| Sri Lanka is certainly one of the hottest destinations to | | | | by day and a nightclub by night. This is a place |
| see this year and it turns out the bars and clubs might | | | | boasting class and style, with a very relaxed |
| be one huge drawing card. | | | | environment. |
| Recently, a friend of mine travelled to the beautiful tear | | | | No matter where you spend your nights, you can be |
| shaped island for many reasons. She and her | | | | sure your cocktails will contain Sri Lanka's signature |
| boyfriend wanted an experience like no other. They | | | | spice. Cinnamon is used in foods, drinks and contains |
| wanted to eat great traditional food, sip on cocktails | | | | an essential oil which gives the aromatic flavour when |
| while sitting beneath cinnamon trees and generally | | | | extracted from the bark of the tree. The native spice |
| having a holiday which other tourists have yet to | | | | has a warm, sweet woody aroma that is delicate yet |
| experience. "We wanted to see Sri Lanka in its original | | | | intense. Typically, you'll find the fragrant spice added to |
| state, before the huge hotel chains invade it and the | | | | cocktails which are served warm and usually |
| place becomes the newest tourist destination," said | | | | bartenders will make cinnamon based syrup which |
| Luci Martin. "I use to go to Thailand for a true Asian | | | | they mix in cocktails. The best beverages to combine |
| holiday, but it has become over populated with tourists, | | | | with cinnamon are apple cider or bourbon. It also goes |
| hotel chains, department stores and doesn't have the | | | | well when paired with almond, blood orange, |
| same feel anymore." | | | | blackberry, cranberry, mandarin, fig, chocolate, coffee, |
| Luci said Sri Lanka's certainly not advertised as a | | | | pear, walnut and banana. |
| hotspot for nightclubs and nightlife, but it definitely has | | | | If clubbing and bar hopping isn't your thing, there is |
| a more thriving party vibe than neighbouring Nepal or | | | | plenty more to do and see in Sri Lanka. One highlight |
| India. "Alcohol laws aren't as strict in Sri Lanka as they | | | | for Luci was the day she cycled through the paddy |
| are in other Asian countries," she said. "We found | | | | fields, temples and villages to visit icons like the Sigiriya |
| there were heaps of places where we could drink and | | | | Rock. She loved the nine course Sinhalese meal in the |
| dance in the capital city of Colombo." Most of the bars | | | | former home of a Kandayan Chief [now known as |
| and clubs are housed in five star hotels. Gambling is | | | | the Kandy House]. You could also clime Sri Pada – |
| illegal in some south Asian countries, but they get | | | | Sri Lanka's holiest mountain, swim at Wijaya beach or |
| around it by calling the casinos clubs. | | | | munch on coconuts as you stroll through tea |
| Luci recommends a few good spots for drinking and | | | | plantations. |
| dancing here. The Blue Elephant for great lighting and | | | | What ever you do while over there, make sure you |
| the chance to request your favourite songs. For retro | | | | embrace the smells, stunning visual landscapes and of |
| beats and the most beautiful view over the beach, hit | | | | course, test out the bars and nightclubs. We think you |
| up the oldest nightclub in Sri Lanka- the Hut. Glow plays | | | | should do it now before others catch on to this new |
| host to live bands, Zanzi Bar provides an upmarket | | | | and unique holiday destination. |
| partying place and The Library is just that – a library | | | | |
