Traversing via train to the cool climes of Kandy is an experience in itself; the bumpy ride strangely had an almost Zen-like quality as we ended up at the land of the hills. Disembarking and entering the town of Kandy was a nostalgic moment albeit one that brought back many childhood memories. The trip towards OZO Kandy only served to pad up those memories with a sense of wistfulness.
The blues of the OZO properties serenade your senses and covers them up with a duvet of comfort. It was the sense of taste that was cosseted this particular morning at the breakfast buffet table. Replete with a spread of deliciousness that encapsulated the best of Western and Eastern, I was happy to indulge in all things delicious at their main restaurant EAT. Cheekily, I asked for a cheese omelette with four eggs, which the chef arming one particular breakfast station smilingly whipped up.
It’s okay to be slightly greedy I thought, and that greediness was extended to my sense of comfort, which was present at the suite I was shown to. There’s something about the beds at Amari Galle and Villas Wadduwa that makes them absolute nests of comfort. OZO Kandy keeps up with this particular theme of rest and relaxation.
OZO Kandy’s media fact file states the following — High-quality beds with pillow top mattresses give guests what they need for the perfect night’s sleep. Guests are able to stay connected during their stay, all rooms come equipped with a multimedia connectivity panel, IPTV and free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the hotel. — which is axiomatic as it gets.
With this in mind, I guess it’s no surprise that the 122 guestrooms of this fine property is aptly categorized (dreamily so) as: Sleep, Dream, Dream Lake and OZO Suites. The duvets covering the bed are thick and exceptional in what they offer; however, I should happily mention that the well-facilitated bathroom with its OZO-blue tiles are resplendent of that theme of comfort.
The powerful shower head with its stream of warm water that inexorably massages your stress away is a cumulative galaxy of pleasure. The fumes of lemongrass-tinged shower gels sought to emit that whisper of intention my lips — OZO Kandy, there’s no chance of me leaving towards the misery of Colombo anytime soon.
I was told that at any point of time during the day the blinds can be drawn to create a cave of comforting darkness within the room (in my case — a luxuriously festooned suite). Absolute peace of mind is offered for weary business travelers whose only consolation is rejuvenation. The lighting is ambient and non-intrusive, and is channeled through the master switches near the bedside.
BOMMU is the rooftop bar placed ever so temptingly near the pool that is also well-represented with that mystical OZO Blue. What a heady photoshoot it was with our photographer — Vishmika — capturing those pixel-perfect photos with his coterie of gadgets while I sought to give in to the promises of inebriation served by a Passionfruit Mojito and a crimson-tinged Daiquiri.
Tease me, will you? Those were my words during the dinner buffet that night. I’m still salivating over the Beef Curry that was chock full of Lankan spices — think cloves, cardamons, cinnamon, pepper, coriander seeds, fennel and a spate of others — and basked in a velvety blanket of rich, thick coconut milk.
Certain things remain with you during a hotel review besides the magnanimous array of food, service, facilities and official explanations; at OZO Kandy it was the investment that has gone into presenting a well-rounded product, which served not food, facilities and fanfare, but excellence to enjoy.
A complete disclosure at this juncture: buffets during lunch and dinner are based on the number of guests present. When numbers are down, one should expect a range of excellent dishes from OZO Kandy’s carefully curated à la carte menus.
A testament to how good the food was came in the form of a fervent acknowledgement of pleasure from the adjoining table as a spoonful of spaghetti plugged with a rich, tangy bolognese met enthusiastic lips. I concur with that happy grunt as I indulged in that same dish.
Creme brûlée has a way of being agreeable whatever the situation, and agreeable is what I was as I jumped into bed — just the three of us: one large duvet, a happy tummy, and I.
My journey back to Colombo (albeit 2kgs heavier) was a sad one; I felt wistful and was overcome with a yearning for another OZO Kandy stay — sooner the better I hoped.
Text by Rohitha Perera Photography by Vishmika Chathuranga (Impulse Inc.)