Samstag, 2. Juli 2011

*****TROPICAL GARDEN RESTAURANT - GUESTBOOK

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 8:44pm
Tamara and Jarl de Raritz, Eindhoven, Holland, Dec. 23. 2007
We got a recommendation from friends to come and eat here. So we did and ordered one day before for 2 persons nice fresh jumbo prawns! We did not expect that this meal would be the best meal we would have in the 3 weeks of visiting Sri Lanka. Not o mention the quantity of the food, so much and so delicious we could ear for 3 days, we really was unable to finish it. Do not hesitate to come here, please do and you will be pleasantly surprised.


 Emma and Ade, Kent UK, 30. October 2009 We ate here on a friends recommendation, and what a wonderful it was. We had fresh lobster and what can be only described as a feast (And there was only the two of us!) Wonderful host, would recommend anyone coming to Sri Lanka to come here. 

Jen and Graham Hefford, UK, 24. Sept. 2009 The true gem of Sri Lanka. The food is out of this world, lovely service. A very warm welcome, ahome from home! A really remarkable experience. This is the real Sri Lanka at its best!

Linda Macaughen, Qatar, 23. Sept. 2009 Thank you sunita!!! You are a special lady and you made my friends and myself feel special too. The welcome and the meal was excellent - much more than we could have hoped for and produced for us without the required notice. Thank you for sharing paradise. My husband and myself wish certainly be back to stay. God bless!!!



Ivan and Nicki Gamath, UK, 23. Sept. 2009 Wow! We have had a fabulous time, relaxing by the pool, being treated like princesses and enjoying the most amazing lunch. Thank you for such a special afternoon - ypu are a wonderful hostess sunita. We will be back to see you next time we are here. Best wishes to you and your family. 


Dave Smith, 14. Sept. 2009 Without a doubt the best meal I have ever had. A perfect setting with grat service from lovely people, and that's not to mention the food......outstanding!

Jen Srubt, England, 14. Sept. 2009 We had a fantastic meal! I never had anything like it before probably again....until me come back. Definitely something to experience and enjoy with excellent and friendly service from a lovely stuff. Recommended definitely!


Jane Cowan, Scotland, 12. Sept. 2009 Fabulous food - fresher than fresh thing and full of flavour! So much food! Service is brilliant, the setting is perfect - but the people make it even of an occasion. Sorry, I didn't come sooner!
Karen, Scotland, 12. Sept. 2009 This was the best seafood I have ever tasted!!! The service was excellent and the choice second to none. The homemade Mango and Chocolate Icecream was to die for. Wish we had found it sooner..........next time!!

Anne and Ken, England, 25. February 2009 Thank you for the BEST meal we have ever had in Sri Lanka. You gave us such a warm welcome and we look forward to returning sometime soon. Thank you so much and best wishes to all your family!



Paul and June, England, 2. Sept. 2009 Great meal, really good clean tasting. Good great service. I would recommend any one to come! What a feast!!! Love Sunita!


Reinhold and Doris Stiller, Germany, 27. January 2009 The best srilankan menu we have enjoyed. Also we spent a nice time with you.

Kim and Mick Dolan, England, 20. February 2009 My name is Kim and my boyfriend Mick had the most wonderfull menu and meal. The food was the best we have ever tested before and we spent a lovely night with Sunita and Koni. It was a most fabulous experience! Thank you Sunita and Koni! WE WILL BE BACK!



Sue and Malcolm Buck, England, 15. January 2009 My husband and I really loved our meal. There was lots to enjoy and we will return again. Every dish was perfect and tasty.

Vic and Judy Jones, England, 27. January 2009 We enjoyes the most wonderful fish meal with extremely pleasant company. Great to meet local people!

John and Isaella Wuertheim, Wuerzburg, Deutschland
Wir waren mit Evi und Helmut zum Essen und es war phantastisch - schade, dass nicht mehr in den Bauch passt! Vielen Dank.
Jan. 17. 2008

Karen Michelan, Guildford, Surrey, UK
An excellent meal of local jumbo prwns plus much, much more and all served with a smile. Thank you Sunita!
Aug. 22. 2008

Neil and Barbara Brown, Edinburgh, Scotland
A fantastic meal! It is one of the best meals I have ever had. The garden is beautiful too.
Aug. 1. 2008

Sep. 15. 2008 Nigel and Valerie Hightchman, Bristol, UK A fantastic mealn in beautiful surroundings made to feel very welcome.

Aug. 29. 2008
Meryl Newns, Surrey, England
The best meal I have had for a long time. Beautifully presented and wonderful happy atmoshere. I hope to return Sunita.
Aug. 22. 2008



Just 15 meters outside from Kosgoda Beach Resort you find Sunitas lovely, small garden restaurant SANKAREST.
In August 2008 we, 16 english visitors from the Kosgoda Beach Resort, celebrate a fantastic seafood party in Sunitas garden restaurant.
You have to order one day in advance but then you will get fresh seafood like in paradise. Sunita served us to the beginning home made garlic toast and well chilled local white wine and beer was served as well.
Then we all was breathtaking surprised by a wonderful decorated seafood plate with lobsters, jumbo prawns, a big crab and a huge, juicy tuna steak. All this was served on a salad accompanied with wonderfully fried rice, garlic sauce and various curries. Sunita served all for everyone at the same time and we enjoyed a great seafood meal. In the end we got fresh pineapple and lovely, sweet bananas.
This all Sunita served for a very reasonable price and we can recommend SANKAREST to all seafood lovers.

“Its difficult to leave this tranquil oasis on Kosgoda beach”


tripadvisor review Sep 28, 2009

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 6:56pm
We made the mistake of leaving Sankarest the last of our places to stay in Sri Lanka, it was our last night. If I could do it all again I would stay a week. Its a five star experience in a boutique family run guesthouse of about 5 rooms.
There were no negatives to speak of. We had a large clean air conditioned room with a clean bathroom, there were flowers and leaves making out the word welcome on our bed. The bedroom opened onto a wide balcony overlooking a clean blue swimming pool with a sculpted elephant forming an outdoor shower. Its a quiet place where insects and traffic noise were not problems, the ideal place to relax!!! The family are so keen to serve and the food - Sunitas cooking is to die for! We didn't get to see the beach because it rained but we were happy to sit back on the big chairs on the balcony and let time pass gently. Highly recommended.

Nick and Gyorgyi from Melbourne, Australia

" Delicious food prepared by a lovely woman "


Sankarest restaurant is a clean, intimate place with a pleasant aspect overlooking a lovely garden. The atmosphere is welcoming and very friendly. Sunita talked about her life and was happy to give us some tips on how to cook Sri Lankan which we appreciated.
The food was amazing, easily the best meal we experienced in our 20 days in Sri Lanka. Sunita is one of those people that clearly loves food and enjoys cooking. We had lightly battered spicy prawns, fish balls of tuna, potato, coconut oil and a mild slection of spices, a whole baked fish with a rich garlicky sauce, baked spicy potato quarters and some unique veretarian dishes. There was Sunita's own interpretation of Dahl, Green beans in a tumeric and garlic sauce, Lotus root in a saffron sauce and a snake gourd dish. We finished off with a dessert that Sunita claims is her own, a lightly fried piece of pineapple drizzled in a sweet syrup and garnished with toasted pices of Cinnamon. Yum! Its worth the visit. We stayed the night at the guest house as we travelled between Galle and Colombo.


Nick and Gyorgyi from Melbourne Australia

“Wonderfull private Boutique Villa in a tropical ambient”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 7:36pm
tripadvisor review from Hansruedi,Switzerland Jan 22, 2009

WOW! What a wonderfull place! Exciting experience in SANKAREST.
I stayed from 4.12.2008 till 1.1.2009 in the new build villa of Sunita and Koni. I booked directly for a unbeateable price and I had a wonderful time in a spacy, luxury AirCon room with satellite TV, DVD player and minibar.
Sunita is really the most friendly person I met in Sri Lanka. Her cooking is fantastic and her hospitality ... WOW!!!
I enjoyed the new pool in a tropical ambient, took my drinks, king coconuts and delicious fruit juices in a peacefull cocktail lounge, take sun on the veranda and had great meals in the open tropical garden rest next to a peacefull house temple.
I can recommend SANKAREST to all who wants to make a new holiday experience, living close to a local Sri Lankan family and who wants to enjoy the real Sri Lankan living.

Hansruedi, Riedikom-Uster, Switzerland

“A jewel and a treasure attention to detail is truly exquisite.”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Friday, November 27, 2009 at 8:01pm
 review by linmac, Qatar - Sep 27, 2009

As two couples we made the mistake of staying for one night at the neighbouring beach resort and so discovered this imaginative and superbly creative haven which is Sankarest quite by chance when we entered the gift shop.
Sunita the hostess is the warmest person you could wish to meet and she couldnt do enough for us whilst still being unobtrusive. We were made the most welcome of guests even though we didnt have time in our intenary to book into a room. We enjoyed the best, cleanest and freshest food presented exuisitely. We had failed to book in advance but Sunita was very accomodating and put a feast on the table. We recomment this hidden boutique hotel and retaurant to anyone.. We will certainly be back to stay this time and to enjoy more of this stylish, beautifully appointed and welcoming gem .. the owner is obviously a discerning man of fine taste and his choice of Sunita as his housekeeper is the jewel in the crown. Who could want for more!


PLEASE READ ON>>>>>

(part of a review made by linmacQatar "Kosgoda Beach Resort")

Best thing that comes out of all this is the ' Souvenier shop with internet facility' which is sited at the entrance... it turns out that this is not an extension of the resort as it first appears but is nothing to do with the resort. This we found out is a mini resort in its own right and is TRULY PARADISE. it has two colonial style double rooms to let on a beautiful balcony but it is not advertised. There is a paradise pool and unlimited smiles and service laid on with the widowed housekeeper Sunita. She explained how the Tsunami had left her and her two children destitute after it washed away her home which was what is now the present site. She could not afford to rebuild or survive and a Swiss man bought the property and rebuilt the small boutique hotel. She is not resentful at losing her home but grateful that she now lives there and is the housekeeper. Please see the website for SAKAREST the 4**** Tropical Boutique Guesthouse and Garden Resaurant. Kosgoda Sri lanka. We will certainly be back but this time to stay in true paradise with exquisite attention to detail and true care and for half the price.

“Schlaraffenland..."”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 6:55pm
 tripadvisor review von Lululilie, Winterthur, Nov 24, 2009

Dinner's ready! Mmh, das lass ich mir nicht 2x sagen. Wie jeden Abend erwartet mich eine liebevoll und bunt gedeckte Tafel im tropischen Garten von Sunita's kleinem Restaurant. Je nach Wetter quaken dort die Frösche, zirpen die Grillen oder schimmert der silbrige Mondschein glänzend auf den Teich. Es wird auch mal bei Kerzenlicht diniert und zu welcher Zeit auch immer man möchte. Allein der Anblick der üppigen Auswahl an Curries, fangfrischem Fisch, exotischem Obst...lässt einem das Wasser im Mund zusammenlaufen. Da gibt es Wasserlilienmellum, Lotuswurzelgemüse, kurios anmutende "Drumsticks", scharfe Kartoffeln, Fisch&Shrimps in allen Variationen, Reis, rot, braun, weiss, gebraten, würziges Dhal und frisch gestampftes Kokossambal....wie im Schlaraffenland! Alles gartenfrisch und selbstgemacht und so aromatisch und köstlich, wie ich es auf der Insel nirgends gefunden habe. Es gibt keinen Wunsch, den Sunita offen lässt, sie kocht meisterhaft mit Liebe und Sorgfalt, was auch immer das Herz begehrt, ob Wunsch- oder Ueberraschungsmenue. Man schlemmt in gediegener, familiärer und sauberer Atmosphäre autenthisch Srilankische Speisen und herrvorragenden Seafood-nur vielleicht nicht ganz so feurig wie die Einheimischen...

Wer nicht im Gästehaus selbst wohnt, meldet sich mit Vorteil an und kann auch gleich seine Wünsche äussern. Sunita scheut aber auch keine Mühen, spontane Gäste königlich zu verwöhnen. Den Tee oder Kaffee kann man zu Tisch oder aber im traumhaften Garten geniessen, dabei die Seele baumeln lassen und sich derweil überlegen, was man beim nächsten mal gern essen möchte....
Sankarest ist ein phantastisches kleines Restaurant für jederman-Kinder, Verliebte, Geschäftsleute werden sich alle wohl fühlen und ganz sicherlich wiederkommen. Ein Schmaus für alle Sinne!

“ Sweet peaceful place with excellent food and very friendly staff “

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 8:01pm
 tripadvisor reviews for SANKAREST VILLA/GUESTHOUSE & TROPICAL GARDEN RESTAURANT from Judith "jahuju"and Estela from Uster, Switzerland - Aug 16, 2009

Sankarest in Kosgoda is a very charming and romantic place where a couple or a family with younger childern will find everything he or she wants. Staff is really friendly and helpful. Sunita, who runs the guesthouse is an excellent cook and very popular in Kosgoda because of her meals. The pool is in a charming little garden, hidden from outside-view. I think Sankarest was also the cleanest guesthouse which I met in Sri Lanka. The staff of Sankarest can also help you with planing trips or getting a tuk-tuk to the town. I can recommend Sankarest for honeymoon, peacefool day and as a starting point for trips around the island.

“ Real Sri Lankan Curries in a wonderful outdoor-Restaurant“

Sunita, who runs the "Sankarest Tropical Garden Restaurant", is an excellent cook and her meals are popular all around Kosgoda. To prepare her delicious rice and curry she often gets up at 5 o`clock in the morning and spends the whole morning in the kitchen. Sunita cooks real Sri Lankan curries but they are not so spicy as usual in Sri Lanka. Sunita herself does not like the food, if it is too spicy, so her meals are very tasty and delicious, not that kind of boring curries for western people which you might find in other places.
Also the Restaurant is in a very nice outdoor-place beside a small garden. It is very quiet and peaceful there and the staff is really friendly.

Judith and Estela from Uster, Switzerland stayed a few days at Sankarest before they start their backpacker tour through the island with the train, local buses and TUKTUK. They stayed one month in Sri Lanka and they loose their heart on the island. 

“Gourmet Corner” - “Liebevoll, gepflegtes und super freundliches Gasthaus”


by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 7:44am
 
“Gourmet Corner”

It was a great pleasure to be with Sunita in here Restaurant. The food is excellent and the service professional. A really nice place to eat delicious food. For me it was the best Restaurant I visited in Sri Lanka and the staff is extreamly friendly. A place that is worth to travel a little bit longer. If the way is to long to go back home, there are nice rooms to rent, so you can enjoy the breakfast with fresh juces, fruits and many other delicious specialities from Sri Lanka.Don't miss this restaurant on your trip! Albert 

“Don't miss it - it is just great”

Nice, friendly, warm women and staff. Excellent food. Lots of choice from differrent kind of vegetable, meet and fish and every day every thing fresh. If you don't like it spicy, no problem, Sunitha will prepare it as you like it. Silvia 


“Liebevoll, gepflegtes und super freundliches Gasthaus”

Saubere und klimatisierte Zimmer mit täglichem Service von frischen Früchten und Fruchtsäften. Familienanschluss (wenn erwünscht). Herzliche, freundliche und liebevolle Betreuung. Einfach so richtig zum geniessen und entspannen. Silvia

“Unterkunft und Essen excellent, Gastfreundschaft hervorragend”

Sehr gutes Hotel. Ausgezeichnetes Essen. Nette Familie. Hilfreiche Tips und Unterstützung bei der Erkundung der Umgebung und bei Fahrten ins Landesinnere. Eine sehr empfehlenswerte Pension. Es gibt nichts zu reklamieren. Man erfährt viel von der Kultur des Landes und der Menschen. Albert 

“If you want a nice and peaceful place to stay, with excellent service and food, then come to Sankarest”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 1:45pm
tripadvisor review
Valou79
Lausanne, Switzerland
Jan 4, 2010 


We visited "Sankarest" twice during our two weeks holidays in Sri Lanka in 2009. We didn't sleep there but we had a lunch and we found the place so nice and the people were so carefull and friendly with us that we decided to come back for another lunch and to enjoy the excellent food. The owner "coni" make us visited the house.

It is a peacefull "guest house", situated near a wonderful beach (you only need to walk 1 min to reach the see). Sankarest house is very clean, very well decorated with a swimming pool and a beautiful garden with many plants. There are three rooms very confortable, with AC-shower/toilet-TV and a terrasse on the top of the house if you want to relax on the sun. During the heat, you can take a fresh juice at the shadow and talk with the friendly owner Coni and his wife, the familily and the other guests. You will also enjoy the sri lanka's food which is excellent ! And finally you will meet the "mascotte" of the house : a lovely cat which was saved by Coni !

So if you want to avoid big hotels and if you prefer to stay in a quiet place and made real contact with local people I recommand this guest house.


Valérie Aguet from Switzerland

“Spagat zwischen "luxuriösem Ambiente" und "einheimischer,familiärer Gastlichkeit" auf´s Beste gelungen”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 4:12pm
tripadvisor review
stadtgesichter
Hamburg
Jan 2, 2010 


Wir hatten die Zeit vom 02.12-30.12 in Sankarest verbracht.
Schon die Begrüßung bei der Ankunft ist ein Erlebnis sowie ein Versprechen- und lässt deutlich durchblicken "hier bist Du wirklich willkommen ".



Der Garten, durch den wir zu unseren Zimmer geführt wurden, gleicht einem Botanischen Garten in dem die vielfältige einheimische Fauna, liebevoll arangiert wurde.In der Mitte, nur ein paar Schritte von unserer Zimmertür, ein absolut sauberer Pool mit klarem Wasser.



Das Zimmer war ebenfalls äuserst sauber und auf sehr angenehme Weise möbliert.
Schon nach den ersten Tagen im Sankarest ist uns klar geworden .
Das " Sankarest " wird von dem Schweizer "Koni" und seiner singhalesischen Frau "Sunita" geführt. Nicht zuletzt dieser exotischen Verbindung (um einmal mehr die Klischees der "Schweizer Präzission" und der "singhalesischen Herzlichkeit" zu bemühen) ist es zu verdanken, dass dem Haus der sehr seltene Spagat zwischen "luxuriösem Ambiente" und "einheimischer,familiärer Gastlichkeit" auf´s Beste gelungen ist.



Die Angestellten stammen ebenfalls aus dem Familien- oder Freundeskreis, was wohl auch zu der besonderen Atmosphäre beiträgt. Das Essen ist ein ganz eigenes Kapitel.



Noch nie, wurde mir die kulinarische Vielfalt eines Landes auf so grandiose und schmackhafte Art näher gebracht, wie im Sankarest.Jeden Abend gab es eine Auswahl an nationalen Speisen. Schmeckte einem etwas besonders gut, oder wurde z.B.von meiner 4 jährigen Tochter nur einmal am Rande erwähnt, was sie besonders gerne hat, wurde dies ohne große Worte registriert - und stand zum Teil, schon am nächsten Tag auf dem Tisch.



Unternehmungen gleich welcher Art,(Besuch der Turtelfarm, Bootfahrt auf dem Fluss usw.) wurden auf sehr unaufdringliche Weise vom Haus angeboten und auch organisiert. Aber auch Unternehmungen auf eigene Faust waren uns jederzeit möglich.
Selten ist uns die Abfahrt von einem Urlaubsort schwerer gefallen, als von hier und selten war das Versprechen "wieder zu kommen" ehrlicher gemeint.

“Warm and friendly atmosphere, spacey, nicely furnished and clean A/C-rooms, excellent food and service, nice garden...”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 9:16pm
tripadvisor review
Mike63Z_rich
Zürich, Jan 16, 2010


 I am here in Sankarest from December 11, 2009 to march 09, 2010 and I enjoyed my stay in every way! The place is cared for by Koni, a Swiss, and his wife Sunita, a Singhalese Sri Lankan. You feel, that both of them enjoy being the hosts of their Guesthouse every minute you are there, from the very start, even the welcome, they give you, is very warm, cordial and quite unique! (I ‘ve never ever been welcomed that warm: with a fruit juice, flowers and more...!



Sunitas cuisine is a class of its own, and still, if you one day think you must be in the culinary heaven of Sri Lanka, next day is still even more delicious! Hard to believe, but true! (And before I came here, I‘ve been warned by several friends, who had experience with the Sri-Lankan cuisine!)
The place is situated as follows: If you cross the small bridge in the beginning of Kosgoda village (coming from Colombo) you have to turn right, then follow the small road another 50 meters, then you find the gate of the place just opposite the garment-shop!



The swimming pool is cared for by Sunitas son Sanka, and it is unbelievable, how clean and how warm it is in the same time, which needs quite a bit of work in this climate. The wonderful Kosgoda-beach is just a 5 minutes’ walk away
The laundry-service and cleaning of the rooms is taken care for by Indica and Piersili, who also is in charge of gardening and knows quite a lot about all the herbs and plants and how you can use them in the ayurvedic medicine
The members of staff, who mainly belong to the family and friends of Sunita and Koni also contributes to the warm and friendly atmosphere and it gives you a good idea of singhalese hospitality and way of life.



All the people from Sankarest also help you, if you want to do whatever it is: from renting a motorbike, boat ride on the Madu-Ganga, visiting the Brief-Garden by Bevis Bawa or just calling a Tuk-Tuk for shopping or booking a tour, they all try their very best to organise, or at least give you useful hints and take care, that you also have an idea of the current prices and not pay too much.
If you don’t like the big hotels’ busy and anonymous atmosphere, and you rather like to spend your time in a quiet atmosphere, near a wonderful beach, this place is for you!

“I recommend Sankarest”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 7:42am
tripadvisor review
BackPackerMax, Leicester, Jan 21, 2010

 My plan was to stay at Sankarest for one night only, on my way to the airport, but I liked it so much I ended up staying there for the last two nights of my holiday.

There are three guestrooms: two double rooms with air-con and one double room with no air-con. All guestrooms have an en-suite bathroom (cold water showers only), fridge, TV, DVD player & a hairdryer. Sankarest has been built to a very high standard and is spotlessly clean throughout. As you can see from other travellers photos, there is a decent size swimming pool in the garden, which again (needless to say) is spotlessly clean.



The garden at Sankarest will save you a trip to a botanical garden, it is brimming with pot plants, palm trees, orchids (prettier than those I saw at a botanical garden!) etc - just lovely! There is also a reasonably priced giftshop, where you can buy local masks, clothing & small gift items etc. Sunita's cooking is top quality and they are also happy to cater for people who are just passing by. Rooms are from €25 to €40 per night but I understand that long-term rates can be negotiated.

The turning is off the main Colombo road, on the edge of the village, by a small white bridge. There is no sign by the main road but you'll be able to see Sankarest from there - look out for the high garden walls & name sign by the large black entrance gate.

It is one big family atmosphere there, everyone is very helpful & smiley & I'm sure you'll feel as welcome and at home as I did. I would definitely recommend Sankarest to anyone travelling to Sri Lanka.

Enjoy your stay!

“Traumurlaub mit Kleinkind”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 4:43am
tripadvisor review
Mailer123, Schweiz, Jan 31, 2010

 Wir haben mit unseren dreijährigen Sohn die Weihnachtsfeiertage und Silvester 2009 in Sankarest verbracht. Wir wurden mit Blumenketten am Eingang empfangen, und eine Geburtstagstorte mit drei Kerzen erwartete unseren Sohn in einem großen, sehr sauberen und mit Blumenschmuck herausgeputzten Zimmer. Wir haben uns vom ersten Augenblick an herzlich aufgenommen gefühlt. Der Schweizer Koni und die sri lankische Sunita haben mit Sankarest wirklich eine Wohlfühloase geschaffen.
Die drei Zimmer sind groß und sehr sauber. Der Garten mit Swimmingpool ist schön angelegt und sehr gepflegt. Wir als Familie hatten sehr viel Platz und Bewegungsfreiheit. Unser kleiner Sohn genoss es, völlig frei im großen, aber vollständig eingezäunten Garten herumzusausen und jederzeit von allen Zuspruch zu bekommen – sei es die Milch um 6.00 früh, Bananen zum Snack oder einfach ein kurzer Spaß im Vorbeigehen. Im großen und absolut sauberen Pool hat unser Kleiner schwimmen gelernt. Ein kilometerlanger, menschleerer Traumstand ist ca. 3 Gehminuten vom Haus entfernt, ideal für Spaziergänge, Sandspiele und Plantschen - für kleine Kinder allerdings nicht zum Schwimmen geeignet.
Einzigartig an Sankarest ist sicher die Kombination aus Privatsphäre und Fürsorge der Familie. Überall rund um das Haus laden schöne Plätze zum Verweilen und Entspannen ein. Kaum hatten wir irgendeinen Wunsch (z.B. frisch gepressten Saft, Tuk Tuk für Einkaufsbummel, Abendessenwunsch) oder eine Frage (z.B. Ausflüge in die Umgebung), war schon jemand da, um diesen – völlig unaufgeregt – zu erfüllen. Wir wurden in Sankarest mit Herz verwöhnt, konnten durch die Nähe der unglaublich freundlichen Familie Einblick in die Kultur des Landes gewinnen und durften trotzdem europäischen Luxus genießen.
Das Essen war hervorragend. Gleich nach unserer Ankunft wurden wir nach unseren Essenswünschen / Präferenzen gefragt und die erste Einschätzung wurde völlig automatisch, nach „Aufessparametern“ feinjustiert. Wir starteten jeden Morgen mit frisch gemixten Fruchtsaft, frischen tropischen Früchten, Büffelyoghurt, Avocados, frischen Frühstückseier, etc. und variierenden sri lankischen Frühstücksgerichten. Jeden Abend wurden ca. 10 unterschiedliche Teller mit sri lankischen Spezialitäten aufgetischt – eine Variation von Fisch-, Huhn- Schrimps- und Gemüsecurries, dabei viele Gemüse, die man in Europa gar nicht kennt. Wie schon in anderen Reviews erwähnt ist Sunita eine ausgezeichnete Köchin! Unser kleiner Sohn bekam jeden Abend eine Extraportion – z.B. selbstgemachte Pommes Frites, Nudeln oder sehr mildes Hühnercurry. Obwohl wir alles gegessen haben, z.B. rohes Gemüse, Speiseeis, hatte keiner von uns auch nur die leichtesten Magen- oder Darmbeschwerden bekommen.
Wir haben viel Zeit rund um das Haus und am Strand verbracht, haben aber auch einige Ausflüge in die Umgebung unternommen, z.B. nach Galle, Bootsfahrt am Madu River, Floßfahrt in der Lagune beim Haus, Schildkrötenfarm, Eiablage der Riesenschildkröten am nahegelegenen Strand, etc.
Für uns ist Sankarest ein idealer Ort, um einen entspannenden Urlaub mit einem Kleinkind zu verbringen!

“Zeitlos...”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 6:15pm
tripadvisor review
Lululilie, Winterthur, Feb 13, 2010

Es ist Abend. Gemütlich sitze ich auf der Veranda und schlürfe feinen Ceylon-Tee. In mir drin ist es genauso ruhig wie um mich herum. Ich verspüre kein Verlangen, keine Unruhe, keinerlei Verpflichtung, die mich ruft-denn ich bin auf Sri Lanka, der Perle im Indischen Ozean.
Obwohl ich es nicht sehe, höre ich das Meer rauschen. Tagsüber lädt Kosgoda Beach zu friedlichen Strandspaziergängen ein, zum Muschelsuchen und Spuren-im-Sand-hinterlassen. Vielleicht trifft man auch mal einen Mönch, mit dem sich gut über Gott und die Welt philosophieren lässt.
Die Grillen zirpen, der Wind raschelt in den Palmen und im tropischen Garten von SANKAREST flackern noch die Kerzlein des Buddhistischen Hausaltars. Allabendlich entzündet dort die Familie Lichter, und man ist herzlich eingeladen, der kleinen Andacht beizuwohnen.
èberhaupt ist die Familie sehr offenherzig, immer für ein Schwätzchen zu haben und hält allerlei gute Ratschläge bereit. Man fühlt sich angenommen und überhaupt nicht wie ein Fremdling. Der himmlische Garten mit einer riesigen Pflanzenvielfalt ist genauso gepflegt wie das Haus. Die Gästezimmer sind grosszügig und luxuriös ausgestattet auf einem Niveau, das man zu diesem Preis kaum anderswo findet. Grosse Betten, schöne antike Holzmöbel, TV und DVD-Player (der Besitzer bietet eine riesige Auswahl an DVD's zur Ausleihe), Klimaanlage und Ventilator, Kühlschrank...Das eigene Bad ist hübsch und alle Sanitären Anlagen funktionieren ausgezeichnet. Die Zimmer sind ausserdem ausserordentlich sauber.
Im 1.Stock befindet sich ein breiter Rundum-Balkon, sowie eine sehr grosse Terrasse, die dazu einlädt, in klaren Nächten die Sterne zu zählen oder am Nachmittag die Sonne anzubeten, um anschliessend in den grosszügigen Pool zu springen.
Was die kulinarische Verpflegung betrifft lese man meinen Eintrag zu Sunitas Restaurant.
Wie gesagt, die Familie steht einem mit Rat und Tat zur Seite; hier kann man Freunde finden und einen echten Einblick ins Srilankische Familienleben bekommen. SANKAREST eignet sich für alle. Ob Rucksacktouri, Flitterwochen, Familienurlaub oder Buisinesstrip. Man bekommt das, was man sucht und wird so freundlich umsorgt, dass man sich einfach "daheim" fühlt.

"Small but nice!" - “Klein aber fein !”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 3:52pm
tripadvisor review
Axlugei, Nürnberg, März 29, 2010

Already with the arrival you are overwhelmed of the extremely friendly welcome by Swiss boss Koni and its spouse Sunita. A welcome greeting with petals on the bed, towels arranged to exotic animals, a fruit cocktail been enough with a radiating smile of the whole small team. By the way the team, the service could not be better and above all also not friendlier. Each desire is literally read off from your eyes, directly whether you want to have a fruit juice or in the afternoon a tea or you like to have washed some clothes. You come with each small problem, which goes immediate made. There are only three rooms, but those are of the finest, in good taste furnished and daily cleaned. In front of the room a wide terrace with pleasing furniture for a cozy and shady stay outside. The garden with the pool is indescribably beautifully and plant for plant affectionately maintained. But the meals! That exceeds nearly everything. We had half-board with breakfast and dinner. Already the fruit plate in the morning with all exotic deliciousness’s of the country is upsetting. In addition which always you would like, it was an egg or an omelet, coffee or tea, cheese or yoghurt. You need only to say it. Also during dinner you may express a desire and you will find with the good soul of the house, Sunita, always an open ear. The catch-fresh fish is prepared marvelously like you wish or the many selected and national typical supplements.In addition, if you like a soup or a dessert you will get it. With all this offers the danger exists that you will take overweight.
SANKAREST only a few steps away from one of the most beautiful beachesof Sri Lankas for approx. 4 km long and nearly deserted, fantastically for walking or for jogging. Nearly each night some large sea turtles come ashore for ovipostor and can thereby under supervision can be observed - an unforgettable experience. To take a swim can be dangerous because the waves are not always harmless. All in all we spent two unforgettable weeks at Sankarest. In this time simply everything was correct, perhaps with a tiny restriction. It is not very far to the Galle Road and to the course tracks. That is an advantage, if you will go with the bus or train to travel in the country. But you hear occasionally some noises of the road or a driving past course. However it hardly not disturbed us. We will be gladly to come back. And from the view of experienced travelers we can recommend SANKAREST and his team warmly to everybody.
Schon bei der Ankunft ist man von dem überaus freundlichen Empfang durch den Schweizer Chef des Hauses Koni und seine Angetraute Sunita überwältigt. Ein Willkommensgruß mit Blütenblättern auf dem Bett, Handtücher zu exotischen Tieren verarbeitet, ein Fruchtcocktail, dargereicht mit einem strahlendem Lächeln des ganzen kleinen Teams. Apropos Team, der Service könnte nicht besser und vor allem auch nicht freundlicher sein. Es wird einem buchstäblich jeder Wunsch von den Augen abgelesen, gleich ob man nun einen Obstsaft oder einen Nachmittagstee haben wollte oder etwas Kleidung gewaschen werden soll.Man kann mit jedem Problemchen kommen, was geht wird gemacht.
Es gibt nur drei Zimmer, aber die sind vom Feinsten, geschmackvoll möbliert und täglich blitzsauber gemacht. Vor dem Zimmer eine breite umlaufende Terrasse mit gefälligen Möbeln für einen gemütlichen und schattigen Aufenthalt außen. Der Garten mit dem Pool ist unbeschreiblich schön und Pflanze für Pflanze liebevoll gepflegt.
Aber das Essen! Das übertrifft fast alles. Wir hatten Halbpension mit Frühstück und Abendessen. Schon der Früchteteller am Morgen mit allen exotischen Köstlichkeiten des Landes ist umwerfend. Dazu was immer man möchte, sei es ein Ei oder Omlett. Kaffee oder Tee, Käse oder Joghurt. Man braucht es nur zu sagen. Auch beim Abendessen darf man seine Wünsche äußern und findet bei der Seele des Hauses, Sunita, immer ein offenes Ohr. Wunderbar der fangfrische Fisch, zubereitet wie es gewünscht wird oder die vielen erlesenen und landestypischen Beilagen. Dazu, wenn man möchte Suppe und Dessert . Bei dem Angebot besteht schon die Gefahr, dass man sich übernimmt.
SANKAREST liegt nur wenige Schritte von einem der schönsten Strände Sri Lankas entfernt, ca 4 Km lang und fast menschenleer, traumhaft zum Spazierengehen oder zum Joggen. Fast jede Nacht kommen große Meeresschildkröten zur Eiablage an Land und können dabei unter Aufsicht beobachtet werden - ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Baden ist allerdings wegen des Wellengangs nicht immer ungefährlich.
Alles in Allem haben wir in Sankarest zwei unvergessliche Wochen verbracht. in denen einfach alles gestimmt hat, vielleicht mit einer winzigen Einschränkung. Es ist nicht sehr weit zur Galle-Road und zu den Bahngleisen. Das ist ein Vorteil. wenn man mit Bus oder Bahn im Lande reisen will. Dafür hört man gelegentlich Geräusche von der Straße oder einem vorbeifahrenden Zug. Uns hat es allerdings kaum gestört. Wir würden jederzeit gerne wiederkommen und können SANKAREST samt Serviceteam aus der Sicht langjährig erfahrener Reisender nur wärmstens weiter empfehlen.

“Tropical paradise on the beach”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 12:02pm
tripadvisor review
saxas, Zürich, April 11, 2010

Sankarest hotel is one of the most beautiful places i've been in many years of travelling the world! the service is very friendly and you can ask for whatever you want - anytime!
the room is very nicely fournished and extremely large and high, with ventilator and ac, tv and a nice bathroom AND a very nice little terrace-place for just let passing by the wonderful tropical days....
the beach is a 2 minutes-walk away and so beautiful you think you're in a dream...with nicely warm water and just coconut-trees behind it...
the crew of the hotel and especially koni, the owner, give you a family-feeling, they can help with every problem and organise everything you may wish, trips, shoppings or ayurvedic massages, it's just wonderful! THANX AGAIN FOR WONDERFUL HOLLIDAYS!

“Eat like a royalty”

by SANKAREST - TROPICAL VILLA on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 12:08pm
tripadvisor review
saxas, Zürich, April, 11, 2010

 Sunitas sankarest restaurant is that place where you want to eat for ever, a huge offer of different vegetables and fish and seafood, so tastefully prepared you can't stop eating...
but you always have to before you finish the plate, because there is so much food on the table!
the ambiance is cosy and romantic, surrounded by a beautyful garden...GO THERE!