Hi there,

Okay one by one.

1) Haven't been to Arugam but read that all is rebuilt, including Stardust.

2) A lot better weather for all of East Coast, as the West Monsoon does not influence it then.

3) Colombo-Arugam: 8 hours

Arugam-Kandy: 6 hours (smaller roads than the coastal one)

4) None. Even Mount Lavinia does NOT have a real private beach (we were there last year), they're all connected. As you will be aware, beach boys often can come on the beach but are kept away from the hotel gardens and premises.

Hope this does not lead to sentencing by the judges!

Have fun,

<Erik> & [Sandya]

Thanks very much, a few questions taken care of there!

Hi

Just thought I would add bit to Erik's post.

We stayed at Arugam Bay last year and met a family who were staying at the Stardust. Stardust is rebuilt - good hotel probably the best in Arugam Bay, although there are quite a few parts of Arugam Bay that haven't been rebuilt after the Tsunami. Many of the local are unhappy that they they got hardly any funds for rebuilding.

Weather in Arugam Bay is fantastic in August, probably the best time of the year for Surfing and swimming. Completely different to Bentota and Tangalle which is affected by the monsoon and so can't swim due to the currents and wind. Weather is still ok on the West coast, just the occasional afternoon shower. Arugam Bay is very quite, only about 20-30 keen surfers.

The trip from Colombo to Arugam Bay takes about 8-9 hours if you choose the right time to travel. Many of the local travel very early in the morning (before dawn) which they find is best. The route is via the A8 through Ratnapura. You may find it best to arrange with the Stardust for travel - many Colombo drivers are reluctant to travel much beyond Monaragala. Our driver did eventually after he checked up with the Police and Army. Arugam Bay is safe but there were lots of rumours flying around about Sinhalese tourists drivers being kidnapped in the jungle around Lahugala - all false but such is the state of concern in Sri Lanka at the moment. We actually found that there was only one Police/Army checkpoint on the road the Arugam Bay.

We used a tour/driver organised through Jetwing and the family we met who stayed at the Stardust used Red Dot tours. Both will travel to Arugam bay as part of and agreed tour so long as you make this clear in advance and they get a driver who agrees to go there.

Arumgam bay to Kandy will be longer due to the mountains but the journey is spectacular, we did the trip the other way round going from Nuwara to Arugam Bay and then on to Yala and Galle.

Hope this helps.

Ken