Local media’s familiarisation trip to Sri Lanka |05 December 2013

Seychellois journalists get taste of Colombo nightlife

It was not all work and no play for the Seychellois journalists forming the media group visiting Colombo on the invitation of Mihin Lanka, the airline serving the newly launched direct Sri Lanka-Seychelles route.

On the third day of a hectic tour of various national institutions in Colombo -- which I will write about in more details in the weekend edition of the newspaper -- all pens, papers, recorders, laptops, headphones were left to rest when the group descended on Colombo city at night to have a taste of the city’s nightlife in nightclubs and casinos. (See accompanying story).

As far as pubs were concerned, the first stop was at the Margarita Blue in the Galadari Hotel which is greatly recommended to visitors to Colombo. Entrance fee was R500. No, not our R500 but in Sri Lankan rupees which to Seychellois can be considered free entrance considering the value of their currency to ours!

Overlooking the Indian Ocean, The Margarita Blue sets the mood for a cosy atmosphere with splendid vistas of the sunset. With live entertainment by 'Mirage' from Wednesday to Saturday, it is the perfect hang out for lovers of Retro Music.

The pub also offers games such as Darts, Snooker and Pool etc … It is open from Sunday to Thursday, from 11am to midnight, and on Friday and Saturday from 11am to 2am.

Margarita Blue has a choice of songs for all tastes and ages.. The live band that performs at the club at intervals between disco time plays mainly ‘old time favourites’ as we say. When our group was there, songs like Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I will survive’, ‘Living next door to Alice’, ‘I come from the land down under’ and many more drew loud applause from the older generation present.

But as soon as the live band took a rest the disco is back in full swing with hip hops, RnB, techno, until early hours.

The local media group also had a chance to experience the Taj nightclub at Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo. But this nightclub is for members only but after a few public relations stunts from the group saying we are from Seychelles, brought in by Mihin Lanka to experience Colombo and will write good things on their country, we were given free entrance. They were sort of awed to hear about the Seychelles! Taj is more a youth nightclub with very modern music and young Sri Lankans really dance, smoke and drink when they are having fun on nights out!

M. Julie