Tag Archives: Elephants

World’s Top Wildlife Spectacle in Sri Lanka.

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EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP WILDLIFE SPECTACLES IN SRI LANKA WITH CHAAYA HOTELS & RESORTS

‘The Gathering’ elephant phenomenon in Minneriya National Park

With close to five thousand wild Asian elephants in Sri Lanka, ‘The Gathering’ offers an incredible opportunity to witness the 6th greatest wildlife spectacular in the world, as recognised in 2011 by the internationally acclaimed travel guide, Lonely Planet.

Taking place in the north central province of Sri Lanka during the dry season, the mega wildlife phenomenon ‘The Gathering’ begins to unfold late July as scattered herds from various forests begin to assemble around the great Minneriya National Park reservoir as the drought takes full effect. During the height of the drought in August and September, every evening the breath-taking setting of the Minneriya plains, receding water line and fresh grass sprouting, draws an awe-inspiring sight with up to 300 elephants gathering to drink water and graze the grasses growing on the tank bed.

Staying at Chaaya Village Habarana offers guests the opportunity to easily visit Minneriya to witness ’The Gathering’. Located just 15 minutes from the hotel, guests are accompanied by Chaaya’s in-house team of expert naturalists – the ‘Nature Trails’ team – who will share their specialist knowledge whilst experiencing the phenomenon first-hand.

Located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle in the Anuradhapura district, Chaaya Village Habarana is situated across 27 acres of lush forestland bordering the Habarana Tank and a vast and tranquil lake. With 108 rooms set among thousands of towering trees the property is a must for nature-lovers. Guests will enjoy cosy Sri Lankan village-style cottages with impressive views of the natural world. Its first class facilities include an Ayurvedic spa, open-air restaurant, bar and coffee shop and a choice of once in a lifetime excursions.

Responsible tourism and conservation is at the heart of the John Keells owned Chaaya Hotels & Resorts group. Its ‘Nature Trails’ programme drives critical education and conservation projects for Sri Lanka to educate both its visitors and its local people to understand and respect its precious wildlife and to develop and teach new skills and careers around its conservation, whilst also supporting livelihoods and bettering opportunities for local families.

Each Chaaya Hotels property has an in-house naturalist to educate both visitors and local people whilst also protecting and nurturing its environment. The Nature Trails naturalists were honoured to be chosen as to support an Austin Stevens Animal Planet production on ‘The Gathering’ which was aired worldwide.


Kuoni is offering seven nights at Chaaya Village Habarana in August or September with prices starting from £1055 per person based on two sharing and subject to availability. Prices include accommodation on a half-board basis in a standard room, return economy Sri Lankan Airlines flights from London Heathrow and return airport transfers.

For more information on Chaaya Village Habarana and Chaaya Hotels & Resorts visit www.chaayahotels.com

This Month's Magazines: Pippa Middleton and Gwyneth Paltrow Cover Girls/ Updated

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Here is the second in my monthly round-up, for July 2011.

Tatler has joined Pippa Middleton’s fan club and put her on the cover, the article on her inside weighs up her possible future husbands, and has a very good article on her and lots of pictures. It also let’s you know that Pippa does pilates at Pilates on the Go in Parson’s Green, and has a testimonial on their website.

Tatler also give the low-down on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s inner circle, who’s in and who’s out. Athina Onassis also has an article on her and multibillion-pound colossus Glencore has a four page article on them. Nathaniel Rothschild is one of their investors.

Tory Burch talks about what inspires her, Claudia Winklemann writes about her hatred of summer, Orlando had advice for your gap yah, Annabel Rivkin slams Made In Chelsea for making posh people look bad, and for not being posh at all.

One of the best article is their annual 100 most invited; The Middleton’s top the list, Natalie Massenet, Colin Firth, Nat Rothschild, Michael McIntyre, Dasha Zhukova and Liz Murdoch all make the list.

Tatler also has their first ever Hunting, Shooting & Fishing guide. Here at Frost we don’t hunt, but we love clay pigeon shooting.

Vanity Fair: Emma Stone is on the cover and talks about wanting to be a ‘covered up’ actress, but is on the cover in a bikini. Stone comes across well in the interview and states that she doesn’t want to make a career out of mere sex appeal. Ted Danson goes out to lunch, James Wolcott on Dominique Strauss-Kahn, There is a long form article on Groupon, one of the biggest growing business in history which will soon be worth $20 Billion.

There is an article to mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, there is also a very good article on Prince Andrew and his many troubles, but does let you know that he is The Queen’s favorite child, Elephants – which are sadly being hunted in their tens of thousands per year, and Catch 22 writer Joseph Heller. Jerry Lewis does the Proust Questionnaire.

Vanity Fair Jewellery has a supplement with a naked Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover. It has lots of good articles on the history of Gold, The Windsor’s crown jewels, Daphne Guinness and a calender with Paltrow, Thandie Newton, Natalia Vodianova, Olivia Inge, Olivia Palermo, Uma Thurman and Poppy Delevigne.

Marie Claire has Audrey Tautou on the cover, the shy actress manages to give nothing away in the subsequent interview. George Clooney talks about his activism in South Sudan, there are wedding night confessions, a good article on women who earn money from blogging, a piece on the rise of Posh as Toff mania grips Britain.

There are QR codes abound in Marie Claire, exciting if you have a smart phone,

There is lots of fashion of course, it lets you nail your festival look, there is an article on couples who fight over wardrobe space, an article on love addiction and JK Rowling’s life story. Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright also gives an insight into her world and Megan Fox gives her beauty secrets.

There is a free gift of lip gloss, but not if you are a subscriber. Bad form.

Vogue has Kate Moss AKA Mrs Jamie Hince on the cover and in a forties fashion spread inside, though nothing on her wedding (American Vogue have been given the rights) Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain and Lily Collins.

Jemima Khan writes about conquering her fear of flying to save a long distance relationship. Jemima is a very good writer. Miss V is as brilliant as ever, with lots of parties and pictures,

Of course there is lots of fashion and the forties look is in. Christopher Bailey talks about 10 years at Burberry and Mustique is the holiday destination of the year.

The girls of Downtown Abbey are in vogue and in couture, complete with interviews. There is also a tan special and Christa D’Souza on the quest of a perfect ponytail. Gemma Atterton gives her Style File and talks about how hard it is to find cloths to fit her curvy frame.

There is also a free supplement of the Runaway round-up for Autumn/Winter 2011.

Glamour has Jessie J is on the cover and there is a free Personal Horoscope book.

There is a very good article inside where Jessie talks about her sexuality, her stroke and drugs and alcohol which you can read more about on Frost.

There is articles on cutting calories, getting in shape and being body confident, lessons from online dating, Karl Lagerfield on Lily Allen’s wedding dress, article on sex dreams, how to nail a wedding gift, Katy Perry’s body secrets.

This issue also had Glamour’s Women Of the Year Awards, their prestigious annual event, with news and gossip from the night. A running gag about sleeping with Davina McCall’s husband is funnier than it sounds. There is also 30,000 sex secrets and how to become red carpet glamorous, as well as an interview with the Inbetweener’s boys. Celia Walden interviews Rupert Grint and the stars spill their festival secrets.

A very good, fun edition with lots of fashion, stories, advice and fun.