Monthly Archives: January 2017

Wherefore art thou rain?

Arid times in Sri Lanka this year.  We’re experiencing the worst drought for about 40 years and we’re doing a little rain dance, every day.

In Negombo, on the western coast of Sri Lanka the rainy season seemed to pass us by.  Usually, we experience heavy monsoon rains from October through to December, breathing life back into the soil, the plants and bringing a sense of renewal.

What actually happened was 1 night of very heavy rain in November and about 4 days of light drizzle – and nothing since.

What’s more, the scorching temperatures are causing havoc with our swimming pools, wells and plant life.  On the hottest day we can literally see a half inch of water evaporate from the swimming pool in front of our eyes.  It’s requires creativity to manage!

Scientists are saying that we’re unlikely to see proper rain until June or July 2017 and in general we can expect temperatures in the area to soar over the coming few years.  This really is climate change ‘in your face’ and it brings to life the absolute requirement for improved management of plastics and other waste.

How will drought affect our guests and other travellers? 

There are two things that travellers may notice.

 Sri Lanka runs on Hydropower.  So, lack of water will create more country-wide power cuts (already seen in 2016).  If the property you’re staying in doesn’t have a back up generator then you might want to prepare for a few warm hours.
If you stay at properties which are slightly off the beaten track, they may not have access to a government water supply and might only have a well.  As a result, their gardens and plants may be suffering from the weather […]

By |January 31st, 2017|Blog|Comments Off on Wherefore art thou rain?|

What Does Colombo Airport Closures Mean For You?

Renovations at Colombo Airport start from 6th January and will last for approximately 3 months.  Please be aware, the closure may last longer than April 6th.

What does it mean for travellers?  Well, all flights arrive between 5.30pm and 8am so there are no daytime arrivals.  As a result, there are many more flights being squeezed into a short space of time so the airport terminal will be busy on arrival.  Please make arrangements to meet drivers at a specific point and ask to use someone’s phone if you can’t find your pick up.

Travellers are also being advised to arrive at the airport 5 hours prior to flight departure, rather than the usual 3 hours.  So, if you’re travelling with kids, get prepared with books and snacks and things to do during the wait.  Colombo is a small airport.  Check-in desks close 90 mins before departure so if you’re travelling to the airport around around 5-7pm be aware that the normal end of day traffic will be at least doubled with the airport congestion.

If you’re travelling from the South, please allow for traffic in Colombo and around the airport.

By |January 5th, 2017|Blog|Comments Off on What Does Colombo Airport Closures Mean For You?|