Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Places to go, things to do
Come April and amidst everything else that the month has brought are the school holidays… yippee! What’s better is that this time around the holidays are going to be longer. More time means more opportunity to have more fun. Isn’t that great or what? But maybe you are stuck for ideas as to what exactly to do this holidays. Maybe you are a bit unsure, so to help you have that holiday worth gossiping about here are some tips from holidaymakers who know how to holiday.

You want a day out with your pals? Well, you have a few options to choose from, ‘few’ being the operative word (we are not being rude, it’s called ‘stating the facts’). If you are somewhat of a movie buff there are three good cinemas you can choose from to watch movies in Colombo; Savoy, Majestic and Liberty. Dare Devil, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Down With Love are some of the movies tipped to come out this holiday season.

Of course your day does not have to end there (after all it’s supposed to be a ‘day’ out right?) So after the movie maybe you can head out for lunch or even an ice cream. There are so many places to choose from. And, so for those of us who don’t really have our own means of getting around, here are the few places in close proximity to the cinemas, so you can actually walk there.

For those headed to the Liberty, Dine Mor is a hop, step and a jump away. Or, if you are in the mood for an ice cream Carnival ice cream parlour is only a walk in the opposite direction. If you are at Majestic Cinema, just take the steps down and make a beeline to the food court. You also have the option of eating at KFC and Hotshots. If you’re heading to Savoy, Merry Brown is only a short distance away. Of course you don’t necessarily have to stick to these places. There’s the whole of Colombo to choose from any day, any time… provided you have transport.

Still on day outings, you could head to Exel World, formerly known as Millennium Park. Here you can have a full day of games and laughter with so many things to choose from. There is bowling, pool, prokart racing and many more activities, and what’s more, when your stomach starts growling there is a variety of food to choose from at their food court.

It’s holiday time, and for most of us one day certainly won’t be enough. There are so many people who are looking to get away from Colombo (and the heat). Well, then head to Nuwara Eliya and if you are the adventurous type you’ll love it there this holiday season. Why? Because there will be a mini adventure park till April 25. The activities are varied from water-based activities, land based activities and ‘beyond the earth’ activities including mountain biking, kayaking, flat water rafting and lots more.

If you are not the adventure type, or Nuwara Eliya seems a bit too far… then there is always down South. The best part is that you can go there even for a day. With all the water sports it’s another perfect get away from the heat. Whenever you are feeling hot just dive in to the sea and feel refreshed!

As for the lazy ones who don’t want to get out even while on vacation, there is the option of staying at home for dream-come-true slumbers or indulging in the couch-potato-option. Many people feel that’s what holidays are all about. Sleep, sleep, read, watch TV, eat and sleep a bit more. But there are other things you could do at home. Rent a few old movies or new ones – it’s up to you - and then watch till your eyes tear and eat popcorn till you’re sick. Or, you could invite a few friends over for a slumber party, run riot and turn the house upside down. The bottom line is, even if you stay at home your holiday is not going to be boring... the things you could do are endless. (Make sure that you stick to basic rules of conduct though, over-stepping the extremes might just get you kicked out of home. Don’t forget you need a house to live in after the holidays are over!).

As for the guys out there who might find all this a bit too girly, you could just stay home and play video games like there’s no tomorrow. And of course let’s not forget the phone. If you’ve been overworking and have missed catching up on your pals, just give them a buzz and talk till your parents give you those all too familiar warning looks.

With such a lot of time on your hands, may be you could dedicate a bit of it to learning something new, and try your hand at what you haven’t done before. Like driving. (There’s nothing wrong with starting early) If you can’t swim, learning it might be a good idea. And if you’ve never tried your hand at learning the culinary arts, finding out for sure if you like it or not is also an option, among many others.

Shopaholics, prepare yourself for the time of your lives. It’s the holiday plus New Year season, and every store is bound to offer some great bargains. Colombo will no doubt be a shoppers’ paradise. Apart from the usual shoppers’ hangouts, watch out for the many ‘Avurudu Polas ’ and shopping festivals that usually come up for the season.

So now that you’ve got our tips, it’s time to take a much-needed, well-deserved break. Go out (or stay in) and have a holiday that’s worth gossiping about with your friends. Happy Holidays!

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