Pineapple

“Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” Everyone knows where I have extracted that phrase. I am sure that the pineapple that Spongebob calls home is surely a pineapple from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan pineapples do not need to be marketed. No other pineapple can challenge the sweetness, the colour and the juiciness of the Lankan pineapple. Even though the hard outter cover is trouble to peel of the insides are to savor. The Lankan pineapple is expertly used in fruit salads, juices and in cakes. It is the ideal remedy for a hot summer day.

Pineapples are cultivated all around Sri Lanka’s flat lands and it is exported to countries such as Japan and the European Union. Pineapple vendors can be found all around the country. 

If you visit Sri Lanka, there is no excuse for you not to have a Sri Lankan pineapple.

Have a Sri Lankan pineapple and feel the difference.

China’s President Xi Jinping boost the travel Industry in Sri Lanka

Like the Barmy Army travel with the English Cricket Team, Like the Thailand People travel with The Royal family, now there is a trend where Chinese citizens follow there exemplary lead where ever they go.

His Excellency Xi Jinping President of China traveled to SriLanka during September 2014. Automatically tour package to Sri Lanka in October for the ‘National Day’ holiday were fully booked after the president’s visit.

Chinese President has done wonders to the Chinese inbound tourism and well as for the outbound tourism. He is a great advocate for responsible tourism. When he visited on an official visit to Maldives he urged his fellow Chinese tourist to,

"Don't throw empty bottles everywhere," he instructed. "Don't damage their coral reef. Eat less instant noodles. Eat more local seafood."

So we Sri Lankans eagerly await to greet our Chinese friends during the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival. So pack your bags and jump into a Sri Lankan airline flight and head towards Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka welcomes arrival of 1.5 millionth tourist

What year it has been to for the Tourism Industry in SriLanka. Mr. and Mrs Jaime were welcome at the Bandaranayake International Airport recently as they were the 1,500,000^th Travelers to visit Sri Laka in year 2014. 

Sri Lanka attracted 1,527,153 tourists for the past calendar year. It is a 19.8% year on year growth. These figures have been released by the Tourism Development authority in Sri Lanka.  Most number of visitors has visited from China, India and UK.

So it was a wonderful year for the tourism in Sri Lanka. Still Sri Lanka is a relatively unexplored country due to the 30 years of Civil war which was ended in 2009. This peaceful Island Paradise has many things to offer to the world. We believe in 2015, Sri Lanka tourism will reach greater heights.

Chinese love travel to Sri Lanka

More than 100,000 Chinese travelers have grace the shores of Sri Lanka both in year 2013 and 2014. This trend set to continue in 2015. It will start with the Chinese New Year which will be in February. This will be the year of the Sheep.

Sri Lanka has many economic and cultural links with China. This has created a greater bond among the two nations and in return many Travelers’ plan their Spring break in Sri Lanka. There are flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou.

Sri Lanka offer splendid beach holidays, Heritage sites such as Sigiriya, Buddhist sites such as ‘Temple of Tooth Relic and the Cold misty mountains of Nuwara Eliya. Commercial Capital is a buzzing entertainment hub.  It houses many different restaurants and Sri Lanka has many Chinese restaurants. So my dear Chinese friends would not miss home food at all.

We welcome all our Chinese friends to Wonder of Asia – Sri Lanka during the Spring break.

Stunning Mirissa Beach Sri Lanka

After enjoying the shores of Unawatuna beach in the southern coast of Sri Lanka after 20km we reach sandy beaches of Mirissa. 

Mirissa lies 150km to south of Sri Lanka from commercial capital of Colombo. Mirissa beach is most famous for its stunning sunset in the evenings and sunrise in the mornings. It houses one of the busiest fishing harbor in Sri Lanka. It is the busiest during the mornings and creates its own beauty.

Stilt fishing at Mirissa is world famous. All the calendars that promote Sri Lanka or all the promotional materials that promote Sri Lanka carry at least one photo of stilt fishing.

Mirissa beach is famous for ocean based water sport activates. Such as snorkeling, diving, sailing, rafting,etc……Mirissa beach is one of the surf sports in Sri Lanka. Best time for surfing in Mirissa is from October to March. Recreational fishing is also famous among the locals and foreigners in the Mirissa beach. 

Mirissa is also famous for Dolphin and whale watching. Dolphin and whale watching season runs from November to April. There are many hotels in the Mirissa and Welligama beach. Come and enjoy the Sri lankan hospitality while sipping a pure Ceylon cup of tea.

CNN Travels name 12 Sri Lankan Foods that Visitors have to try

CNN Travel  has named 12 best dishes that a Visitors to Sri Lanka must try out. It states Sri Lankan spices, use of coconut, seafood and method it is prepared adds the flavors to these wonderfully cooked food. The 12 incredible dishes are,

1. Fish ambul thiyal (sour fish curry)

Fish ambul thiyal (sour fish curry) is one of the most beloved varieties of the many different fish curries available.The fish -- usually something large and firm, such as tuna -- is cut into cubes, then sauteed in a blend of spices including black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, garlic, pandan leaves and curry leaves.

2. Kottu (also, kottu roti)

Over the traffic and noise at a Sri Lankan market, you'll likely hear the clanking of metal on metal and know kottu isn't far away.Kottu is Sri Lanka's hamburger -- everybody's favorite go-to fast food when craving something tasty and greasy.

3. Kukul mas curry (chicken curry)

There are many variations depending on region and taste preferences.Spices like fennel seeds, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon sticks are tempered in hot oil before being combined with chicken and spices like chili powder, curry powder, turmeric, pandan leaves, lemongrass and curry leaves.Coconut milk contributes to the rich base of the curry gravy. Depending on the recipe, a puree of tomato is often included.

4. Parippu (dhal curry)

Masoor dhal (split red lentils) are first rinsed and boiled until soft.In a separate pan, a number of fresh ingredients, such as onions, tomatoes and fresh green chilies, are sauteed and mixed with tempered spices like cumin seeds, turmeric, fenugreek, mustard seeds and curry leaves.

5. Lamprais

Lamprais, a word that combines the two Dutch words for "lump" and "rice," is a combination of meat, rice and sambol chili sauce, wrapped into a banana leaf packet and steamed.

6. Hoppers (appa or appam) and string hoppers (indi appa or idiyappam)

The batter is made from a slightly fermented concoction of rice flour, coconut milk, sometimes coconut water and a hint of sugar. A ladle of batter is fried in a small wok and swirled around to even it out.

7. Polos (green jackfruit curry)

Jackfruit is consumed in a number of different stages of ripeness, from very ripe and sweet to green and starchy. Polos is a Sri Lankan curry prepared with young green jackfruit.

8. Wambatu moju (eggplant/brinjals pickle)

Served mostly with rice and curries, wambatu moju is an extremely flavorful candied eggplant (brinjals) pickle. The eggplant -- usually the purple-skinned, long and slender variety -- is cut into bite-sized wedges and deep fried, giving the eggplant a crispy texture with a soft and silky interior.

9. Gotu kola sambol (pennywort salad)

One of the most readily available green vegetable dishes in Sri Lanka is gotu kola sambol.Gotu kola (known in English as Asiatic pennywort) is a medicinal herb in Asia.It's shredded into slivers, then combined with shallots, tomatoes, fresh grated coconut and chili and seasoned with a dressing of salt, pepper and lemon juice.

10. Kiribath with lunu miris

Kiribath is a special type of rice, cooked with thick coconut milk and often served during special or auspicious occasions, such as Sinhalese New Year. There are a few versions of kiribath, but the basic procedure is to start by boiling a pot of rice.

11. Pol Sambol (coconut relish)

In a country in which the coconut is of supreme importance, there's one Sri Lankan side dish that pays fitting tribute. Pol sambol, which might also be called fresh coconut relish, is a simple blend of finely grated coconut, red onions, dried whole chilies or chili powder, lime juice, salt and Maldive fish (if available).

12. Wood apple

It wouldn't be a Sri Lankan food discussion without wood apple.The wood apple is a Southeast Asian fruit about the size of a de-husked coconut. It also has just as hard of a shell, and a pungent, almost blue cheese aroma.

Read the full page: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/26/travel/sri-lanka-must-try-food/index.html?iref=allsearch

Read Gogo Lanka other blogs: https://www.blogger.com/profile/08514200941706451589

Pope Francis Visit to Sri Lanka 2015

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, confirmed the visit of Holy Father Pope Francis to Sri Lanka on 13th & 14th January 2015.

Our President Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa went on an official visit to Vatican city to meet the His Holiness Pope Francis to extend an official invitation.

Francis is expected to canonize the Rev. Giuseppe Vaz, a 17th-century missionary, during his January visit to Sri Lanka.

A mass on the Colombo’s Galle Face Green will be held on the 14th January 2015 morning and it will be followed by a visit to Madhu church in Northern Sri Lanka.

This will give Catholics in Sri Lanka, India and all Asian countries great honor to see the Leader of the Catholics in Sri Lanka.

Enchanting Beach Holidays in Sri Lanka

The season is upon us. We all struggle to find a perfect holiday destination to spend the Christmas holiday. All the hotels are booked to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with your loved ones, especially the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be enjoying my Christmas weekend in Rumassala, Galle. Rumassala claims to be a chunk of the Himalayan Mountain, according to the ‘Ramayana’. This area is booming with bio diversity. It is a haven for indigenous animals and plants.

I have booked a hotel on top of a mountain with the surreal setting. Not many places in Sri Lanka offers a view point of a sea from an elevated level. That was one of the reasons why I picked Rumassala.

The other reasons for which I chose my destination was the fact that the Jungle Beach of Rumassala is to my right and the world famous Unawatuna beach to my left. I have the luxury of enjoying two beaches with totally different atmospheres without having to travel.

Unawatuna beach offers a party atmosphere, and the Jungle beach offers privacy. 

Enjoy the season. www.gogolanka.com