By Pieter Graham
If the discerning gent was given the opportunity to visit a place of unique culture, beautiful panoramas and incredible food he’ll book his ticket in a heartbeat. With many destinations around the globe that can promise as much but fail to deliver, it’s important to pin your hopes on a sure thing. Well we’ll tell you about a country that delivers above and beyond what it promises – Sri Lanka. Furthermore the country is still under the tourist radar but that is all about to change very soon. For the time being you can still experience this little island of bliss without the crowds of people ruining your karma.
Why is Sri Lanka about to surge up the holiday bookings charts? It’s just been named number 1 on the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel’ 2013, but before the mass influx there is still time for the discerning gent to book a holiday for two and experience this amazing country. Elysium Magazine sent Pieter Graham to find out more. Here he gives you the low down on what to expect, and more importantly experience.
Restful Resort
Now every discerning gent knows that after the hustle and bustle of their daily lifestyle they need a good slice of rest and relaxation…perhaps aided with a glass of the finest bourbon. With this in mind a stay at the Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort in Beruwala comes highly recommended. It’s a resort with a twist, aiming to heal your body, mind and spirit through the unique use of Ayurveda, plus a few yoga and meditation classes thrown in for good measure.
Now don’t worry if you have no idea what Ayurveda is and give yourself a hearty pat on the back if you knew straight away – the answer is quite simple, sorry… fairly simple. Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old system of medicine that states that every atom is made from five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) these in turn can be our linked to the five senses, which shape the nature of an individual’s ‘dosha’ or life force.
This life force is made up of three energies, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. It is when these are out of balance that we develop issues with both our physical and mental functions (illnesses, stress, lack of sleep, a reliance on bourbon etc). What Ayurveda tries to do is restore this balance to your life by helping you sustain good health, using a system of medicines including herbs, oils, steam and other products to heal and/or rejuvenate. A visit to the Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort would not be the same without partaking in this experience and healing the ‘ills’ of yourself and those of your good lady.
Your visit will start with a 1-on-1 with one of the on-site doctors, Dr Mangala Kumara, in this case (who also lectures on the background to the Ayurveda technique at the resort) was at hand to look after me. There I had my weight, blood pressure and dosha measured, via tests which included a reading of the pulse in the last instance. I was then asked if there was anything specific I wanted medicine prescribed for – this can range from serious diseases through to simple stress, lack of sleep or hair loss. What followed was a tailored course of treatment for the duration of my stay involving herbal remedies given each day, massages, acupuncture, steam baths, mud packs, herbal baths and many other approaches.
As mentioned previously the discerning gent and his good lady know the benefit of a break from the fast paced lifestyle back home. To help this along remedies I received included oil massage sessions every morning, acupuncture and a special diet that included unique food created via the ‘chef doctor’. Needless to say there is no alcohol on site and food is very healthy, making this the perfect place to really start that detox and slow down your lifestyle. Rooms are spacious and very comfortable – opt for a beach front room to enjoy walking straight out onto the beach.
The discerning gent needn’t fear his visit to the Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort if you have ‘issues’ as this is more a place to come and relax and rejuvenate so that you return to your day-to-day life feeling more energised and calm. The location of the resort also helps, with a beautiful beach on its door step where you can sit and watch the fishing boats roll in while the sun sets and it also has an equally quaint swimming pool too.
Discovering Sri Lanka
So what about the rest of Sri Lanka? Well the area around the resort has a huge amount of activities and sites you can see. Keen to sample these areas as part of my adventures for Elysium Magazine, I took my new uncluttered mind down the coast to Ella, an old Dutch port with beautiful colonial architecture and views over the international cricket stadium, before venturing on to Mirissa to indulge in a bit of blue whale spotting, which was truly incredible, an unmissable experience.
I didn’t truly lose my heart to Sri Lanka though until I reached the central hill country with its emerald carpets of tea plantations, mind-blowing waterfalls and comfortable climate. Travelling with our driver, Sudu, and guide, Madu, I witnessed views that left me speechless (which is no mean feat), with a highlight being the little town of Ella. Small and simple, Ella is spoilt by beauty, featuring some incredible walks (check out Ella Rock on Google Images) and plenty of cool cafes to pass the hours with the freshest cup of tea you will ever drink and as clear a view of the stars as you can imagine.
What follows Ella as you work your way up into tea country and Nuwara Eliya can perhaps be described as the drive (or train ride) of a life time, as the road winds bend by bend (trust me there are many of them) up into the mountains displaying unparalleled panoramic landscapes.
Whilst on our tour it is also worth mentioning some of the many other stand-out activities that are possible including safari and leopard spotting in Yala National Park, cultural shows and a beautiful lake in Kandy and Dambulla’s ancient cave temples which are breathtaking with their collections of Buddhas and artwork. Finally, we could not leave Sri Lanka without visiting and mentioning the legendary Sigiriya rock. This is the premier site of ‘Cultural Triangle’ so you will see more tourists here than anywhere else in the country, but it is worth it.
Only a couple of days tour from the Barberyn, Sigiriya stands like a natural behemoth on the horizon, stealing your vision from all around it. There are many popular myths that surround this rock but none can deny its beauty, with it being listed as a World Heritage Site since 1982. The ascent up the rock is tough but the views are worth every bead of sweat, plus there are some fascinating monkeys to see on the way! This last site certainly ended our visit to Sri Lanka in the best possible way, so it only seems fit to end this article on the same note.
Sri Lanka, the perfect place for the discerning gent and partner to escape the crowds, heal worries and experience a little island of paradise at the very same time.
The Details
Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort
Beruwela
Sri Lanka
Contact: 0094 34 22 76036
Visit the website – Barberyn Reef Ayurveda Resort
Price per night for a beach front double room: €155 (approx. £130)
A one week stay for two with full Ayurveda package: €1575 (approx. £1,331)
Prices valid until Nov 2013
Flights – Sri Lankan Airlines flies direct to Columbo, prices from £500