Arugam Bay: the holiday destination that must be experienced. You cannot but fall in love with the cozy little village basking in the warmth of the sun. Off the South East shore of Sri Lanka, the rustic town can be explored within a couple of hours. The sleepy hamlet morphs into a hotbed of activity during May up until the end of August. It transforms into the ultimate beach-party destination, coast dotted with campfires, music, laughter and people everywhere. During the rest of the year it is serene and laid back, a a tranquil retreat. The majority of the community is Tamil speaking Muslims and with only one liquor distributor a few miles away from the village its vices are limited to laziness and indulgence.
There are no star class hotels in Arugam Bay. Little motels called guest houses and chalets accommodate a variety of tourists ranging from lower middle class Sri Lankans, swanky leisure hunters and Australian surfers to the many lovers of the sand-sun-sea holiday. A few boast air conditioned rooms and exclusive luxuries. Yet unexpectedly the menus printed on cheap paper show an unlikely combination of choc chip smoothies, Nazi Goren, fish and chips, Caesar salad, Banana Pancakes with maple syrup, mash potato with crunchy bacon, sunny side ups and buttered toast. The traditional rice, curry and rotti dishes are not to be forgotten either.
The nights can be throbbing with life or a lulling quiet depending on the time of the year. As darkness gives way to the first ray of dawn, you are in for the most breathtaking sight. The sunrise at Arugam Bay is spectacular. The morning colors the horizon with hues of golden yellow, deep tangerine, vibrant reds and pale pinks. The sky, a painted canvas, is mirrored on the still seas. Cool breeze surrounds you as the waves break softly at your feet and the warm sun welcomes you to daybreak at Arugambay. Surprisingly though sea baths are off limits after noon, as the waves become rough and dangerous during the day and grow higher towards the night. Arugam Bay, it is said, is a ‘surfer paradise’. The pristine beaches, the amazingly thrilling waves and the endless supply of water sport enthusiasts make it an ideal place to chill and surf.
Spend your day at the edge of the ocean sitting on the shore with the sea lapping around you; gaze at an endless horizon gleaming in the sun. At night read a book by lamplight, lounged on a deck chair; look up at the sky and take in a canopy of stars spread across a deep blue canvas. If you are the kind of traveler who wants the sun on your face and the sea at your feat, then Arugam Bay has your name written all over it.
