7 Money Talk: Avoid Crowded Trains – Achieve Better Returns 8 Feature: Super League Spending In The CSL J
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12 Dining: Ban Ban, Wonderland And FIELDS’ Absurdly Easy Homemade Ice Cream 15 The Seoul Hotel Supplement
Splendid Sri
Lanka
The Jewel Of The Indian Ocean
June17 TalkMagazine
UPFRONT
COVER STORY
Splendid Sri Lanka The Jewel Of The Indian Ocean Nyima Pratten
Sri Lanka is a country steeped in colonial history, bursting with flavours and fragrances and alive with the buzz of a young population and growing economy. Visit the island nation in the sparkling Indian Ocean for an unforgettable holiday experience.
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wo direct flights service the route between Shanghai and Colombo, one with Sri Lankan Airlines and the other with China Eastern. Although the flight is a long slog, coming in at just over seven hours, the time investment definitely pays off when you touch down in Colombo and switch on your out of office reply.
When visiting the city, make sure that a sun downer at the Galle Face Hotel is on the top of your list of things to. Stay at the Banyan Treethe Club & Spa was Seoul whileonit by hasfour Originally a Dutch Villa, building taken beenentrepreneurs transformed into a white complete British in 1864 andwonderland quickly became known with a magical ice rink winter. With the Winter as the best hotel East of thethis Suez Canal. Watch the sun set Wonderland Package, will receive benefits in one of the hotel’s bars, you Chequerboard, which is set out including foroftwo Granum Lounge, on the lawn inbreakfast the heart theathotel facingDining the ocean. Each food, and spa bagpiper vouchers plays alongas with access night, thebeverage hotel’s resident thefree country’s ice rink. Thelowered. delightfully snowy setting will also flagtoisthe ceremoniously be a beautiful bonus.
Magic Winter Package
Start any trip to Sri Lanka in the commercial capital city of Colombo, where you can build
Unwind
your first impressions of the island nation. Set on the Of course, when talking aboutis the Banyan metropolis, Tree, the with Western coastline, Colombo a budding naturally must getfrom a mention. Banyan arenowned myriad ofspa foreign investment other Asian nations, Treecommercial Spa offers a range of servicesbuildings to hotel guests, new and residential are popping up club members, well as theproject generaltopublic. Theland Spahas also all over the city,asand a large reclaim features restarted, 11 treatment rooms, including recently after funding issues. five deluxe single rooms, four deluxe double rooms and two spa suites. Allistreatment rooms include bathroomshistory, and Colombo a city with a long and prestigious relaxation areas and the spa suites are port equipped with having been an international trading for thousands of Rainmist rooms unique Rainmist years. It was also for thethe capital cityTropical of the country during the experiences. time of the British Empire, when the country was referred Finally, theCeylon, hotel also great still dining to as British andhas as such hasand a lot of beautiful drinkingbuildings. options; Granum Dining Lounge, with an colonial
TalkMagazine
June17
Drinking
Shopping
There are so many great ways to spend your evening in Seoul. We suggest partying it up in Hongdae, where you are surrounded by cheap and cheerful dive bars, with exotic drinks, reasonable prices and interesting clientele. Nestled in the heart of a university zone, this area is always buzzing so you can be sure to find a bit of mischief to get up to. If you fancy something more refined, you should definitely take this opportunity to get your Gangnam Style on. Head over to Ellui to see and be seen. As one of the largest clubs in Asia, it regularly attracts international acts making it one of the most popular spots in town. You may even bump into a K-Pop star or two.
Seoul is in a league of its own when it comes
Eating
There is such a variety of food in Seoul and not enough time to try it all, but you can certainly give it your best shot. Shoot over to Meyendong after 4pm every day to experience the bustle of a busy high street crammed full of food stalls. The winter season is quite possibly the best time to visit for the grilled chestnuts, sizzling hotteok (a sweet Korean, fried pancake), warming tteokbokki (thick rice cakes and fish cakes in a unique chilli sauce), dried cuttlefish, squid and octopus along with our favourite, gyeran bbang (a sweet egg bread best eaten hot off the stove). Alternatively, Itaewon, also known as Western Town, has a wide array of eateries and some great Korean bbq restaurants with top quality beef. Make sure you order the Korean signature bibimbap (a mixed rice dish served in a searing hot bowl with a raw egg, meat, sautĂŠed vegetables and a vibrant red chilli pepper paste). June17  TalkMagazine
UPFRONT
COVER STORY
Food options abound in Colombo, but make sure you check out Ministry of Crab, situated in the Old Dutch Hospital, a refurbished, trendy dining and entertainment venue first built in 1677. The restaurant is listed in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, and specialises in Sri Lankan crab, which is exported all around the world. The chilli crab is phenomenal and fresh, with other seafood options also available. After getting your fill of Colombo, take the coastal hugging train from the city to the seaside town of Bentota. The train journey itself is an experience, with locals jumping on and off the train and only standing room available during the busiest times of day. In Bentota, make sure you visit unique, boutique hotel, Paradise Road The Villa Bentota, designed by iconic Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The original buildings date back to the 1800s and are set back from the coastal train line, reminding visitors to the country of the important transportation vein travelling North to South fueling the economy. The beach is accessible after crossing the train tracks and there are manicured gardens, mangrove trees and a pool surrounding the rooms themselves. This is the town for relaxing by the beach and indulging in Sri Lankan delicacies such as hoppers, a rice flour bowlshaped bread, and cashew nut curry.
After rest and relaxation in Bentota, head further down the coast to Galle, the old fort town in the South West of the island. Portuguese traders first arrived in Galle in the early 1500s, after getting lost on their way to the Maldives. In 1640, the Portuguese surrendered the town to the Dutch East India Company, who built the present fort. Take a stroll around the beautiful old town, with its red tiled roofs and crumbling fort jutting out into the sea. When in Galle, don’t miss the opportunity to have afternoon tea in the Amangalla, set in the heart of the old town. The hotel is set in a period building from 1684, which has been lovingly restored to its original glory.
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June17
Nibble on scones and clotted cream and sip on the finest Ceylon tea as you are transported to a bygone, colonial era. Sri Lanka is a wonderful mix of old worldly charm and optimism for the future. Although the country is currently suffering from terrible floods, this is an island that has seen much upheaval in its recent history, yet is warm and welcoming to all visitors that cross its shores. Make Sri Lanka your next travel destination.