Mirror Magazine - Letting go and living it up

It's been a tough day. But that's nothing new– this whole month, hell, this entire year has been tough, tough and tough! You have little time for yourself and the strain of keeping all your apples airborne is beginning to show. The dark circles under your eyes have become a constant fixture and you know it's only a matter of time, before you really lose it, shoot your boss and run down the street stark naked.

Is it worth it? In the long run? Sure, it means security and an extra-soft mattress at the old folk's home. Short-term prospects might not be so good however, the fact is that one must always keep in mind the possibility of being run over by a bus– a.k.a abrupt and unexpected termination of life.

In the light of that truth, life becomes something to be savoured and enjoyed. And your money becomes something to spend with gay abandon– at least once in awhile. What are we saying?Indulge yourself; cuddle and pamper your heart, mind and body. How? Here for your inspection, are a few luxurious, rather expensive ideas.

The city has its own appealing brand of madness and mayhem. Killer traffic jams, packed restaurants, shows at the Lionel Wendt, and ditzy night clubs are all the norm. However, when the thought of another Saturday night spent dancing till dawn/snoring in bed seems unbearable we suggest a trip to the Kandalama Hotel.

Yes, yes, I know you've always wanted to go there but have long since decided your system couldn't possibly withstand the shock of the 200,000 rupee bill. Have no fear, your friendly neighbourhood journalist did the dirty work for you, and we have established that the bill is really, rather bearable.

Listen to the little red devil on your shoulder: book yourself in for a weekend. (Just in case you need a sop for your guilt, reassure yourself that Kandalama, aside from being Geoffrey Bawa's masterpiece, is also flanked by two UNESCO world heritage sites– the 1st century BC Dambulla rock temple and the 5th century AD Sigiriya rock fortress. So this could in fact be guilt deductible as one of those cultural, mind-expanding thingies).

Of course you might have to go back to mum and dad for help with food, phone bills and other such trivial odds and ends, but will it be worth it? Oh yeah baby.

The price tag: Approximately Rs.16,300 per day for two at full board. Boat ride: Rs.700 per head. Elephant Back Safari: Rs.550 per head. For more details call 066-2281400

The gorgeous gadget: We will begin this section with a declaration of ignorance. I feel about certain gadgets the way some parents feel about their adolescent children: confused and unsure about what is really going on in there, but adoring nonetheless…Which is why I consulted with someone who seemed far more knowledgeable than I.

Now, you may have just noticed that your life is whizzing by and your memories of the good times are beginning to get a little blurred around the edges. Remedy that; splurge on the Samsung digimax S700.

A recent release, the Digimax S700 offers 7-megapixel resolution, a 3X optical zoom, and a 2.4-inch LCD. It's simple to use and packs 7 scene modes including landscape, close-up, sunset, dawn, backlight, fireworks, and beach and snow. In-camera editing features let even the newest photographers fix up their shots. A special effects option makes photos black and white, sepia, or a single colour, plus adds photo frames and even lets you store two to four images in a single file. If you're looking for something a little lower down the ladder, try the Samsung digimax S500.

The price tag: (approximate prices only) Samsung digimax S700 for $250. Samsung S500 for $150.

A massage has got to be the most pleasurable thing a human body can experience. Well, let me amend that to at least one of the most pleasurable things. Trusting my modesty to a little white towel, and my body to the hands of a skilful masseur is on my list of things to do as often as possible. Here's your chance to add it to yours.

A good massage can do wonders for you - body and soul. Feel the little knots of tension unravel, feel your body melt and stretch, let yourself go. If you don't already have a favourite spa, we suggest you give the Sanctuary Spa a shot. The 1 ½ hour, full body, head to toe, Aromatherapy massage comes highly recommended. If you have the time and the money, combine it with the Aromatherapy facial.

The price tag: Full body massage: Rs.3795; Aromatherapy Facial: Rs.3450. For more details call The Sanctuary Spa: 2501269

Create your masterpiece

It lives in your head, this picture. It drifts around somewhere at the back of your mind, and to you it is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. God knows what inspired it - the song your friend wrote, the time you went to Galle Face at 2 a.m, the day you realised the ehela tree in your garden was in full bloom. Wherever it came from it's there now. Make it real. Take a walk down Greenpath, pick an artist and ask them to paint it for you. Even if you're artistically challenged, you should be able to give him or her a good idea of what you want.

The price tag: Expect to pay anywhere between Rs.4000 - Rs.10,000, depending upon the size of the canvas and intricacy of the painting.

To paraphrase loosely, eating is not eating. A good meal must not only be a culinary marvel, it needs must be accompanied by good company. Here's the deal. If you can organise the latter we can suggest a few places where you'll find the former. Hmmm, now let me see. Off hand, there's the Gallery Café (and their oh so divine chocolate nemesis), Barefoot, Il Pointe and Spoons at the Hilton, Lagoon at the Cinnamon Grand and Navaratna at the Taj. However, we'd like to draw your attention to two particularly scintillating restaurants.

One is Nihonbashi at Galle Face Terrace, where a fantastic course meal awaits you. These meals, featuring several courses, run the gamut of classic Japanese dishes. From Sushi and Sashimi to the more exotic Kobe Beef …it's all there.

The second is Tao. I love this joint not only for its gorgeous fusion food, (the Mussels in Thai Green Curry being a stellar example), but also for the utterly peaceful ambience. You could sit there for hours, laughing, eating and watching the mammoth (and sometimes scary) fish swim by. If you do happen to be in the vicinity, give the Prawn Wantons and the Wok Fried Noodles a try.

The price tag: Course meals at Nihonbashi (2323847) are available within a price range from Rs.3600 - Rs.5900 (plus taxes). Tao (2320001) on the other hand is much more affordable, amounting to about 1500 per head, inclusive of a drink.