THE GREAT INDOORS: FROM THE SOFA TO… SRI LANKA

Jul 24, 2020 | Food & Drinks, Sri Lanka

Thinking about travelling Sri Lanka? This is not a drill adventurers, this island nation is opening its doors from August 1!

If you’re choosing to stay put a little while longer rather than jumping on the first flights then we’ve got you! Here with your weekly installment of virtual travel is our complete guide to travelling Sri Lanka from your sofa.

Trips to this stunning country come complete with delicious food, epic ruins, incredible wildlife and of course, lots of tea. So chuck the kettle on, get creative in the kitchen with this week’s recipe and manifest yourself traversing the gem of the Indian ocean. It’ll do for now!

1. TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR AROUND UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

2020 may be an unusual year, but it’s also the most advanced our technology has ever been. Luckily for us, there’s tons of resources out there on the big wide web that allow us to hit the road before we’ve even managed to find our passports. Head here to wander around the incredible Dambulla Cave complex or follow this link to explore the stunning coastal spot, Galle Fort. Our favourite one? Click here to climb Sigiriya. Yes, you heard that right. 1200 steps & you can do it while sitting down? Sold! We still advocate for doing it in person (nothing beats those views!) but this will definitely keep us content until we can get back there.

2. WATCH A NATURE DOCUMENTARY

Travelling Sri Lanka will show you an extraordinary amount of wildlife. This stunning country plays host to a number of blue whales in its beautiful waters, while on tour we even head down to the incredible coastal town of Mirissa to spot some of these magnificent mammals from a boat! Since we can’t be there right now, we’ve been using our downtime to watch & learn about them from a different perspective, this National Geographic video is one of our favourites.

3. STICK THE KETTLE ON

Did you know tea is the second most consumed drink globally, after water? And Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth largest producer of tea! This island nation formerly known as Ceylon (yes, like the tea) produces A LOT of the good stuff. When travelling around the country you can even visit tea plantations and try your hand at picking the leaves yourself. So stick the kettle on and enjoy!

4. PLAY A GAME OF CRICKET!

Sri Lanka is one of the six nations that have won a cricket world cup and it’s by far the most popular sport played on the island with Galle International Stadium even considered to be one of the most beautiful cricket pitches in the world! Now we know your back garden might not quite make the cut into that list, but you can play cricket anywhere. So set yourself up and practice so you’re ready for that first game of beach cricket when you hit the coast of Sri Lanka!

5. RIDE IN A TUK TUK, KIND OF…

Watch Matt LeBlanc race a Tuk Tuk crammed full of bags of tea through a plantation, to a tea factory. No, we’re not kidding! Top Gear hosts an episode in Sri Lanka highlighting the wonders of the Sri Lankan mode of transport. Squint really hard and you can almost visualise yourself riding around the streets of Kandy in a Tuk Tuk (some imagination required!).

6. COOK UP A BIG BOWL OF DHAL

This Sri Lankan dish is outrageously delicious & will quickly become a staple in your weekly meal plan. Sri Lankan dhal is similar to Indian dahl, but is made with curry leaves and coconut milk, making it a little creamier. Eat like a local and scoop it up with your hands and a piece of roti or naan! Check out our recipe here.

7. THROW IT BACK TO THE 80’S WITH DURAN DURAN

Ever wondered what Sri Lanka looked like in the 80’s? Believe it or not, Duran Duran actually filmed three of their biggest hits on the island after their manager took a trip there and was inspired to get them all back to film the music videos. Save A Prayer, Hungry Like The Wolf & Lonely In Your Nightmare all feature the stunning backdrop of the country. Hit play on these & have a dance party around your bedroom. What’s not to love?