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My Sri Lanka: Henrietta Cottam Chef extraordinaire, social butterfly and owner of the wonderfully welcoming Why House hotel near Galle: Henrietta Cottam is a lady of many talents. We caught up with her over dinner, and quizzed her on her relationship with the island. Here’s what ‘Hen’ (as she’s affectionately nicknamed) had to say... Why House What’s your connection to Sri Lanka? I had a very happy Christmas spent at Why House back in 2009, which led to the opportunity to come and turn it into a boutique hotel. It has been the best decision I have ever made and I have never looked back. Why House Can you tell us about Why House and what makes it special? I think Why House is a place of ‘happy coincidences’. Everyone who comes seems to find a connection and the happy vibe makes it feel very relaxed and easy. Delicious food at Why House The food at Why House is amazing. How did you become such a good cook? I trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London, then spent 25 years cooking in London and around the world. I was born in the Far East, so my palate was honed from a very young age. I also love restaurants and the whole service industry and good food is of paramount importance to me. I love puddings! Why House Dining Pavillion Describe Sri Lanka in three words… Complex. Intriguing. Diverse Describe Why House in three words… Fun. Sociable. Charming Where is your favourite place in Sri Lanka and why? I am very fond of Kahanda Kanda, a boutique hotel close by: I think it’s the most romantic place in Sri Lanka. The views over Lake Koggala are breathtaking. What three unusual things would you tell guests to do while they’re staying with you? A bike ride around the paddy fields and local villages is wonderful, especially in the early morning. A swim with the wild turtles at Dalawella beach early morning, just a couple of minutes’ tuk-tuk ride from us. Walking the ramparts at sunset in Galle Fort. Tell us about one or two favourite Sri Lankan memories/moments… Probably seeing people relax and get into the Why House way is the best moment. I have lots of memories, but my favourite are always meeting the guests at the beginning – everyone has a story and I love hearing them. Tell us about one or two favourite locals… I love our hopper man who comes to Why House regularly on our special event nights. He is very sweet and funny, with wonderful Yoda ears; he also makes the best hoppers. Then there’s Roshan, our tuk-tuk driver, who looks after guest excursions. He is kind, thoughtful and super with children, and he has been with me since day one. I rate him very highly – he is a bit like my ‘minder’. What should people pack in their case for a trip to Why House? A happy hat and good swimming costumes! High-factor sun cream as the sun is strong! What are your three favourite things to eat and drink in Sri Lanka – and why? I love the different curries and the ability to take masses of vegetables and make them sensational. Tambili, the local coconut water, is delicious and very restorative. The bananas are simply fantastic and there are so many varieties to try. Kithul and curd (buffalo-milk yoghurt) are not be missed, either! What do you love most about Sri Lanka? The people. They amuse, flabbergast and make me happy (and drive me mad, too!). For example: ‘Madam, I am 100% not sure’. Any other tips or travel advice for newcomers to Sri Lanka? Get a decent driver: it’s worth every penny, because the public transport can be frustrating. A driver gets you from A to B in good time as the country is bigger than one thinks. Always add an hour to every journey time suggested! Come with a great attitude and a happy heart – it helps! Find out more about Why House... tags experience local knowledge MySriLanka newsletter sign up the latest inside aboutSri Lanka on your inbox #SRILANKAEXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE SRI LANKA
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Our Sri Lanka: Chamintha and Rajindra Jayasinghe Husband-and-wife team Chamintha and Rajindra have an infectious love of Sri Lanka – which is handy, given that they swapped successful careers in law and finance to set up Ayu in the Wild. This awesome, proudly Sri Lankan experiential tour company arranges bespoke itineraries and adventures that connect visitors with locals. Ayu in the Wild unlocks sides of the island that you’d never usually get to see – and that you’ll certainly never forget. Here, we caught up with the vivacious, effervescent couple to find out what they love about Sri Lanka. Here’s what they had to say... What’s your connection to Sri Lanka? Born, bred and educated in Sri Lanka, our connection is so deeply ingrained in both of us that we can only bear to be away from the island for 10 days at most, before that ‘itch’ starts. Here are our top three incongruous – and very Sri Lankan – things that we miss when we’re away from our shores. 1) The itch for the chaos on our roads. To non-Sri Lankans, we don’t follow road rules. Actually, we do! Only we Sri Lankans know how to make our way at roundabouts by deciphering the smiles, the nods, the glares and the raised eyebrows! It’s etched in our DNA. 2) The itch for the delightfully original puns that invariably result from the trivial to the traumatic events – be it politics, cricket or just everyday life. 3) The itch to travel in rural Sri Lanka at dawn and talk about the whys and why-nots of island life with a stranger we just met, who is soon no longer a stranger. In fact, that stranger becomes a wonderful local host for Ayu in the Wild’s authentic experiential tours... Chamintha and Rajindra Can you tell us about Ayu in the Wild and what makes it special? Way back in 2000, before Ayu in the Wild was dreamt of, we flipped a coin at every intersection and drove our trusted little two-door jeep across a Sri Lanka we had not seen before. With no reservations or route, this simple break from the corporate worlds of law and finance inspired our immersive brand of travel in 2012. The travels later became much less intrepid, but over the years, we connected with ordinary Sri Lankans who had extraordinary stories to tell in the most breathtaking corners of Sri Lanka. Our itineraries are scattered with inspiring connections to locals we met on our travels, connections from childhood friendships or the corporate world, with local musicians, artists, village headman, architects, chefs, farmers and more. With Ayu in the Wild, you see the country through many local eyes and really get under the skin of the island, through the most unusual experiences that others haven’t even heard of. We believe in curating only a limited number of journeys with transformational experiences. We avoid large group tours. We love properties that are low-carbon-footprint escapes and those that contribute to the economy of Sri Lanka. We strongly advocate against elephant-back safaris. For a biodiverse, small island with 21 million people, bespoke, conscious travel matters. Our biggest strength is that we have no prior travel-industry experience. Everything we do is original, innovative and not ‘break-away’. Our small team of Travel Designers are here, on the ground and know our own country. We know which roads to avoid on the day, or who to call at midnight in an emergency. Scenes from Kumana National Park Describe Sri Lanka in three words… Intriguing. Breathtaking. Deep. Describe Ayu in the Wild in three words… 100% Sri Lankan. (And proud of it.) Where is your favourite place in Sri Lanka and why? Oh, we have far too many to speak of just one! We love camping by the river in Kumana National Park; it’s so remote, quiet and wild. Then there are the stunning mountains and valleys of the Uva province, which are great for varied landscape photography. The calm beaches and fabulous seafood on the east coast – home to our favourite beaches on the island. Colombo for its vibe and fabulous dining. Offbeat birdwatching in Vankalai and Ulapane. Gourmet in the Wild experience What three unusual things would you tell visitors to do while they’re here? 1) Take our Gourmet in the Wild culinary tour: an immersive journey that’s about so much more than food. You taste, learn and cook your way through the island’s melting pot of colourful flavours, intriguing cultures and local rural life. If possible, fly to different parts of the island: curries in Jaffna are so different to curries in Galle. 2) Spend a day out in the land with mountain or jungle farmers, learning about their lifestyles. 3) Go on The Other-Side-of-Colombo Street Food Tour. Discover what the locals eat on the backstreets of Colombo’s busy old quarters on this unique Colombo city walk. Bring your sense of humour as you rub shoulders with tuk-tuks and street vendors and gape at big trucks on narrow roads as they jostle their way between tiny shops full of colour. You’ll see a side of the city you could never explore without a local! Tell us about one of your favourite Sri Lankan memories… The moment we stumbled upon rural kids playing cricket with a deflated soccer ball at their dilapidated school premises, where an elephant had head-butted and destroyed their library. It inspired us to design our unique Classrooms in the Wild project, which is Ayu in the Wild’s most sought-after experience for family travellers. Tell us about one or two of your favourite locals… Our favourite locals inspire us to live uncomplicated lives. Our parents were born into a Sri Lanka when it was Ceylon and still live by the adage: ‘Life must be lived slowly.’ For nearly 20 years, they have been part of a small group that comes together every Saturday, at noon, to sit around a piano singing their favourite songs. A favourite rural local is a humble farmer in Anuradhapura whose simple mantra of training his young daughter to run beside him barefoot, while he cycles around the gravel roads of their village, has turned her into a star athlete who beats kids twice her age. What should people pack with them for trips here? A sense of humour and a shawl/sarong. You will need both at the most unexpected moments. What are your three favourite things to eat and drink in Sri Lanka – and why? Roast paan (a delicious thin-crust bread baked in a traditional wood-fired oven) – fabulous with a coconut sambol, butter and dhal curry. Annasi and miris kudu: chunks of ripe, sweet, juicy pineapple spiced up with a concoction of salt, chilli and pepper. Explosive! Yaara tea at a wayside corner-store. This is a traditional method of pouring tea, making it extra frothy and giving it a distinct taste. What do you love most about Sri Lanka? The innate skill of Sri Lankans to spin a joke out of any crisis. It makes us a very resilient nation. Any other tips or travel advice for newcomers to Sri Lanka? Make ‘conscious travel’ a big part of how you book your tour. Find out more about Ayu in the Wild... tags experience local knowledge MySriLanka newsletter sign up the latest inside aboutSri Lanka on your inbox #SRILANKAEXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE SRI LANKA
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Meet the cinnamon expert Sri Lanka is the home of cinnamon – discover its spicy story on Pepper’s South Coast Cinnamon tour. We caught up with the local host – and cinnamon boffin – to find out what he loves about his job and his island... What made you decide to become a Pepper host? Pepper is one of the best operators in the Sri Lankan market. We are happy to work with them to promote Gradely Estate; they are one of our closest partners in achieving this. What were you doing before this? I was an investment banker based in Singapore. What do you love most about your job? I have a passion for cinnamon specifically, and for Sri Lanka generally. It’s enjoyable to show people the realities and beauty of a working cinnamon estate. What qualities do you think you need to be a good host? Authenticity and passion for the project. Can you tell us about one or two of your favourite moments on the job? It’s always when guests leave satisfied: they have had a great experience, and learnt something of this unique industry. What advice do you have for people visiting your Estate? Wear covered shoes, bring a hat and enjoy the Sri Lankan countryside. It’s an easy, informative tour. What are the challenges of being a host? None that I can identify. The vast majority of our guests are charming and it’s very gratifying to do these tours. Where is your favourite place in Sri Lanka and why? Galle Fort: it’s the historical epicentre of the Sri Lankan spice trade and is quite unlike anywhere else in Asia. It’s an amazing place, full of stories and characters. What is your favourite thing to eat and drink in Sri Lanka? A traditional Sri Lankan prawn curry with a chilled thambili (king coconut) juice. Tell us something about Sri Lanka we don’t know… This island is a paradise; take your time and enjoy it! Browse more Pepper experiences... tags experience local knowledge MySriLanka newsletter sign up the latest inside aboutSri Lanka on your inbox #SRILANKAEXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE SRI LANKA