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Barefoot, Colombo Barefoot is an iconic destination; you haven’t truly visited Colombo if you haven’t popped by. This much-loved brand has two outposts in the capital: a shop in Colombo’s Fort area and a buzzing Galle Road concept store that spans a shop, gallery, bookshop and courtyard café. (The latter dishes up prime people-watching, as well as relaxed snacks and salads.) Barefoot was founded by artist and designer Barbara Sansoni, who was born in Kandy and brought up in Sri Lanka (back when it was known as Ceylon) and Southern India. Having always drawn and painted as a child, inspired by the vibrant colours and cultures around her, Barbara began working with fabrics in the Sixties. She discovered a passion and talent for weaving, and travelled all around Sri Lanka to source inspiration for her designs. Barbara opened her first shop, House, in Colombo’s Fort area; a second shop, Barefoot opened at the Galle Face Court in the late 1960s. Here, Barbara debuted her first, smash-hit clothing collection. Visitors to Colombo’s arterial Galle Road outpost can browse an enticing array of hand-woven fabrics in a rainbow array of hues: pick from beautiful bed and table linen, relaxed contemporary clothing, slouchy sarongs, gem-bright bags and more. You can also admire covetable crafts sourced from all around the island: painted wooden objects, ornate jewellery, Dumbara cushions, candle stands, stools, boxes and so on. While away an hour or two in the on-site bookshop, which stars a specialist selection of Sri Lankan literature, with titles spanning art, architecture, photography, fiction, self-help, travel and more. There’s also a gallery that serves as a platform for artists, musicians, poets, and filmmakers. Browse the current exhibitions and pick up a print or postcard for the folks back home, before heading outside to the Garden Café. Quench your thirst with a pot of tea or an icy lime soda; throw in a black-pork curry if you’re peckish. PS For another hit of Barefoot, swing by Galle’s outpost on Pedlar Street. tags Beach city Culture experience Food & Drink travel tips Wellness Wildlife newsletter sign up the latest inside aboutSri Lanka on your inbox #SRILANKAEXPERIENCE -
11 street treats to try in Colombo Pepper’s local host in Colombo talks us through 11 of the city’s best street treats. For the best introduction to the capital’s food scene, join him on Pepper’s popular Colombo Street Food tour... Kottu 1) Kottu This is a type of chopped flatbread, mixed and mashed together with vegetables and meat and lots of aromatic spices and even cheese (and whatever else you can imagine), made with a rhythmic sound. Heavy metal! Egg Hopper 2) Hoppers AKA ‘appam’, or crispy pancakes, which were baptised and re-named Hoppers. These thin, bowl-shaped pancakes are prepared with a fermented batter composed of rice (or rice flour) and coconut milk. Serves the sweet tooth and the spicy tongues. There are three varieties: honey hoppers, egg hoppers and plain hoppers. Isso Wade 3) Isso wade A crunchy, deep-fried affair of prawns in a patty. Oval in shape, red in colour and made from a mixture of gram flour, chilli and spices, these prawn cakes are flat and round and usually have two or three long prawns on them. Beeda 4) Beeda This is Indian ‘paan’, which eloped and found a home in the streets of Colombo. It’s a curious concoction of betel leaf and magic elements. It’s a powerful trinity: age-old aphrodisiac, mouth freshener and digestive aid. Arrack 5) ‘Babath’ (beef tripe) This food staple is popular with Sri Lanka’s Malay community. The dish is typical of the Colombo region, still known as ‘Slave Island’. It was the Dutch settlers who provided these less expensive cuts of beef tummy to the population. 6) Arrack Obama (arrack sour) A local gin and tonic made with one of the oldest naturally fermented alcoholic beverages known to the world. Kanji 7) Kanji (porridge) Consider this the local firepower (non-alcoholic, of course). It’s served throughout the day as a source of energy for the supermen of Pettah (who have to do a lot of labour-intensive work). One version is made from sago and coconut milk and the other is made from green gram (mung bean). Sugar isn’t added to the porridge; porridge is added to the sugar! 8) Achcharu Only for the brave! This is a staple food for every kid walking the streets of Colombo. A mix of local fruits have chilli flakes and salt and pepper added; the nice, tangy overtones are apparent. It’s also super spicy! The best substitute for nasal decongestants. 9) Masala chai Power tea of the South Indian settlers in the country. A blend of a few highly classified spices in milk tea, made with condensed milk to hit every note. 10) Badam milk Spinach to Popeye! Badam milk travelled from Persia in the pockets of the sailors. It’s a delicious, sweet drink of fresh milk, beaten together with almonds – perfect for any rendezvous. 11) Narag juice A tangy drink to beat the heat and punch the thirst burst, made out of pomelo and bitter orange. Grandmas always say: ‘It’s good for the phlegm!’ tags Beach city Culture experience Food & Drink travel tips Wellness Wildlife newsletter sign up the latest inside aboutSri Lanka on your inbox #SRILANKAEXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE SRI LANKA -
Top 10 Sri Lanka Experienceswith Experience Travel Group Who better than our pals at Experience Travel Group – which specialises in designing boutique holidays for curious travellers – to point you towards the island's top 10 adventures? This is your cue to hop on a seaplane across the coast, to take the scenic train, to go on a boat safari, to discover Jaffna islands and to meet the locals, from expert chefs and friendly farmers to knowledgeable Veddha guides. To include any of these experiences as part of your tailor-made holiday in Sri Lanka, please contact Sri Lanka specialists, Experience Travel Group. 1. Farm village experience A truly off-the-beaten-track experience, allowing you to gain an insight into rural village life in Sri Lanka as you travel by tuk-tuk and tractor, meeting farmers along the way. 2. A scenic train ride through the Hill Country Board one of the most scenic train rides in the world as you wind through the hill country, passing by lush tea plantations, remote villages and gushing waterfalls. 3. The islands of Jaffna Venture up to the lesser visited area of Jaffna in Sri Lanka’s extreme north and out to the largely uninhabited islands, passing through a wonderful, haunting landscape, giving you the feeling you have reached the ends of the earth! 4. Boat safari in Gal Oya National Park The only experience in Sri Lanka that allows you to spot wildlife from the water, a safari by boat through Gal Oya is a unique way to immerse yourself in the animals’ habitats. 5. Abode Homestay + trekking in the Knuckles Mountain Range Set in the heart of the scenic Knuckles mountain range, Abode is a responsibly managed tourist programme aiming to preserve a village community, with wonderful trekking opportunities, making it ideal for the more adventurous traveller. 6. Colombo city walk A passionate local guide opens up the cultural heart of Colombo to you as you discover the historic colonial gems, giving you an authentic insight into the capital. 7. Travel by seaplane from the east coast across the country Not only can you lower travel times by flying to your next destination in Sri Lanka, but it’s a scenic way to get around. The flight from the East Coast is particularly beautiful and you can admire the coastline from a unique perspective. 8. Veddha walk through Mahiyanganaya In the company of a Veddha guide, get an insight into the lives of Sri Lanka’s indigenous people as you listen to stories about their lives both past and present and learn how they are attempting to preserve their heritage. 9. A unique stay at the Mudhouse One of the most unique properties in the country, The Mudhouse provides thatched hut-style accommodation blending harmoniously into the surrounding natural environment. Here you can live amongst nature, get a glimpse into real rural Sri Lankan life and enjoy authentic food. 10. Cooking class and Galle Fort walk Begin your day with a hands-on cooking class using fresh ingredients and clay pots over a fire stove to learn the local way to prepare your lunch. Enjoy the fruits of your labour before setting off on a walk through the peaceful old fort area of Galle with your expert local guide. Find out more about Experience Travel Group... tags Beach city Culture experience Food & Drink travel tips Wellness Wildlife newsletter sign up the latest inside aboutSri Lanka on your inbox #SRILANKAEXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE SRI LANKA
