Sri Lanka Express

Wow what a place! To describe Sri Lanka so far, it has to be bustling, hot and friendly. 

The flight wasn’t the best experience. I usually find Emirates to be fantastic but on the way out I was sat with some traditional Arab men who were less than impressed with sharing a row of seats with a women. It’s so fascinating to see the distain on their faces at me being the ‘fairer sex’. 

I had a quick layover in Dubai then I had my next flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Totally travel time was around 13 hours (with layover) and I had about one hours sleep - not good. 

I got to Hotel J and found Vicki by the pool. I’m so lucky to have such an awesome travel buddy. We spent the day chilling by the pool and in the afternoon, we had the most amazing massage. It was a full body massage, an hour long and cost 3,000 LKR. This is roughly £13 - bargain. 

We went for a lovely traditional dinner at a restaurant near our hotel and even stopped for a beer on the way back. I’ve been impressed with how awake I’ve been. I needed to sleep so badly so it was lights out by 10:30pm. 

After a great nights sleep (1 hour 20 mins deep sleep - impressive), we decided to go for a little jog along the beach. Luckily it wasn’t too hot but as we were jogging, a dog decided to sneak up and bark at us, needless to say we both screamed like little girls. 

After our near death experience (ok a tad dramatic) we decided to head into Colombo to explore the city. We had to negotiate the taxi price (apparently it’s my job as I’m very demanding) and we agreed on 5,000 LKR (around £21.50). The journey was around 45 minutes so this seemed like a far price. 

Vicki has been tour guide and directed us over to the Red Mosque. This is a beautiful Muslim pray house. There was a sign regarding how to dress and after reading it, I think it shows that it’s not just Muslims that expect people (not just women) to dress respectfully. 

As we were walking along the road, a gentleman directed us towards the busier area. He was talking to us and explained today was a special day as in Gangaramaya Temple, they had on display the hair from Buddha (like ‘the’ Buddha). This only happens for a few days a year so it’s a special time. 

He seemed like a nice man so we did what any young women travelling would do, we jumped in a Tuk tuk with him and headed to the temple. 

I know this may sound odd but he seemed very genuine and we were in the city and could have left at any time. As we approached the temple, Rokshan (our new friend/guide) explained so many lovely things to us. 

He explained each of the statues they pray to and he blessed us with safe travels and happiness. He explained he believes in Karma and today bought us all to cross paths and he enjoyed showing us his city. 

I explained to Rokshan how much my boyfriend (yes I dropped this in to anyone who will listen) would love being here. I discovered Peters talent of interacting so well with everyone in Antigua and I know he’d love how friendly everyone is. 

In the temple, we saw the oldest tree in Sri Lanka. It was 348 years old and they believe it has a healing powers so we did a ritual where we walked around the tree and ‘watered’ it whilst having our wish intention in mind. 

For this, I was wishing everyone I know and love good health and happiness. These are truly the things I desire. 

After leaving the temple, we jumped back in the tuk tuk and stopped at a few other places to see the sights. 

We were taken to a wholesale jewellery’s. I didn’t realise that Sri Lanka is famous for its sapphires. There are 23 different colours in total. They were all so beautiful and I saw the most amazing pink pear shape. 

I wasn’t sure about buying something but I managed to get the pear shape set into a pendant. I did want it as a ring but I figured another opportunity might arise for a beautiful pear shaped ring (hint hint). This was going to be delivered tonight and cash on delivery however Vicki suggested I check out the reviews of the shop. 

As nice as it was having a ‘free’ guide, we did want to go about our day. Rokshan said had to go and collect his car so he asked the driver to drop him off and for us to be taken to the tea shop. 

Next came the awkward part, the cost of the tuk tuk. The driver said it would be 8,000 LKR. Now this was very steep. Whilst we were with him for 2.5 hours, it was still very expensive. Me being the bitch had to explain to the driver that we didn’t have that money so we ended up paying 4,000 LKR. That was still pretty high considering all the drivers were offering an hour tour for around 1,500 LKR. 

Because our funds were running low (I didn’t even bring my bank card), we decided to head back to Negombo by train. We thought it was be good to do the local experience. I bought the tickets and couldn’t believe it cost 100 LKR for both our tickets. Thats about 23p each. 

At the station we saw this awesome family from the UK (it’s the accent). It was mum, dad, little boy aged maybe 6 and a little girl aged maybe 4. They had the big backpacks and were clearly travelling around the country. I thought this was fantastic! What amazing experiences that family will have. The children will learn so much and will feel far more educated about the World. I’d love to do this #familygoals

When we got back to the hotel, we checked out the reviews of the shop and we couldn’t believe it we’d been scammed. Our lovely friend Rokshan had been a fake! All the crap about being a good Buddhist was a lie. He was in on the scam with the jewellery’s. apparently these well dressed men approach people along the street and there’s a whole host of different rouses they use. Thank goodness I didn’t have enough cash on me so I never paid any money for the neckless. 

It’s definitely left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I try and take people at face value but it shows sometimes I’m too trusting. 

Tonight we met the tour group. They all seem nice and lots of different nationalities. I’m the only Brit of the group. 

I’m looking forward to leaving Negombo/Colombo. It’s fine for a night or two but it doesn’t feel like the real Sri Lanka. Hopefully the group are nice and we can all have a fab time. 

Pineapple Beach Club

I wanted to share an in-depth review of Pineapple Beach Club ("PBC") as it was so fantastic and it should provide you with more information if you wish to visit.

A little background, PBC is an adults only all inclusive resort in Antigua, Caribbean. It's owned by Elite Islands Resorts and up until 2016, it used to be part of the Sandals group. These speaks volumes as to the type of resort it is.

If you're looking for a traditional, laid back Caribbean resort which doesn't require a golf buggy to get you around (although the buggies are available if you're feeling a little lazy) then this is the place for you.

Let me walk you through what's available on the resort and our experiences.

Check in:

We were greeted by several members of staff who asked us to take a seat and we were offered a refreshing cool towel and either a rum or a fruit punch. Our luggage was left safely outside and we were speedy provided a form to sign and given our room cards and padlock for the safe.

We were lucky to arrive just us and another couple so the process was very quick and within minutes we were on a golf buggy heading to our room.

Rooms:

Initially I had booked a beachfront room however I spoke to the reservations team ahead of arriving and queried these rooms as I wanted to ensure everything was perfect as we were celebrating my boyfriend, Peter, birthday whilst we were there. We were checked into a Waterfront room however I will provide some details regarding the other rooms on the resort.

Waterfront rooms:

We were checked into room 526 which was on the first floor and the third room from the end. These rooms are prime location for the action. A few steps from the large main pool, beach, bar and buffet restaurant.

As we opened the door, we were greeted by the refreshing air conditioning and saw straight away the super king sized bed. The room was spacious with a large closet, ample draws and high ceilings with a fan.

I loved the sea breeze style décor and the light colours (grey/blue/white) within the room. We had a sliding door which opened onto the huge private balcony which overlooked the stunning Long Bay beach and ocean.

The bathroom was the only disappointment. It appeared very dated and although the shower was large with great water pressure, there was no room to put any toiletries outside of the shower and we had issues with the toilet constantly filling up and making a noise. It was eventually fixed but this was after about three days.

As I said before, the location of our room was perfect. Close to everything we needed and no steep incline.

Another lovely touch was not only the complimentary bottle of red wine (this was part of our Expedia booking) but also the bottle of sparkling wine to wish Peter a Happy Birthday.

Beachfront rooms:

Whilst we were staying (last week of November 2018) the beachfront rooms in the second block from the beach were being worked on. There was extensive work during the day and it was very noisy if you sunbathed in this area.

It's good that they are being updated but I did notice that there is no private balcony. You simply walk in the front door and then there are no other doors. There is a large window but that's it.

Garden rooms:

We managed to use a shower room before our flight home (just speak to reception the day before you check out and they will provide a room for 30 minutes to use). This was located in the block behind reception and it was room 306.

There were two flights of stairs which are quite steep so if you have mobility issues, these rooms would not be good for you.

The rooms were very small compared to our room and quite dark however they had a nice sized bed and the bathrooms were new.

Restaurants/Bar:

Topaz

This is the main restaurant which serves all three meals as a buffet style. You're able to order drinks from the bar although sometimes it's quicker to bring a drink in.

At first glance, I must admit I wasn't impressed with how the food looked however it tasted wonderful so it shows you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

One thing to watch out for is the naughty birds. They love to drink from your drinks and help themselves to your food if you leave it unattended. 

Breakfast:

The best eggs are made by Jo-Ann and Winston. I had the best omelettes and you get to chose whatever you want in them. Peter would have his three poached eggs each morning and they also served hard boiled and scrambled eggs in the buffet.

You can get a fresh smoothie made and there are lots of ingredients to choose from. There is also the traditional cooked breakfast, pancakes, waffles and continental offering. Don't forget to try the coconut muffins and the monkey bread.

Also you must have a mimosa at breakfast (treat yourself you're on holiday) and you can order lattes, cappuccinos etc. but these often take a little time to arrive.

Lunch:

Usual buffet offering a selection of hot dishes and salads. We found the buffet to be very focussed on one particular cuisine which I quite liked otherwise you end up with a plate of random food.

Dinner:

Similar to lunch with a specific cuisine. We tried the Mexican and Mediterranean nights. Both very nice and yummy.

They offer wines by the glass at the restaurant or you can order a drink from the bar. I loved the sparkling wine with dinner.

Chef Pietro's:

We dined here one night. The service was absolutely fantastic! Very fast and attentive. However, the food was a little average.

I had the scallop ceviche for starter which was lovely and Peter had the melon and Parma ham but this was a tiny portion. My main was the chicken gnocchi which was nice and Peter had the sword fish which was overcooked and too salty. The pana cotta wasn't a traditional one and more like a mouse however the chocolate lava cake was nice.

Pineapple Grill:

Whilst the food was yummy, the service was incredibly slow and not as friendly as other places to dine. I can't remember our starters but I had the one pot chicken for main which was lovely. I thought it might be more 'traditional' however it was still good.

You can opt to pay extra for the steak and lobster.

Street party:

On Wednesday nights, they alternate between a street party and a beach party. We had our most enjoyable meal at the street party. So many traditional dishes such as curried goat, ox tail and mashed plantain. The desserts were also the best!

I liked being sat with other people and it's a great way of chatting to some other guests. The steel band playing in the background and all the street lights made the perfect setting.

Pelican Grill:

This is the place to grab a quick bite to eat. We had the burger and chips for lunch one day at it was yummy. You can also get great ice creams here.

They serve nice wraps, sweet potato fries, onion rings, cookies and a few other quite bites.

Mary's Outhouse:

We loved this for our lunch spot. It's a little walk to the top but you're greeted by the friendliest staff and amazing views. Help yourself to a cold Sol from the cool box and enjoy the amazing ribs, chicken and coleslaw.

Keep and eye out for the mongoose who roam around and maybe through them some scraps. Also, don't forget to either take a plaque with you to nail up or they can give you some wood and markers to leave your stamp for others to see.

Sly Mongoose:

This was the main bar and opened at 10:00am. They have a cocktail list with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. The strawberry daiquiris, cosmopolitans and pretty much every cocktail we tried was fantastic!

The bar staff were so friendly and often I'd just ask for something fruity and rum based and they would surprise me.

Daily entertainment:

Water sports:

The water sports desk is located on the beach to the right and here you can get the snorkelling equipment to explore over to the right. We saw lots of colourful fish and corals.

We briefly went out on the stand up paddle boards but I got a little bored (no pun intended!).

The lovely Kevin also took us out on a Hobicat and was telling us all about life in Antigua.

There is also kayaks to take out and if you sail, you can take one of the smaller Hobicats out yourself.

Activity board:

Each day there would be an update on the chalk board telling you the host of activities available. These varied from day to day but do check out the yoga on the beach at 7:30am on a Thursday. Also the same teacher has a Pilates class on Tuesday evening.

Each day there was aqua aerobics in the main pool at 10:30am and volley ball at 4:00pm. Other days there were tennis lessons, mixology classes, beach cricket and learning about Antigua. There was always something to get involved with.

If organised activities is not your thing then help yourself to one of the board games on offer, there was also giant scrabble, giant connect four, giant Jenga and a pool table.

There's also a book shelf to help yourself to books and also leave some behind. I often left my magazines I'd finished with here.

Evening activities:

The activity board also provided the details for the evening entertainment. Sometimes it was a local band playing however they also had a Couples Quiz (we took part and it was great fun) and karaoke (we also took part and it was cringe but adorable - thanks Peter for singing to me).

All the action was in the main area of the Sly Mongoose bar. This made popping to the bar nice and easy during the evening.

Swimming pools:

There are three pools at the resort however I must confess we only spent about half an hour in one of them one evening as we loved the beach so much.

The pools all appeared clean and had ample sunbeds available. The main pool, with the aqua aerobics, is located next to the Sly Mongoose bar.

Beach:

I loved Long Bay beach. It was cleaned of the seaweed each morning. Towards the end of our holiday, there were issues with a lot of seaweed in the sea but this is not the resorts fault and simply can not be helped.

We had no issues findings sunbeds and we would choose the beds close to the Sly Mongoose bar so it was the perfect location. Tip: You can sometimes pick up the free wifi here too.

The beach is approximately 0.50 miles long. We often walked the length and it was lovely snorkelling off to the far right of the beach.

The main area of sun loungers is near the volley ball courts however I found this to be noisy due to the constructions and I much preferred being at the other end of the beach.

Gym/Tennis courts:

If table tennis is your thing, then you'll be pleased with the tables located both to the left of the beach and also outside the gift shop.

The two tennis courts were well maintained but be careful as they were slippery due to the sand. The rackets and ball are available at the court so none of that leaving a deposit at reception malarkey.

The gym was very good. You need a room card to open the door. The equipment is fairly new and comprehensive. Peter is a big gym fan and he was impressed with the equipment too.

Overall:

I feel like I've covered a lot in detail. This was my fiftieth country I've visited and it was actually the best holiday I've ever had. What made it perfect was all the wonderful people we interacted with. The staff genuinely wanted to talk to you, as did the other guests.

PCB has something special for everyone that visits. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an email beckyboo1986@gmail.com

A week of pure bliss has come to an end.

I can’t believe we’re back already. Our week of winter sun truly didn’t disappoint.
Antigua was my 50th and best country. I can honestly say I’ve not had a holiday like it before. Huge thanks to Antigua and Peter for making it so special.
The cocktails were free flowing from about 11:00am (unless you class the breakfast mimosa as a cocktail?). We did start taking pictures each ‘cheers’ but we soon stopped as we realised if anyone looks at our photos we may look alcohol dependent.

We spent a lot of time on beautiful Long Bay beach. There are 365 beaches in Antigua - one for every day of the year. We loved the fact the beaches are open to the public so often we’d see the locals going for a swim and the kiddies running and giggling along the beach.
Pineapple Beach Club has as much or as little as you’d like to do. I’ll do a separate post purely on the resort but we definitely took advantage of all they had to offer (and not just the cocktails).
Peter was made up with the gym and we went pretty much every day (except for the one afternoon I napped and Peter went). The tennis courts were well maintained and I took part in a few classes.
My favourite class was the yoga on the beach at 7:30am. It was so relaxing and even when it rained (the five minutes of rain we had all week) it actually felt quite cleansing.
There were lots of water sports available too and Peter even did stand up paddle boarding (SUP) with me. He was adamant he didn’t want to do it but he wasn’t allowed to swim next to me so being the gent he is, he came out with me.

We were also lucky to be taken out on a hobi cat by the lovely Denis and he was telling us about life in Antigua. It sounded just as idyllic as we thought it would be. It seems like they work hard but the normal 40 hour per week. I think sometimes they have other jobs to pick up extra cash. But their downtime is spent fishing for dinner and swimming in the sea.

Although we were doing lots of things, we still had amble time simply relaxing. This resort knows how to relax with so many different ‘relaxation stations’ dotted around. One of my favourite moments was after we finished at the gym one evening, we then laid in a hammock for about an hour simply chatting and chilling.

I have been lucky to visit the Caribbean before but everything was so much more special with Peter. He was chatting to absolutely everyone and it was wonderful seeing how much he makes people smile (although some of his jokes were not understood by the locals).
The people also made this holiday perfect. Every single member of staff was so friendly and accommodating but also all the guests were friendly and even the locals when we were out jogging people would all say hello.
After spending so much time with Peter (it’s the longest we’ve been together the two of us), I’m so sad to be apart again. I know you always get along better on holiday but it honestly was so perfect between us. I truly loved every moment. Even if he didn’t listen to me about staying up late the first night to ensure we don’t wake up early and he slept through but I woke up 4:30am.
We’re so lucky to be heading back to the Caribbean in February. We’re super excited to explore new places together and spend more time together.
This trip has reminded me of a lovely saying I discovered in Costa Rica - Pura Vita. It means ‘simple life’ and that’s exactly what I want from the future.