and crocodiles in the lake beside our pool. I also had the chance to shoot safari scenes and we encountered a Leopard at the Yala National Park (which btw has the highest density of Leopards in the world) and also elephants, crocodiles, deer, sambar, birds and more; to see untouched nature and wild animals like this was an experience I will cherish forever!

I hope you enjoyed getting an insight into what I experienced during my working holiday to Sri Lanka, these were just the highlights and I have so much to say about my wonderful trip. I also made friends for life and to share the experience with the amazing people I stayed with was incredible. I would like to say a big thank you to Angie Beasley, director of Miss England Beauty Pageant for the opportunity and Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts for their hospitality, I hope to visit again! For more details visit www.cinnamonhotels.com

Sophie Lydia Smith is a Building Surveyor, is currently Miss Cheltenham 2014/15 and a part time model from England.

Colombo is a beautiful city.

But even better, it’s a small, beautiful city. Unlike the teeming vastness of New York, or the byzantine mazes of London, Colombo, the financial heart of Sri Lanka, is a mere 37 kilometers square – just an hour’s drive in either direction. This is good, because it means you can explore almost all of it in just 24 hours.

MORNING

Fort and Pettah

Colombo Fort, or Colombo 01, was once a major military base. Now it’s the business end of the city. Literally. Not only to the railway lines connect here, it’s also got some of the most prominent hotels in the country, the Colombo harbour, the Stock Exchange and a number of important ministries. Right now, it’s a quaint mix of modern and colonial architecture dotting narrow, busy streets, with hotel glamour and pubs vying against facades and shops and newly renovated buildings of Dutch and British descent.

The best thing to do would be to get here at dawn, and make your way over to the intersection where Galle Road merges with two others, one leading into the morning traffic rush and the World Trade Center, the other dividing the Galadari and the Old Parliament building, the brown one with the statues facing the sea.  All of this is neatly ringed by a road that circles back into itself.

Grab some breakfast here.

There are quite a few offerings at the Dutch Hospital, which has now been converted to a boutique restaurant-slash-trinket shopping experience.  Or there’s the World Trade Center across the street, which also houses places ranging from cheap and functional to slightly fancier franchises – Breadtalk, a Coffee Bean and a Barista are on the second floor. From here you can watch Colombo shake off the night and begin work.

Coffee (or any other morning beverage) will cost you anywhere between Rs 300/= to Rs 600/=. Food is on the pricy side on Colombo streets. Stuff at Dutch cost between Rs 500/= to Rs 1000/= per item, depending on what you’re eating. Pastry-shop items will cost a lot less.

Once you’re done, it’s time to head into Pettah. Ask for directions to the train station. Keep along the left hand side of the road until you start encountering hordes of street vendors hawking everything from fruit salad to cheap electronics. Congratulations – you’ve arrived at Pettah.

Pettah is a maze. Even though Pettah and Fort are positively centimeters from each other, they’re worlds apart in feeling. Pettah is a ramble of shops selling practically everything you need to buy, all narrow streets running into each other over and over again, and even Sri Lankans can – and do – get lost in here. Going in there for food may not be the wisest of ideas, but the eye certainly does not go wanting.

Expect to spent a couple of hours wandering these streets. While Google Maps has these streets on record, nobody really has the shops, and you might find yourself on the ultimate window-shopping spree. If you need food, look for the Floating Market nearby – it’s a recent construction that provides a quiet space to munch something.

Prices are much, much lower here, though the taste takes a bit of a plunge as well. The average drink costs around Rs 50/=. Food costs between Rs 200/= to Rs 300/=. If you’ve chosen right you walk away with some really good value for money. If not – it’ll still be filling and worth the price, though you’ll walk away feeling that you could have taught the chef a thing or two.

AFTERNOON

The Colombo Triangle

If Fort is the heart of Colombo, its kidneys would lie somewhere around the Colombo Municipal Council, referred by all and sundry as the Town Hall. This area is called Cinnamon Gardens, because yes, once there where entire crops of cinnamon being grown here.

There are two ways of getting here. One is to take Galle Road and cut across; the other is to take the longer, but more satisfying road that goes past Cinnamon Lakeside, turns in near the Air Force headquarters, and goes towards the public library. On the way, you can stop by the Gangaramya, one of the most important temples in Colombo. It’s a curious mix of Sri Lankan, Indian, Thai and Chinese architecture, and floats out on the man-made Beira Lake.

Between here, Borella and Thummulla are the best-developed residential areas of Colombo, which means it’s also got some of the best coffeeshops, slightly upmarket hangout spots, schools, parks and grounds.

For example, turn into Park Street and you’ll find yourself in the quintessentially urbanite Park Street Mews venue. Get to Town Hall and opposite the hulking white British build you’ll find the neatly maintained green haven of Viharamahadevi Park, which is definitely worth a stroll around. The Sri Lanka Tennis Association is nearby.

On the other side, towards Ward Place, is an ODEL – basically, a posh, streamlined and expensive consolidation of the Pettah experience. Cheap flip-flops? Nah. Expensive tea and T-shirts? There’s also other various outfits you find down Ward Place. Coco Verandah, Cioconat Lounge, places on offshoot lanes (like the Barnesbury on Barnes Place) abound here.

Or you can make for the Independence Square, a beautifully kept patch of land that is a stone’s throw away from Racecourse. In this is the Independence Memorial Hall, a national monument to celebrate the liberation of Sri Lanka from British rule. It’s possibly the best personification of Colombo – a touch of heritage, a hint of ancient culture, threaded through with the tenets of modern civilization – joggers with iPods, McDonalds and small restaurant / bar combos that will be flooded by dusk.

All of these abound in a rough triangle. Grab a bit of lunch from any place that strikes your fancy and keep walking. Generally, a coffeeshop, or a place that brings you a menu, will match your breakfast prices, but tasty.

Or you can go Sri Lankan and duck into one of the nearby hotels, which on Lankan streets means a cheap restaurant. They serve buriyani and chicken fried rice for less than Rs 300/=, packing tons of belly-filling ballast onto a single plate. But if you’re obsessed with germs and hygiene, it’s best to stay out.

Dehiwala / Mount Lavinia

Mount Lavinia is named for Lovina, or Lavinia, a local dancer who caught the heart of Sir Thomas Maitland, who governed Sri Lanka in the early 18th Century. This slope (it can’t really be compared with an actual mountain) blends with Dehiwala, and thus becomes Colombo’s largest suburb. In Sri Lanka famous for three things: the Zoo, the famous Golden Mile of Beaches, and traffic. Don’t miss out on the zoo. It’s one of Asia’s largest, and the border between the hot daytime and the coolness of the true evening is the perfect time to go see the birds and the beasts.

Regardless of the Galle Road traffic, this stretch is a lovely place to have a spot of – well, we’d call it tea. Simply duck in through one of the many lanes that lead to the beach and presto: beach. Along the beach are scattered little restaurants. We’d recommend walking down the sands and detoxing at the Station. That puts us up neatly for the evening Galle Road Run.

EVENING

The Galle Road Run

Ah, Galle Road. The route that connects everything to everything else. It’s best if you start at evening, with about an hour left to sunset.

The journey through Galle Road from Mount Lavinia is an epic study of diversity. It’s also a street foodie’s heaven. You start off with a riot of Hindu cuisine, adapted to Sri Lankan palates. A good place to start is Shanmugas ’s vegetarian cuisines. Strictly not on Galle Road, but easy to run into from the journey up from the sands.

There is of course the cinema, and so on. But Galle Road’s true jewels are the Pilawoos scattered across the land-side.

Sri Lanka’s holy trinity of street food is the kottu – a powerful mash of flour strips, spices and meat; the wadey, a delicious spiced flour doughnut served with chilli pastes; and the ice Milo, without which civilization would have collapsed by now. The original Pilawoos essentially redefined street food when they decided to put cheese and roast chicken into a kottu and serve it up to the customers checking in after a night of clubbing. And voila, cheese kottu became an unsurpassed cross between delicacy and junk food. Soon after, unofficial Pilawoos began mushrooming along the road, some of them larger and better than the original, all of them hotels in the Sri Lankan sense of the term.

Traditionally, you have to sit down and eat your meal here, but since we are rushed for time, head down the Galle Road to the Barefoot Cafe. Even quote can wait, because Barefoot, a quaint cross between cafe, art gallery, clothes shop, bookstore, is something you cannot miss. It’s easy to miss, mind you, but once you find it, it’s like Colombo’s Diagon Alley – you keep coming back. Ideally you’ll arrive here just as the sun begins to set.

The food at Barefoot is great, but expensive. Expect to spend around Rs 1,200 here. If kottu calls, backtrack a bit to Bambalapitiya and the hotels that line the road. Kottu will costs around Rs 400/=. Add another Rs 100/= for drinks and you’re sorted.

Homeward bound

Now, if you’ve done all of this, you’ll have made one thoroughly exhausting round of Colombo. Next step: find a resting place.

As you proceed along Galle Road, you’ll run into many fantastic hotels. Cinnamon Grand, with the Crescat shopping mall next door, is particularly lovely at night.

But if you’re about Colombo, make your way over to Cinnamon Red. Check in. Plus point: it’s cheaper than everything we just listed. But even better: it has a rooftop bar with the best view of Colombo, hands-down. It’s open until midnight and from this high perch you can see everything from the ocean and back, and if you’re far-sighted enough, you can even trace the roads you travelled today. Colombo looks fabulous from the air.

There and back again

24 hours is a short time, and we missed out on some places.

One of them’s quite close. If you’re up by dawn again, head back to our starting point on the Galle Face Green. Once you’re done here, pick up the walking stick and head along the seaside road. Up ahead is the Lighthouse. Just past that is a stupa suspended on what looks like a colossal tripod. And, if you’re not afraid of heights, some climbing to do. From up top you can look out over the whole of the Colombo harbor. Don’t believe me? Go see for yourself. And get back safely.

Until next time.