Category: Water

Wildlife Holiday at Muthurajawela Wetland

In the stillness, water splashes against the boat as you drift gently along. A peculiar bird call carries across the breeze, sometimes answered in return by another bird, a unique form of communication that humans are not privy to. Suddenly in your line of sight, you catch a flash of brown; you scan the skies and then you spot it; a majestic Brahminy kite soaring through the air, wings fully expanded, surveying the territory below. The Muthurajawela Wetland offers such outdoor adventures, perfect for bird watching enthusiasts.

A saltwater coastal peat bog which is the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka, the Muthurajawela Wetland is a protected sanctuary and is rich in biodiversity. This wetland is within easy reach of the coastal city of Negombo known for offering both luxury and budget hotels in Sri Lanka. Amongst the budget options, Hotel J Negombo is amongst the choices one can consider and is a little over half an hour drive from the Muthurajawela Visitor Centre.

Located in between the Kelani River and the Negombo Lagoon, Muthurajawela is one of the island’s most important wetlands and is part of a habitat that encompasses more than 6,000 hectares of mangroves and marshland. Within this thriving ecosystem, one can find around 190 plant species and more than 200 animal species, of which bird species number more than a hundred.

One of the best ways to explore and experience the natural heritage of the Muthurajawela Wetland is to take a boat ride along the waters. If you are into bird watching make sure you have a field guide book or a knowledgeable friend or guide who can identify the different birds you may come across. Keep your eyes peeled for varieties such as cormorants, purple swamp hens, common moorhens, common redshanks, lesser whistling-ducks and white-bellied sea eagles. Birds aside, you may also spot toque monkeys, water monitors and saltwater crocodiles, among the other animal residents that call Muthurajawela home.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Surfing in Negombo

Negombo, a town situated in the North of the capital, Colombo is a tourist paradise as the south coast of the country. The breathtaking lagoon and the stunning Negombo beaches along with cultural sites make it a perfect destination to explore. The warm waters are ideal for surfers of all ages who are interested in exploring the waters.

Accommodation can be found at many budget hotels in Sri Lanka, however, even when travelling with a budget one ought to stay at places that provide convenient access to the beaches and offer comfortable lodging such as Hotel J Negombo. One of the great things about Negombo is that it is a surfing hub all year around. From amateur to most experienced surfers, the waves of Negombo can be a real treat. However, that being said, if you are planning to go windsurfing during January to March, the shore breaks can be a bit challenging and require some expertise. It’s always advisable to speak to the locals and check on the tides & undercurrents before you head out to explore the waters. Apart from windsurfing travellers can also go kite surfing during their visit to Negombo.

Surf schools and rental places can be found in Negombo for those interested in learning the ropes of surfing for the first time. These places will offer you the chance to rent out any type of surfing gear you need starting from wetsuits to boots and boards.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Banana Reef

Maldives is well known for its remarkable natural dive sites. Banana Reef is one of the oldest dive sites that can be found in Maldives that is renowned internationally. The reef is shaped like a banana which provides excellent protection to the marine area. It is also a protected marine spot due to its exceptional shape, a large number of fish varieties that dwell beneath the shimmering waters and rare caves and canyons that are found scattered across the depths of the sea. Due to its popularity among divers, it is frequented by tourists as well as locals who enjoy diving in spectacular natural locations. If you are a diving fan and staying in a Maldives luxury resort the likes of COMO Cocoa Island, The Maldives, you can take a boat trip to this must visit location to fulfil your diving fantasies. Beginners, as well as professional divers, are sure to enjoy this panoramic reef that boasts beautiful soft coral growths, overhangs and small canyons.

The multicoloured coral reefs and large schools of small to big fish that can be seen here make your dive worthwhile. Some of the predators that can be seen here include barracudas, sharks and groupers. It is also home to an array of small and attractive fish species that can be widely seen while diving.

Banana Reef is situated north of Male within the atoll when you pass the airport. Diving takes a new meaning at Banana Reef when the current is relatively mild. It is the best time for all types of divers to take a plunge and explore the breathtakingly beautiful soft corals quite safely. However, diving near the middle of this reef area can be quite risky for amateurs due to the strong incoming currents across the channel that can create an effect of a spinning washing machine!

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Chao Phraya River in Bangkok

Almost every city in the world has a river flowing through it and the history of the city and the river are often intertwined. So does one of South East Asia’s favourite cities, Bangkok. The Chao Phraya river is considered to be the lifeblood of the city. It has been a busy river even in the early years and it still continues to be one. The scenes around the river have been changing over the year with the condos, the sky scrapers, the hotels and the hotel apartments in Bangkok all lining up the banks. With hotel-style apartments being the latest addition to the Bangkok accommodation options, properties such as Chatrium Residence Sathon Bangkok is located a stone’s throw away from Chao Phraya.

The river was chosen by early settlers due to the fertility soil as well as the abundance of fish. Today the river has evolved into a tourist central with activities. There are countless river cruises with dining options and there is entertainment on the river as well as on the banks of the river. The river is still used for transportation, with locals using it for their daily commute and for commodities to be transported. Some of the tours not only allow you to explore the river and it’s banks but also let you to explore some of the iconic monuments and landmarks of Bangkok such as the reclining Buddha and the Grand Palace.

The river is known as the river of the kings as after the fall of Ayutthaya, King Taskin made this his new capital and later king Rama I followed through finding the Eastern banks of Chao Phraya more favourable. Today it still is the lifeblood of Bangkok with around 50 000 people’s daily commute depending on it. The river and its canals have earned the city the name “The Venice of the East”.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Shazzana Hamid is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary. Disguised as Lavinia Woolf she writes of the exhilarating and enchanting.Google+

Snorkeling in Bentota for that unforgettable liquid adventure

Located 64 kilometers south of Colombo, Bentota is a charming rural town with leafy landscape   sheltered with tall coconut trees majoring on sandy tropical beaches. Bentota can be reached through the Colombo- Galle main road and also by the Colombo Matara Southern Railway.

Bentota is a popular beach resort in Sri Lanka with a wide selection of luxury resorts together with budget and mid range resorts offering the visitor all amenities required for a comfortable stay and it is known to offer the lovers of water sport all facilities with a  tried and tested infrastructure.

Bentota is renowned as an idyllic destination for snorkeling between the months November and April and blessed with calm seas that are ideal for snorkeling and is geared to meet the needs of the visitor. A simple stroll around the town will fetch many outlets hiring out diving/snorkeling equipment that are mostly managed by industry professionals with PADI certification.

It is a well- known fact that Bentota’s undersea spectacle is as spellbinding as the inland topography. Underneath the Indian Ocean waters lie acres and acres of colored coral, tropical fish and submerged ship wrecks which will activate the diehard visitor to take up a memorable and everlasting snorkeling adventure. The seas of Bentota are warm and maintain a consistent warmth of almost 27C almost throughout the year.

Various species of fish are in plenty off the reef of Bentota. Almost 500 varieties of fish can be found in Sri Lanka. Your snorkeling adventure will find you a spectrum of fish from small damselfish to large parrot fish, jacks and groupers. It is believed that the good locations to see hoards of fish are in places where commercial fishing does not take place. The main dive site in Bentota is the Canoe Rock, where one will come across sandy belts together with segments where formation of coral takes place. Snorkelers have the preference of snorkeling from a boat or from the shore and Bentota will not disappoint even the die hard enthusiasts of snorkeling.

Avani Bentota Resort is a Bentota hotel which is unique because of its design, radiating an invigorating minimalistic character enveloped with its leading edge style offering a dreamy getaway for the family or the individual traveller. It is one of the best resorts in Bentota with well- appointed comforts, thought provoking atmosphere and just right place to wind down, chill out and let go.