#ranna212

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Tangalle Surfing

Looking for hotspots to surf in Sri Lanka? Many coastal areas of the island offer superb surfing conditions but situated on the pristine shores of Tangalle,Ranna212 Tangalle provides to be an ideal hub for all surfer buffs.

[globalattractions]

Spa & Beauty at Ranna212 – Wonderful Wellness & Wellbeing

Discover holistic healing along Sri Lanka's enchanting South Coast when you stay at Ranna212 Tangalle which features a range of spa & beauty treatments. Ranging from ayurvedic massages to body scrubs and foot reflexology to manicures & pedicures, these treatments promise a wellness experience like no other.

[trekurious]

Brass Making in Angulmaduwa

Ranna212 offers you a unique opportunity to visit a traditional brass making workshop in Angulmaduwa, and observe skilled artisans at work.

Traditional brass adornments have added beauty to households for centuries. They are considered a symbol of prosperity in Sri Lanka, with the brass pahana (oil lamp) ubiquitous at every ceremony.  Angulmaduwa is believed to be one of the oldest villages of brass craftsmanship. Here, the craftsmen still engage in the traditional 'lost wax' method of production. Although it is highly labour and time intensive, it produces exceptionally fine quality and detail.

Rohana, a skilled brass maker in the area, showed us his authentic workshop made of clay walls and thatched roof to explain the exhaustive procedure.

Properties

Brass is a malleable alloy of copper and zinc.

By varying the proportion of the two ingredients, a range of brass, of different colours can be produced, of which golden yellow brass is the most popular.

Copper is added first, then the Iron and heated at around 1100°C.

History

Sri Lanka's brassware industry, now very much a part of the country's culture and national crafts, is widely believed to have originated during the Dutch colonial era. It is also possible to have arrived from the Indian Subcontinent.

Legend has it that king Dutugamunu, developed the brass industry in the Angulmaduwa region for the production of brass armaments, to defeat his nemesis, King Elara. Sadly, the brass industry in the area is declining rapidly and is now centered around the Pilimatalawa area, close to Kandy.

There are 5 main processes involved in Brass Making:

There's 2 ways of casting unpolished brass:

1)a)Creating mould using the 'lost wax' method

The model required is made using a mixture of clay and sand. It is then sculpted in wax and covered in clay. A hole is made at the top so that when it is baked; the wax melts out, leaving behind a clay mould. Molten brass is then poured into the clay and left to harden. This entire process can take up to 10 days since the clay needs to be completely dry before it can be baked. Once the mould is made in this manner, it can be used for a very long time.

Below: Clay and Sand mould being shaped

b) Moulding can also be done using a mixture of silica, bentonite clay, and sand. The mixture is moistened, typically with water to develop strength and plasticity and to make the aggregate suitable for moulding. The models are placed in an open box frame and filled to the top with the mixture. A mould cavity is created by compacting the mixture around the models. Molten brass is then poured into the mould cavity through a small hole made in the mixture and left to harden.

Below: Mould cavity being made

2) The moulded pieces are combined together with wire.

3) The welding process coalesces and joins the pieces together. Welding brass is not as straightforward as other metals because copper and zinc have very different melting points (zincs is much lower). The zinc content determines the strength of the flame needed to weld. 

4)Shining -The unpolished item is scraped with a blunt chisel like tool as it rotates on a mounted wheel. This process takes only around 5 minutes.

5) Polishing - The item is scraped against a vibrating wheel to reveal a golden glossy surface. Different wheels are used to attain different finishes. The sparkly Brass items are now ready for sale!

Make sure you check out Rohana's showroom if you're looking to purchase funky brass ornaments.

  By Tashiya de Mel

[trekurious]

Fishing and bird watching on Kalametiya Lake

Located in the Hambantota district

Kalametiya is also a bird sanctuary (probably one of the best places to view resident birds)

A 15-minute drive from Ranna212 takes you to the Kalametiya Lake and Bird Sanctuary, where you can enjoy fishing and bird watching

Fishing

Sunil, a fisherman from a nearby village took us out onto the lake in his traditional fishing boat, to show us the ropes. We began our journey at the lagoon, separated from the sea by a narrow strip of isolated beach.

The brackish waters were buzzing with life. The lake is home to over 180 species of endemic and migratory birds, and other smaller mammals. There's also a diverse variety of vegetation found including: clusters of thick aquatic lotuses, water reeds, and hyacinths ( mostly found on the surface). The lake is fringed on either side by salt marshes, mangroves, and mini islands. It really was like one of those enchanting places you read about in fairy tales.

We hopped onto a half submerged rock in the middle of the lake for a 360 degree view - this was the perfect spot to begin fishing.

We used small pieces of squid as bait. After throwing our lines into the water, we waited in anticipation, hoping to feel a tug at the end of the rod. This was the most relaxing part of the experience. There was time to indulge in a nice cool beer, read a book or just breathe in the stunning landscapes surrounding you. There's really nothing quite like it. 

Bird Watching

Kalametiya, also a bird sanctuary, is the final destination for migrating birds that arrive in Southern Sri Lanka. We managed to do a fair amount of bird watching ourselves, spotting: Whistling Ducks, Comorans, Fishing Eagles and Egrets, among others. Other sightings around the lake include: Painted Stork, White Ibis, Grey/Purple Heron, Spoon Bill, Purple Coot and Black Winged Stilt.

After we got back on land, Sunil took us back to his home to meet his family. He was extremely hospitable and chatted to us about his life over a warm cup of coffee. We didn't end up catching a single fish but that didn't really matter. A peaceful evening bird watching and meandering across the scenic lake was more than we hoped for. Perhaps the next time would prove to be more successful. 

Sunil's practiced fishing in the Kalametiya area since his early teens. He is an expert at both standard fishing practices and traditional net fishing. His experience and familiarity with the lake make him the perfect guide to explore the Lake with.

Below: Sunil outside his home

By Tashiya de Mel

[trekurious]

The Deep South and Ranna 212

Isolated white sandy beaches fringed with tall coconut trees, gorgeous sunsets, and cerulean seas... sounds like paradise, doesn't it? The Southern Coast of Sri Lanka, still relatively unexplored, offers much more than untouched pristine beaches. Ancient archaeological sites, hot springs, wildlife habitats, lakes, and jungle-like terrain are just a few of the things that make the Deep South such an interesting place.

Located 212 km from Colombo, Ranna 212 is a stylish resort in the Deep South. Whether it's a relaxed getaway you're after, or an action packed holiday, Ranna212 accommodates all interests. You can count the cute lil' turtles sunbathing in the rectangular pond, choose to relax by the pool with a drink, take a refreshing dip, sun bask on the beach, or just take a walk alongside the waves. Other must-see destinations such as Yala, Galle and Arugambay are not too far either.

The rooms are modern yet simple with a raw concrete finish. The en-suite bathrooms are spacious and include a massive plunge-pool type bathtub, which was awesome! The staff is incredibly friendly and made a great effort to make sure we had everything we needed. Their open air restaurant allows a continuous cool sea breeze to flow through at all times. Be sure to try out the spaghetti Aglio Olio and the seafood dishes, which were delish! There was a good variety to choose from and if you wanted something slightly different, it was prepared without delay. They even served us tea right on the beach! It really doesn't get much better.

The resort organizes unique excursions and tours for their guests, as well as visitors outside the resort. A 15-minute drive takes you to the Kalametiya Lake and Bird Sanctuary, where you can enjoy fishing and bird watching. You can also drive to the magnificent ancient monastery of Mulkirigala, perched on top of a large rock. Ussangoda National Park, a designated archaeological site is also located close to the resort. Ranna also offers unique opportunities to see curd and brass making in a traditional village home. It really is the definition of a perfect getaway. The Trekurious team spent three exciting days at the resort trying out all their experiences and visiting some amazing attractions. Over the course of the next week, we will be featuring our adventures on our blog, so stay tuned for awesome things to experience if you’re visiting the Deep South!

 Below: Refreshing thambili offered upon our arrival

Below:Creative turn down service 

 Below: Isolated beach front

 Below: Sunset

By Tashiya de Mel