Food and Drink Archives - GlenMyu Estate

Why French Travellers love Sri Lanka

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

Why French travellers love Sri Lanka

Why do French travellers love Sri Lanka?

We have welcomed many French guests at GlenMyu Estate Boutique Villa in Sri Lanka.

Here are the reasons why we think our French guests love visiting a exploring this paradise island.

Memories from childhood

One of our French guests mentioned that a favourite cartoon when he was growing up was Babar.

This series is about a family of Elephants who go on adventures including some to tropical islands.

He pondered that perhaps French travellers love Sri Lanka as Elephants and Tropical Islands are imprinted into your mind as children.

There is no science behind this idea, but perhaps there is something in this thought!

Why French travellers love Sri Lanka - Getting away it all in the Winter time

As the winter can be harsh in Europe with little sun, Sri Lanka is a well travelled place for French guests looking to escape for some sun.

The island doesn’t just offer fabulous beaches to get some winter sun.

It also has a bountiful mix of culture, nature and experiences to enjoy.

There is something for everyone.

Hiking

Perhaps hiking in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Horton Plains were you can see amazing views and be with nature.

Culture

Cultural experiences in the historic cities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.

Wildlife and animals

Safaris in Yala National Park, Minneriya, Udawalawe National Park or Wilpattu National Park to see Elephants, Leopards and other wildlife.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Climbing UNESCO World Heritage site the Lion Rock in Sigiriya for tacking a section of the Pekoe Trail.

Why French travellers love GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka

We have been delighted to host many French guests over the few years that we have been open.

As the temperatures in the Sri Lankan Hill country are lower than those in the parts of the country our French guests love the relief before heading on to warmer climes.

The space at the five acre estate and beautiful gardens and scenery are other things that our French guests particularly enjoy.

Our French Travellers love the food, the bread!

We know how important food is to our guests.

Ru and the team are starting to get a reputation for the quality of dishes they serve to our guests. Read our guest reviews to find out more.

We use the best quality, locally sourced ingredients that we can find.

Our French guests are also amazed at the bread we serve. We bake a variety fresh bread everyday for our guests. It’s good to have something familiar when you are so far away from home.

And so much more

A Natural Spring Fed swimming pool surrounded by nature.

Five acres of Sri Lankan hill country to explore.

Wonderful experiences within a drive from the estate including Horton Plains National Park and Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

Two stages of the Pekoe Trail start at Haputale which is a short twenty minute drive from the estate.

A place to relax and re-energise during your holiday in Sri Lanka

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more.

Why French Travellers love Sri Lanka Read More »

Patch being a guard dog surveying the land

Not all paradise

Accommodation, Birdwatching, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Natural Swimming Pool, Our dogs, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Travel / By Mikeez

Not all paradise!

It’s not all paradise living in Sri Lanka.

However, there is no place that I would rather be.

'You are living in a paradise'

When guests stay with us at GlenMyu Estate, I often hear them comment that it must be wonderful living in paradise.

Like most things, what you see looks great, but the reality is that it’s not all paradise.

A lot of work, a little bit of stress and a few obstacles in the way led top the creation of our piece of paradise.

There are still challenges every day, however, they are minor and worth meeting for us to be able to life our lives in Sri Lanka.

Far from a paradise

GlenMyu Estate was far from a paradise when we saw the abandoned five acres back in 2011.
It was in such a mess that we were not able to see much of it.

The Guinea Grass was so high that we were only able to scramble through around 150 metres of rough landscape before turning around.

Buy it, we might find something better

We had searched for a piece of land each year on our annual holiday in Sri Lanka.

The search was exhausting. We often were excited to reach the land being offered after a tumultuous journey down a never ending unmade path, only to be disappointed.

The journey had taken us ten hours on the train from Colombo Fort to Haputale followed by a Tuk Tuk ride to see what would become GlenMyu Estate.

Ru was happy that she could see some water traveling itself across the land. There was also an electricity line at the road.

I was happy that the access was from the main A4 road and not down a two kilometre bumpy track.

The price was okay, and I said to Ru that she should buy it.

I always had in my back of my mind that at least Ru would have some land. It could always be sold if we found something better.

Something that was not a paradise, eventually becomes a paradise.

After plunging a large sum into building a road that accessed the centre of the land we had to follow our money.

In the rains you come across leeches.

Having lived for many in the concrete jungle of London, where we chase away any wildlife, leeches were quite scary.

It took me some time before I accepted that giving an animal a little meal from blood that was surplus to my requirement was okay.

What I found was that if I cut the grass on GlenMyu Estate quite short on the pathways and lawn, the leeches disappear. They can’t handle any sun and really need long wet grass to live in.

So, we avoid the long grass and keep the pathways in good condition.

It took some time to create a paradise

If you have ever watched Grand Designs there is a regular pattern.

It starts with an ambitious project with a budget that may not be enough.

Delays, weather, difficulties in getting material and changes in specification along the way results in project delays.

We went through all these experiences during the development of GlenMyu Estate. There are so many stories that are in the back of my mind, one day I will put them down on paper. I think I haven’t so far as some bring back too many painful memories.

We didn’t have a timescale for the project.

The global pandemic occurred during our build and we really didn’t know that anyone would be travelling again to stay in the house.

At one point I thought that GlenMyu Estate would be an abandoned project and we would move back to the UK to a normal life.

It took around three years before we moved into the house at GlenMyu Estate.

Eventually, we moved our belongings into the upper floor of the property.

It was all worth it in the end.

The reaction reminds us that we live in paradise

‘You can never get bored of living here’

This is another phrase that we hear very often. The reaction that our guests have when they walk through the doors and see the view from the lounge makes us feel very humble.

When your landscape is similar every day, it is easy to treat it as normal and not appreciate it for what it really is.

We love having guests stay with us at GlenMyu Estate for many reasons. One is that thy keep us grounded and ensure that we appreciate this bit of paradise we have created.

Elements that make GlenMyu Estate a paradise

There are lots of elements that make this five acre piece of land in the Sri Lankan hills a paradise for us.

We are fortunate to be living in a microclimate that enables so many plants to grow. Ruwanthi is always happy to provide a garden tour for interested guests to see the spices, fruits and vegetables that we grow.

The climate is also great for us. It’s not too hot nor too cold.

Typically the temperature during the day ranges from 22 to 26 degrees Celsius. When it does reach 28 degrees there are plenty of trees to get some shade. The climate means that we don’t need to use air-conditioning. We are pleased that we don’t have that negative impact on the environment.

Nature led the way

I always say that we have worked with nature and not pushed her too much. Living on a slope, if you push too much then nature will let you know it. We have planted lots of trees and carried out as many steps as we can to stop the erosion on the hillside. Terraces of rock walls and hedgerows have been created all around the land.

Nature provides natural beauty. By working with nature it has created a more beautiful and calming environment than we could have planned.

Water

Water is important and Ruwanthi spotted the streams crossing the land on our first visit. Thankfully we have springs going through the gully or glen.

This means that we have water throughout the year which helps with the gardens.

We have created a natural spring fed swimming pool which is one of our favourite places at GlenMyu Estate. It’s refreshing whether you have been working all day or experiencing one of the Pekoe Trail Hikes or Horton Plains National Park

Surrounded by nature, it’s an amazing place to be.

A connection with nature

The whole of GlenMyu Estate is designed to connect you with nature. Ru took some inspiration from architect Geoffrey Bawa to bring the outside in.

Floor to ceiling windows in the bedrooms and lounges are focussed to make the best of the environment. It is calming watching the clouds sail along by, or sometimes come and touch the windows.

Our food menu is mainly plant based. We source as much ingredients as we can from the garden or locally to the estate.

The garden produce are one of the elements of living in paradise. Eating seasonal from the garden is when the produce tastes the best.

What a feeling I have eating mandarins that have been picked from the garden. Slicing a lemon for the occasional G & T that I know has not travelled very far adds to the taste.

Feeling like you want to stay longer

We love it but we are also sad when guests say that they would have wanted to stay longer and do not want to leave.

Unfortunately many guests only have a short time to see this wonderful paradise island. Holiday allocation limits their ability to stay in one place for too long. Recently we have had more four days stays. However, this is still not long enough to really relax on the property and also explore the places too see within reach of the estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy our little paradise

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Not all paradise Read More »

The Luxurious Mango bedroom at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka. Wonderful for Valentine's Day in Sri Lanka

Three Bedroom Hotel in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Food and Drink, Holiday, Natural Swimming Pool, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Three Bedroom Hotel with a pool in Sri Lanka

If you are looking for a three Bedroom Hotel in Sri Lanka with a pool, then GlenMyu Estate delivers a special experience for you and your guests.

There are lots of reasons why taking all three rooms for your exclusive use makes a lot of sense.

The actual capacity at GlenMyu Estate is for seven people as we have one triple bedroom and two double bedrooms.

We also have a sofa bed in the main lounge. However this does mean that guests using the sofa bed have to share a bathroom with the other guests.

It works out satisfactorily when there is a family with children.

Creating special memories together in the Sri Lankan Hill country

Groups of friends and families have booked all three bedrooms and enjoyed the space that GlenMyu Estate delivers.

Spacious lounges, a swimming pool and five acres to explore all help to create special memories for those that stay.

Whether its an incredible sunset sky, laughter at the swimming pool or the guests sitting at the table enjoying a delicious meal together, we love that we can provide the facility to strengthen friendships and family bonds.

Why only three guest bedrooms?

It just happened that we made a building that had three bedrooms for guests.

We live on the upper floor, so that are four bedrooms in the building.

Three bedrooms work for us as it allows us to provide a personal service to our guests.

We can also pay special attention to the quality of food that we serve as we can focus a smaller number of guests.

Three is not a crowd

We recognise the importance of having space.

Many people live in more cramped conditions than they would like (as we did when we were in London).

By only having three bedrooms guests have the luxury of space.

Two lounges, five acres of land and with lots of places to sit and enjoy nature means that you will have the opportunity to be alone if you choose.

Three bedroom hotel -Excellent for friends

We have hosted small groups of friends who have taken all three bedrooms.

Having this amazing space just for six or seven people allows you to relax and spend some special time to strengthen those friendship bonds.

Being able to eat together around one table not being disturbed by others provides an opportunity to make new memories.

We love hearing the laughter from the dining area when groups of friends stay and reminisce about their past and the experiences exploring Sri Lanka.

Three bedroom hotel -Great for families

In a busy world where families live apart, it’s difficult to spend some quality time together.

Some guests book all three rooms for several nights so that they can spend that precious time with their families.

We love hearing the laughter and memories being made at the swimming pool from different generations of the same family.

Bespoke meals

We make every meal freshly to order. Whether it’s home made pasta, mushrooms in cashew sauce or our ice creams we make them all from scratch.

As it takes time to prepare the meals we do ask our guests to order their meals in advance.

We mainly have vegetarian, or plant based options for guests made with the best ingredients that we can source.

Some fish and chicken dishes are also available.

Activities to kept you entertained

There are lots of wonderful places to explore in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

However, you don’t have to go our for the day as there is enough to do at the estate. We have board games, books to read and we can set up a badminton net on the lawn.

Sri Lankan cookery demonstration

An activity that lots of our guests enjoy is our Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

Hosted by the dream team of Ru and her mother, it’s an informative and entertaining time.

And the best bit is that you get to eat the food that you have seen being cooked at our outside kitchen.

A spice garden tour

Ru regularly provides guests with a garden tour.

For many it’s educational, finding out where your food comes from.

We grow, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, jackfruit, banana, lemons, vanilla, tomatoes, and many more items.

Is five acres enough?

Most business people would have developed more units on the five acre estate.

We believe in the luxury of space.

Having five acres to roam around and enjoy the varying landscape provides the opportunity of spending time for yourselves without the intrusion of others.

Three wonderful bedrooms

All our bedrooms have fabulous views towards the south of the island to wake up to.

There is enough space in the rooms to hang out when you want to be alone.
We have made sure that there are two chairs or beanbags in the rooms so you have a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the view.

There are two doubles and one triple and our maximum capacity is for seven guests.

Lounge around

Spacious lounges provide an opportunity to spend time together. We have some board games so that guests can get competitive if they want!

There are books to read and an amazing view to admire, so you will always have something to occupy your time…if you need to.

Contact us directly for prices for all three bedrooms

If you are taking all three rooms for two or more nights we will provide you with our best direct rate.

The best way to contact us is by WhatsApp.

Press the WhatsApp button on our website or send a message to 94 752999272

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Three Bedroom Hotel in Sri Lanka Read More »

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Reviews from our guests, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka

At GlenMyu Estate we can accommodate seven guests.

We have two double bedrooms and one triple bedroom.

It’s a great opportunity to have the five acre estate exclusively for use for your family and friends.

Three bedrooms

We have one triple bedroom and two doubles.

In the lounge we also have sofa bed, so we can squeeze in another couple or some children if required.

The Mango and Mahogany bedrooms are on one floor connected by a communal lounge.

Our Cinnamon bedroom is on the lower floor and has some outside space.

All our bedrooms have their own private bathrooms.

The Mango bedroom is very popular with honeymooners or couples celebrating their anniversary.

The bathroom has a fabulous view of the hills towards the south of the country.

It comes with a spacious shower and a bath.

Some guests enjoy a bath looking out of the window at the stars.

The Mahogany bedroom is a triple with a king-size bed and a separate single bed.

They have fabulous views and the bathroom also has a bath similar to the Mango bedroom.

It’s a great space for a family with a child or if you just want the largest bedroom we have in the property.

The Cinnamon bedroom is on the lower floor of the house.

The bathroom has a shower, but no bath. However, this bedroom has a nice outside sitting space where you can enjoy your morning tea of coffee taking in the view.

There is a pathway from the room that takes you to a small lawn and then onto the swimming pool.

All our bedrooms have comfortable Sri Lankan made mattresses, overhead fan and seating.

There is no need for air-conditioning in the Sri Lankan hills. We provide duvets on the beds as it can be a little cooler at night.

Lounges to relax in

We believe in comfortable chairs!

It’s important to us that you can relax and enjoy the fabulous views of the Sri Lankan countryside. We have chairs and sofas on both floors which are comfortable and allow you to enjoy the landscape.

Swim surrounded by nature

Our swimming pool is one of our favourite places on the estate. Filled with spring water and no chlorine, it is an experience swimming surrounded by nature.

We have sun loungers so that you can spend more time in this amazing space.

Oh, and the food!

Food is another important part of the experience at GlenMyu Estate.

We source the best local ingredients that we can find. Our menu is mainly plant based with some fish and chicken options.

Read our food reviews and see what our other guests say about what they eat at GlenMyu Estate.

Contact us by WhatsApp for our best direct rates

We offer great rates for guests that book directly.

WhatsApp + 94 752999272

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka Read More »

A glass of wine in the afternoon

Accommodation, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Travel / By Mikeez

A glass of wine

A glass of wine in the afternoon is such a pleasure.

For me, it’s a little indulgent as wine is an expensive import in Sri Lanka.

It makes me appreciate the variety of good wine that I could buy, at a reasonable price, whilst living in the UK.

Wine is available in Sri Lanka, however unless you buy from a specialist store in Colombo, you will find most to be lower quality for a higher price than you would pay back at home.

This is why having a glass of wine is an occasional event for me. (Perhaps it’s better for my liver!).

Having a glass of wine in Sri Lanka

One of my pleasures is to have a glass of wine in the afternoon with a late lunch.
It feels rather indulgent here in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Good wine (at a reasonable price) is hard to come by in Sri Lanka, especially when you compare it to the UK.

However, every so often you will come across a wine that is drinkable and at an affordable price.
Today, I drank a few glasses of Pinot Grigio with my lunch of hummus, salad and cheesy onion bread.

Apart from the cauliflower that was hidden in the hummus, it was a perfect meal to have after a day picking up provisions for the guests that arrive tomorrow.

Orders for Chilli and Garlic Prawns, Sesame Crusted Tuna followed by delicious desserts have already been received in advance.

Our guests really don’t know what a treat they have in store. Both the prawns and the tuna are amazing dishes.

They will be a welcome exchange for the slow travel around the island and will send our guests to bed that evening satisfied in every sense.

Where can I buy wine, beer and spirits in Sri Lanka?

This is a photo of Beragala Wine Store.

You will find lots of wine stores around the island. They all have the same green signboard with white lettering.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking that there will be a large selection of wine on offer! I tend to often find that there is only one or two varieties of white and red wine on offer.

Sri Lankans favour stronger alcohol such as Arrack, locally made Vodka, Gin and Brandies.

Even the beers on offer are strong at around 8 – 8.8% in alcohol volume.

I tend to favour the 4.8% Lion Lager or occasionally a Lion Stout at 8.8%.

BYOB

At GlenMyu Estate, we encourage our guests to bring their own alcohol with them.

Apart from making it a more economical stay, you can bring along your favourite Whiskey or Gin which might not be available locally.

Do not worry if you forget to bring some drinks with you as we can get drinks collected from the wine store by Tuk Tuk.

Food and drink

We have a good reputation for the food that we serve at GlenMyu Estate. Just have a look at our reviews and you can read what our guests say.

Have a look at our food menu so you can decide on what drink you would like to accompany your meal

Beware of the Full Moon Day!

Sri Lanka has a full moon day every month which is also a religious holiday.

You will most likely find that it is difficult to get an alcoholic drink that day as the bars will be closed unless the hotel has a special licence. The Wine Stores will be closed also.

So, if you really want a drink you will have to make plans beforehand.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

A glass of wine in the afternoon Read More »

Facilities for Pekoe Trail Hikers

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Holiday, Natural Swimming Pool, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Unique facilities for Pekoe Trail hikers.

We were asked recently what facilities we offer which are unique for Pekoe Trail hikers.

It is a good question.

What is the Pekoe Trail?

The Pekoe Trail is a new hiking route that takes you around Sri Lanka from Kandy and ends in Nuwara Eliya.

There are 22 stages in the 300 kilometre hike through the beautiful landscapes of the country.

It has already won awards, despite only being opened in 2023.

At GlenMyu Estate, we have had several guests hike stages 12 and 13 of the Pekoe Trail.

The stages end and start in Haputale which is a 25 minute Tuk Tuk ride from GlenMyu Estate.

Stages 12 and 13 of the Pekoe Trail

We are finding that more of our guests at GlenMyu Estate are hiking parts of the Pekoe Trail whilst they stay with us in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Most are finding that there are very few other hikers on the route. However, we can only see this becoming a more popular activity in the coming months.

Some guest like to walk the trail without a guide and follow a walking app such as All Trails of Wikiloc.

Other guests hire a guide that knows the trail and also can add valuable information about the flora and fauna that you will see on the way.

What we do differently

Food glorious food.

You will need some great tasting food after the exertions of your hike. Ru and the team at GlenMyu Estate have a good reputation for the food that they serve to our guests. It’s something worth looking forward to after you efforts.

Read our reviews about our food on the various review sites.

Our breakfast is quite substantial and sets you up for the day.

Swim and ease those muscles

Our swimming pool is unique and offers a different experience to many other pools around the island.

The swimming pool is fed from a natural spring and is cooler that other pools you will see in Sri Lanka. Swimming after a hike is a great way to soothe those muscles that you have worked hard on your hike.

Comfortable beds and an amazing view

We selected our beds to provide you with a comfortable nights sleep.

It is amazing to wake up the the view of the hills leading towards the south of the country.

We do not have air conditioning in our rooms as it is not required. The temperature during the day is normally between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius. At night it reduced to 14 to 18 degrees celsius which is a great temperature to get a good nights sleep.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Facilities for Pekoe Trail Hikers Read More »

Finding a hidden gem in Sri Lanka.

Ella, Holiday, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Reviews from our guests, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Travel, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

Finding a Hidden Gem

Finding a hidden gem in Sri Lanka.

Discovering a place to stay that you fall in love with before others do is a great feeling.

However, once it’s on the tourist radar, you may find it difficult to get a room!

As more tourists visit Sri Lanka there are less chances that you will find a hidden gem.

Of course, as more people discover the hidden gem, the cat will be out of the bag and everyone will know about it.

The trick is to get there early before others do.

Sri Lanka is becoming a more popular tourist destination

Sri Lanka has seen its’ tourist numbers increase substantially over the last year.

In December 2023, January 2024 and February 2024, tourist numbers when compared against the previous period.

It still has a long way to go before it competes with Bali, Cambodia or Thailand.

The tourist board have ambitious targets for the coming year, so get there before it becomes too busy.

A hidden gem in the Sri Lankan hill country

GlenMyu Estate has only been operating since the start of 2022.

Guests love it and there are already we have had several returning guests.

What's so special?

A comfortable place to stay, space and amazing food are there things that our guests comment upon.

As we only have three guest bedrooms at the five acre estate, you are not fighting with other guests for space.

There are no need for time slots to enjoy the natural spring fed infinity swimming pool.

We don’t have staff bothering you too often looking to upsell.

What my wife and I have found is that we can assess the level of interaction our guests want shortly after your arrival.

There is so much more, but you really have to stay to find out what you like best.

Feedback from our guests is important

We have been humbled by what our guests say about their stay with us at GlenMyu Estate.

Neither my wife or I are extroverts and we are really overwhelmed and amazed by our guests taking the time to write the words about their time with us.

It won't last for long!

Some of our guests tell us that they want to keep GlenMyu Estate undiscovered so that there will always be a room for them when they come back!

We have no plans to expand from the three bedrooms that we have and therefore we do believe that in time it will be more difficult to get a room at the estate.

Although we have not been trading very long, we already have had several returning guests and recommendations to their friends and family.

Find us and experience what we have to offer

We love having new guests experience what we do at GlenMyu Estate.

Hopefully we will meet you soon on your next holiday in Sri Lanka.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Finding a hidden gem in Sri Lanka. Read More »

Inspiration to write at the swimming pool.

The Best Homestay in Sri Lanka?

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

The Best Homestay in Sri Lanka?

Is this the Best Homestay in Sri Lanka?

GlenMyu Estate is a bed and breakfast that offers a lot more.

Guests have regularly commented that they can’t believe that GlenMyu Estate is a homestay.

We try to make our guests feel that they are friends and are able to properly relax without the formality of a five star hotel.

What is a Homestay?

In Sri Lanka a homestay is defined by the Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority as follows;

“a house occupied by a family with guest rooms that are ready to accommodate and provide services to paying guests, where the guests and the host family interact with each other, immersing themselves in Sri Lankan culture and experiencing authentic Sri Lankan hospitality”.

There should be a minimum of one and a maximum of four rooms.

Although GlenMyu Estate is a B & B, it does also fit into the definition of a homestay.

A homestay in Sri Lanka with a difference.

Designed with a balance of luxury and comfort.

The house at GlenMyu Estate was only completed in 2021.

It is set in five acres and there are only three guest bedrooms. There is a feeling of luxury knowing that you don’t have to share the space with many other guests when you holiday in Sri Lanka.

The property has been designed so that there is a contemporary but natural feel.

Locally sourced wood is blended with cool titanium concrete floors.
Large windows look out over the stunning Sri Lankan landscape and appear to let nature in.

More than just a stay

We had Polish guests last year, and Greg, said in his review that GlenMyu Estate was more than just a stay, it was an experience.

You can read Greg’s Google review by clicking on the following link.

Please read our other reviews in Booking.com, Airbnb, and Tripadvisor.

The food - not a typical homestay in Sri Lanka

Normally in a homestay in Sri Lanka you would have typically rice and curry for most meals. They will be delicious as the dishes will be made from locally sourced ingredients and cooked by experienced cooks.

At GlenMyu Estate, we offer both traditional Sri Lankan cuisine, and also fusion dishes made with the best local ingredients that we can source.

Ruwanthi did a short Le Cordon Bleu course whilst she lived in London and is growing a reputation for her food in Sri Lanka.

Please click on our food menus to see what types of dishes we offer to our guests.

A Sri Lankan Cookery Demonstration

One of the things that we do which you would often have the opportunity to see is a Sri Lankan cooking demonstration at a homestay in Sri Lanka.

We have found that with the successes of contestants Brin Paripathan and Sav Perera in UK Masterchef and Australian Masterchef, there has been a heightened interest in Sri Lankan food.

Our own ‘Masterchef’ is Ruwanthi’s mother, who has over fifty years of experience cooking delicious Sri Lankan dishes.

Getting an authentic taste of Sri Lankan food is a real benefit when staying at a homestay.

As Ruwanthi lived in the UK for many years before returning to Sri Lanka, she is able to temper the level of chilli to the Western palette.

A garden tour at a homestay in the Sri Lankan Hill country

We feel extremely fortunate to live in the area of this paradise island that we do.

The estate sits at an elevation of around 1,000 metres above sea level and the climate enables us to grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and spices.

There are lots of organised spice garden tours around the country. It’s great seeing what is grown, but what we don’t like is the hard sell to buy some products as you leave.

Ruwanthi really enjoys delivering an informal garden tour which is complimentary for our guests. And, there is nothing to buy at the end of your walk!

The best homestay in Sri Lanka?

At GlenMyu Estate, we are not interested in titles and accolades.

All we want is for our guests to have the nest time on their holiday in Sri Lanka….and want to come back again.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

The Best Homestay in Sri Lanka? Read More »

The best bread in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

The Best Bread in Sri Lanka

Finding good bread in Sri Lanka is a challenge.

Although you ought to be tasting great local cuisine when you are on holiday in Sri Lanka, sometimes it is good to have something that reminds you of home.

We love bread at GlenMyu Estate and our guests love it too!

At GlenMyu Estate we really believe that the you are on holiday you should try the local cuisine.

With the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef in the UK and Australia, we expect that there will be an increase in tourists looking to experience Sri Lankan food.

Our Sri Lankan food is special

My mother in law orchestrates our Sri Lankan food demonstration in conjunction with her daughter Ru (my wife!).

The demonstration starts around 4 p.m so it’s good for guests that stay more than one night at GlenMyu Estate.

I love bread

We have a standing joke with my oldest friend Peter whose catchphrase when he says at GlenMyu Estate is “I love bread!.

This saying is a daily occurrence when we have breakfast and always is followed by laughter.

Bread is my nemesis. I know I should control how much I have, but when it’s good it becomes more of a challenge.

My wife would like me to control the amount of bread that I eat. I tell her that if she made even average bread, I might be able to do what she askes. However, the bread at GlenMyu Estate is the quality that demands to be eaten. So my waistline might not achieve the inches she would like.

I always say to guests that it is okay to indulge in something good when you on holiday as you can work it off when you get home.

Please have some sympathy for me who has to deal with the delicious offerings everyday!

French people in Colombo visit GlenMyu Estate because of our bread!

It’s quiet an accolade that we have French guests that live in the capital or the south coast that visit Glenmyu Estate because of our bread. It’s hard being away from home and not having baguettes on tap.

We are not saying that our bread can be compared to the boulangeries of France, but our French guests are very happy with what we serve.

There are places in Colombo who do great bread such as Baguette.

However, it’s hard to get great bread when you are away from Sri Lanka’s Metropolis.

Something sweet

Lots of our European guests like something sweet at breakfast.

Ru and the team regularly make sweet brioche type buns and chocolate babka rolls.

We also make our own jam at GlenMyu Estate. Typically we have Mulberry jam made from mulberries picked at the estate.

A ‘marmalade’ jam is made from either Pomelo or the oranges we grow.

Ginger and Passionfruit jam is also normally available.

A special breakfast will mean that you will probably skip lunch

Our breakfasts are quite substantial at GlenMyu Estate. It’s hard to resist having an extra slice of the freshly baked bread topped with our homemade jam.

We offer a fusion of Western and Asian tastes at breakfast with added twists by Ru.

A stay at GlenMyu is not all about bread!

In addition to the food, there are lots of other things to enjoy when staying at GlenMyu Estate.

A great nights sleep and waking up to the beautiful views from your bedroom window.

Exploring the 5 acre estate and meeting our cows, chickens, ducks and dogs.

A garden tour by Ru showing you what spices, fruits and vegetables we grow.

Ru’s mum showing you how we cook Sri Lankan dishes.

Relaxing at the swimming pool and reconnecting with nature.

There are also many wonderful places to explore which are within a short drive from GlenMyu Estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The best bread in Sri Lanka Read More »

Making people happy

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Making people happy

Making people happy – that’s what we aim to do!

This phrase really resonated with me whilst I was listening to a podcast.

Michel Roux Jr. was being interviewed by James O’Brien for the Full Disclosure Podcast.
Towards the end of the interview James ends saying that the impulse driving the hospitality industry is “making people happy”.

This impulse is ultimately what we aim to achieve at GlenMyu Estate.

We feel that we have an advantage

We feel that we have an advantage in our aims of making people happy.

For most of our guests GlenMyu Estate is not their first stop on their holiday in Sri Lanka. The estate is located just over five hours from the airport and therefore it is only the dedicated few that make GlenMyu Estate their first stop.

Fortunately for us, guests arrive already having been wowed by the country and the hospitality of its’ people. They come with smiles on their faces and rave about their experience so for on the island.

Fall in love with the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Cleary, we then have a job to do to continue the feeling that our guests have when they arrive.

We want to create an atmosphere where you feel relaxed and are visiting an old friend. In some hotels you can feel uncomfortable and not fully be able to let your hair down.

The atmosphere that we have tried to create is somewhere that you can truly relax and unwind. It was really important to us that there were comfortable chairs and sofas in the rooms and lounges. Space was also important, so, if you want to spend some time alone, you can.

We have not overdeveloped the land and only have three guest bedrooms. There is always space to swim in the pool and lots of places to explore on the five acre estate.

It makes us feel great when our guests connect and fall in love with GlenMyu Estate.

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien - one of my favourite podcasts.

Watch or listen to the Full Disclosure Podcast with James O’Brien and Michel Roux.

I tend to listen to lots of podcasts in the Sri Lankan Hill country and have waned myself off of television over the years I have lived here. There are many more podcasts that I subscribe to which gives me my fill in entertainment, news, sport and politics.

Food is an important part of what we do at GlenMyu Estate

Eating great food, prepared with love is a way of making people happy.

Ru and her team take pride in the dishes that they prepare for our guests. They are motivated when they hear the positive feedback from our guests.

We try to source as much as we can locally as it is fresh and tastes great. You will find that our menu is mainly plant based with some fish and chicken options.

If you read our reviews on Google, Tripadvisor, Booking.com and Airbnb you will see how much our guests love the food at GlenMyu Estate.

Shared experiences with friends and family

We love to see the smiles on pour guests faces as the sit and eat together.

Hearing the shrieks of joy as families enjoy the swimming pool together puts smiles on our faces. We know that family bonding is important and that we have the facility to enable people to come together and create memories.

Sharing the love for Sri Lankan cooking

Sri Lankans are very proud of their country and also their cuisine.

Our guests really enjoy our complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration which is provided when they order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Ru’s mum, who has over 50 years experience in a Sri Lankan kitchen, shows our guests how the dishes are made.

The great thing is that you get to eat a delicious Sri Lankan meal after an entertaining hour or two.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

The colour of fresh local fruits and vegetables really add something special to the meals we cook. It is really important that we source the best ingredients that we can to cook for our guests.

Reconnecting with nature

Most of the world lives in cities and has pushed nature away.

Reconnecting with nature is good for the heart and the soul.

GlenMyu Estate has five acres for you to explore and enjoy. We have planted species on the estate to encourage wildlife to visit.

Listening to the birds as you swim in our Natural Spring Fed swimming pool is a beautiful experience.

Making a connection with our rescue dogs or watching the ducks wander around the land as they forage brings a bit of inner peace.

Connect with the animals at the estate

We have several rescue dogs at GlenMyu Estate.

Most visitors to Sri Lanka see the poor condition of the stray street dogs as they travel around the island. There are some good organisations that help these poor animals such as WeCare, Embark and Dogs of Ella.

All of our rescue dogs are vaccinated, friendly, and used to meeting guests. We would not recommend that you pet any dogs or cats in Sri Lanka as rabies is still an issue and dangerous for humans.

You can been comfortable in petting our dogs as they have all their vaccinations and love it when guests stay.

Look out for Clove, who thinks that you have come to visit her!

Our dogs add to our aim of making people happy during their stay.

Be happy and come to Sri Lanka on holiday.

Your experience of a holiday in Sri Lanka will put a smile on your face and you will remember your time here for many years.

The tourist boards’ new slogan is ‘You will come back for more’.

Once you have experienced this paradise island we are sure you will want to come back again one day.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Making people happy Read More »

A New Year's resolution - to swim every day.

Gardening followed by a swim

Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Natural Swimming Pool, Organic, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Gardening followed by a swim

After a hard days gardening at GlenMyu Estate, it is great to finish off the day with a swim in our natural pool.

You can imagine that with five acres of land there would be a lot of gardening to do.

We did not realise what we had taken on when we built GlenMyu Estate which is located in the beautiful Sri Lankan hill country.

If I had realised how much work was created by putting in so many grass pathways along with a lawn in front of the house and around the swimming pool, perhaps I would adopted another strategy!

The Garden at GlenMyu Estate

When GlenMyu Estate was purchased by Ru, it was overgrown and had not been touched for many years.
The land had been part of a larger tea estate and subsequently used for sugar cane production.

We didn’t realise that leaving the land fallow for so long would provide great quality topsoil that gave the items we planted a great start in their life.

The garden is still a work in progress. With five acres to manage, I believe it will always be a work in progress!

However, what we have created so far, has gone down very well with our guests.

We have tried to work with the landscape. If we push it too much we believe that nature will bite back. This has created a natural looking landscape which is where the gardens beauty really lies.

Our Swimming Pool at GlenMyu Estate

We love our swimming pool.

Surrounded by nature and for the exclusive use of the guests that stay at the estate, it really is a piece of paradise.

After spending a day gardening, it is a fabulous place to end the day easing the muscles I have used

Sometimes I swim twice a day, early morning and early evening.

It’s a remarkable experience and one that changes everyday. The light and the sounds of the birds is never the same. It’s one of the beautiful things living in the Sri Lankan Hill country where the weather changes so often.

A Healthy Lifestyle - gardening and swimming

I’m sure that my wife would like me to be a bit healthier. I always say that it took many years for me to end up with the body I deserved! It will take several years to get the body that we both would like.

I feel a little bit like the Tortoise in the story of the Tortoise and the Hare.

In the long run I will win!

A Garden Tour

Ru likes to offer a tour of the garden at GlenMyu Estate.

It is one of the things that our guests really enjoy.

You will see a variety of spices, fruits and vegetables that we grow.

Perhaps Ru will ask you to pick some vegetables or leaves that will be used in your evening meal!

I love the feedback after the garden tour. It makes all those hours I spend gardening worth it!

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Gardening followed by a swim Read More »

Jackfruit growing at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka.

These delicious fruits are a staple dish on our menu at our luxury bed and breakfast in the central hills of Sri Lanka.

I was delighted to return from my UK trip in October to see so many Jackfruits on the trees next to the lawn at GlenMyu Estate.

An island of many seasons

There are several different zones in Sri Lanka which give rise to different climates and growing conditions. Also, there are two major monsoons that affect different parts of the island during the year.

In the Sri Lankan hill country we have two drier seasons and two season where we have some much needed rain.

The weather patterns have changes due to global warming. However we normally have a dry spell from mid-June until mid-September.

Rains were late coming to GlenMyu Estate this year and our Jackfruit trees were quite bare!

When I returned, this is what I saw!

Before I left GlenMyu Estate for the UK at the beginning of October the tree had not delivered Jackfuits for around month.
I could see a few small shoots starting on the tree. But I was pessimistic that we would have a crop for our guests during the peak tourist season from December to April.

I was amazed, and very happy to see the number of fruits that had grown in less then three weeks.

As you can see, we should have plenty of Jackfruits during the season to make delicious dishes for our guests.

Keeping the food miles low

We are lucky to have some mature Jackfruit trees next to the lawn at GlenMyu Estate.

They provide an abundance of fruits which we use in dishes that we serve to our guests.

The food miles are about as low as you can get being around twenty metres from the kitchen!

What do we use Jackfruit for?

We mainly use Jackfruit for a curry which we serve along with the other elements in our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Most guests are surprised at how meaty the texture of the Jackfruit is when it is cooked. It is however a carbohydrate rather than a protein.

Therefore, we make sure that you get your protein from other dishes that are part of the Sri Lankan sharing platter.

We also make a Pulled Jackfruit Burger which is cooked in a barbecue sauce.

Lots of our guests have been surprised that it isn’t pulled pork as it has a similar texture.

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka -How we open the Jackfruit

Jackfruits are huge and heavy.

Once they have been cut from the tree they are a challenge to break open and get to the good stuff inside. There is also a sticky sap which makes it a tricky item to handle.

Sri Lankans are experts when it comes to opening the Jackfruit, as you can see from this video.

The Jackfruits aren't all ours!

Fortunately there are lots of Jackfruit on the tree. There are lots of animals that visit GlenMyu Estate that also love Jackfuit.

Monkeys, birds and squirrels are happy when they ripen.

Luckily there are enough fruits to share with the wildlife.

We have also planted lots of fruit trees on the edge of the estate which will feed the wildlife in the future.

Learn how to cook Jackfruit

When our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter, Ru’s mum happily provides a complimentary cooking demonstration.

She has over fifty years experience of Sri Lankan cooking and her food is delicious.

Our guests really enjoy the informal setting and give great reviews of the food after they have eaten their evening meal.

It commences at around 4 p.m and therefore is suitable if you are staying more that one night at GlenMyu Estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka Read More »

Planning your Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Food and Drink, Holiday, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka.

Planning to spend your Christmas vacation on a paradise island?

Why Sri Lanka is a good option.

Sri Lanka is a popular place to visit during Christmas vacation.

It’s a great place to escape the miserable weather in Northern Europe and the US.

The island offers a variety of things to do for most travellers.
Whether you are a beach lover, want to see wildlife and culture or like to hike, we have it all.

Find out why you should consider a holiday in Sri Lankan for your Christmas vacation this year.

The best places to visit in Sri Lanka during your Christmas vacation

The weather is the key factor when deciding the places that you should visit in Sri Lanka in December.

Did you know that the island has two monsoon seasons?

The good news is that during December you can visit quite a lot of the country.

You will need to avoid the East and North coast in December if you don’t want to get wet!

The Meteorology Department of Sri Lanka is a good place to do some research on what the weather will be like when you visit the island.

Go to the section “Climate Seasons” to read about the monsoon seasons.

As you will see the Northeast Monsoon hits the country from December through to February. Therefore if you want the beach you should stay on the south and west coasts during your Christmas vacation.

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka. So, where should I go in December?

The Southern and Western beaches on the island are great places to visit during the Christmas vacation for some sun and surfing.

You can also visit the Central Hills, Nuwara Eliya and Ella during this period. Lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate love the hike at Horton Plains National Park.

The cultural triangle, in Sri Lanka’s central plains which consists of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla are also good to visit.

Kandy and the Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka’s Cultural triangle is situated in the centre of the island.

It covers an area which includes the World Heritage cultural sites:
The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, the Ancient City of Sigiriya, the Ancient City of Dambulla and the Sacred City of Kandy.

In Kandy to visit the Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya Botanical gardens.

Kandy is also a popular place to catch the train to Ella and enjoy the stunning scenery on the way.

You must see Ella and Nine Arch Bridge

Ella is one of the most popular tourist spots in Sri Lanka. Historically it was difficult to get to and the main travellers were backpackers.

Since its development and better travel links the town has boomed.

Crowds visit Nine Arch Bridge, which is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country.

A selfie as a train goes over the bridge is a must and you will see a throng of people waiting in anticipation of the train. Beware though, it is common that Sri Lankan trains run late!

Your Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka -Away from the crowds

If you want to be away from the crowds, as GlenMyu Estate only has three guest bedrooms, you can have a unique Christmas in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Within reach of Ella, you can do a day trip and see the sights around the town.

There are also some fabulous things to see and do near to GlenMyu Estate.

Some of our guests just stay at the estate and get some real downtime in a peaceful landscape.

Please read our reviews on Booking,com, Airbnb and Google.

Christmas at GlenMyu Estate

GlenMyu Estate was only opened in late 2021 so we now have a few Christmases under our belt.

Throughout the year our several of our guests enjoy our Traditional Roast Chicken dinner. For the festive season we jazz it up to reflect the colours and tastes you would expect over the holidays.

We cater for Plant Based, Vegan and vegetarian diets, so don’t worry, you won’t miss out on the festivities.

The house is decorated to reflect the season and lots of the trinkets are made on site by the staff from natural products from the estate.

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka

So, if you are looking to have a unique Christmas vacation on a tropical island, then Sri Lanka is a good choice.

We would recommend booking early as Sri Lanka’s tourist numbers are increasing rapidly. Arrivals doubled in December 2023 compared to the previous year and the country has ambitious targets for the coming peak tourist season.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate over the festive season and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Planning your Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka Read More »

Taking skills from Le Cordon Bleu to Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Traditional British Sunday Dinner / By Mikeez

Taking cooking skills from Le Cordon Bleu to Sri Lanka

Ruwanthi took some of the cooking skills and techniques that she learnt on a short Le Cordon Bleu course to GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

Ruwanthi completed a basic Le Cordon Bleu course in London. She has and taken what she learnt to the kitchen at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

Prior to spending sixteen years in the UK, Ruwanthi had limited cooking skills.

Her mother is a great cook, and she provided all the meals for the family as Ru was growing up.
Focusing on her Gymnastic skills whilst attending Ananda Balika Vidyalaya School in Colombo, Ru’s focus was not in the kitchen. Her concentration on her sport led her to becoming National Gymnast champion for several years.

However, a career move to London meant that Ru would need tolerant to cook for herself.

I think that the competitive streak she has resulted in the quality of cooking she delivers at GlenMyu Estate.

I was so lucky

How lucky was I? Ruwanthi used to bring what she cooked home in the evening for me to taste.

Quite often, her Le Cordon Bleu dishes became my lunch the next day much to my colleagues envy.

The place to eat in Queens Park

We lived in our tiny flat in Queens Park, North West London.

As Ru’s cooking skills gained momentum, our flat became the place that everyone wanted to eat.

The number of dinner parties that took place around our small lounge dining table were numerous and are remembered by our friends who were the beneficiaries of Ruwanthi’s food experiments.

What good times we had.

Delia Smith and a Traditional Roast Dinner

Ru knew that Sunday lunches were a favourite of mine.

She decided one day to follow Delia Smith’s cookbook to create a Roast Dinner for myself and my flatmate Phil.

We were amazed on what she served up. Perfect Roast Potatoes and superbly crisp and fluffy Yorkshire Puddings.

High praise was lauded and a Sunday Roast became a welcome meal after I retrained from coaching rugby to the junior teams in my local London rugby club.

Our Traditional Roast Chicken Dinner is a favourite amount the ex-pat community that live on the island. Recently, we have added a mushroom pie for our Plant Based guests so that they don’t miss out on this delicious meal.

Taking those skills to Sri Lanka

The skills that Ru learnt in the Le Cordon Bleu basic cookery course has stayed with her over the years.

There have been many more influences that have developed what she serves to our guests at GlenMyu Estate.

I encouraged Ru by bombarding her with cookbooks for birthdays and at Christmas.

She has quite a collection, from Michel Roux Jnr, Raymond Blanc to Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver. I managed to get Rick Stein to sign several of his series of cookbooks over the years.

Delia Smiths Simple Cookery was added to with other books in her collection.

Sri Lankan influences

For many year Peter Kuruvita’s beautiful Sri Lankan recipe book “Serendip, My Sri Lankan Kitchen” has been a reference point for Ru’s Sri Lankan cooking.

Of course, her mother has also been a major influence. Ru continues to hone her Sri Lankan dishes under her mothers guidance.

Food is an important part of GlenMyu Estate

Nourishing our guests with outside and in is an important part of what we do at GlenMyu Estate.

We have tried to create an environment throughout the five acre estate and within the house that is uplifting and connects you with nature.

The dishes that we serve, including our sumptuous breakfast to give you a good start to the day, provides you with good healthy nutrition.

Ingredients from the garden and great local suppliers

One thing that we have learnt from our time in Sri Lanka is that you should use fresh local season ingredients.

We grow a lot of things in our organic garden at GlenMyu Estate which are used as ingredients in the meals we serve.

It is important for us also to support good local producers. We have a great fruit and vegetable suppliers in the Sri Lankan hill country. Mushrooms are supplied by a grown in Bandarawela which is 26 kilometres from the Estate.

Fish is brought from the coast daily and therefore we get great Tuna and Prawns on a regular basis.

Heading towards a Plant Based Diet

It has become a natural process for us to move towards a more Plant Based diet.

You will see from our menus that we have a lots of dishes that are suitable for Vegans and Vegetarians. We still offer some chicken and fish dishes too so that we can cater for all types of diets.

In the past Sri Lankan diets were naturally Plant Based as little meat and poultry was eaten on the island for various reasons.

We have found that as we have such great fresh ingredients that provide a balanced nutritional diet, that it has been easier to move towards a more Plant Based offering.

The meals are delicious and we have had many die hard carnivores tell us that they didn’t miss meat in the dishes that we served them.

A complimentary Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration

One of the fun things that we do at GlenMyu Estate is to provide a complimentary cooking demonstration when guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

In additional to having a delicious meal to look forward to, you also get fifty plus years of cooking experience showing you how to make the dishes from Ru’s mother.

It’s an entertaining way to see how our Sri Lankan dishes are made.

We get a kick out of seeing pictures from our guests of their Sri Lankan dishes that they have made when they get home.

Sri Lankan food - the next big thing?

We love Sri Lankan food and we don’t believe that it has properly arrived on the World stage.

Hopefully, with increasing numbers of tourists visiting Sri Lanka and the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef this will be righted in the future.

In 2024 Sri Lankan chefs did well on Masterchef. Brin Pirathapan won UK Masterchef. Savindri Perera (Sav) came third on Australian Masterchef.

The judges were wowed by the food that they both served that had a Sri Lankan influence in the dishes.

We should be asking for commission!

Supporting Sri Lankan businesses and championing Sri Lankan cuisine is something that we feel is right to do.

Many of our guests seek out Sri Lankan food when they get back home as they have enjoyed what they eat at GlenMyu Estate. We know that several of our guests have eaten at Rambutan, Kolamba, Hoppers in London.

Other have sought out Sri Lankan restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide including Sagara and Lakruwana which are both based in New York.

Peter Kuruvita and Cynthia Shamugalingam’s book Rambutan must have made additional sales from our guests.

Perhaps we should be charging commission!

To be honest, after meeting us, you will know that we are not that type of people. We just like supporting good business and good people.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the great food served by Ru and the team.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and sample the dishes that we prepare freshly for our guests.

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Taking skills from Le Cordon Bleu to Sri Lanka Read More »

Newly opened in 2021 - GlenMyu Resort, Hotel and B & B, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Inspired by Raymond Blanc

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Inspired by Raymond Blanc (and others!)

There are so many elements that inspired us as we developed GlenMyu Estate. Raymond Blanc, Geoffrey Bawa and Peter Kuruvita and many more.

Are there any unique ideas and new thinking? Aren’t most things a spur or inspiration from another idea?

Both my wife and I are humble creatures and are happy to deflect and shine the limelight elsewhere.

However, we do believe that we have created something unique in our little part of the Sri Lankan hill country.

The affect that our little paradise has on so many of our wonderful guests is amazing.
It inspires us to strive harder for everyone who stays with us.

Inspirations that live in my head and dreams

There are so many elements and people that have and continue to inspire us.

Nature now is a main driver as we aim to increase the level of biodiversity at the estate. Growing trees and plants that create a habitat and food for wildlife is our focus.

In order to meet the cost of our ambitions, we have three guest bedrooms that generate the income we require.

I am happy to admit that I have been inspired by Raymond Blanc. However, I’m a little embarrassed that one of the main places drove the inspiration is a place that I have never been.
Perhaps, some things are better left in our dreams.

There are elements of GlenMyu Estate that have been inspired by or influenced by many ideas my wife and I had over the years.

Sri Lanka’s influential architect was also an inspiration and elements of his style can be found at GlenMyu Estate. Again, I have never visited the Kandalama Hotel. I have only seen photos of it in the Bawa books that we own.

Peter Kuruvita is another inspiration for us. We believe that Sri Lankan food is not in the position that it should be as a world cuisine. The beautiful way that Sri Lankan food is presented, in his book Serendip, should be the standard. It would lift the food to another level.

Raymond Blanc - Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

I just love the whole idea of Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.

It is one of the reasons why I always tried to stay in the hotel where the reception of the many weddings that I attended over the years. The idea of having a good meal, function or just a good time, and being able to wander up the stairs to bed is my idea of luxury.

I did attend a few weddings where I stayed in a cheap B & B as close to the venue as I could. The frustration of waiting for a taxi to take me to inadequate accommodation was not worth the saving in cost.

At Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons the idea of arriving and having a Michelin Star meal in the early evening. Then retiring to a comfortable room, and knowing that a superb breakfast awaits in the morning is just heavenly.

Not a Michelin Star of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

GlenMyu Estate does not and have, or aspire to achieve, a Michelin Star.

What we want to provide is a comfortable place to stay, with amazing freshly prepared meals. And, of course, a short distance to a comfortable bedroom.

Inspired by a great Sri Lankan architect (and others)

We bought several of Geoffrey Bawa’s books when we were living in London in our small flat.

They were beautiful pieces of art that were not studied, but dipped into from time to time.

As mentioned, I have not been to Kandalama Hotel.

However, you will see that we have incorporated several rocks inside the building at GlenMyu Estate.
Some were inspired by Bawa some were by accident, but Ruwanthi can explain this further when you meet her.

And Sri Lankan food

I say that I was brought up on South Indian and Bangladeshi curries when I was living in London. A staple “British Cuisine” and I loved them all.

However, when I tasted the curries made by my mother in law on my annual trips to Sri Lanka, I was amazed at the difference.

Most Sri Lankan curries use coconut oil as a base rather than Ghee. I feel that Sri Lankan curries have a cleaner taste than the “Indian” curries that I was used to eating in the UK. Rather than being smothered by a sauce (delicious of course) I could really taste the individual dishes in a Sri Lankan curry.

So many tears

Quite often there are tears in the eyes of our guests as they leave us to explore more of the wonderful island.

It’s emotional for us too.
We do get really attached to our guests in a short space of time.
They provide so much colour to our lives sharing their experiences of Sri Lanka, their home and lives.

We were moved recently when two separate German guests sent us messages and photos letting them know that they think back to the experience that they had at GlenMyu Estate.

Experiences reflected in our customer reviews

We are humbled very often by what our guests write about their stay with us.
Whether they have written their review on Booking.com, Airbnb, Tripadvisor or Google.

We are always amazed that they would take the time to write about their experience.
Surely, they have more important things to do!
We are so grateful and soak up the words which provide us with inspiration to make every guests stay as wonderful as we can.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and see what inspired us

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Inspired by Raymond Blanc Read More »

UK overtakes Russian tourist Numbers visiting Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

The UK overtakes Russian tourist numbers visiting Sri Lanka

In August 2024 it was reported that the UK overtakes Russian tourist numbers visiting Sri Lanka.

Now the UK is the 2nd largest source market in cumulative tourist arrivals.

India is still number one, but at GlenMyu Estate, we are finding that more visitors from the UK are discovering the island,

Sri Lankan Tourist Numbers

Over the last few years, since Sri Lankan tourists numbers started increasing, the main source markets were India and Russia.

Historically, Sri Lanka was a favourite destination for travellers from the UK.

It appears that the UK has found Sri Lanka again and now delivers the second highest number of tourists to Sri Lanka.

You can read more about this in the Sri Lankan Daily Mirror Article.

Sri Lankan Tourists numbers are published weekly by the Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority.

We feel that we are at a bit of an advantage

GlenMyu Estate is owned and run by Ruwanthi who lived in the UK for about 16 years.

I am from the UK and travelled to the island for many years before relocating from London, UK.

As we have this Sri Lankan/UK mix, we feel that we have an advantage communicating and understanding our guests needs.

Great food - not too spicy!

Another advantage is that we are used to cooking for Western palettes.

In London, our flat was the place that all our friends wanted to come for dinner.

Ruwanthi understands that most people cannot handle the levels of chilli, salt and pepper that most Sri Lankans would add to their dishes.

Lots of visitors from all around the World

We love meeting people from places that we haven’t visited ourselves and get to know more about places from our guests.

Lots of our guests come from the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium and Germany. We are seeing more visitors from Spain, Italy and Portugal.

During August we have had visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Israel and the US and Canada. More Australians are finding Sri Lanka again and exploring the Hill country and East coast during their winter.

We find that we also have a lot of guests from Scandinavia, escaping the winter during the peak tourist season from December to April.

It has been very interesting us meeting guests from Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Both my wife and I feel that we get to see more of the World through our guests eyes.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

UK overtakes Russian tourist Numbers visiting Sri Lanka Read More »

We are receiving more Australian visitors to Sri Lanka

Hatted Restaurants in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Are there any Hatted Restaurants in Sri Lanka?

Are there any Hatted or Michelin Star Restaurants on the paradise island of Sri Lanka?

There are some great restaurants and places to eat when you are on holiday on this paradise island.

What is a Hatted Restaurant?

Hatted Restaurants are a recognition by the Australian Good Food Guide.

A chef hat is a high honour in a chef’s career and a notable achievement in a restaurant’s history. The prestigious ‘hats’ are presented by the Australian Good Food Guide, who use precise award criteria on ingredients, taste, presentation, technique, value and consistency, on food alone

The association limits its reach to Australia and therefore restaurants in Sri Lanka do not qualify for the award.

There are Hatted restaurants in Australia

Michelin Stars and Bib Gourmand

A Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking. We take into account five universal criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.

Bib Gourmand
Not quite a star, but most definitely not a consolation prize, the Bib Gourmand – named after Bibendum, the friendly Michelin Man and the official company mascot for the Michelin Group – is a just-as-esteemed rating that recognizes friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.

We are awaiting the first Michelin Star restaurant in Sri Lanka

At present there are no Michelin Star rated restaurants in Sri Lanka.

We hope that with the highlighting of Sri Lankan cuisine from Masterchef contestant Brin Pirathapan (winner in UK Masterchef 2024) and Sav Perera (third place in Australian Masterchef) that more Sri Lankan restaurants open and share this wonderful fare.

The number of Sri Lankan cookbooks such as Rambutan (Cynthia Shamalugan) and Serendip (Peter Kuruvita) will enable cooks to try dishes at home.

Hopefully, the first Sri Lankan based Michelin Star restaurant is not that far away.

Amazing Sri Lankan food

At GlenMyu Estate we are always delighted when guests arrive from different parts of the the island and tell us how much they love Sri Lankan food.

It’s a great cuisine, especially if you follow a Plant Based, Vegan or vegetarian diet. The food lends itself to these diets.

Of course, being an island there are also some delicious fish dishes and curries for your to sample.

Flying the flag for Sri Lankan food

We endorse the cuisine by encouraging our guests at GlenMyu Estate to try our fusion dishes or our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Ru’s mother, who has over 50 years experience cooking, delights in showing Sri Lankan cooking when guests order the sharing platter. An entertaining and informal time in front of our traditional kitchen is a memorable experience for our guests.

It is heartwarming when our guests send picture of the Sri Lankan food they have cooked when they returned home.

Find out more about the GlenMyu Estate Sri Lankan cookery demonstration

When our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter there is an opportunity to see how the dishes are made.

Ru’s mum, who has over 50 years experience cooking Sri Lankan food leads the entertaining experience. If the weather is good we hold this event in our outside kitchen.

It’s great learning about how to create these dishes and getting to eat the results afterwards.

The session normally starts around 4 p.m. and therefore is suitable if you are staying at GlenMyu Estate two nights or more.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate experience great food and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Hatted Restaurants in Sri Lanka Read More »

Free cookery demonstration for our Sri Lankan food

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration

We offer a free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration when the guests at GlenMyu Estate order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

It’s not just informative and fun, at the end of the demonstration, you get to eat a delicious meal!

Sri Lankan Food - The next big thing?

We love Sri Lankan food and, with the recent success of Sri Lankan contestants on Masterchef, that it will reach a wider audience.

Both Brin Pirpathan on UK Masterchef and Sav Perera on Australian Masterchef in 2024 have highlighted what a great cuisine there is on this paradise island.

Brin won UK Masterchef and Sav came this on Australian Masterchef.

We believe that Sri Lankan cuisine is so good that it should be sampled by more people. Perhaps it will be the next big thing to break through as a culinary powerhouse.

Not a Masterchef but....

We don’t have a Masterchef, however, we do have Ru’s mother who has been cooking Sri Lankan food for over fifty years!

She loves showing guests how she cooks the dishes that make up our Sri Lankan sharing platter. Ru translates and adds a bit of colour to her mothers entertaining cookery demonstration.

She loves to hear how much our guests like her food and always is eager to get feedback the following morning.

The cooking demonstration normally starts between 4 pm and 4.30 pm, so it is suitable if you are staying more that one night at GlenMyu Estate.

What is the GlenMyu Estate Sri Lankan sharing platter?

Our Sri Lankan sharing platter usually consists of six or seven vegetarian dishes accompanied by paratha (flatbreads) or rice.

It’s a filling meal and a meat, poultry or fish dish is not required. You will get a nutritionally balanced meal and will not need any additional dishes.

The individual dishes Ru and her mother prepare will depend on availably of ingredients.

However, our Sri Lankan sharing platter normally consists of the following:

Jackfruit Curry (the Jackfruit is harvested from the trees next to our lawn).

Aubergine/Egg Plant Curry (one of my favourite dishes)

Kollu (a dish found only locally to the estate which is similar to satay but full of protein).

Banana flower curry

Dhal curry (lentil curry)

Mallum (a healthy mixture of shredded leaves picked from the garden)

A sample of what we do at our complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

If the weather is good we cook at our traditional Sri Lankan kitchen which is outside.

The curries taste great when they are cooked on a wood fire in locally sourced clay pots.

Here are some videos which reflect the relaxing, informative and entertaining cookery demonstration.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channels for GlenMyu Estate and Ru’s Recipes.

Trying the recipes at home

We love it when our guests send us messages and photos of them preparing some of the dishes when they return home.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Free cookery demonstration for our Sri Lankan food Read More »

Are there Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka?

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes / By Mikeez

Are there Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka?

Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka.

Given the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef in the UK and Australia, I was surprised that there are no Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan food is a great cuisine that has been promoted by successful chef such as Peter Kurivita in Australia and Cynthia Shamulangan in the UK.

Cynthia’s restaurant, Rambutan located in Borough Market in London, features as a recommended restaurant in the Michelin guide. We had the pleasure of hosting Cynthia at GlenMyu Estate when she was in the process of writing her award winning cookbook, Rambutan.

We hope that the success of Brin Pirathapan in the UK and Savindri (Sav) Perera in Australia that this wonderful cuisine will become available in more restaurants around the world.

What is a Michelin Star Restaurant?

In the late 19th Century, the Michelin brothers produced a small guide filled with handy information for travellers. It included maps, information on how to change a tyre, where to fill up on petrol. The magazine also provided recommendations for places to eat and stay.

in 1026 the Michelin Guide started awarding stars for fine dining establishments.

Now the Michelin Guide rates over 30,000 establishments in over 30 territories across three continents.

Australia has its own version to rate fine dining restaurants. The Australian God Food Guide Chef Hat Award rates restaurants throughout Australia. Chef Hats’ are awarded for consistent culinary excellence.

I could only find one restaurant with a Chef’s Hat in Australia. It is Ella by Minoli which is located in Darwin. Minoli De Silva appeared on Australian Masterchef.

We are so proud of our food at GlenMyu Estate

Food is a essential part of the experience for our guests at GlenMyu Estate.

We use the freshest and most local ingredients that we can find. Most of our menu is great for a Plant Based, Vegan or Vegetarian diet. Of course, we also cater for those who want to eat chicken or fish.

We love the positive feedback that our guests say and write about us.

What our guests say

Ru and the team at GlenMyu Estate are very proud of the food that they serve to our guests.

Feedback is important to us as it provides guidance and motivation to provide the best we can for our guests.

We are delighted that we have so many complimentary comments in our customer reviews on Booking.com, Google, TripAdvisor and Airbnb.

Please read our reviews so you can see what our customers think.

We believe that the food we serve at GlenMyu Estate is the icing on the cake for your stay with us in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Here is an excerpt from a review from Ali (Dubai) from a recent booking.com review.

The food prepared by this lady is better than many food we have tasted in micheline star restaurants around the world

Other comments about our food

“Some of the best food I’ve had the pleasure of eating ever (special shout to Ru’s coconut cake!)”

Charlotte (UK) – Booking.com -April 2024

Nicola (UK) – Booking.com – February 2024

“The food was something else. I can’t rate this place highly enough. I felt so at home here we’re already planning out next trip!”

“it was like staying with friends and Ru’s cooking was to die for. The smell of fresh baked bread in the morning was enough to get us out of bed, and we looked forward to every evening meal, with ingredients straight from the garden.”

Sharon – Oman – April 2024

We are not aiming for a Michelin Star

Although Ru is competitive (she was National Gymnast champion for 5 years) we are not targeting a Michelin Star.

We just want to provide the best experience for our guests at GlenMyu Estate. The food that we serve is an important part of this recipe for the whole experience in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Fresh local ingredients are important

One of the important things for us is to source the best local ingredients that we can find.

We believe that keeping food miles to a minimum is good for the planet and you also get the best tasting seasonal products.

Although we grow lots of different fruits, vegetables and spices on the five acres at GlenMyu Estate, we know that we cannot provide the amount of produce we need to feed ourselves and the increasing number of guests.

We also believe that we should support good quality local producers.
There are fruits and vegetables that grow well in different parts of the island and therefore we buy and support local Sri Lankan farmers.

We also think that it would not be neighbourly or good for the local community if we were to be self sufficient. Mushrooms, Kitul Treacle and Jaggery, Organic Tea and Sri Lankan Coffee are some of the foodstuffs that we have found locally.

A tendency towards a Plant Based Menu

The longer we have been living in Sri Lanka, the more we have been moving towards a plant based menu.

It makes sense to us as we are able to grow and source great quality, fresh vegetables, spices and fruits.

Sri Lanka historically had mainly a diet that was full of fruits vegetable and, of course rice.

We are not fully satisfies with the animal husbandry on the island and although we do offer some fish and chicken dishes, a majority of our menu is plant based.

Even the most dedicated carnivores that stay with us can’t help being satisfied with our Sri Lankan sharing platter. We often hear that with the texture of our Jackfruit curry and Mushrooms dishes that they don’t miss meat!

We hope that there will be Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka in the future

It is disappointing that there are no Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka in 2024.
We hope that there will be some in the future!

There are restaurants and hotels around the country that serve spectacular tasting food.
We hope that more chefs in Sri Lanka are inspired by the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef and other cooking programmes.

During the off season, we at GlenMyu Estate like to travel around the island and we would love to have the choice to eat in a Michelin Star restaurant in Sri Lanka ourselves.

Sharing how we cook Sri Lankan Food

At GlenMyu Estate, we are happy to share.

Ru’s mother has over 50 years experience of cooking Sri Lankan food.

She delights in providing a complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and experience great Sri Lankan food.

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Are there Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka? Read More »

Cashew Sauce Recipe

Ru’s cashew sauce recipe from GlenMyu Estate.

Cashew Sauce Recipe

Our Cashew Sauce Recipe

At GlenMyu Estate we are happy to share our recipes.

Our guests love our cashew sauce.

Dipping our home-made roast paan into the sauce is a delight and taste that you will remember for a long time.

Cashew Sauce Recipe

We normally serve our cashew sauce with our mushroom or prawn dishes at GlenMyu Estate.

If you want to find out more about the food we serve please click on the link for our food menu below.

This is what Ali wrote when he stayed at GlenMyu Estate in July 2024.

Ali lives in Dubai and therefore has a good selection of cuisines at his doorstep. His words make us immensely proud.

“we ate the best food cooked by Ru. The food prepared by this lady is better than many food we have tasted in micheline star restaurants around the world”

(booking.com – July 2024)

Our guests love the food that we serve at GlenMyu Estate.

We are humbled when they write their reviews about their stay and how much they enjoyed what Ru and the team served them to eat. You can read the reviews on Booking.com, Airbnb, Google and Tripadvisor.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and sample our other recipes

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Cashew Sauce Recipe Read More »

Okra Salad Recipe

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

Okra Salad Recipe

Our Okra Salad Recipe

At GlenMyu Estate we are happy to share our recipes.
One of our guests from the USA loved it so much we published it.

So, if you liked this recipe please think your thanks to Janice from Los Angeles for inspiring us to publish our recipe.

Okra Salad Recipe

We normally serve our Okra Salad as an accompaniment to our Chilli and Garlic Prawns or Sesame Crusted Tuna dishes at GlenMyu Estate.

You can read more about the other food we serve got guests at the following link below.

This is what Ali wrote when he stayed at GlenMyu Estate in July 2024.

Ali lives in Dubai and therefore has a good selection of cuisines at his doorstep. His words make us immensely proud.

“we ate the best food cooked by Ru. The food prepared by this lady is better than many food we have tasted in micheline star restaurants around the world”

(booking.com – July 2024)

Our guests love the food that we serve at GlenMyu Estate.

We are humbled when they write their reviews about their stay and how much they enjoyed what Ru and the team served them to eat. You can read the reviews on Booking.com, Airbnb, Google and Tripadvisor.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and sample our other recipes

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Okra Salad Recipe Read More »

Best food in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Best food in Sri Lanka

The best food in Sri Lanka.

We are humbled by guests at GlenMyu Estate when they write in their reviews that we serve the best food in Sri Lanka.

Best food in Sri Lanka!

My wife and I are a little shy, introverted and don’t really like to blow our own trumpets.

Thankfully our guests at GlenMyu Estate are happy to let the world know what they think of the food that we serve.

Some of our guests have said that they have had the best food in Sri Lanka when they have stayed with us at GlenMyu Estate.

Humbled and immensely proud

We are humbled and immensely proud of the words that they write about us in their reviews.
They also tell their friends and we love it when we get recommendations from our guests.

I'll be back!

Some say that they will stay at GlenMyu Estate again when they visit Sri Lanka again on holiday. And they do!
We look after our returning guests with the best rates as they book directly with us.

Don't believe us?

Of course, it’s easy to write an article to lure you to our little piece of paradise in the Sri Lankan hill country.

However, once you get to know us, you will understand that we are genuine and just love having guests visit and enjoy everything we do at the estate.

Food is an important part of what we do and we believe an essential part of the hospitality at GlenMyu Estate.

Read all about it!

Our guests have no reason to write anything but the truth about their experience at GlenMyu Estate and their views on the food we serve.

We don’t say that we have the best food in Sri Lanka, but some of our guests do.

Snippets from our guests reviews

Here are some snippets from our reviews on Booking.com, Google and TripAdvisor.

Please have a look for yourself at the full reviews on the relevant sites.

Charlotte from the UK

(Booking,com) April 2024

“Some of the best food I’ve had the pleasure of eating ever (special shout to Ru’s coconut cake!)”

“The food was absolutely incredible! We never ate so deliciously during our entire vacation”.

Oleysa from Russia

(Booking.com) March 2024

Deimante – Belgium

(Google Review) April 2024

“Oh and the food! Great traditional food is made using ingredients from the garden”.

“All of the meals were outstandingly good using local fresh ingredients and produce”.

Barbara – UK

(TripAdvisor) March 2024

We don't want to be the best - we want everyone to deliver fabulous food in Sri Lanka

My wife and I ae not particularly competitive people. We love Sri Lanka and the smiles and stories that our guests relay when they arrive at GlenMyu Estate.

We love that they have had a great time and great food at other hotels and restaurants that they have stayed at before arriving here.

Sri Lankan food is delicious and we are really happy that it is getting more exposure from contestants in Masterchef. Both Brin Pirathapan and Savindri Perera have shone a light on Sri Lankan food in the 2024 series in the UK and Australia.

Find our more about what food we serve guests at GlenMyu Estate

As Ru lived in the UK for many years before returning to Sri Lanka and developing GlenMyu Estate, she likes to experiment with her dishes

You will find Egg Hoppers with a twist. Our Sri Lankan sharing platter includes a dish that it local to the area in the hill country

A Chicken Roast dinner - a reminder of back home

Although we do champion Sri Lankan food, we do have guests and residents in Sri Lanka that come to us for their traditional roast dinner.

Some tourists want to have something to remind them of home.

There are also lots of people from the UK living for part of the year in Sri Lanka. They have become regular visitors to sample Ru’s roast dinner. We also offer a plant based option for those that do not want to eat chicken.

An informal complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

The dream team of Ru and her mum offer a complimentary informal cooking demonstration when guests order our sharing platter.

It’s a fun and informative experience which is conducted at our outside kitchen (weather permitting!).

As you can hear in this video, there is a lot of laughter accompanying the demonstration.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy our Sri Lankan food offering.

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Best food in Sri Lanka Read More »

Masterchef creates an interest in Sri Lankan food

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Masterchef creates an interest in Sri Lankan food

Although we were really disappointed that Sav Perera left Masterchef, she, along with other contestants have created an interest in Sri Lankan food.

At GlenMyu Estate, we are lucky to already know what an amazing cuisine the country offers.
We truly believe that it should stand alongside other World food in reputation.

Our deepest thanks go out to Sav and Brin (UK Masterchef), for what they have done for the awareness of Sri Lankan food.

Masterchef Top 3 - an amazing achievement

10 Play AU’s website article “‘Intensely Proud Of Myself’: Sav Perera Leaves MasterChef With A Final Love Letter To Sri Lanka”

Savinda Perera made it to the top three in Australia Masterchef in July 2024 which is an amazing achievement.

Sav wanted to illustrate the bold flavours along with refinement and elegancy of the three-course meal for 20 diners and the judges.

“I knew it was going to be a chance to showcase all that Sri Lankan food could be”

Click on the button to read the article on 10 Play AU.

Sri Lankan success in Masterchef UK 2024

Another contestant with Sri Lankan heritage went further in 2024.

Brin Pirathapan, a veterinary surgeon whose love of cooking is inspired by his Sri Lankan heritage was crowned the 20th winner of BBC Masterchef in the UK.

Championing Sri Lankan food in Sri Lanka

At GlenMyu Estate we love our guests experiencing Sri Lankan food.

Our Sri Lankan Sharing platter is a favourite with our guests as they get to sample a wide range of flavours.

Most of the dishes are vegetarian, aubergine curry (eggplant), dhal (lentil), potato, pumpkin and more.

Read our food reviews on Google, Booking.com and Airbnb to see what our guests say.

Our breakfasts are a fusion of Sri Lankan and Western style dishes. As Ru lived in the UK for 15 years, she knows how much spice to add for Western palettes.

A complimentary cookery demonstration by our own "Masterchef"

Ru’s mother has been cooking Sri Lankan food for over 50 years!

We offer a complimentary cooking demonstration for guests when they order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

The variety of dishes provide you with a good understanding of the breadth of Sri Lankan cooking.

Our guests find the informal cookery demonstration, interesting, informative and fun.

Ru conducts the demonstration in connection with her mum providing explanations and translation of what you are seeing and tasting.

You can see some of videos of the demonstration on our You Tube Channel or on Ru’s Recipes.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy delicious Sri Lankan food

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Masterchef creates an interest in Sri Lankan food Read More »

Vegan desserts - Cinnamon and Pineapple Sorbet

Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka

A Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka.

At GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, Sri Lanka we continue to develop our Vegan offerings to our guests.

Our menu is not fully Vegan, as we know that all of our guests are not ready for this.

However, as we increase the level of plant based dishes on our menu we find that more guests are selecting these options.

Our ice cream made without dairy and using unrefined sugar (locally sourced Kithul treacle) is becoming a favourite choice.

Inspired by Brin Pirathapan, the winner of UK Masterchef 2024, we are developing a new range of sorbets experimenting with great locally sourced ingredients.

Naturally plant based in Sri Lanka

We feel that we are already at an advantage in Sri Lanka when it comes to Vegan or Plant based food.

Sri Lanka has lots of Plant Based dishes in its’ normally repertoire of dishes.
You will find that lots of the staple Rice and Curries served on the island are vegan, vegetarian or plant based naturally.

We however suggest that you ask whether there is any meat, poultry or fish in the dishes that you order to avoid any hiccups!

GlenMyu Estate is based in the Sri Lanka hill country, just an hours drive from the tourist town of Ella.

Since we opened in 2022, GlenMyu Estate has continued to develop its’ Vegan friendly menu for our guests.

Fresh local ingredients ,make it easier.

This paradise island in the Indian Ocean provide a bounty of produce which makes it easier to provide plant based dishes for our guests.

The coconuts are amazing and are an important ingredient in lots of our dishes.

We are making more varieties of ice cream using coconut milk and our guests love it. Coconuts are sourced locally, some from our neighbours and scrape at least one coconut a day.

Plant based cakes

When our guests arrive in the early afternoon we like to offer them locally sourced organic tea along with a pice of cake.

Bibbikan is a traditional Sri Lankan coconut cake which is plant based. We also only use unrefined sugar making this guest favourite. Locally sourced Kithul Treacle makes this a special cake to enjoy at GlenMyu Estate.

Whats on the menu at GlenMyu Estate?

Our menus are changed and updated regularly.

For our current menu and prices please click on the following link.

Plant based breakfast options

From the local Sri Lankan rice porridge and healthy leaf drink to twists on Sri Lankan fusion dishes, breakfast is always enjoyable at GlenMyu Estate.

We make sure that our guests are set up for the day with a variety of dishes.

Some of our plant based starters and mains

Freshly made soups with homemade breads.

Delicious homemade pastas, Jackfruit dishes with the jackfruit picked from the trees next to the lawn and our sharing platter. Staying several days at GlenMyu Estate will not exhaust the choice of vegan and plant based dishes we have on our menu.

Sometimes you can accompany Ruwanthi in the garden to pick some of the produce that will be used in your meals.

Not just sorbet!

Desserts are an important part of being on holiday.

However, sometimes the only Vegan or Plant Based dessert options are just a sorbet!

We love sorbet and our Cinnamon and Pineapple sorbet is a favourite with guests but we have several other choices for you.

Catering for all our guests, whatever their dietary requirements,

It’s important for us at GlenMyu Estate to provide the best experience we can during their stay in Sri Lanka with us.

We do still offer some fish and chicken dishes on our menu to provide an alternative option.
What we do find, however, is that once our guests have tasted our Plant Based dishes, they are happy to have a meat free stay.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka Read More »

The Best Places to Eat in Haputale, Sri Lanka

Food and Drink, Holiday, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

The Best Places to Eat in Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Where are the best places to eat on holiday in Sri Lanka when you are visiting Haputale?

Here are the best ones we could find.

As you are driving around Haputale, towards Beragala or Ella, you will see lots of signs for the Olive brand.

Olive appears to have tied up lots of the best spots in the area and they feature on our list.

We also have added Katu-K Roast Paan Cafe, which has recently opened.

Just look out for the bullock cart in front of a row of traditional shops on the road from Haputale to Beragala.

Our top four places to eat in and around Haputale.

Clearly these places are our favourites.

New places will open as the area provides more cafes and restaurants for hungry tourists and local Sri Lankans.

1. Katu-Ke Roast Paan Cafe

It’s new and the food is great.

When you are travelling from Beragala Junction you can’t miss a statue of a Bullock Cart on the left. It’s just over one kilometre from Beragala Junction on the A16.

Katu-Ke Cafe is one of the shops in the row behind the cart.

There is seating and shade which you may need on a good day.

The food is delicious and if you are on your way from Beragala towards Haputale it is worth stopping.

They even bake baguettes to order for collection at the cafe on the weekend. You will need to pre-order by contacting the cafe in advance. You can message them through their links on Instagram or call them on 00 94 (0) 750317373

Some of what Katu-Ke Cafe has to offer.

Katur-Ke Cafe is between Beragala and Haputale.

If you are heading towards Ella, Nuwara Eliya or Haputale it is easy to stop off as there is parking by the side of the road.

It’s also handy if you need something to eat after returning from Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

2. Olive Viewpoint

The first of the Olive brand on our list.

Olives brand is the dominant present in Haputale and it’s surroundings.

The food is pretty consistent in any of their outlets and they have some great spots with wonderful views.

Olive Viewpoint is outside Haputale on the way towards Beragala on the A16.

It has a great view towards the south of the country over age tea estates.

Find Olive Viewpoint here.

Travelling from Haputale town towards Beragala you will find Olive Viewpoint on the left hand side of the road.

3. Olives Lettuce & Cabbage

Olives Lettuce and Cabbage is on the road from Haputale Railway Station.

It has a great view of the railway line and the hustle and bustle of Haputale.

This place is very convenient if you are really hungry after you get off the train.

It has a license so you can have a drink with your meal.

Find Lettuce & Cabbage here.

As you exit the train station at Haputale, walk towards the railway crossing.

Before you reach there you will se a row of shops on the left hand side. Look up, and you will see the Lettuce & Cabbage signboard.

4. Olives City Centre

Olives City Centre (spelt Center) is located on the main Haputale Road.

It is a modern looking building and has a good view of the hills below.

The Best Places to Eat in Haputale, Sri Lanka Read More »

5 reasons to visit Sri lanka in 2024

Cookery Courses, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

5 reasons to visit Sri Lanka in 2024.

5 reasons to visit Sri Lanka in 2024.

Don’t miss this opportunity to visit a paradise island before too many holidaymakers find it!

Here are our 5 reasons to visit Sri Lanka in 2024 on holiday.

There are so many reasons to holiday in Sri Lanka in 2024.

We list below our 5 reasons on why you should not delay and visit in 2024.

1. Come to Sri Lanka now before it gets too busy

You must have read about some tourist spots around the globe restricting visitors.

Some places like the canary Islands have seen protests against the rise in tourism from local residents.

Sri Lanka is encouraging tourism right now and the government has ambitious plans to increase numbers from 1.5 million to 2.3 million in 2024.

By 2030 the target is an ambitious 5 million tourists!

The island is idyllic now, but as the number of tourists increases, the shine will dull in the future as tourist spots get too busy.

An amazing experience that many of our guests have when they holiday at GlenMyu Estate is visiting Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

The second highest waterfall in the country is becoming more discovered as the road access has improved in recent year.

It’s fast becoming an Instagram must.

We have has so many guests that have left GlenMyu Estate to visit Upper Diyaluma before breakfast and have had an amazing experience.

As we are only 40 minutes from the waterfall, our guests have managed to beat other tourists there and sometimes have had the place all to themselves.

When they return to GlenMu Estate for a late breakfast, they are energised from the unique early morning experience that they have had.

2. Getting a train ticket is difficult now, it will be more challenging in the future

One of the great experiences that you will have as you travel around this paradise island is to take a train journey through a beautiful landscape.

Lost of our guests at GlenMyu Estate arrive at Haputale Station from Kandy and are wowed by what they see on the train journey.

Even in 2023, some guests have found it a challenge in getting train tickets. Can you imagine how difficult it will be as tourist numbers increase?

It would be great if Sri Lankan Railways put on additional service to cope with increasing demand. However, this will be difficult as the tracks are limited on the capacity they can handle.

3. A less crowded beach

There are so many beaches around the coast of the island that you would think that there would always be places where you didn’t have to fight for a spot on the sand.

What tends to happen in Sri Lanka is that as a “new beach” is discovered, people flock there and lots of development follows to cash in.

As time passes there will be less places to discover and that ideal image of an uncluttered beach will dissipate.

So, we say ‘come now” before the beaches get too busy.

4. Go East before it gets found

The east and north coasts of the island are becoming a more popular destination to visit as this part has gradually opened up since the ending of the civil war some 15 years ago.

The best time to visit is between April and September as the coasts are generally monsoon free.

As most of Europe is in the Mediterranean during their summer vacation, there are opportunities to spend time at less crowded beaches.

5. Be one of the pioneers to walk the Pekoe Trail

The Pekoe Trail is a new, 22 stage, 300km walking trail around Sri Lanka.

It only opened in late 2023.

The new experience in Sri Lanka has already won awards and is being recognised.

‘Best Wider World Tourism Project’ at the British Guild of Travel Writers International Tourism Awards (ITA)

National Geographic’s ‘Best of the World’ List for 2024

As more tourist travelling to Sri Lanka become more aware of the Pekoe Trail the number of hikers on the walk will rise.

If you want to hike the Pekoe Trail with less of a crowd, we would recommend that you visit Sri Lanka in 2024 or soon after.

Several of our guest at GlenMyu Estate have already hiked stages 12 and stages 13 of the Pekoe Trail.

Located a short drive from Haputale, GlenMyu Estate is a convenient place to stay within reach of several stages of the Pekoe Trail.

Our 5 reasons to holiday in Sri Lanka in 2024

Beat the increase in tourist numbers.
Enjoy a beautiful train journey.
Experience a less crowded beach.
Discover the East before it develops as a main tourist destination.
Be one of the first to walk the Pekoe Trail

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Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

5 reasons to visit Sri lanka in 2024 Read More »

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, sri lankan recipes, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef.

Celebrating the success of Brin Pirathapan who won BBC Masterchef 2024, we find more Sri Lankan inspired chefs

Brin Pirathapan won BBC Masterchef 2024. His cooking is influenced by his Sri Lankan heritage.

There have been lots of Sri Lankan chefs compete in Masterchef in the UK and abroad. Australian Masterchef has seen the most number of competitors with Sri Lankan heritage.

Some chefs just love Sri Lankan cuisine and have made inspired dishes.

The food in Sri Lanka is wonderful and it’s great to see it being shown on the world stage through Masterchef.

In recognition of Brin’s success, here are some videos of other contestants and their dishes on Masterchef.

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Savindri is another Australian Masterchef contestant who served Sri Lanka food.

You can see from these videos that she is also a great character.

Cooking Sri Lankan food for the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama was served Sri Lankan food by Dani Venn on Masterchef Australia.

You don’t have to be an adult to make Sri Lankan food.

Georgie made spicy Sri Lankan coconut curry in Junior Masterchef, Australia.

You don't have to be Sri Lankan to make Sri Lankan food

Many of the chefs on Masterchef have Sri Lankan heritage, however they are not the only ones to prepare Sri Lankan dishes.

There was an elimination round where the contestants had to identify twenty four ingredients in a Sri Lankan curry.

Dee, on Australian Masterchef, made a Sri Lankan crab curry and pineapple salad.

Enjoying Sri Lankan food on holiday in Sri Lanka

When you visit Sri Lanka you will have the opportunity to sample Sri Lankan food in restaurants, hotels and small cafes.

You may even get the chance to be invited into a Sri Lankan families home to enjoy a home cooked meal. Visiting a homestay during part of your exploration of the island is a good way to support a local family and eat with them.

Sri Lankan Street Food

Food in Sri Lanka is not all about the types of dishes served on Masterchef. Street food can be found all round the island.

Whether it is roti, paratha, egg hoppers or wade’s, you will have a culinary experience to remember.

Experience Sri Lankan cooking at our free cooking demonstration

At GlenMyu Estate, we offer a complimentary informal Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when you order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Ru’s mother, who has fifty plus years experience of cooking Sri Lankan food runs the show!

It’s a really enjoyable experience for our guests with the benefit of eating what you have seen made in the kitchen.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and it will encourage us to post more videos of our cooking demonstrations at GlenMyu Estate.

Holiday in Sri Lanka and enjoy Sri Lankan Cuisine

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef Read More »

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 – Brin Pirathapan

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 - Brin Pirathapan

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 is Brin Pirathapan who is a vet whose cooking was inspired by his Sri Lankan Heritage.

Congratulations to Brin!

We hope that Brings success will promote Sri Lankan food to the place where it deserves to be!

BBC Masterchef, announced on the BBC

You can read the announcement on the BBC website by clicking on the following link.

"The best final we’ve ever done.”

Judge John Torode told the finalists: “Twenty years we’ve been doing MasterChef. That is the best final we’ve ever done.”

Read about the final at the article in the Independent.

Sri Lankan restaurants are likely to get busy.

We fully expect that people will start to explore the amazing Sri Lankan cuisine and will be seeking out restaurants.

Rambutan is based in London’s Borough Market.

It’s a place that we have tried ourselves and we would highly recommend it.

Book a table early though, it’s aleady a busy spot.

Free informal Sri Lankan cooking demonstrations at GlenMyu Estate.

One of the things that lots of our guests love is the informal cooking demonstrations that we offer when you stay at GlenMyu Estate.

Ru and her mother guide our guests through cooking delicious Sri Lankan food.

We have slowly been putting videos of our cooking demonstration on Ru’s Recipes so you can see what we do.

You can see our food menu at GlenMyu Estate to see the types of dishes we make.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 – Brin Pirathapan Read More »

Freshly Baked Bread in the Morning

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Freshly Baked Bread in the morning.

One of the special things about staying at GlenMyu Estate on you holiday in Sri Lanka.

Our guests love it.

Ru and the team get up early and make a variety of breads, rolls and sweet buns to tempt you put of bed in the morning.

Something to look forward to on holiday

We find that our guests at GlenMyu Estate really look forward to a relaxing and lazy breakfast.

It’s important to Ru and the team that you get a nutritious start to the day.

If you plan to go out and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country you will be expending a bit of energy. There is nothing better to start you on your way with a great filling breakfast which will give you the energy to tackle your walk.

After eating a healthy and heart breakfast you can probably skip lunch and look forward to a delicious dinner in the evening.

What type of breads do we make and serve?

Sri Lankan Roast Paan (curry bread)

This bread is great for dipping into sauces and therefore is known as a curry bread.

We also serve roast paan with some of our evening meals as it’s great to dip into the sauces for our Chilli & Garlic Prawns or Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce dishes.

Baguettes

Although we are limited on the varieties of flour that we can purchase in Sri Lanka we do make a good quality baguette.

Brioche – our version

One of the things that our French and German guest really enjoy is the brioche that we make at GlenMyu Estate. I love it when I see a French guest dip the brioche into their cup of Sri Lankan coffee.

Rolls and rolls

We make a variety of rolls for breakfast, some with wholemeal flour, some mixed or white baps.

Different days, different breads

It’s great if you are staying two days or more as Ru changes what types of bread she makes each day.

Other breads for other meals

Ru and the team also make ciabatta and focaccia which accompany some of the meals on our dinner menu.

It would not be right to serve an Italian style bread with our homemade Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli or our Mushroom Risotto.

You can see our current food menu by clicking the following link.

What about Sourdough?

Ru does make a sourdough bread occasionally.

If we know a guest has some dietary restrictions and we have enough notice ahead of time we have made sourdough rolls and loafs for our guests.

It's not all about the breads.....but

A stay at GlenMyu Estate is not all about the food we serve, however it’s a really important part of your stay.

If you read our reviews on Google, Booking.com and Airbnb you will regularly see Ru being complimented on her food.

Here is a taste! of what our guests say.

Oh and the food! Great traditional food is made using ingredients from the garden

The smell of fresh baked bread in the morning was enough to get us out of bed, and we looked forward to every evening meal, with ingredients straight from the garden.

the food was seriously divine (I’m still dreaming of the cinnamon scrolls

Stay at GlenMyu Estate, enjoy the food and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Freshly Baked Bread in the Morning Read More »

Read our food reviews

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

GlenMyu Estate food reviews. read what our guests say.

Read our food reviews.

We are extremely proud of what our guests write about the food that we serve at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

Not comfortable in accepting praise

Like may people we are a little bit shy about receiving praise from people. For me it’s probably a trait from being brought up in the UK.

However, for my wife I think that it’s because Sri Lankans are naturally a little bit shy.

We love what we do

Both my wife and I are not from a hospitality background. Creating GlenMyu Estate was a change in career at the right time of life for us.

We didn’t know whether we would like the hospitality industry. Sri Lanka went through lots of difficulties when we were building the accommodation and creating the garden. Beregala was not an established tourist location as most people just stay in Ella.

It turns out that we love what we do and the guests that come love it here also.

We have tried to create an atmosphere where you feel that you are staying with friends and not in a formal hotel or B & B.

We are happy to share

At GlenMyu Estate we are happy to share what we do. We have had lots of requests for recipes, videos of cooking and even a cookbook.

We provide a complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Our guests find this an enjoyable experience and try to make some dishes when they return home from their holiday.

Using locally sourced ingredients

At GlenMyu Estate we try to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables and spices on the five acre estate.

We do buy fish (after all we live on a small island) and chicken, however most of our dishes are plant based.

The ingredients are sourced locally from the estate or from Beragala, Haldumulla, Haputale or Bandarawela.

Supporting local suppliers

Although self sufficiency was a dream for us we realised that we need to support the local community and merchants. We didn’t think that it would be very neighbourly coming to a community and not supporting them by buying some of their produce.

Nevertheless, we were not in a position to meet the demands of production from the estate when GlenMyu Estate is busy with guests.

We are also very new to growing the variety of produce at GlenMyu Estate and we know that it will take several years before we get it right.

So, what do the guests at GlenMyu Estate say about the food?

As we are still a little bit bashful, here are some extracts of what our guests have written in their Google, Booking.com, Airbnb and Tripadvisor reviews.

Some of the best food I've had the pleasure of eating ever (special shout to Ru's coconut cake!).

The hosts were delightful and the food was exceptional!

The food was absolutely incredible! We never ate so deliciously during our entire vacation. Homemade bread and rolls are a delight. My daughter cried when we left.

Ruawanti is a very good cook who spoils their guests with Sri Lankan delicacies. Dinner is individually cooked to the guests' preferences.

Ru’s cooking was to die for. The smell of fresh baked bread in the morning was enough to get us out of bed, and we looked forward to every evening meal, with ingredients straight from the garden

The food that Ruwanthi cooked was the best Sri Lankan food we had throughout our trip and a fraction of what we paid for other meals we had.

It makes us so proud!

We are so proud of what we have created at GlenMyu Estate and are also humbled at what people say.

It’s all about teamwork, of course, and we are supported by staff in the kitchen and who work on the gardens around the estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the food that we serve

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and enjoy the meals that we offer to our guests.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Read our food reviews Read More »

Sri Lankan contestants in UK Masterchef

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Sri Lankan contestants in UK Mastechef

Sri Lanka is being represented by some of the the contestants in UK Masterchef 2024.

I’m sure that British born Brin and Sri Lankan born Mathu, will be followed and supported from Sri Lankans around the world in their quests to become UK Masterchef 2024.

Brin has Tamil Sri Lankan heritage and this has influenced the food that he loves to eat and recreate.

We are looking forward to seeing what Brin serves up to the judges on this favourite UK TV series.

Heat 1 - Brin, the veterinarian

Brin, a veterinary surgeon, grew up in Chelmsford and now is located in Bristol.

Find out more about UK Masterchef 2024 by clicking the link to the BBC website.

You can read more about all the contestants on BBC Masterchef by clicking the following link.

Heat 4 - Mathu - A Sri Lankan born Brit competes in UK MasterChef 2024.

A Sri Lankan born Brit is competing in the fourth heat of MasterChef 2024

Mathu grew up in Sri Lanka and then Toronto, Canada.

She now lives in London and works as a Head of Charity Investments.

Read the Colombo Gazette article by clicking on the following link.

Previous contestants on Masterchef with Sri Lankan heritage

Masterchef does not just take place in the UK. Australia and the US both have their own versions of the show.

There have been several chefs competing in the shows with Sri Lankan connections.

Ray Silva appeared on MasterChef Australia 2017 and made it to the top 24

Minoli De Silva wowed the judges with many Sri Lankan inspired dishes, while making her way towards the top 10 finalists of MasterChef Australia 2021.

Georgia was the winner of Junior Masterchef Australia 2020

Dhayanie ‘Dee’ Williams was first, Sri Lankan female contestant at MasterChef Australia,

Kumar Pereira made it to the top 12 of MasterChef Australia season 3,.

Sri Lankan – American, Jessica Heath is a top 40 contestant on MasterChef USA Season 8,

Samantha Rochelle De Silva participated in the 3rd season of MasterChef USA in 2012. She was ranked in 18th place.

Malin De Silva was a semi-finalist in the 2019 series of BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals

A free cooking demonstration at GlenMyu Estate

If you are interested in Sri Lankan cooking when holiday in the Sri Lankan hill country look no further than GlenMyu Estate.

Ru and the team offer a free cooking demonstration, when you order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

We normally prepare 5-6 vegetarian dishes from local ingredients.

Lots of our guests have taken notes and tried the recipes at home.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Join in with the free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration hosted by Ru and her mother.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Sri Lankan contestants in UK Masterchef Read More »

The best places for female solo travel in 2024

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

The Best Places for Solo Female Travel - Sri Lanka 2024

Time Out’s best places for female solo travel in 2024 has been released.

The number one destination for solo female travel is Sri Lanka!

The Time Out article was written by India-Jayne Trainor is a British-Australian travel writer based in London.

It states that “according to a recent survey, over half of Gen Z women would consider travelling abroad alone”

According to McKinsey.com “Generation Z comprises people born between 1996 and 2010. This generation’s identity has been shaped by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape, and COVID-19.”

Sri Lanka is considered “the perfect first stop for female travellers wanting to dip into South Asia”.

Lots of solo travellers have stayed with us

We have been a little bit surprised at the number of solo travellers that have stayed with us at GlenMyu Estate.

They have mainly been solo female travellers, however we do get the occasional solo male traveller.

As we only have three bedrooms there is usually another one or two guests to interact with when staying at GlenMyu Estate.

Opportunities to share experiences

We have found that some guests like eating on their own and keeping themselves to themselves.
Most however, are happy to join the other guests for meals which provides a great opportunity to share stories.

It’s also great to get recommendations from other travellers on what to do and what to see at GlenMyu Estate and on the next part of their tour around the island.

Dinner with your hosts

I always found it uncomfortable being at a hotel and telling the waiter I needed a table for one.

We understand this is a not what some guest want and we are happy to join with the guests for their meals if they want.
Both my wife and I don’t tend to eat much in the evenings, however we are always happy to have a chat and we enjoy a good conversation with people that stay.

Why travel on your own?

Some of our guests have travelled on their own because they are single or their partner couldn’t get the time off from work to join them.

Others just like to travel on their own. There are opportunities to explore places without the distractions of other people.

Other things reading about tips for solo female travellers.

She Needs Less states in their article that solo female travel “It provides a unique opportunity to challenge yourself, build confidence and create unforgettable memories. “

Sri Lanka is no 15 on Headout.com’s list of “16 Safe Female Solo Travel Destinations”.

They state that as the country is ” predominantly Buddhist, women traveling alone will find the nation to be very hospitable and safe”.

They also advise that you should dress conservatively is some locations, especially when you are visiting temples.

We would also recommend that you read the article by Life of Brit “The Complete Guide To Solo Travel in Sri Lanka”.

She advises that “it’s always important to be in the know, stay vigilant and trust your gut when something doesn’t feel right.”.

Why do solo travellers stay at GlenMyu Estate?

Solo travellers stay with us at GlenMyu Estate for a number of reasons.

Because of what people write about us
Our rating on booking sites, google and TripAdvisor.

We are really proud of the reviews that our guests have written about their stay. The food, being closer to nature, the animals, the rooms and the wonderful views are common themes on what’s written.

To be off the beaten track
Away from the bustle of Ella
Being away from the crowds of the busy tourist town of Ella is a regular wish from many guests.

Because they are worth it
A little bit of luxury in between hostels.
Several of our solo travellers have spent time in hostels in Kandy or Ella where they have met other travellers. They treat themselves by spending two or three days in the luxury of GlenMyu Estate going them lots of variety on their holiday.

To explore the great sights near to GlenMyu Estate

There are lots of superb places to explore on a day trip from GlenMyu Estate.

If you are into hiking we are close to several sections of the new Pekoe Trail.
Several of our guests have enjoyed the hikes near Lipton’s Seat, Haputale and Idalgashinna Railway station. We can arrange a guide to accompany you if you feel safer with some company.

Upper Diyaluma Waterfall is an amazing experience.

It’s a 45 minute to 1 hour Tuk Tuk ride from GlenMyu Estate.

We can supply you with a trusted Tuk Tuk driver who will take you to Diyaluma Waterfall. He will show you the best route and look after your belongings as you are enjoying the stunning pools.

Our thoughts and reccommendations as for solo travellers in Sri Lanka.

Although Sri Lanka may be number one in the Time Out list, we would recommend you not to be too complacent.

Unfortunately, being a tourist in one of the tourist spots does attract some conmen, whatever country you visit.

We recommend that you make sure you keep en eye on your belongings at all times.

Overall, like anywhere, you just need to be vigilant and consider the risks on where you are going before you jump in.

Getting around the island safely.

If you are using a Tuk Tuk, make sure it has a meter or a price is agreed prior to your journey.
Put Google Maps on to ensure that you are travelling the shortest route to your planned destination.

We had some girls from Austria stay with us and they booked all their taxis through Booking.com as the journeys were tracked on the system,

Arrange with your accommodation for a driver to pick you up from the railway station or bus stand. They are more likely to send a driver that they know and trust and who knows their way to the accommodation.

Uber is a good option to use when you are in some of the larger cities and towns such as Colombo, Galle and Kandy.

Keep cash to a minimum.

There are lots of businesses in Sri Lanka that only accept cash as they don’t have card facilities.

Ensure that you keep the mimimim amount of cash on your person.

You can always use an ATM if you need to take out more cash.

Check with your hotel whether they take cards or whether you can transfer to a bank account using Wise, Revolut, Paypal or XM.

This will help you manage the amount of cash you need to keep on you.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

There are lots of wonderful experiences to have on and off the estate.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

The best places for female solo travel in 2024 Read More »

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka

Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda, Waterfalls / By Mikeez

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka.

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka. The British TV presenter, actor journeyed to the paradise isle of the Indian Ocean in a 2023 documentary.

IMDb provide a summary of each of the 3 episodes.

Alexander Armstrong visits the former Dutch Port of Galle, the cultural city of Kandy and also Tamil country.

Watch the trailer for the series here.

You can read a review of the programme from the Daily Mail by clicking the link here.

If you have a Sky subscription you can watch the programmes by clicking the link here.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and experience Sri Lanka.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka Read More »

Amazing Hotels in Sri Lanka. Ceylon tea Trails

Accommodation, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Mini Adam's Peak, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Amazing Hotels in Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Tea Trails -Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder venture in the Highlands of Sri Lanka in a BBC documentary.

The BBC documentary series; Amazing Hotels – Life Behind the Lobby, was initially aired in September 2023 according to the IMDB website.

It stars Monica Galetti and Rob (Robert Rinder).

Monica is a Masterchef Judge, Amazing Hotels presenter, author and chef owner of Mere Restaurant and Bar.

Judge Rob Rinder is a broadcaster, columnist, barrister, former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and author. He had his own TV show Judge Rinder.

Growing tourist numbers

The documentary came to my notice when an old colleague of mine mentioned that it had been aired in Ireland in March 2024.

Sri Lanka is already seeing a surge in tourism numbers. The airing of this documentary is expected to highlight the island as a great place to go on holiday.

Tourist numbers for December 2023 to February 2024 doubled each month compared to the previous year.

The country welcomed just over 200,000 visitors per month. There is a peak tourist season in Sri Lanka from December to the start of April. This is when travellers want to escape the northern hemisphere winter. However, the country is now being marketed as an all year round destination. The Eastern and Northern Coasts, along with the Central Hills, are good to visit when the monsoon hots the South and West of the island.

You can track the tourist arrivals at the Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority website.

Ceylon Tea Trails

You can see the details of the colonial bungalows that Monica and Rob visited by clicking in the link to the Resplendent Ceylon website.

The concept was created by the Fernando family who are Sri Lankan tea producers and the founders of Dilmah Ceylon Tea.

Most of the bungalows are located near to Hatton which is ideal for getting to Adam’s Peak. The overnight pilgrimage season is between December and May annually.

At the time of the documentary release in the UK there was lots of press in Sri Lanka and abroad about the celebrities time on the island.

The Central Hills of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has an amazing offering of hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast along with homestay providing a wide range of experiences.

At GlenMyu Estate we have had several guests who have visited Haputale and Ella after completing their Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) hike. The temperatures in the hill country can be cooler, and a bit of a relief from the highs around the island.

Inspiration to go on an adventure

Sri Lanka appears to be rising on wish lists of places to visit.

We, at GlenMyu Estate, have found that more Australians are finding us. There are also many more europeans outside the regular French, German and British visitors.

What we love is that when the guests arrive at GlenMyu Estate, they have already had an incredible experience as they have travelled around the island.

The welcome that they have received from local people, the wonderful sights they have seen make us thankful to be able to live in Sri Lanka.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Amazing Hotels in Sri Lanka. Ceylon tea Trails Read More »

A High Performance Holiday

Birdwatching, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Natural Swimming Pool, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

A High Performance Holiday?

The title of one of my regular podcasts intrigued me. Here’s what I learnt from The High Performance Podcast.

I listen to lots of podcasts

One of my pastimes in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate, in between visitors, is to listen to podcasts.

Some are educational, some are for my mental health and others are just for fun.

A recommendation from a guest

One of our guests and I were chatting about podcasts. He runs a successful business in Colombo and continues his business education with a mentor.
The mentor suggested that he listen to The High Performance Podcast.

This was a podcast that was not in my list of regular listening. The guest liked the podcast as there were lots of interviews with renowned and successful sportspeople, amongst others.
As the guest was interested in a range of sports there was a motivation to listen regularly to this podcast.

The High Performance Podcast

This podcast is hosted by Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes.

Jake is a former television presenter. He stepped away from presenting sports to concentrate on the High Performance Podcast.

Damian is a Professor of Psychology and Change. He has written several books and is a keynote speaker.

They aim to “turn the lived experiences of the planet’s highest performers into your life lessons”.

A High Performance Holiday

A High Performance Holiday.

This is a catchy and intriguing title is important to capture ones interest and it worked with me.

The shocking statistics around the British holidaying public

A British Airways Survey for YouGov revealed that “survey reveals 50% of UK working adults do not take their full annual leave allocation”.

Amazingly ” a third of working Brits (36%) who did not take their full annual leave said it was because they ‘just didn’t get around to it”.

And “42% confessed that they have felt stressed about work whilst on holiday”.

Do you check your work emails when you are on holiday?

Yes lots of people do!

The survey revealed that “48% have checked work emails whilst away and more than a third (39%) have gone one step further and responded“.

Taking your leave is good for you

A 40-year study by the European Society of Cardiology revealed that taking a holiday could help people live longer.

At the ESC Congress in Munich, Germany (28 Aug 2018), Professor Strandberg said: “The harm caused by the intensive lifestyle regime was concentrated in a subgroup of men with shorter yearly vacation time. In our study, men with shorter vacations worked more and slept less than those who took longer vacations. This stressful lifestyle may have overruled any benefit of the intervention. We think the intervention itself may also have had an adverse psychological effect on these men by adding stress to their lives.”

The dangers of presenteeism

Feeling that you always have to be present at work, always connected and available is dangerous in the form of stress and burnout.

Whoop (the Health Monitor Band company) employees are rewarded for getting adequate sleep and rest. What a great idea.

Always working on holiday?

They realise that fully shutting off from work is not always possible. Sometimes a compromise is required. Jake has an agreement with his wife that his work phone is locked in a safe all day and in the evening he is allowed 10 -15 minutes to pick up work calls and e-mails.

Joe Wicks has a technique where he takes time out as “mini retirements” where he takes on less work and is present with his family and friends. This was a result of hearing a phrase “don’t wait until you are older to retire, have mini retirements every year”.

The main elements required for a High Performance Holiday

A second phone

Dr Peter Atia gave Damian and idea to have a sequin phone so that he could turn off.

What a great idea! (apart from the potential landfill question when phones are at the end of their lives).

Having a phone that is only used for personal and family matters can allow you to switch off from the office. If it does not have WhatsApp, Email and job related accessibility, it can just be used for family photos and family calls.

The value of getting new ideas and energy

Alex Scott loves to travel. She gets her education and learning about life from travelling around the world, learning about different cultures and meeting people.

She says that it gives her so much energy and makes her fell alive.

Prioritising going on holiday.

Getting the team to take full responsibility when you are away.

It’s sometimes hard to delegate but it can be really good for your team. If you can get your team on board that when a colleague is on holiday they will not be contacted under any circumstances it will be good for both you and your workmates.

Show me your calendar

Shane Pariss did an exercise with Jake where he asked him what are the most important things in his life?

Jake replied “his children, his wife and finding some time for himself”.

Shane then asked him to show him his diary and he would show Jake his priorities!

Tips on how to have a High Performance Holiday

Jake and Damian provide a few tips on how to have a High Performance Holiday.

Delete all, your work apps (or lock your phone up or get a non work phone).

Plan your holiday well in advance.

Create a boundary in the office where no-one is contacted whilst on holiday.

Keep away from tech when you are on holiday

Be where your feet are – make sure you are fully there and connected in the moment when you are away.

Have some downtime between activities – holidays should not be totally organised.

Remember why you are going on holiday.

Can GlenMyu Estate provide elements of a High Performance Holiday?

There are elements that allow our guests to have a high performance holiday when they are at GlenMyu Estate.

Although we do provide free Wi Fi for our guests we find that it is not used very much when they are here on holiday. The environment appears be right for people to switch off and appreciate the environment and enjoy nature.

I love it when I see guests sitting on the sofas in our lounge reading a book or just watching the clouds.

Walking around the estate or spending time at the swimming pool is a good form of exercise bot physically and mentally. The opportunity to listen to the bird song, watch our ducks in the stream or pet our dogs are simple things in life away from all the tech back home.

We find that our guests really do switch off

Although lots of our guests do explore the wonderful sights in the hill country, many change their plans and just spend time on the estate to relax.

Watching guests pick up a pencil and start drawing on a notepad, playing badminton as a family or swimming in our pool is a good use of their downtime.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and switch off

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

We find that our guests really do switch off.

A High Performance Holiday Read More »

Plan your next holiday to Sri Lanka and de-stress

Stressed at work? Time to plan you next holiday

Charity work in Sri Lanka, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Natural Swimming Pool, sri lankan recipes, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Stressed at work? Then it's time to plan your next holiday.

Stressed at work? Then it’s time to plan your next holiday.

What better way to relieve the pressure than getting away to Sri Lanka in 2024.

Time to start planning your holiday.

The New Year is a good time to plan your year and set some goals.

Achieving that promotion, working on that big deal or coping with challenging targets can be stressful.
Getting some relief from time to time from your workload is important.
Breaks and holidays are important to schedule in regularly during the year, so that you can reenergise and focus on your targets.

Spending time with your family and friends is important for your home life and is good for your soul.

Doing something different, exploring new places and having new experiences is important for your mental health and growth.

Isn’t it great the energy that you generate when you are excited to tell people about what you have discovered on your travels.

Why holiday in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has so much to offer on a small island.

You must be aware however, that it does take longer than you would expect to travel around the island.
The time travelling allows you to enjoy the journey and what you see along the way, rather than just the destination.

If you want to relax at the beach Sri Lanka has lots of variety for you along it’s coastline.
You can also snorkel, dive, surf, see turtles at sanctuary or whale watch if you feel more energetic.

There are lots of opportunities to learn about the history and culture around the island.
The Dutch fort of Galle, colonial architecture in Colombo or tea plantation bungalows or the historic cities of Anaradhapura or Pollunaruwa.

Safaris Parks are located around the country with the most famous being at Yala in the south. Wilpattu, Minneriya, Udawalawe and Bundala are just some of the parks that you can visit.

If birdwatching is your thing, then there are endemic and visiting species that will keep you interested.
Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve, Bundala, Gal Oya, Kalametiya, Thangamale and Mannar Bird Sanctuary are all worth researching.

There are a variety of hikes for all different levels of ability or fitness.

The short hike to Mini Adan’s Peak near Ella, Horton Plains and Knuckles Mountain range are all options for you.

Why not try some of the stages of the new 300 kilometre Pekoe Trail.

A range of accommodation awaits from five star hotels, small guests houses, camping & glamping and homestay with a local family.

Sri Lankan hospitality -that welcoming smile.

Sri Lankan hospitality is fabulous.

Local people are very proud of their country and are delighted when they can show it off to tourists.

They just want you to have the best experience when you visit their homeland.

Don’t be surprised if you are invited into a strangers house for a cup of famous Sri Lankan tea.

The invite is normally genuine and no payment is expected.

We have been blown away with their experience in Sri Lanka.

Our most recent guests at GlenMyu Estate, in early 2024, said that they were “Blown away with their experience in Sri Lanka”.

They couldn’t believe that they hadn’t visited the island before and will definitely be back.

What to do, what to see.

To start with, please do not over-plan your holiday.

Sri Lanka takes longer to navigate than you would think. Just google the time it will take to travel from the Lion Rock in Sigiriya to the tourist town of Ella.

180 kilometres (111 miles) takes around 4 hours and thirty minutes!

Once you come here, you will want to return again and again.

We have heard our guests say again and again that they will be back on holiday in Sri Lanka.

Clockwise or Anticlockwise

Most tourists travel clockwise or anticlockwise around Sri Lanka.

Starting at the beach and finishing your holiday at the beach is a great way to experience Sri Lanka.

You will probably need some downtime to digest the experience that you had had as you have travelled around the island.
Taking in the wonderful sounds, sights and smells as you travel around the island can have an exhausting effect on your senses.

The variety of things to see and do on your holiday means that there will be lots for you to take in and learn.

Whether it’s from the ancient and historical sights, learning about the culture and religion or seeing the wildlife on a safari there will be new experiences for you to infuse.

A typical route takes you from Colombo or Negombo to Kandy, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Anaradhapura and Polonaruawa.

Then on to the Tea Country to visit Nuwara Eliya and Ella. (GlenMyu Estate is an hours drive from Ella). Then down to Arugam Bay, Yala Safari Park and the onto the southern beaches.

You can start at a beach in Negombo and end up on the beaches on the south coast where you will need to recover from what you have seen on your trip.

Most tourists do this trip during December to Mid April to escape the colder months in Northern Europe.

The East and North parts of the island are best visited during April to September.
This part of at the island is not affected by the monsoon that hits the South and West of the Island during May and June.

There are opportunities to see elephants in National Parks and sanctuaries around the country.

De-stress at GlenMyu Estate.

GlenMyu Estate is ideally placed within your travels around the island and is a great place to relax, reenergise and be ready for your next adventure.

Staying at GlenMyu Estate is ideal to see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stressed at work? Time to plan you next holiday Read More »

We are excited – Veganuary 2024 is here.

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

We are excited - Veganuary 2024 is here.

We are excited – Veganuary 2024 is here.

Are you going to participate?
You don’t have to eat Vegan food for the whole of January.

Veganuary is all about encouraging people worldwide to try vegan for January and beyond.

Veganuary 2024 is here. What's the risk of dipping your toe into Veganuary?

You never know, you may (and probably) will really like what you eat. Plant Based meals have really come on in recent years. There are even lots of Michelin Star Vegan Restaurants around the world.

Veganuary 2024 is here. What should I participate?

By moving towards a more plant-based diet your will:

Help protect the environment.
Prevent animal suffering.
Improve your health.

Good for you, the animals and the environment.

Start your year off with some positive things.

It’s easy to try a plant based diet – there are lots of options for you to choose.

More restaurants offer a plant base option.
There are many more plant based restaurants to visit.
Your supermarket had plenty of Vegan and plant based meals for you to try.

It's easy to try Plant Based food at GlenMyu Estate - it's delicious!

As we can get some great local produce at GlenMyu Estate we have developed and continue adding to our Plant Based Menu.

We even offer a free Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.
The event is run by Ru’s mum and we find our guests really enjoy the experience. You can see how the dishes are made and try them at home for yourself.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate. Try our plant based menu and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

We are excited – Veganuary 2024 is here. Read More »

Favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Our guests' favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

Our guests’ favourite meal in Sri Lanka?

I think that this is our guests’ favourite meal in Sri Lanka. There are lots of dishes that we prepare for guests at GlenMyu Estate that we hear sounds of delight and praise.

The food is great. It is mainly prepared with the most local fresh ingredients that we can source. As a result, many of our dishes fall within the plant based, vegetarian and vegan categories.

What is our guests' favourite meal in Sri Lanka?

Well, I think that it is our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

There are lots of reasons why I think that it our guests’ favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

Some of our guests may disagree, as there are so many meals that Ru and the team create that are delicious.

However, maybe I’m a little biased, as I love our Sri Lankan sharing platter so much that I limit how often I eat it!

Why is it our guests' favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

There are several factors that make our Sri Lankan sharing platter special for our guests.

One of the main reasons is the memory you get from the whole experience.

Normally when we prepare the dishes, Ru’s mother offers a free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

Ru’s mum has been cooking for so many years that it’s hard to count. Her husband loves her food and that has been one major joy in their relationship. It’s funny when I ask Ru’s father “How was your lunch?” when someone other than his wife was the chef. The normal response is “It’s okay”.

This is not the most positive response!

In the past when Ru has cooked for him, he has been known to say “Ask your mother how you should cook this”.

I have found that there is little tact and diplomacy in Sri Lanka in these matters and straight talking in the norm!

An entertaining afternoon.

Ru’s mums’ Sri Lankan cooking demonstration normally starts around 4.30 p.m.

The other staff help out by preparing some of the ingredients including chopping the vegetables, preparing the coconut milk and grinding the kollu.

The cooking demonstration adds to the experience.

By participating in the Sri Lankan cookery demonstration (yes you may get your hands dirty!) it adds to the overall experience.

Seeing how your food is prepared and cooked before being delivered to the table appears to add to the flavour of the dishes. I think that guests feel part of the experience.

By the way, the Sri Lankan sharing platter is delicious.

Ru’s mum is really a great Sri Lankan cook. The years of experience come out in the dishes she prepares. Not only are the dishes great tasting, they are also a balanced meal providing you with protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.

There is no meat or fish in our Sri Lankan sharing platter unless you want something on the side) and it is enjoyed by both meat and non meat eaters.
The range of flavours and textures in the dishes means that you replay don’t need any meat or fish with this meal.

It is served with either rice or paratha and you will definitely leave the table full!

Make your own mind up!

Perhaps you will disagree with me and your favourite meal in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate will differ from mine.

We hope to see you in Sri Lanka and have the opportunity to let us know.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy delicious food when you are on holiday.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Favourite meal in Sri Lanka. Read More »

Veganuary is Coming!

Food and Drink, Holiday, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Veganuary is Coming!

Veganuary is Coming!

The launch of the registration for Veganuary 2024 opened on the 7th December 2023.
Are you going to join in?

Perhaps you have your Christmas dinner and are working your way through those turkey sandwiches? Meat, meat and more meat is one of my recollections of the festive period.

I used to get to the stage where I didn’t really want anymore and I was feeling quite unhealthy.
My thoughts turned to healthy vegetables and salads to get my body back in balance.

However, living in the UK, the range of vegetables around the winter period were mainly heavy root vegetables. Some I like and some I don’t. Although I know they are good for you, just ask my wife my reluctance to allow beetroot, cauliflower or cabbage anywhere near my mouth. (apart from coleslaw of course!).

The temporary enthusiasm for a more vegetarian diet quickly disappeared from my mind.

That was then and this is now.

If I was still living in the UK life would be a little different.

The choice of vegan, vegetarian and plant based restaurants to eat was not there when I left seven years ago.
Supermarkets now have a large rang of plant based meals on offer made by good producers such as Bosh.
There are cookbooks such as:
Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan by Richard Makin
Plant-Based India by Dr Sheil Shukla
Whole Food Cooking Every Day by Amy Chaplin
East by Meera Sodha
The New Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone by Deborah Madison
Mildred’s Vegan Cookbook

Flavour by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage

If celebrity chefs are in the bandwagon then......

It was a little bit of a surprise that Gordon Ramsay was cooking vegan dishes. I guess he has to cater for everyone in his restaurant empire!

Here is Jamie Oliver with just some of the plant based recipes for some British classic dishes.

An easy change to a more weighted plant based diet in Sri Lanka.

When we started GlenMyu Estate we quickly realised that the good quality ingredients that we sourced were much more suited to a vegetarian or vegan menu.
My wide also loves to experiment with the produce we can source and try different types of dishes.

It’s easy to mainly eat a plant based diet as there are many dishes that are mainly made from a vegetarian base.

I do still eat some fish and chicken however, if I have the option I will opt for mushrooms, tofu or our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Veganuary is coming! It's easier at GlenMyu Estate!

So, it’s easy at GlenMyu Estate to join in with Veganuary.

The dishes are delicious and varied. being in the tropics, we have a wider variety of fruits, vegetables and spices available to make the dishes at this time on year.

Veganuary is coming. Dip your toes in!

If you are nervous about trying some plant based food then we would welcome you to book a stay at GlenMyu Estate and try some of the dishes that Ru and the team makes.
You may find this a pleasant surprise!

Try our Vegan food when you stay at GlenMyu Estate.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Veganuary is Coming! Read More »

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

Amma’s Sri Lankan Cooking Demo Photos and Videos

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demo Photos and Videos.

Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration photos and videos.

Our guests love Amma’s Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

We thought you would like to get a taste of what happens at the demonstration by sharing some photos and videos of the event.

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

Here is a selection of photos with Amma and our guests participating in Amma’s Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

You will see that sometimes the demonstration takes place inside and at our outside kitchens. The venue is all weather dependent and both are unique expediences.

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demonstration Videos.

Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration photos and videos

The videos appear on our two Youtube Channels.

Please subscribe to Ru’s Recipes and GlenMyu Estate Youtube channels so you don’t miss new content that we share.

You will also be able to see our Youtube shorts on these channels.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Amma’s Sri Lankan Cooking Demo Photos and Videos Read More »

Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Amma's Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration is free when our guests at GlenMyu Estate order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

50 years + experience of Sri Lankan cooking!

Amma is Ru’s mum.

Ru’s mum and dad live at GlenMyu Estate and have their own house as you enter the property.

She loves gardening, cares for our rescue dogs and loves cooking Sri Lankan food.

Our guests love Amma's Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

After a day out exploring the Sri Lankan Hill Country, sitting with a drink and watching Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration is a great experience.

It’s a relaxing way to end the day. I enjoy listening to great conversations and stories being shared by our guests.

Amma is quite entertaining, which adds to the experience.

What's in the platter?

The dishes vary a little depending upon what’s available, however there are some items that are always on the menu.

Jackfruit Curry
Aubergine Curry
Kollu
Mallum

It often comes with Potatoes in coconut milk, Plantain Curry, Banana Flower Curry or Devilled Potatoes.

Rice or Paratha?

I love eating the Amma’s Sri Lanka sharing platter with paratha.
The crispy flatbread is perfect for dipping into the curries. I may get my fingers a little messy, but it’s worth not for the taste.

The Sri Lankan sharing platter also goes well with rice.
These options makes the platter versatile and good for Vegans, Vegetarians, Plant Based and guests with Gluten intolerance.

The food tastes better when you have seen it being prepared and cooked.

The experience of eating what you have watched being cooked in Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration makes the dishes taste even better.

Knowing what ingredients went into your meal provides you with a connection to the dishes.

Ru’s mother always looks for feedback the next morning and she is delighted when guests enjoy the food and the experience.

Great for Plant Based,Vegan and Vegetarian diets.

It’s reasonably easy to eat plant based, vegan and vegetarian diets in Sri Lanka as many of the local dishes are naturally prepared with vegetables and grains.

It’s often a surprising pleasure for our guests when they eat this non meat platter and are amazed at the variety of flavours.

We often hear comments that you don’t miss having meat as part of the meal. Protein is delivered mainly by the Kollu and the meal is a good balance of nutrition.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy delicious food.

We have had great feedback on the food the Ru, her mother and the team serve at GlenMyu Estate. Please read our reviews, which regularly mention how much our guests enjoy the food they eat here.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration Read More »

Is Sri Lanka Worth Visiting?

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?

Here’s why we think you should visit this paradise island before it reaches its’ target of 5 million tourists.

Sri Lanka offers something for everyone.

Sri Lanka offers a wide variety of experiences for you to enjoy on holiday.

Whether you love the beach, history, culture, hiking, animals or nature it packs in a lot for a small island (similar in size to Ireland).

If you are after nightlife then stopping in Colombo, Galle, Kandy or Ella should keep you entertained.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting? It is for the variety of what's on offer.

Backpacking, climbing mountains, river rafting, whale watching, riding a zip wire and wave boarding are all on offer to get your heart racing.

Tranquil walks through nature and birdwatching tours. Yoga & meditation retreats and remote glamping are available for those who want a quieter time to work on ones soul.

Tourist numbers are going up.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?

We would recommend that you visit sooner than later.

The Tourist Board in Sri Lanka has a plan to increase tourist numbers from under 2 million to 5 million by 2029.

We hope that the country will not get to a level where it needs to restrict numbers. We don’t want to be like Barcelona, The Sechelles, Bhutan, Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, The Forbidden City and Lord Howe Island.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?It packs a big punch for a small island.

Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq. km. in area which compares with the Republic of Ireland which is 70,273 sq. km.

The road network has been improved in more recent years however, it does take longer than anticipated to get around. We have lots of German guests at GlenMyu Estate who are used to flying down the autobahn. They are surprised when the same distance covered Sri Lanka can take three or fours times the time to complete. However, Sri Lanka is all about the journey and enjoying what you see on the way.

The variety of experiences and what you will see makes the time you spend on this paradise island worth it.

Come at different times of the year.

The country is now marketing itself as an all year round destination and a place where you will visit again and again.

Monsoons hit the North West and South East of the island at different times of the year.
This opens up parts of the island which are best to see in particular months.

The high tourist season has been during the Northern Hemisphere winter during December to March. The South and East of the country are monsoon free and getting a tan when others are shivering at home is an attractive proposition.

The North and the East.

The North and the East coasts are best seen during April or May to September when lots of European tourists are in the Mediterranean seeking the sun.

This part of the country has only been open in more recent years as it was not a place you could visit due to the civil war which ended in May 2009.

Investment in tourism has started in the North and East. Guests that have stayed with us at GlenMyu Estate have advised to go now, before it gets too busy.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting? Different months, different places to explore.

You can experience the Sri Lankan Hill country for most months in the year.

In October the island is hit by the inter Monsoon and you would need to have good luck during that month to get some rain free days.
Climate change looks like it is changing the weather patterns in Sri Lanka, so there is no guarantee that you will be basking in the sun.

Recent guests from Australia stayed at GlenMyu Estate during the tail of the Inter monsoon and had a spectacular sunrise at Lipton’s Seat. You can read about their experience on our blog post “Sri Lanka’s most beautiful place”.

So, holidaying in Sri Lanka can pose a bit of a risk however you may win by by being derived a unique experience.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?- Summary

We would say that Sri Lanka is definitely worth visiting.

From our experience every one of our guests have loved their holiday in Sri Lanka. They are amazed by the people, what they see and the food that they eat around this small island.

Come over and experience this gem before it gets too busy.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Is Sri Lanka Worth Visiting? Read More »

A view from the lawn of the the house at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

5 things I love about gardening.

Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Natural Swimming Pool, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs, Sri Lanka, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

5 things I love about gardening.

5 things I love about gardening.

From London banker to unpaid gardener in Sri Lanka.

The money is lousy but I wouldn’t change it for the world!

When I moved to Sri Lanka, I did not envisage ending up changing my office job for one outdoors.

A career banker, based in and around London, I had no idea where I would end up.
My destination was working for free on the 5 acre estate in Sri Lanka that we have developed into GlenMyu.

I had little experience as a gardener in London. Why would I when the only outside space was a small terrace? There was very little room to plant anything at all!
I had little idea also that I would end up having a love for gardening and don’t find it like work at all.

1. Things I love about gardening- Gardening is my form of meditation.

I get lost in my thoughts as I use my brush cutter keeping the pathways and lawn in good shape.

It’s amazing how calming and relaxing it is. I do make sure that I am alert enough not to have an accident though, so it’s not like I’m in a trance.

Maybe the hum from my brush cutter through the ear plugs I use gives a sense of comfort.

Trying to get the grass as even I as I can do, on the hill country slopes, is my continuous focus.

I don’t practice meditation, however, this is the closest I get. I love it!

2. Making the GlenMyu Estate garden look good, makes me feel good!

I take a lot of pride in my work and try to make the grounds as attractive as possible.

When guests say that the garden looks good, I feel good. Actually I feel great. It makes all my efforts worth it.

I say my efforts, however there is a team at GlenMyu Estate who all contribute to making the garden look good.

Ru is the designer of the garden (and most things) at GlenMyu Estate. Some of our daily workers are so adept at using the besom to sweep up the grass cuttings and leaves, I could never be as efficient or fast.

Doesn’t everyone like a pat on the back for the work that they have done?.

3. I get to feel closer to nature and I feel that I am improving the estate as a home for wildlife.

One of our aims at GlenMyu Estate is to restore the land from an abandoned tea estate to a home for wildlife. Encouraging biodiversity on the land which makes it a healthy place for plants and animals to visit and live.

GlenMyu Estate was part of a larger abandoned tea estate prior to being bought by my wife. It had also been a sugar cane estate which had failed when the government started to import sugar cane.

Over the years the land was overrun by Guinea Grass which was brought in during Colonial times as a fast growing cattle feed. This fast growing plant takes th light and nutrients from the endemic plants of Sri Lanka and dominates the landscape. It is not a good environment to welcome biodiversity.

Out with the old, in with the new. Things I Love aboutgardening

We have slowly removed the Guinea Grass over the years and replaced the plants with a fruit forest to feed us and the animals. Hundreds of endemic species have been planted and are starting to establish themselves on the five acre estate.

We regularly see dragon flies during the day, a variety of butterflies and some fireflies at night. This, we understand, shows that the land is healthy.

There are no chemicals or pesticides used at the estate and everything that we grow is organic.

4. Things I love about gardening -Getting to enjoy the fruits of my work.

It’s a pleasure walking around the garden on attractive paths and weed free borders.

The order calms the mind and allows me to concentrate on the nature that surrounds me.

Listening to the birdsong, watching the parrots flit from tree to tree and the Kingfisher fish in our stream.

The sound of the water softening any vehicle noise, the feel of the ground on my bare feet and playing with the dogs on the lawn.

A landscape that could be painted.

An inspiring landscape which brings out my hidden artistic side which was out of sight during my banking career.

One of the best things about GlenMyu Estate is our swimming pool.

The pool is fed by a natural spring and the only heating is from the daytime sun.
We don’t add chlorine to the water so I swim in a completely natural environment.

An evening swim is refreshing and eases the muscles that I have used during the day.

Finishing off the evening with a well deserved bottle of local Lion lager beer puts icing on the cake!

Our dogs turn up from time to time looking for a petting.
Maali our cow comes over and looks for her head to be patted. It’s as if she just wants me to remember she is around.

I sometimes have to chase the Eagles when it perches on branch eyeing our chickens and ducks.

Moving on the monkeys when they are trying to eat our Jackfruits, Mangos and Avocados when they are in season (don’t worry there is plenty for them to eat on the periphery of the estate).

There are lots that I love about gardening at GlenMyu Estate.

It's more than just cutting the lawn.

I don’t just cut the lawns and paths around the estate in my gardening duties.

Cutting and replanting coleus, cutting down fallen branches and general weeding is all part of my day in the garden.

It’s great to get variety in my day.

5 things I love about gardening - Summary

Gardening is my form of meditation.
Making the GlenMyu Estate garden look good, makes me feel good!
I get to feel closer to nature and I feel that I am improving the estate as a home for wildlife.
Getting to enjoy the fruits of my work.
The reward of a swim at the end of the day (and perhaps a Lion lager!).

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the gardens.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

5 things I love about gardening. Read More »

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka.

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Traditional British Sunday Dinner / By Mikeez

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka.

This year we have guests from Germany and Scandinavia staying at GlenMyu for Christmas.

Here is what we are planning to do for our guests.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - Decorating the house.

As we have an artificial Christmas Tree, we make some of our decorations from natural materials sourced from the estate.

All our workers, whatever their faith, participate in making the decorations. This provides a sense of community and a break from their day to day roles.

Ru's Mother makes some decorations.

Apart from being an excellent Sri Lankan cook, Ru’s mother is also a seamstress.

She has made some decorations for the house which are quite cute.

Sri Lanka is a multi faith country. Although Ru’s mum is Buddhist, like many other local people, she is happy to contribute to the festivities.

It would be normal in Sri Lanka for Buddhists and Hindus to visit each others temples in times of celebration. Many Sri Lankan Buddhists do a pilgrimage to Kataragama Hindu Temple.

There are often Hindu Kovils attached to Buddhist Temples as well.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - Decide on a menu.

Ru has been thinking about what she will serve to the guests.

As one of the parties are arriving several days before the big event, she will canvass the guests before making a final decision.

We normally serve only Chicken or Fish dishes at GlenMyu Estate. This is because we are limited on what good produce we can source locally.
A goose, turkey, ham or beef would be an exorbitant price as it is mainly imported.

We don’t see the benefit of serving ingredients that guests can buy better quality at home. They can ensure it is organic and costs a reasonable price. This is also the reason why we recommend that guests bring some wine with them. Sri Lanka doesn’t produce wine and therefore it is an expensive import.

At GlenMyu Estate we are getting a reputation for our Roast Chicken Dinner.
This is especially enjoyed by British Expats who reside in Sri Lanka.

I guess what we will serve will be a variation of this dish with some additional festive trimmings.

We were able to source Christmas Crackers and we can play some Christmas Tunes so there will be some feeling of the festive season in the tropics.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - The 24th or 25th December?

One of our German neighbours advised that Christmas is celebrated on the 24th December by both Germans and Scandinavians.

We had only experienced a Christmas in the UK where it is celebrated on the 25th December.

As we have guests on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it looks like we will be celebrating twice.

I must admit I won’t mind – two Christmas Dinners in two days for me!
It looks like I will be swimming twice a day in the swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate to burn off those extra calories!

A plant based Christmas?

Our food menu at GlenMyu Estate is mainly Plant Based as we can source good ingredients to make these dishes locally.

As mentioned we do serve some fish and chicken dishes too.

Ru has been researching Plant Based Festive Dishes. We would hope to be in a position to offer this to guests for Christmas 2024.

I’m looking forward to being the test dummy for the dishes (looks like more lengths in the swimming pool for me).

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - an update will follow.

When the event has conclude, I will provide a pictorial update on what we did for our European Christmas in Sri Lanka.

I will also let you know what Ru served to our guests for their Christmas Dinner.

In the meantime, we at GlenMyu Estate, wish you the compliments of the season.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the Festive Season.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka. Read More »

Ru' Sri Lankan Egg Hoppers with a twist.

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling

Cookery Courses, Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling.

5 reasons trying new food is the best part of travelling.

We all love traveling. There’s so many good elements to that two-week break and it’s good for your heart and soul.
Some of the benefits are:

Sight-seeing
Meeting new people
Exploring new places.
Getting away from everyday life at home.
Resting and reenergising.

and let’s not forget about the endless amounts of Instagram posts.

But the best part of all is the food.

Different countries of the world have so many new flavours and dishes that you would not come across at home. It’s unlikely that you would try these dishes at home and travelling gives you the inspiration to get out of your comfort zone.

It’s probably not the main thing that you research before you go on holiday and the beauty is getting out of your comfort zone a trying new tastes.

We find that our guests at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka are really open to trying new dishes that Ru serves. The delight and discussion about the new flavours are music to our ears.

Here are why we think that food is the best aspect of traveling.

1. You Discover Foods You Have NotTried Before.

There are so many dishes in other countries that you would never try if you do not traveled outside you own country. And my what would you have missed if you didn’t sample some of these amazing flavours!

Traveling somewhere new provides you with the opportunity to opens your eyes and your taste buds to a new world of flavour.

In Sri Lanka, even eating local Mangos, Papaya and Avocados (which have not done those food miles) are a discovery. At GlenMyu Estate we have experienced guests’ joy at eating something that tasted different in their home country.

Fresh coconut juice from a King Coconut is delicious and good for you.

Sri Lankan food is favoured with lots of different spices that are grown on the island. If you pop into a supermarket you will see that there is only a limited range of groceries on offer.

As a result Sri Lankans use very little processed food and favour locally grown fresh ingredients.

Even on a small island like Sri Lanka, there are regional variations of the way food in prepared, the ingredients used and how it is served. So on your holiday in Sri Lanka you will experience different flavours around as you travel.

2. You Will Experience Foods You Eat at Home in a New Way.

While you will discover completely new foods when you visit a foreign country, you will also be able to try food you’ve eaten many times before at home. However, you will probably discover a completely new flavour in it.

There’s nothing like eating pizza or pasta in Italy. Or they say that Guinness tastes different in Ireland.

It makes sense that when foodstuff has to travel it will lose its’ freshness. Some food is sprayed with chemicals to preserve it or make sure it does not ripen quickly before it ends up on the supermarket shelves.

Foods local in other countries have so much more flavour because they are authentic and have not been adjusted for a foreign market. They are also fresher and the cooks and chefs are used to preparing dishes with the locally grown ingredients.

3. A Country’s Food Tells You So Much About Their Culture.

Your guide book will give you an insight into the local culture, however, getting into a kitchen or sampling local food will tell you much more.

We have lots of guests that visit GlenMyu Estate that have seen cows in fields and on the roads as they have travelled around the island.

They are surprised when we tell them that Sri Lanka was not historically a culture that used milk. You can imagine, if a farmer milked a cow, years ago they had no way of keeping it cool in the tropics.

So butter, milk and cheese are not products that are used in many of the local recipes. Coconut milk and coconut oil is used in most dishes. Coconuts are grown all over the island and in many home gardens. You will be surprised on how many coconuts a tree will deliver to a family during the year.

Our informal Sri Lankan Cookery Demonstration.

One way of getting to understand the culture is to take part in a local cooking course when you are in Sri Lanka.

We at GlenMyu Estate, offer an informal cookery demonstration when guests order our Sri Lankan Sharing Platter. Ru’s mother, who has at least 50 years experience in the kitchen, loves sharing the intricacies of her version of Sri Lankan cooking.

There are many regional variations in cooking styles on this small island. Ru’s mum is from the Matara district and the way she cooks is a reflection of that if the south coast.

4. Food Brings People Closer Together.

We have three bedrooms at GlenMyu Estate. Sometimes all three rooms are booked by one party. Eating their meal together as a group allows the guests to bond and have a shared experience.

At other times the rooms are booked by individual parties who are exploring the island. We are delighted when these guests experience new food and tastes with others around the table, especially when they are ecstatic about what they have sampled. It’s also a chance to share their views on the travel around the island and their plans after leaving GlenMyu Estate.

The community feeling and bond creates from this shared experience is one that we treasure. We think that it really adds value to the travel experience around Sri Lanka.

Food is also a good conversation opener for people that have met for the first time.

We have seen friendships created, contact details swapped and photos shared.

5. You Benefit From Discovering New Flavours and Dishes to try at Home.

Going to a new country and trying new dishes and experiencing new flavours means you get to come home with so many ideas to try in your own kitchen.

Of course, the ingredients that you will be able to buy at home may have travelled a bit, so it may not taste exactly like that when on holiday.

But at least it will provide you with a taste of your holiday and bring back memories of what a wonderful time you had.

We have been amazed and delighted that several of our guests have tried our recipes at home. There was a Norwegian couple that sent us a picture of the family trying their version of Ru’s mums Aubergine curry.

A German lady sent us photos of her Sri Lankan Egg Hoppers which she made in Berlin.

We also had a Polish couple who had some fast food restaurants in Poland stay with us at GlenMyu Estate. They worked out that they could get substitute ingredients for the coconut symbol that they eat here and would add it to their restaurant menu.

Ru likes to share her recipes and ho they are cooked. We have a YouTube Channel “Ru’s Recipes” which will we add content to over time to show you how to make the food you enjoyed at GlenMyu Estate.

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling - Summary

You Discover Foods You Have NotTried Before.
You Will Experience Foods You Eat at Home in a New Way.
A Country’s Food Tells You So Much About Their Culture.
Food Brings People Closer Together.
You Benefit From Discovering New Flavours and Dishes to try at Home.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate, try new food and take part in our cookery demo.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country gives you the opportunity to sample a variety of local and fusion cuisine.

We are developing a good reputation for our food (read our guest reviews) and guests enjoy the variety of dishes we offer.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling Read More »

A Plant Based Festive Season

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

A plant based festive season.

The festive season is coming. I thought I would compile a few ideas for a plant based festive season and menu for Christmas.

I have scoured the internet to find recipes and videos that may be of interest.

We are not plant based at GlenMyu Estate.....but...

At GlenMyu Estate we offer chicken and fish options alongside or plant based options.

You can see our food menu by clicking this link.

At the estate,we intend to increase our plant based offering over time as we get a reputation for this style of cuisine. In order to satisfy our guests we still offer non-plant based option. Our philosophy is that all are welcome whatever our guests’ food preferences.

We will try to provide the best meals we can from the ingredients we can source locally.

Hopefully, as we develop our menu, GlenMyu Estate will be a must place to stay on holiday in Sri Lanka, partially for our plant based menu.

In our experience, we do find that, even if our guests have not tasted plant based options before, they tend to order our vegetarian and vegan options once they have sampled some of Ru’s dishes.

We cannot get all the ingredients in Sri Lanka.

Although we do manage to source some fantastic ingredients at GlenMyu Estate, we cannot get some of the ingredients that are required for the recipes so we cannot try them all for ourself.

This is where, although we live on a paradise island, there are reasons to be jealous of you living in the western world where you can go out and pick up a bottle of soya or oat milk from your local supermarket.

Here are the recipes that I have found that make my mouth water.

Hopefully you will try some of them and have a delicious plant based festive season!

1. Plant Based Festive Appetisers and Canapes

2.Starters for a Plant Based Festive Season

3.Plant Based Festive Mains

4. Plant Based Festive Desserts

6. Vegan Festive Treats.

5. What to do with Plant Based Festive Leftovers.

No leftovers at Glenmyu Estate!

We have no problems disposing of leftovers at GlenMyu Estate whether it is the during the festive season, plant base for not!

In no particular order leftovers are happily received by:

The Dogs (we have too many!)

Our Chickens

Our Ducks

Our Cow

And if we actually manage to satisfy the appetites of our animals the remainder can find its home in our compost!

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and try our plant based menu..

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country. We will offer some plant based festive offerings and will try some of these recipes (if we can source the ingredients).

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

A Plant Based Festive Season Read More »

Registration for Veganuary 2024 is open.

Food and Drink, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Registration for Veganuary 2024 is open.

Exciting new!- Registration for Veganuary 2024 opened on the 5th December 2023!

You can click on the Veganuary website to register.

It’s quick and easy so there are no obstacles for you to not dip your toes in!

What is Veganuary?

Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try vegan for January and beyond.

The idea was started ten years ago by a couple whilst sitting at their table in a house in Yorkshire, England.

You can watch the video which was recently released “It’ll never catch on”.

Millions of people have signed up to their one-month vegan pledge since 2014.

You can read more about the organisation at theier website.

Are you going to register for Veganuary 2024?

Lots of us like to make New Years Resolutions. I have made many over the years and have failed.

Registering for Veganuary doesn’t mean that you are going to change your food choices to vegan.

Throughout the year, Veganuary encourages and supports people and businesses alike to move to a plant-based diet. It is a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of millions of people.

Even if you trying Veganuary in 2024 results in you eating more plant based meals during the year, that will be a success.

So, why not register and give it a go?

I don't think I'll like Vegan food.

Maybe you haven’t tried Vegan or plant based food before. There are so many options nowadays compared to when I was growing up.

In the supermarkets there are a lot of ready meals available from companies like Bosh which are worth trying. They even have a TV channel where you can follow some of their recipes.

The Veganuary website has lots of recipes to try.

Browsing the Veganuary website there are lots of tools so that you can try cooking some vegan food yourself at home.

There is a Free Cookbook for you to download, recipes and there are Veganuary Ambassadors who hopefully will provide you with some encouragement and inspiration to try vegan dishes.

Christmas is coming - you can still try plant based food.

You may think that you can’t eat anything but a traditional Christmas Dinner over the festive period.

ASDA supermarket has released ASDA Vegan Christmas Options 2023: A Complete Guide which shows a plant based options for festive period. TESCO, Marks & Spencers Sainsbury’s and ALDI have also released vegan options for the period.

Plant Based Restaurants.

There have been lots of Plant Based restaurants that have opened in recent years providing you with another way to try vegan food.

Also, more restaurants are providing one or two vegan options which means that you can still eat in a normal eatery.

LA.Eater reported that singer “Billie Eilish and her producer brother Finneas, are backing a New Vegan Italian Restaurant in Silver Lake”.

In April 2023 , Formula One racing car driver Lewis Hamilton co-founder of Neat Burger opened its’ first US restaurant in New York City.

You can find a list of the best Vegan friendly restaurants in an article by Plant Based News.

Lots of options - so lets give it a go!

Clearly, there are lots of options for you to give plant based food a try, so we encourage you to give it a go. By registering for for Veganuary 2024 you can make your first step.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and try our plant based food options.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and also try the plant based options we offer on our food menu.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Registration for Veganuary 2024 is open. Read More »

My wife likes to experiment… with food.

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

My wife likes to experiment… with food.

My wife likes to experiment …with food. Fortunately there is lots of inspiration to create new dishes in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Moving to the Sri Lankan Hill country provided lots of opportunities for my wife to experiment with food.

GlenMyu Estate was completed during the glacial pandemic. At that time there was a limited amount of produce coming to the hill country.

The supermarkets in Sri Lanka don’t have a wide range of groceries. Especially compared to what you get in the western world.

You can still but some unhealthy ultra processed goods. However, you do not get the variety on the shelves. For example, we only have two variations of bacon; streaky and back, (and only a couple of different brands).

So, having lived in Sri Lanka for the last seven years we are used to having little choice. We have to be a bit creative with what we can get and grow.

The peak effect of the financial crisis in Sri Lanka between March 2022 and November 2022. This resulted in some of our supermarket shelves being empty of certain goods. We managed without butter on several occasions and ether was also shortages of milk.

Our tastes have changed

At first I missed the variety of produce which was on our doorstep in London. It’s amazing how quickly you wean yourself off of salamis, french cheeses and cadburys chocolate. I do still like to eat these items every so often. But now, I mainly wait until my annual trip back to the UK.

We experiment with what we can grow

My wife loves cooking and I am confident enough to say that she has a real love and flair for it. Having learnt to cook in the UK (she raves about Delia Smith) and completing a short Corden Bleu course in London, Ru is really good. Our guests love the dishes that she serves and the reviews of GlenMyu Estate regularly rave the food.

GlenMyu Estate is a five acre property in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

The main property hosts three guest bedrooms in the bed and breakfast part of our offering.

We are slowly developing the estate into an organic garden and fruit forest.

Our organic vegetable garden is operating well. We are still working out how to improve our production so we can serve more of our home grown produce to our guests.

We still support good local suppliers for the produce that we cannot grow. It is important that we support the local business community, people and suppliers.

My wife has been experimenting with food that we grow

We are lucky to live on a paradise island. Fortunately, we can get great produce that has not travelled many food miles. The fruits and vegetables that we cannot grow don’t have to come too far.

Although we are not near the coast, fish is brought up fishmongers to the Hill Country.

It came take as little as three hours and therefore we can get fresh fish daily.
Fish is an important part of many Sri Lankans’ diets.

Experimenting with food. Moving towards a plant based diet.

Living with animals (we have a cow, lots of ducks and chickens) we are eating more of a plant based diet. Unlike the UK, we are not confident of the animal husbandry in Sri Lanka. We now prefer to eat more fruit and vegetable based meals.

Historically, Sri Lankans mainly ate a vegetarian or vegan diet as that was the main produce available.
This makes it easy to eat a plant-based diet in Sri Lanka.

It’s healthy and good for the planet so we have no reluctance to change our diet.
I might even lose a few pounds which would make my wife very happy!

No need to fight against the tide.

It makes sense for my wife to experiment with the foodstuffs that are easy to source. There is no point us trying to source expensive steak from Australia to serve to our guests. Especially when they can get one for half the price back at home.

As we have no control over the suppliers of pork, chicken and other meats we think there is no point in pushing to find a supplier.

Our guests have been delighted with what we serve and lots of them select our plant based dishes once they have tried Ru’s cooking.

What does my wife experiment with?

At the present time she is concocting and experimenting with dishes using soya as a base.

Making our own soya milk has been quite easy.

Soya ice cream will be perfected to give our vegan clients another dessert alternative to sorbet and coconut cake.

Filling Sri Lankan roast paan with a soya and other flavours is another offering that we will provide to our guests in the future.

Using jackfruit in dishes is a staple for Sri Lankans.
Jackfruit was in the headlines as a vegan superfood around five yeas ago.

We are fortunate to have several Jackfruit trees growing in the garden. They are different varieties and we use them in curries, for our pulled jackfruit burger and the jackfruit nuts are used as a savoury snack (great with beer or a G&T!).

My wife will continue experimenting with food.

Ru really enjoying trying different dishes.
She used some of our neighbours as Guinea Pigs.
They don’t mind as I am normally the first taster before it is adjusted prior to our neighbours getting to sample the new dishes.

Keep an eye on our menu

If you are interested in what my wife is experimenting with please have a look at our food menu from time to time.

I’m happy that my wife likes to experiment.

It’s great that my wife has the inspiration in the Sri Lankan hill country to experiment and try to create new dishes.

And I don’t mind sampling the food that she comes up with.

So, I hope that she continues to experiment with different foods for a long time in the future.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and sample Ru's new dishes.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate is a unique experience and you can sample Ru’s new dishes.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

My wife likes to experiment… with food. Read More »

Plan your meals. A healthy breakfast at GlenMyu Estate.

The Veganuary Story

Food and Drink, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

The Veganuary Story

The premiere of the “The Veganuary Story” took place on Friday the 17th November 2023.

We watched the video and learnt a lot about where and when the idea for Veganuary came from.
It is amazing of how a an idea discussed at a kitchen table in Yorkshire, England has developed in a moment and an idea that such a large amount of the UK population knows about. Starting with around 3,300 participants in 2013 the numbers now are really phenomenal.

Now an international movement it was great to hear how strong Veganuary is in Germany. The US and South American is a vast market where the Veganuary team is making significant inroads.

Veganuary is supported by a range of well known Ambassadors including musician Sir Paul McCartney, wildlife presenter Chris Packham , Author and Poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Actor Evanna Lynch which helps highlight the cause.

We don’t want to spoil your enjoyment of this video and would recommend that you click on the video below to watch the program for yourself.

Watch the Veganuary Story - YouTube Video

We would also recommend that you subscribe to the Plant Based News You Tube channel as there was subsequently a question and answer session which I am unable to post on this article. There is also the Plant Based Website for more information.

GlenMyu Estate and our Veganuary Story

Like many other mentioned in this video we had an awareness of Veganuary. Well done to the Veganuary team!

Sri Lanka is an easy country to be a Vegan or Vegetarian as much of the local cuisine is plant based.

Having come to Sri Lanka from the UK we were more confident with the sources and quality of the the produce we eat there.
Also, eating meat was convenient, easy and affordable.

We were sceptical about the conditions and the treatment of animals here and we could not be sure that they were free range and organic. Our thoughts were not as a result of seeing evidence of bad practices ourselves and there may well be good organic producers that treat their animals well.

However, the simple solution to this was to reduce our meat, poultry and fish consumption and we moved naturally to a plant based diet.

Ru was able to experiment with the organic produce we grow at the estate. Over time, she has also developed contacts with good suppliers of mushrooms, vegetables (that we can’t grow) and fruits. And, actually Tofu can be delicious if it is cooked the right way.

After a while, we didn’t miss eating meat and really prefer to eat mainly a plant based diet.

One step at a time.

Ultimately, we would really like to only offer Vegetarian and Vegan cuisine.

Our plan is the fully establish the business, have enough guests write reviews about the Vegetarian and Vegan food we serve which will give us enough confidence to remove the fish and chicken items from our menu.

Until then we need to offer alternatives to our guests.

The good news is that when we serve our Vegetarian and Vegan options to our guests they are wowed and happy to choose their next meals from those menus.

Read our articles about our Vegan food and Veganuary.

Find out more about Veganuary

You can find out more about Veganuary and try some Vegan dishes yourself from the recipes on the Veganuary website.

Vegan Social Media Influencer in Sri Lanka.

Recently social media influencer Maya from @FitGreenMind visited Sri Lanka. She travelled around the island and found out more about Vegan cooking and the cuisine in Sri Lanka.

You can watch the interview by Good Life X here.

Holiday in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate.

Ideally located to take day trips to Ella, Nine Arch Bridge, Upper Dityaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Horton Plain National Park and many more.

A luxury Bed & Breakfast with only three bedrooms with spectacular views of the Sri Lankan countryside.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb however, please contact us directly by WhatsApp for our best direct rates. (WhatsApp 94 752 999 272).

The Veganuary Story Read More »

New vegan Menu

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, sri lankan recipes, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

New Vegan menu.

We have just launched our new Vegan menu at GlenMyu Estate. Ru delivers a variety of Sri Lankan and fusion dishes which you will love.

What's in our New Vegan menu?

Let’s start with Breakfast. We always want our guests to have a great start to the day. Our breakfast is quite substantial and really set you up for a day of exploring in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We offer Bed and Breakfast at GlenMyu Estate and therefore your breakfast is included in your booking cost on Booking.com or Airbnb.

Kola Kanda is a really health porridge like drink made from healthy leaves from the estate.

We also offer some Sri Lankan offerings such as Hoppers and String Hoppers with a little twist.

We have some Avocado trees at the estate and they fruit a couple of times a year. Avocado is only available when the fruits are in season. Hopefully you will be here when our delicious Avocados have just been picked from the tree.

Vegan Soups and Salads.

We try to source as much of our ingredients from our organic garden at GlenMyu Estate.

It’s also important that we support local businesses and suppliers. Therefore, we do source some ingredients from outside the estate. For example, Mushrooms are supplied by a regular supplier located near Bandarawella.

We cannot guarantee that these items are organic as we do not have control over their growing processes.

Guests enjoy accompanying Ru when she picks items from the garden that are used in the dishes she serves.

Vegan Main dishes.

As mentioned we have a great supplier for mushrooms from Bandarawela. We love the Spiced Grilled Mushrooms in cashew sauce. (we can adjust the level of spice to suit your palette.)

Sri Lankan Roast Paan is a perfect bread for dipping into the cashew sauce.

We also love the homemade Roast Pumpkin Ravioli.

Here is a video from Ru’s recipes where she is making the ravioli.

The Vegan Burger

What I love about our Vegan Burger is that the Jackfruit we use is picked from the trees on the side of the lawn in front of the house.
It is truly food to fork and almost no food miles.

Ru makes the buns freshly at GlenMyu Estate and the salad is picked from the garden. (normally served with chunky chips, not potatoes as shown in this photo).

Sri Lankan offerings - well you are on the island.

Since you are on holiday in Sri Lanka it is important that you sample the local cuisine.

We are fully aware that some guests prefer to eat without lots of chilli and pepper. As we lived in the UK for many years we do understand the Western palette and can adjust the dishes to you preferences.

Sharing plates and a cookery demonstration.

Our Sharing Plates are an experience that both Vegans and Non Vegans enjoy. The kaleidoscope of flavours tasted in the array of dishes is wonderful.

Ru’s mum is the chef for these dishes – she does have around 60 years experience so we bow to her knowledge and skills!

What is life without dessert? Vegan

You are on holiday so something sweet after the meal is okay. The good thing about staying at GlenMyu Estate is that you can swim some lengths in our swimming pool to burn off your dessert.

Sorbets, fresh fruits, rice pudding and ice cream are all there on our new Vegan menu to finish off your meal.

Please note that the prices quoted are at November 2023.

These prices are subject to change. Please click on the link to our Menus on our website for current menu pricing.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and taste our New Vegan Menu.

When you are travelling around Sri Lanka and are looking for some really great tasting Vegan food then GlenMyu Estate is a great option.

Near to many great tourist sights such as Lipton’s Seat, Horton Plains, Diyaluma Waterfall and also the busy tourist town of Ella. You can explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and come back to the tranquility of the five acre estate at GlenMyu to relax and have some good food.

Visit our website to see more information about GlenMyu Estate.

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.

New vegan Menu Read More »

We are excited!

Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

We are excited! The Veganuary Story - premiere 17th November.

We are excited and are looking forward to watching “The Veganuary Story” which is due to premiere on Friday the 17th November 2023.

At GlenMyu Estate, we have been supporting Veganuary in our own way since we opened our B & B in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Our menu has a specific Vegan menu which our Vegan and non Vegan love.

We are not totally Vegan and do offer, vegetarian, fish and chicken to our guests. In the future we hope to build a reputation for primarily Vegan and Vegetarian dishes.

It's easier to be Vegan in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan cuisine lends itself to Vegan options as lots of the dishes are vegetable based. Historically milk is not a big part of the Sri Lankan diet and many of the ice and curries are totally vegan. If you are Vegan and visiting Sri Lanka on holiday we recommend that you ask whether the dish is Vegan. Then check and ask again, because sometimes you need extra clarity here.

Find out more about Veganuary.

If you want to find out more about Veganuary please visit their website where you will find a some inspiration. There’s free, downloadable recipes which is a good start.

Eating guides and a blog will help you with your Vegan journey and give you some inspiration.

Celebrity recipes from stars including

Ambassadors for Veganuary include: musician Sir Paul McCartney, Wildlife TV Presenter Chris Packham, Author and Poet Benjamin Zephiniah, Actor Evanna Lynch, Comedian Sara Pascoe and many more.

A variety of Vegan offerings at GlenMyu Estate - not just rice and curry.

Ru, the owner of GlenMyu Estate lived in the UK for around fifteen years and has a love of cooking. We know that Vegan guests enjoy Sri Lankan food as they travel around and discover the island. However, a majority of dishes are rice and curry, which are great and there is variety to the ingredients which keeps the tastes interesting.

Ru offers a variety of Vegan dishes outside the usual rice and curry. Dishes could be considered fusion with a Sri Lankan twist.

Lots of the ingredients used are sourced either from our organic garden at GlenMyu Estate or from local suppliers.

Find out more about GlenMyu Estate. Sri Lanka.

If you are going on holiday to Sri Lanka and want to stay at a place that serves Vegan dishes please visit our website to find out more.

GlenMyu Estate is located near to Haputale which is convenient for visiting the wonderful sights in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We are listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.
Please contact us by WhatsApp for our best direct deals (00 94 752 999 272).

What you will find at GlenMyu Estate.

3 Kingsize Double Bedrooms with Spectacular Views
2 Spacious Lounges with views over the hills below the house
A Natural Spring-Fed Infinity Swimming Pool
5 Acres of land to explore

Delicious bespoke meals freshly prepared by the host
A selection of places to dine

A place to relax and be closer to nature

Within reach of the following tourist sites

Diyaluma Waterfall and Upper Diyaluma Pools
Horton Plains National Park – Mini Worlds End, Worlds End and Bakers Falls
Adisham Bungalow
Lipton Seat
Dambetenna Tea Factory
Bambarakanda Waterfall
Thangamale Bird Sanctuary
Ella Town
9 Arch Bridge
Little Adams Peak
Ravanna Waterfall

We are excited! Read More »

World Vegan Day 1st November

Sri Lankan Cooking, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

World Vegan Day - 1st November

Celebrating World Vegan Day on the 1st November at GlenMyu Estate.

I was reminded to celebrate World Vegan Day in an email from Veganuary.

You may know that GlenMyu Estate takes part in Veganary annually where we aim to add something different to our menu.

You can read more about Veganuary at GlenMyu Estate in the following articles:

Launching our new Vegan Menu.

Veganuary 2023.

Vegan Recipes our guests love.

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024.

What is World Vegan Day?

World Vegan Day is a global event celebrated annually on 1 November. (n.b. the date/day in November has some variations in different countries).

People are encouraged to explore and embrace a vegan lifestyle.

This involves abstaining from the use of animal products for food, clothing, or any other purpose.

World Vegan Day provides an opportunity to educate the public about the benefits of Veganism.

It also raises awareness about animal rights, and also to promote sustainable and compassionate choices

When did World Vegan Day come about.

World Vegan Day was established by animal rights activist Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, in 1994.

It was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organisation and the coining of the terms “vegan” and “veganism”.

Louis Wallis is the former president of the Vegan Society. She is a singer, DJ and animal rights activist.

You can read more about Louise in this interview on the Save a Scream website.

And now it's World Vegan Month!

The Vegan Society initially started with World Vegan Day in 1994. This was extended to World Vegan Week and then to World Vegan month.

You can read more about World Vegan month at the The Vegan Society website.

Vegan Food offered all year around.

At GlenMyu Estate we are aware that not all of our guests are Vegan and we do offer some fish and chicken dishes.

We think that the our guests are not ready for GlenMyu Estate to offer only vegetarian and vegan meals. Perhaps in the future, when we have further enhanced our reputation for great food, we will be able to change fully in future.

We have been surprised when we offer guests an alternative to fish, poultry or meat dishes, how much they enjoy them. The ingredients we use are fresh and local which we believe adds to the taste of the meals Ru serves to our guests. You can see Ru in action at our YouTube channel for GlenMyu Estate and also at Ru’s Recipes.

When is World Vegetarian Day?

I thought that there must also be a World Vegetarian Day if there is a World Vegan Day.

World Vegetarian Day takes place on

So what did we do?

We had one of our delicious Jackfruit Burgers with sweet potato fries and a salad for our lunch on World Vegan Day. It’s one of my favourites and a dish that our guests really enjoy.

We had one guest that had come with a friend to have a Roast Chicken Dinner with Yorkshire Puddings, Roast Potatoes and roasted vegetables. The friend was vegetarian and had our Vegan Burger for lunch. After having a taste of the Jackfruit burger the guest chose this as their main meal the following day.

It’s amazing how often we hear the words “You don’t need meat” or “I don’t miss meat” when our guests select dishes from our vegetarian and vegan menus.

The Jackfruit are picked from the trees that are next to the lawn at GlenMyu Estate.

Ru makes the burger buns freshly in the kitchen. The salads and leaves are mainly picked from the garden.

It doesn’t matter how large or small you celebrate or acknowledge World Vegan Day. Perhaps, just eating Vegan dishes on the day appears to be just a small effort. However, we feel that our responsibility is to encourage people to provide a Vegan option. If we provide the best Vegan food and dishes we can to show them how great the food can taste, maybe we will encourage the movement towards plant based meals which is at least better for the planet.

Find our more about a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is ideally located to discover the sights in the Sri Lankan Hill Country such as Ella Town, Nine Arch Bridge, Lipton’s Seat, Horton Plains National Park, Upper Diyaluma, The Pekoe Trail Waterfall and many more.

We are a luxury boutique hotel with three guest bedrooms looking our towards the south coast of the country.

Read our reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Airbnb to see what our guests say about a stay at GlenMyu Estate.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.

World Vegan Day 1st November Read More »

India and Sri Lanka – living with Nature

Holiday, Organic, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Travel / By Mikeez

India and Sri Lanka - living in harmony with nature.

Both India and Sri Lanka have cultures of living in harmony with nature. In addition to providing an excellent experience for our guests, living and being closer with nature is one of our main aims at GlenMyu Estate.

A statement at the UN Biodiversity Summit in 2020.

In an article from the Hindustan Times (Oct 1st 2020) it was reported that Prakesh Javadekar, when delivering a speech at the Biodiversity Summit at the UN, stated that “India has a culture of harmony living with nature”.

He states that “Since time immemorial, India has a culture of not just conserving and protecting nature, but living in harmony with it”.

He added “As enshrined in our Vedic scripts ‘Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita’ that is if you protect nature, nature will protect you” .

Tree cover had been significantly increased and animals had been protected.

Mr Javedekar held the post of Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at that date.

Restoring degraded and deforested land.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land and achieve land-degradation neutrality by 2030.

If these targets can be achieved they must be applauded.

We, in Sri Lanka are doing our bit as well.

On a smaller scale there are people and organisations in Sri Lanka working towards restoring environments for nature to thrive and for lands to be restored. Of course not everyone sings on the same hymn sheet and there are huge challenges to make a significant difference.

There is always going to be a battle between conservation and development. We know what side we favour.

Hopefully, a combination of individual effort, awareness and education will encourage others to follow suit.

The concern about Global Warming and the extreme weather and catastrophes we have seen around the planet in recent years means a change in focus is both critical and urgent.

Restoration of the land at an abandoned tea estate.

GlenMyu Estate was formerly part of the much larger Viharagalla Estate. When Ru purchased the land it had been a tea estate and then a sugar cane estate. We understand that the product of sugar cane became unviable and it was abandoned.

There was apparently lots of prospective buyers that looked at the land over the years but did not think it was worth purchasing.

Ru made a brave decision to purchase the 5 acres which was mainly inhabited by Guinea Grass which is used as quick growing cow fodder. There were various trees spread around the land but the Guinness grass was the main resident.

Initially Ru wanted to build a holiday home for herself and the family to use. It was only whilst cleaning selected areas that the land started to reveal what it could become. There were lots of ideas and decisions made and changed before the site for the holiday home would be placed.

What to do with the five acres?

We were fortunate to meet our neighbours, some of wheat been developing their own properties with a view to living with nature. One neighbour has developed a diverse forest over the last thirty years and that were able to give us advice about what to plant and what works in this area. They also provided us with saplings and alerted us to SALT (Sloping Agriculture Land Technology) to secure the slopes and retain our valuable topsoil.

Another neighbour developed an Analog Forest over thirty plus years at Belipola which is around thirty kilometres from GlenMyu Estate. They have developed training programs so that others can follow their example.

Dr Ranil Senanayake gave us great advice on what to plant to encourage the return of wildlife to the land. He was also able to identify what creatures were already residing at the property.

A change of plans.

As the house developed into a larger property than we planned and we also particularly liked the climate here, our plan for GlenMyu Estate changed.

We decided in order to live with nature we would not overdevelop the land and provide a habitat for animal life whilst operating a hotel which could fund the development and maintenance of the estate. The land would become a place where guests could come and reconnect with nature. We realised that having lived in a city for many years that we were detached from nature. The development of GlenMyu Estate would allow us and our guests to reconnect.

Providing food and and a safe habitat for animals became part of the plan. The creation of a food forest on the land, the produce of which would be used to feed ourselves, our guests and the animals.

You will see when you visit GlenMyu Estate that we have planted Jackfruit trees, Mango Trees, Avocado Trees and many other food trees and plants. They are at a distance from the house where we will not be able to harvest the crop and therefore they will be food for the birds, animals and insects that are part of the local biodiversity settles on the land.

It's important that we do not use chemicals.

We do not use any chemicals or pesticides on the land at GlenMyu Estate. Although we do not have certification (as we feel there is no need) you can see from some of the insects that visit the land that we are not using chemicals. We have various, beautiful, dragon flies and in the evenings you will most likely see fireflies lighting up the night sky.

Dragonflies are a good indicator of a clean environment according to a Earthbuddies in their article “Dragonfly, The Environmentally Important Fairy-Like Insect“.

Springer state that “A major cause of the decline (in the number of Dragonflies) has been suggested to be the use of systemic insecticides” in their article “Chlorantraniliprole application differentially affects adult emergence of Sympetrum dragonflies in rice paddy fields”.

How did it turn out?

Have we managed to live with nature?

We have found the the development of the five acres at GlenMyu Estate will always be work in progress rather than something that it completed.

Working with nature means that you will not always plant the right tree in the perfect place for it. A porcupine may visit the land during the night and dig up and destroy some of your work. The unpredictable weather patterns have meant that we were unable to plant saplings when we had planned to. We have realised that you should work with the environment rather than push it. This means that we have to be patient.

Since starting the hotel we have had to take some staff away from working on the land so that they can service our guests.

In summary, we have made a lot of progress and are happy with where we are in our plan, but there is always more to do.

The view from the lounge — The remarkable view from the main lounge at GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, Haputale Sri Lanka.

The views around the Estate — Looking out to the hills below the house at GlenMyu Estate.

It’s Good for the Soul when you wake up to a view like this.

A view of the patio and seating at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka. — Al Fresco eating at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Getting the balance right.

It is a challenge getting the balance right between living with nature and generating income from the hotel. Historically the period between mid December and Mid April has been the peak tourist season in Sri Lanka. During these months our main focus is to provide the best experience for our guests. It is a drier part of the year and therefore not the time to plant around the estate.

As the number of tourists visiting the island reduce and there is more rain we change our main focus towards planting and developing our food forest.

Sri Lanka Tourism has an ambitious target to increase the tourist numbers to seven million by 2030. This is a huge increase from the target of 1.55 million for 2023.

We have seen an increase in tourist numbers outside the normal tourist season.

Sri Lanka is actually an all year round destination as visiting the East Coast and Jaffna is from April to December when the South West Monsoon hits the country.

The beaches on the east side of the country are beautiful and have a different feeling than those on the south and west coasts.

Living with Nature - good for the mind body and soul.

Our guests really enjoy their stay at GlenMyu Estate and especially when Ru takes them around the garden. Reconnecting with nature and getting to know where a large part of the food that they will eat whilst they are here is a joy. Knowing that you are going to eat organic healthy food that has been picked from the garden provides a sense of wellbeing.

We can see that when our guests get closer to nature it really is good for their mind body and soul.

I was reading about the idea behind the Scandinavian word “friluftsliv” and the love of the outdoors and feel that we have inadvertently created this environment for our visitors.

If you want to read about what our guests say about their stay at GlenMyu Estate please read our reviews on Booking.com, Airbnb, TripAdvisor and Google.

A little bit of luxury and getting closer to nature.

We have provided comfortable bedrooms and lounges with spectacular views of the Sri Lankan countryside at GlenMyu Estate. Space to roam and a Natural Spring Fed Swimming Pool to get some exercise surrounded by a sea of green allows you to immerse in nature.

Lots of our guests explore the fabulous sights within an hours drive from the estate. However, many change their plans and stay the whole day at the estate rather than battle with the other tourists to see Nine Arch Bridge.

We love it when guests stay at the estate as it is a reflection of what we have created.

GlenMyu Estate is still a work in progress – and nature will mean that it always will be. We hope that guests that stay with us now will return again and again to see the trees and plants grow and change the landscape. Several of our guests have planted Lemon Trees, Avocado Trees and other species. This allows our guests to be part of the development of the estate.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate and connecting with nature.

You can find our more about GlenMyu Estate at our website and contact us by WhatsApp to inquire about direct booking rates.

We have social media channels where you can remotely see what we are doing at the estate.

India and Sri Lanka – living with Nature Read More »

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024

Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Vegan / By Mikeez

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024

For the last two years Ru at GlenMyu Estate has participated and supported Veganuary by coming up with new Vegan based dishes and adding them to our menu. We are already planning what we will do for Veganuary 2024 and are regular visitors to their website.

Growing ingredients to use in our Vegan recipes.

At GlenMyu Estate, we grow vegetables, fruits and spices on the five acre estate (guests love Ru’s garden tour).

No to pesticides!

We don’t use any chemicals and pesticides on the land and all our produce is organic. Last year we got our rescue cow Maali, our natural fertilising machine, and she adds to our organic principles. Maali will never be used to produce milk and will live a simple, healthy and natural life with us at GlenMyu Estate. She has really added to the interest and landscape at the estate and our guests really look forward to meeting her.

Sri Lanka is a good place to visit as a Vegan as many of the dishes are Vegan anyway.

Check, check,check!

However, it’s important that you check with the hotel/restaurant about the dish you order to avoid any disappointment!

Rice and Curry - we love it ....but!

Rice and Curry is the favourite dish in Sri Lanka and we tend to find that sometimes when guests arrive at GlenMyu Estate, they are Rice and Curried out!

As Ru lived in the UK for several years and developed her love for cooking there, she understands that guests want a variety of dishes during their stay. We offer a range of western, fusion and traditional Sri Lankan dishes at GlenMyu Estate. You can read more at our menu page on our website.

Learn about Vegan Sri Lankan dishes.

We still love offering Sri Lankan dishes and lots of our guests enjoy Ru’s mothers informal Sri Lankan cooking demonstration for our “Vegan” Sri Lankan sharing platter. You can see some videos of the cooking demonstration at Ru’s Recipes YouTube channel

Subscribe to Ru’s Recipes.

Creating new Vegan recipes

Ru loves creating new dishes and twists on common recipes using the produce that is available in the garden or from good producers nearby and around this paradise island. We have found a great producer of mushrooms near Bandarawella. One of our neighbours found some great Kithul Treacle which has not been adulterated with additional sugar. Producers typically add sugar to improve their profits! We support good local businesses and serve locally grown and roasted Hansa coffee to our guests. The tea we serve is organic and supplied by Stassen, who collect the leaves from small local organic tea estates.

Some of our Vegan offerings on our menu are starting to become staples such as our Jackfruit Burger, Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce and Pineapple & Cinnamon Sorbet. I love all of these dishes and really love it when guests order them as I get a portion too!

Not 100% Vegan - yet!

We would love to be a 100% Vegan – Vegetarian hotel at GlenMyu Estate however at this stage in our development we do offer non Vegan and Vegetarian dishes to our guests.

Over the last few years we have found that several of our guests have one Vegan/Vegetarian and one non plant based person in their party. However, we see a trend where once the non Vegan party has tasted Ru’s Vegan dishes they are happy to eat Vegan whilst they are here. One of our American guests recently said that they had been converted to Jackfuit!

Stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country

So, if you are travelling around Sri Lanka and looking for a fabulous place to stay that offers great Vegan food maybe GlenMyu Estate is an option for you.

We are looking forward to Veganuary 2024 and hopefully will delight you with what we have to offer.

We look forward to meeting you at GlenMyu Estate and giving you a warm Sri Lankan welcome.

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024 Read More »

Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration

Food and Drink, Organic, Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Cooking Holidays in Sri Lanka

At GlenMyu Estate Hotel we offer our guests a free informal Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration. It’s not quite a cooking course however our guests take notes and try some of the recipes out once they get back home.

Sri Lanka is a culinary Paradise!

The local ingredients picked from fertile land, combined with spices brought to the Island by Portuguese, Dutch and British colonists and the influence of Arab, Malay and Indian flavours, over several centuries, has resulted in a special cuisine where there are subtle differences around the Island.

Being a port on the silk route we should not be surprised that traders brought a wide range of produce that has been immersed into the local dishes.

Although the Island is small, (similar inside to Ireland), the growing conditions and local weather in different part of the isle means that the North, South, East and West all have different tastes and interpretations of the food they offer.

It’s not all about chilli peppers!

There are so many spices, fruits and vegetables that grow well in the Island that your plate is not just about getting a hit from one of the variety of chilli peppers grown here

Sri Lanka reputedly grows the best Cinnamon in the World and this is an ingredient that you will find in many dishes.

Cloves, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Pepper, Chillies, and Vanilla are just some of the spices that are grown on the land at GlenMyu Estate and are used in the dishes we offer on our menu.

Here are a few pictures of some of the produce that we are growing in the garden.

To find out more about GlenMyu Estate, Haputale please click on the following link.

Join in with the cooking at GlenMyu Estate

We don’t run an official Sri Lankan Cooking course at the Estate but we have found that many of our guests are interested in Sri Lankan cooking.

We provide an informal Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration where we encourage our guests to join in.

Ruwanthi will take you around the garden to pick some of the organic produce that will be used as ingredients for some of the dishes.

On returning to the kitchen you will be asked to join in preparing the dishes by our dynamic duo Ruwanthi and her mother. We also will have other workers that assist and help with preparing the ingredients and dishes.

Jackfruit is picked from the trees on the estate and is one of the ingredients for the Sri Lankan sharing platter. This is a dish we regularly demonstrate in our informal cookery course.

Our cooking demonstration is informal and you will have the opportunity to watch the dishes being made and Ru will explain about the ingredients we use. Don’t worry, there is no test at the end of the demonstration, just a lovely meal.

It has been known however, for Ru to hand you a pestle and mortar and get you to work helping to prepare a dish!

Our Sri Lankan Sharing Platter - a guest favourite!

The Sri Lankan sharing platter is a vegetarian selection of Sri Lankan curries which vary depending on the availability of fresh produce. We normally run our informal Sri Lankan Cookery course and demonstration when guests order this meal.

Typically it includes a Jackfruit Curry (Great protein!), Aubergine Curry, Plantain Curry, Malum (green healthy leaves) and a salad.

We serve the Sri Lankan Sharing platter with homemade Paratha or with rice for our Vegan guests.

Ru’s mum is a master with the knife and here she is cutting a banana flower which is one of the ingredients of her curries.

Ru lived in London for around sixteen years and is therefore experienced in cooking to a Western palette. She is fully aware that the level of Chillies and Pepper added to the dishes has to be pared down significantly for most of our guests.

However, here is Ru missing her mother putting in a little bit too much chilli during the informal Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration and course!

It's not all about Sri Lankan Curries!

Ru makes her own fresh pasta for another favourite dish of mine and the guests – Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli.

In effect you may end up picking and cooking your evening meal.

We are always delighted if guests want to join in and we encourage them to do so.

If you end up making a dish or two when you get home it really warms our hearts!

Find our more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate

We only have three bedrooms so we can be booked out quite early in certain time of the year so if you wish to book please try to book early.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb however please contact on the WhatsApp button on our website for the best rates.

Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration Read More »

Less touristy places to stay near Ella for couples.

Accommodation, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Less touristy places to stay near Ella for couples?

Are you looking for less touristy places to stay near Ella for couples? GlenMyu Estate is a boutique hotel about 1 hr away from Ella.

Our love letter to Ella Town.

We still love you and will visit you often.

Ella, what is all the fuss about?

A romantic aspiration of a visit to Ella is to travel by train over “the most beautiful train ride in Sri Lanka” and arrive in the beautiful hill town.

Strolling down towards the high street enjoying the small shops selling trinkets which you will mull over later during your stay.

Walking past the bars and restaurants and sitting by the window enjoying a meal together.

Reaching your accommodation and being wowed by your bedroom and the view.

Planning your excursions to Little Adams Peak, Ella Rock, Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana’s Cave and Ravana Waterfall.

Wandering around Ella Spice Garden and experiencing a Tea Plantation.

Afternoons and early evenings having around in a hip bar enjoying a snack and drink together.

Deciding whether you will get up early and catch the sun together in a breathtaking spot.

Will you sleep in or try to get that romantic time together that you will remember for years to come?

The most 'Instgramable' place in Sri Lanka?

I don’t even know if that’s a word – but you get what I mean.

Must see places to visit in and around Ella.

Little Adams Peak, Ella Rock, Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana’s Cave and Ravana Waterfall.

Wandering around Ella Spice Garden and experiencing a Tea Plantation.

Another must do is to have a meal in a drink at one of the cool restaurants in Ella High Street. Sitting there at a window seat watching the world go by at Chill Cafe, Rainbow Cafe or The Barn by Starbeans.

Some photos of our recent trip to Ella for lunch.

We visited Ella in May 2023 for a spot of lunch and here are some photos I took on the day.

We love Ella but.....

We love Ella for the vibe that it has there, the variety of shops and bars, the opportunity to people spot and the energy it radiates. If you are looking for a bit of nightlife and the opportunity to meet other travellers this tourist town is a great option.

However, if you want to get away from the crowd and immerse yourself in nature and get to understand more about local people, staying a little outside the main town is probably a better choice.

Over development spoiling the natural beauty.

Like several other towns in Sri Lanka, Ella has seen a vast amount of development in recent years to cater for the increased tourist numbers visiting the region. The development has not been controlled which has led to the town not being as pretty as it could have been moulded into.

There is a great Blog post by ‘Forest Bird’ that gives a good history of the development of Ella and his views on what the town has become.

It’s amazing to think that Ravana waterfall was completely overgrown and you had to be a proper backpacker to see this.

I love that Ella was a remote honeymoon spot.

Have a read of the blog – it’s really interesting.

A place to Vlog

There are Vlogs from travellers of all ages providing videos and commentaries of their experience in Ella.

People love it in Ella and it’s definitely worth a visit. However, lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate have been disappointed and felt that it was a bit too touristy.

Lots of travellers dreams are about experiencing things together with their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, not with lots of strangers trying to get that Instagram shot.

Here are some Vlogs about travellers experience of Ella.

A little bit further away from Ella.

There are some wonderful sights to see and experience that are a little bit further away from Ella.

Seeing the sunrise at Lipton’s Seat, near Haputale, is a wonderful experience.

Here are some photos taken by one of our guests.

An early morning visit to Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

A little bit different.

Don’t we all want to be a little bit different and stand out from the crowd?

A unique experience is what travellers appear to be seeking nowadays.

What does your aspiration and dream of your visit to this paradise island look like?

GlenMyu Estate Boutique Hotel - something different.

GlenMyu Estate is located close to Haputale and is just over an hours drive from Ella Town. This makes it a good place to stay of you want to do a day trip to Ella to see the sights but stay in a quieter location.

As there are only three bedrooms at GlenMyu Estate in the five acre estate you will have the space to spend the time together and be away from the crowd.

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Valentines Day

Who wants to spend time with other couples on that special day with each other? I used to hate going out to overpriced restaurants to have my girlfriend (now wife) to be disappointed with the atmosphere and food.

Here are some of what our guest said about their experience at GlenMyu Estate at Valentines Day 2022.

Michael had great recommendations for, but ended up not leaving the estate at all because we were just content roaming around the beautiful estate itself with dogs, chickens, ducks and the rescue cow Maali, and enjoy the magnificent views right there. Cannot recommend this dreamy place enough!

Each dish is deliciously served in a Michelin restaurant format. We celebrated Valentine's Day here and they made a table setting with candles for us

No need to wait for Valentines Day

GlenMyu Estate can be romantic all year round..

A bath for two!

For best rates please contact us directly on WhatsApp (press the green button on this page).

We are also listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Look at our reviews on Airbnb and Booking.com, Google or TripAdvisor.

See more about a Stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country at our website.

Follow us on our Social Media platforms.

Less touristy places to stay near Ella for couples. Read More »

Vegan Recipes our Guests Love

Cookery Courses, Organic, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lanka, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan / By Mikeez

Vegan Recipes at GlenMyu Estate

At GlenMyu Estate we have adapted our menus to reflect our guests tastes and requirements. We have been surprised and delighted that we have had so many guests that are Vegan since we opened in late 2022. Our guests enjoy the Vegan recipes that Ru cooks for them and here are some Vegan Recipes that our guests love.

Why Vegan?

Well, I guess we have to move with the times. In order to care for the planet, use locally produced ingredients and change to a more healthy lifestyle is reason enough.

We don’t profess to be a Vegan venue and will always cater for the range of guests that visit GlenMyu Estate, however, we have found that there is a growing demand for Vegetarian or Vegan food.

It’s amazing that, when we have a pair of guests, one Vegan or Vegetarian and one that eats meat, after sampling the Vegan or Vegetarian food that we serve then often the request is for non meat from then on.

Another reason for concentrating on Vegan and Vegetarian food is that we grow organic produce at the 5 acre estate and we like to serve food with ingredients that is as fresh and tasty as we can.
We don’t have the ability to serve everything we need from the garden however it is important to us to support local producers and help the local economy.

Other options are available!

We still serve fish or chicken if our guests request this. As we are and Island surrounded by water it would be wrong for us not to offer a seafood option.

Our aim at GlenMyu Estate.

Our aim however, if we can make it economically viable is to mainly cater to Vegan and Vegetarian clients in the future. We would hope that our non vegetarian guests would be happy to forego meat as the food is so tasty. So, I guess that it is over to you! If we have mainly Vegan or Vegetarian guests and can make it work we will be able to achieve our aim.

Nevertheless, we aim to make GlenMyu Estate the go-to place in Sri Lanka for fabulous Vegan and Vegetarian food.

Great ingredients in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is a country that is abundant in vegetables, fresh fruits, herbs and spices. That is why Sri Lanka is a great destination choice for Vegans and Vegetarians. Rice and Curry is a staple meal in Sri Lanka.

There are many variations of Sri Lankan Vegetable curry and the ingredients will vary from house to house, restaurant to restaurant and hotel to hotel.

We provide garden tours at GlenMyu Estate so you can see where the ingredients is sourced from.

There are some classic Sri Lankan recipes that you will find on your travels around the Island. You will find that there may be slight differences to recipes and tastes around the country. I have found that Parripu (Dhal Curry/Red Lentil Curry) changes in density and taste depending upon who makes the curry and what additional ingredients they use.

Varieties of Rice

In Sri Lanka there is a large variety of types of rice which also changes the taste of your meal. Back in the UK we would normally buy Basmati Rice, Long Grain or Brown Rice (or Arborio when making Risotto).

In Sri Lanka you will come across healthy Red Rice, Rose Rice and White Rice in most shops.

Varieties include:

Suwendel.
Kuruluthuda wee.
Madathawalu.
Sulai.
Murungakayan.
Pachaperumal.

Each type of rice brings a different texture and taste to your dish.

You can read more about the different types of rice in Sri Lanka in the following link.

Guest favourites at GlenMyu Estate Hotel

Here are some of the Vegan recipes that our guests love at GlenMyu Estate.

Ru keeps experimenting with new recipes from ingredients grown on the 5 acre estate so there will be more exciting meals to sample in the future at GlenMyu Estate.

Sri Lankan Vegetarian Sharing Platter

Although this meal is called Vegetarian, it is actually Vegan.

This is the most popular choice for our guests that stay with us at GlenMyu Estate, whether they are Vegan, Vegetarian or meat eaters.

Ru’s mother is the main chef preparing this meal and she regularly does a complimentary cooking demonstration which our guests love. Some even get involved on the cooking themselves.

The Sri Lankan sharing platter dishes vary depending upon what ingredients are available from the garden and to purchase from local suppliers.

Normally it would include one or two types of Jackfruit curry, Aubergine (Eggplant) curry, Banana curry, Kohlu (a lentil curry), Mallum and a fish tasting salad.

The platter is normally served with Parathas which are wonderful for dipping into the different dishes and soaking up the gravy.

Complimentary Cooking Demonstration.

A guest cooking with Ru’s mother.

Find our more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate Hotel

We are listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.

See our Food menus.

Our food menus are regularly updated on our website.

Please visit our food menus at this link.

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce

Another favourite dish which has a taste of this Tropical Island.

Abalone or Oyster mushrooms (whatever is available locally and fresh) in a creamy cashew sauce served with green beans and a fresh side salad.

Breads are also served and a delicious soaked in the cashew sauce ensuring the cleanest of plates.

Roasted Pumkin Ravioli.

Handmade Ravioli stuffed with roasted pumpkin served with tile bread and red pepper salsa.

Ru is happy to show you how she makes the Ravioli from scratch.

Ru Making pasta at GlenMyu Estate.
Please subscribe to her channel Ru’s Recipes for more videos and YouTube Shorts.

Vegan Mac and Cheese

Macaroni serves with Cashew Cheese.

Mushroom Risotto

A classic mushroom risotto.

Pulled Jackfruit Burger.

Jackfruit harvested from the garden in a Barbecue Sauce served with chunky chips and fresh crispy salad.

The chips will be made with potato or sweet potato depending upon what is available.

Soups, Soups, Soups

Although we are on a Tropical Island sometimes there is nothing better than a hearty soup.

The temperatures in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka get cooler in the evenings and therefore a warming soup accompanied;anied with freshly made bread is a really comforting light evening meal.

Our favourites are:

Carrot & Ginger – a touch of ginger really adds to that warming taste.

Roasted Pumpkin – we love pumpkin. When it is roasted and blended it makes a delicious soup.

Leek and Potato – another homey staple that is a simple winner with our guests.

We have Vegan Desserts too!

Sometimes you just need sweetness to finish a delicious meal.

Fresh Fruits with Vegan Ice Cream – A simply classical dessert.

Pineapple and Cinnamon Sorbet – Locally sourced Pineapple and Cinnamon from the garden at GlenMyu Estate.

Baked Banana, Banana Sorbet topped with Caramelised Cashew Nuts – naughty be soo, so nice.

Rice pudding with freshly cut oranges – Mandarin oranges sourced from our garden.

We are listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Read our reviews - see what our guests think of our food.

Our guests love the food that we serve. Please see our reviews on Booking.Com, Airbnb, Google and TripAdvisor.

Homemade breakfast with freshly baked bread and jam every day in addition to fresh fruit and local specialities. The dinners are simply fantastic and made with love from mostly local ingredients

Food: ....THE FOOD!! Ruwanthi and her mother's cooking is beyond delicious, the best food I've ever had? I think so yes!

The food is exceptional, with products directly grown in the garden.

Vegan Recipes our Guests Love Read More »

Garden Tour

Ayurvedic medicine and plants, Organic, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Garden Tour around GlenMyu Estate

At GlenMyu Estate we find that one of the highlights for our guests is to enjoy a relaxed and informal garden tour around the 5 acre estate.

We are continuously landscaping parts of the estate and we see it as a forever work in progress. It’s enjoyable experimenting with different fruits, vegetables, spices, trees and other plants to see what works in different areas around the land.

Our aim is to reinstate many endemic plants and trees in conjunction with developing a fruit forest. We want to encourage more wildlife to come and live and forage on the land.

Guests enjoying the garden at GlenMyu Estate.

The fruits, vegetables and spices that we grow on the estate are used as ingredients for the dishes Ru serves to our guests. You will see that we have planted all around the 5 acre estate so that the wildlife can eat some of the produce in a peaceful environment.

It’s amazing how quickly some of the plants grow and some of our Avocado, Jackfruit, Clove and Mango trees have been established over a few years.

We have made pathways around the estate which makes it safe and easy to walk and enjoy the surroundings. There are part of the land which are quite steep so you can get a bit of a workout on your walk during your garden tour.
There are several places to sit, rest and enjoy the surroundings whilst listening to nature provide its’ background music.

A little bit of history to the Land.

GlenMyu Estate was originally part of the much larger Viharaghalla Tea estate and our 5 acres was abandoned many years ago. It was subsequently used as a sugar cane estate. We understand that this ceased when the government started importing cheaper sugar cane making it unviable enterprise for a previous owner of the land.

A lot has changed.

The current owner, Ru (my wife), bought the land almost 20 years ago. It was a real gamble as we could not navigate the 5 acres as it was totally overgrown. It was also raining when we viewed the property and, unprepared for rain, we only ventured in around 200 metres.
Despite not seeing much of the property, the decision was made to go ahead with the purchase, at least to get a foothold in the area.

Although we looked for other lands to buy around the country, something kept bringing us back to Beragala. We eventually fell in love with the area and the search for something better was over.

If you saw the land, overgrown with Guinea Grass (used as cow fodder) and looking like a jungle, you may well have asked “What have you done”.
However Ru felt that the climate, the availability of water and electricity was at least something positive about the land.

There were some large established trees on the land also which were regularly used by monkeys as their playground.

The Climate

What I love about GlenMyu Estate and this little piece of the Hill Country is the climate. Sri Lanka doesn’t have seasons like were experienced in Europe, however it does have 2 monsoon seasons.

Fortunately for GlenMyu Estate, we are located in a place where we don’t experience the full wrath of either monsoon and are in the Inter-Monsoon area.

It you visit one of the many weather websites you can see that Beragala or Viharagala has an average annual temperature in of 21.3 °C (70.4 °F). The annual rainfall is 1652 mm ( 65.0 inch).

You can see the weather forecast for Beragala at Meteologix or for Viharagala at JustWeather.

Why I love it at GlenMyu Estate!

For me, most of the year is like a reasonable English Summer and I can be in shorts and a t-shirt all year round. We do have some rainier periods (Mid-April until Mid-June and Mid-September until Mid-December) which helps with the garden and the planting we do.

Climate change however, appears to have had some affect on the normal wetter and drier periods and we can never be certain when the weather will change.

Developing the garden

My wife and I don’t have much experience of developing a garden. And, we certainly didn’t think we were capable of making something that would be of such interest to our guests.

Fortunately, along with the internet and a few books, we have some wonderful neighbours who held our hands part of the way. Some of our neighbours have been living in the area for 40 years, some are botanists and some have developed forests. We fell we are very lucky to have such an abundance of resources and knowledge locally.

The Plant Nurseries (both private and government run) have also been very helpful in providing advice.
There is also a great Ayurvedic Plant Nursery in Haldumulla who supplied many of the endemic plants we are re-introducing to the land.

Also, you will find that the older generation of Sri Lankans have a good knowledge of plants, where they grow and what benefits (including medicinal) they have.

Sometimes nature tells you what you can plant by establishing certain types of trees and plants in the land. We have learnt by trying something in one place and mother nature lets us know whether it will work or not.

Protecting the top soil and securing the slope

As we are in the hill country and there are periods where the rain can be heavy there can be small land slips. One of the most important things we have done is to secure the slopes by planting trees to ensure that the ground has a strong foothold.
One of our neighbours alerted us to creating hedgerows on the land along contour lines which helps stabilise the land.
You can read more about SALT technology on this article by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

What will you see on the garden tour at GlenMyu Estate?

Well, that depends on who is taking you on our garden tour!
If I take you I always say to guests that you get the second class tour!
The reason being is that my wife has planned and planted most of the garden (with help from the staff off course!).
Therefore, my knowledge is quite a bit less and although I am learning, I’m sure that there are things that I miss.

Ru showing some guest around the garden close to the Pomelo Tree.

My wife, Ru, normally picks salad leaves and other vegetables and fruits from the garden and sometimes includes this as part of her tour. I stay well away from the vegetable garden – it’s her domain!

Here are just some of the fruits, vegetables and spices that you will see on the tour of the garden. (There are many more but Ru will let you know!).

Vegetables
Yams, Jackfruit, Avocado, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Spring Onions, Tomatoes

Spices
Cloves, Cardamon, Cinnamon, Curry Leaf, pepper, coffee,

Fruits
Papayas, Bananas, Mandarin Oranges, Lemons, Mangos, Pomello, Passionfruit, Giant Passionfruit.

I have planted lots of trees myself since being at GlenMyu Estate . If I eat a good Avocado, Mango or Jackfruit, I normally save the seed and plant it somewhere on the land.
The plan is to eventually grow a fruit first which will be good for us, our guests and the animals that visit the property. We want to encourage more endemic species back to the property by providing an environment where they can thrive. We have already seen lots of Crane Flies (daddy long legs), Fireflies and Butterflies visit the property to eat. Occasionally we will see some deer at parts of the property that have been left for the wildlife.
In future we expect to see a large variety of frogs and birds come to GlenMyu Estate to forage.

You will see on your garden tour that lots of the trees I have planted are far away from the property. Therefore we are unlikely to be able to protect and eat the fruits from these trees and they will be a good source of food for the birds, monkeys and squirrels.

An informal garden tour - Don't expect Kew Gardens!

We offer the gardens tours to guests that stay at GlenMyu Estate and it is a relaxed and informal wander around the garden. It’s not a formal garden tour by a botanist or student of the subject. Both Ru and I are enthusiastic and interested in what we are developing on the estate and I’m sure that this will come through on the tour.

I look at our garden tour as similar to our cooking demonstrations – relaxed and informal …. and a bit of fun.

Find out more about a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country

If you want to find out more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate please visit our website.

You will also find us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook (Meta!).

You can readout reviews on Google, Booking.com, Airbnb and Tripadvisor.

Garden Tour Read More »

Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka

Food and Drink, Recipes, Traditional British Sunday Dinner / By Mikeez

Sunday Roast

Sunday Roast is not just for Sundays at GlenMyu Estate.

Our guests are able to order this traditional British dish when they stay at our hotel in the beautiful Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Sunday Roast - a part of British heritage.

We would consider he British love of a Sunday Roast a part of the national identity. At GlenMyu Estate. Beragala, Sri Lanka, we have found to be popular with our guests whatever the day of the week.
It’s not just the ex-pats living in Sri Lanka and those visitors from the UK that love our Roast Chicken Dinner. We have found that visitors from all parts of Europe and local Sri Lankans are keen to sample this traditional dish.

Yorkshire Pudding is something that not many people have sampled and once they do there is no turning back.

Roast beef is eaten as the main meat accompanying the Traditional Sunday Roast.
In the 18th Century the Roast Beef dinner was eaten so often that even the French started calling Englishmen “rosbifs”. It is heard often at England v France rugby matches at Twickenham Stadium.

The Sunday roast is as much a tradition today in the UK as it was a few hundred years ago. It has even made its’ way from the family dinner table to pubs and other days of the week.

What is a Traditional Sunday Roast?

In essence, it is the main Sunday meal. Sunday roast is a British meal that normally has roast beef (or Chicken, Lamb, Pork or Nutloaf) as the main contingent. It also includes a series of other tasty products and sauces, served in the same plate, to celebrate Sunday together with loved ones. There is also a variation of the format on important occasions, such as Christmas and special family gatherings.  Traditionally, a Sunday Roast is eaten around 3pm. However, many people eat Sunday meals around dinner time, especially if they have had a large traditional English breakfast with bacon, eggs and other delicacies which are usually reserved for the weekend.   The preparation of the Sunday roast can be long and laborious process. The meat can be roasted for several hours in advance of the meal, depending upon what cut it is and how the diners like their meal.

What does a Sunday Roast consist of?

What does Sunday roast normally consist of? 
Around the UK, the contents will vary a little however the key items in additional to the meat or poultry are:
Roasted vegetables
Primarily carrots, and parsnips.
 Potatoes – cooked both in the oven and as mash. Other vegetables – peas, broccoli, cauliflower

On special occasions such as Christmas also added are ‘pigs in blankets’ (pork sausages wrapped in bacon).

 And ……Yorkshire pudding.

Yorkshire Pudding?

One of my favourites of a Sunday Roast.
Bathed in gravy there is little better.

Such a simple dish, really hard to get right…. but when it does…..yummy!

And what about Yorkshire Puddings?

This is a baked batter with a shape similar to that of muffins.

Originally knowns as “dripping puddings” they were originally baked sitting under the roast beef so as to collect the meat drippings.  The first written record of the recipe is found in a book called “The Whole Duty of a Woman” (1737).

Nowadays, Yorkshire pudding is no longer cooked under the meat. The batter is roasted in the oven and it takes some practice to get the dish right. Ideally it should be crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle.
I love dousing the Yorkshire Pudding with gravy – it is just heaven!.
The gravy can be made from the meat juices in the roasting tray and thickened with a little flour.

There are commercial ready made powdered gravies, both meat based and vegetarian on the market which is a quick option. However, there is nothing that tastes like homemade gravy.

Is it not too hot to have a Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka?

The climate here in the Hill Country is more akin to a Summers Day in the UK regularly being between 22 – 26 degrees Celsius during the day.

You can see what the weather is like in Beragala on websites such as Climate-Data or Wanderlog or Just Weather.

The Modern Day Sunday Roast

The modern oven has taken over from roasting meat in front of the fire! On Sundays, throughout the U.K., there is a high demand in both pubs & restaurants for a Roast Dinner. (there new some pubs that serve this every day of the week!).
Instead of slaving over the stove many people choose to go out for Sunday lunch rather than prepare it at home.
Having Sunday Roast with families or friends is great opportunity for people to get together, share and enjoy great food.

Traditional Sunday Roast now includes roasted potatoes and root vegetables, green vegetables like cabbage and spring greens, cauliflower cheese, and lots of gravy.

Roast Beef is usually on the menu, however, there are usually other options including Lamb, Ham, Chicken and even a Nut Roast for vegetarians.

We listen to our guests!

What inspired you to offer a Sunday Roast to guests?

The inspiration came from one set of our guests to highlight that we offer a Sunday Roast. They were long term in Sri Lanka from the UK and clearly missed a bit of home comforts.

They loved the Roast Chicken dinner prepared by Ru and it was a memorable part of their time at GlenMyu Estate.

We, of course, were delighted with their reaction.

Read our reviews at Booking.com and Airbnb

Food: ....THE FOOD!! Ruwanthi and her mother's cooking is beyond delicious, the best food I've ever had? I think so yes!

he food is exceptional, with products directly grown in the garden

the manner they present the meals - is astonishing. Ruwanthi is a great chef, she spoiled us with delicious meals throughout our stay.

Find us on Booking.com and Airbnb where you can also read the full guest reviews.

What will I find at GlenMyu Estate

3 Kingsize Double Bedrooms with Spectacular Views

2 Spacious Lounges with views over the hills below the house

A Natural Spring-Fed Infinity Swimming Pool

5 Acres of land to explore.

We provide a garden tour for our guests so that they can see the different types of fruit, vegetables and spices that we grow on the estate.

Sometimes, whilst on the tour, you will pick some of the ingredients used for your evening meal.

Delicious bespoke meals freshly prepared by the host

A selection of places to dine

A place to relax and be closer to nature

Within reach of the following tourist sites

Any other delicious food on offer?

Off course! Please look at our menus via the following link.

Sunday Roast Recipes

There are lots of recipes that you can find online that will give you inspiration to try to make the Sunday Roast for yourself.

Ru’s favourite chef is Delia Smith who she finds really clear and easy to follow. The fact that she has early success when learning the ropes in London did help. You can find out more about this story when you stay with us at GlenMyu Estate.

Delia Smith

Delia (Ru’s favourite) gives great detail on her Roast Beef dinner recipe.

The Hairy Bikers

The Hairy Bikers recipe for Sunday Roast uses Beef which we don’t tend to offer at GlenMyu Estate.

Nadiya Hussain

Our favourite winner of The Great British Bake Off recipe is for Chicken as the main meat accompanying the traditional Roast Dinner.

Mary Berry

A National Treasure and British Institution Mary Berry’ Roast Chicken recipe is accompanied with Tarragon Butter and melting onions.

Michael Caines

Michael Caines recipe uses a roast leg of Lamb as the main meat for the dish.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Hugh’s Chicken Sunday Roast recipe has a twist using Kale and Leeks.

Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka Read More »

Pekoe Trail: Stage 15 Makulella to Ella

Accommodation, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Pekoe Trail: Stage 15 - Makulella to Ella

The Pekoe Trail Stage 15 takes you on an 10.12 kilometre hike from Makulella to Ella. Launched in launched in 2023, the Pekoe Trail is an initiative that was funded by .

What are the highlights of Stage 15?

You will hike through a forested area and be enthralled by waterfalls, rivers and the iconic Ella Rock.

What Hiking Apps are recommended?

The Pekoe Trail Official Website recommends the following Apps.

AllTrails

Outdooractive

Wikiloc

Where should I stay in between Stages?

Recently a list of recommended Hotels, Guesthouses, B & B ‘s and Home-stays has been published. Click here for more details.

When an official list is issued we will update our post.

GlenMyu Estate Hotel, Beragala - Haputale

GlenMyu Estate is located around 1 hour away from Ella Town. It is an alternative option if you want to relax in comfort and outside of the main tourist area.

What do you have at GlenMyu Estate?

3 Kingsize Double Bedrooms with Spectacular Views
2 Spacious Lounges with views over the hills below the house
A Natural Spring-Fed Infinity Swimming Pool
5 Acres of land to explore

Delicious bespoke meals freshly prepared by the host
A selection of places to dine

A place to relax and be closer to nature

Within reach of the following tourist sites

Diyaluma Waterfall and Upper Diyaluma Pools
Horton Plains National Park – Mini Worlds End, Worlds End and Bakers Falls
Adisham Bungalow
Lipton Seat
Dambetenna Tea Factory
Bambarakanda Waterfall
Thangamale Bird Sanctuary
Ella Town: 9 Arch Bridge, Little Adams Peak & Ravanna Waterfall

We are also listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Pekoe Trail: Stage 15 Makulella to Ella Read More »

Traditional British Sunday Roast

Food and Drink, Traditional British Sunday Dinner / By Mikeez

Roast Chicken Dinner in Sri Lanka

A Traditional British Sunday Roast or a Roast Chicken Dinner in Sri Lanka appeared to be a bizarre concept to me.

Whenever I went on holiday to a warmer climate, after a few days my appetite would reduce and, I would only want lighter meals.

It seemed very odd that I would want a Roast Chicken Dinner when living in Sri Lanka.

When we lived in the UK a Sunday Roast was almost essential on a weekend, especially during the Autumn and Winter months. I would return from my junior coaching rugby session around 1 p.m on a Sunday afternoon and look forward to a sumptuous late lunch cooked by Ru in the mid afternoon.

When you have been running around a cold rugby pitch for a few hours a warming hearty meals was really appreciated.

Other days outside the rugby season would provide the opportunity to go to the local pub and try out their Sunday lunch.

Originally, when we were living in Colombo, a traditional British Sunday roast was not even considered in the heat of the mid 30’s. Getting the oven to the right temperature in the City would result in an exodus from the house as the heat would be unbearable.

The Sri Lankan Hill Country

Up in the Hills we experience a temperature much similar to a comfortable UK Summer ranging from 22 – 26 degrees.

In the evenings it can be chilly and fall to 14- 16 degrees.

When I was in the UK I would still have found the night time temperature to be comfortable and would not even consider adding an extra layer or two.

Having lived in the Hill Country for 4 years I am now a little more acclimatised and do sometimes put on a long pair of trousers or a long sleeved shirt.

Is it too warm for a Traditional Sunday Roast Dinner?

Although the climate for most of the year is like many English Summers I experienced whilst living in the UK it does not inspire the desire for a Traditional British Sunday Roast Dinner every week.

However, as an occasional treat which brings back great memories and a sense of comfort, it is something that I look forward to.

Ruwanthi does a great Yorkshire Pudding and they are truly delicious smothered in gravy. I also cannot get enough of her roast potatoes (this was always a problem for me even in the UK!).

If you have left “space” you might even consider finishing the meal with another classic of Sticky Toffee Pudding.

I am normally sensible and opt for Pineapple and Cinnamon Sorbet which brings me back to a taste of Sri Lanka at the end of the meal.

You can see our full menu on our website

Where can I get a traditional Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka?

So, a Traditional British Roast Chicken Dinner is something to look forward to when you stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country at GlenMyu Estate.

Of course, you don’t have to wait until Sunday to order your Traditional Roast Chicken Dinner. It is on our menu and is available to order at any time during the week – provided you give Ru enough time to prepare it.

If you want to find out more about a “Stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country” please visit our website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Please contact us directly on WhatsApp 94-752-999-272 for bookings and our best rates.

Work of that Roast Dinner by visiting the sights near GlenMyu Estate

You can work off those delicious additional calories from your Traditional British Sunday roast dinner by visiting some of the fantastic places of interest near GlenMyu Estate.

Diyaluma Waterfall and Upper Diyaluma Pools

Horton Plains National Park – Mini Worlds End, Worlds End and Bakers Falls

Adisham Bungalow

Liptons Seat

Dambetenna Tea Factory

Bambarakanda Waterfall

Thangamale Bird Sanctuary

Ella Town

9 Arch Bridge

Mini Adams Peak

Ravanna Waterfall

There are great places for hiking such as

Thank you to our lovely guests, Jack and Lauren, for suggesting that the Sunday Roast should be added to our menu.

Traditional British Sunday Roast Read More »

We got a cow!

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Organic, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu / By Mikeez

We got a cow!

In December 2022 we got a cow.

I didn’t want a cow however, my wife was determined to get a cow, so we have a cow!
If you know my wife, she normally gets her way.

We had several discussions over the last few years about a cow and I was adamant that we would not have a cow at GlenMyu Estate.
I had several concerns about taking on this responsibility. One of the main ones was the terrain which is quite steep in places. I was worried about a cow having a fall and breaking a leg. Also, I was concerned that we would start racking up vet bills if the cow fell ill. Many of our neighbours that have cows (mainly for milking) appear to have the government vet visiting them often.
The other main concern was that it was another level of responsibility that we would be committed to.

Organic Farming and Cows

Cow manure is an important part of organic farming. It has high levels of minerals and nutrients which are one of the best natural fertilisers used in organic gardens. Using cow dung to nourish the soil eliminates the requirement for chemicals and pesticides.
By having a cow at Glenmyu Estate we also do not have to use fossil fuels to transport manures and compost to the property reducing our carbon footprint.

There are many articles providing information on the benefits of uing cow dung/manure in an organic garden or farming. Home Biogas outlines these benefits.

Science Direct provides a good history and data about cow manure.

This cow is not for milking

At GlenMyu Estate we are happy for Malli just to provide us with manure. We just want her to lead a good, stress free and comfortable life. There is no need for Malli to go down the route to provide us with milk. We have plenty of neighbours that have cows where we can buy milk when we want to make ice cream or cheese. As Malli was premature she may not be able to produce milk successfully and we do not want to put her through that stress.

Eating our flowers

Initially we were really pleased with what Malli was grazing on. Having been confined to a small shed before arriving at GlenMyu Estate’s 5 acres, she was fed grains as there was no where to forage. It was like having a smorgasbord with the offerings at the land. She went from place to place sampling new tastes and didn’t stay in one place for too long.

I was pleased as she was eating some grass where I would normally have to strim with my brush-cutter to keep the growth at bay.

She also provided the manure that we were after for our organic garden so all was good.

Well, it was, until she decided that flowers were tasty. She managed to destroy quite a lot of the planting alongside the main lawn at the estate which had been painstakingly maintained by Ru and the gardeners.

Shouts of “Malli No!”became a new sound often heard in the garden.

Imprisoned - for part of the day.

In order to get Malli to concentrate on what we would like her to graze on (and protect our flowers) she is now tied in an area for a few hours a day. She does a good job there and is later released from her bondage to roan freely. There are still cries of “Malli No!”, however, they are getting less frequent.

We have come to the conclusion that losing some flowers is a compromise that is worth making.

Funny Cow anecdotes are starting to pop up

Malli has only been with us a short time but already there are some events that are making us laugh.

Papaya - No it’s for the chickens!

We normally give the leftover or spoilt papaya to our chickens. Malli loves Papaya.
Our Walli Amma was taking some Papaya peelings to the chicken shed but met Malli on the way. It is quite a narrow pathway and therefore is single file only.
Malli wouldn’t let her pass until she had given her some of the Papaya peelings! After a while Walli Amma realised that the chickens would be without their snack if Malli had her way. She dropped some Papaya on the floor and managed to slide past Malli and make her way to deliver the remnants of the fruit to the chickens!

A taste for Jackfruit

Ru was trying to take Malli around the pathway in below the house to graze on some of the foliage there.
As soon as she let go of her rope Malli went tearing off completing the circuit to where one of our staff was taking a Jackfruit off the tree.
Malli loves Jackfruit!
When Ru found her she was just standing by the Jackfruit Tree looking upwards. She wouldn’t move until she was given a chunk of the fruit!

Customer feedback about the cow!

The reaction from our guests so far has been great. They love the story and that she has been rescued from a dangerous situation.
Malli looks great in the environment and adds some additional life and colour to the Estate.

When guests have found out we have a cow they have immediately asked to see her and be “introduced”.

One of our guests had to say a last goodbye when they were leaving.

We have a great picture of one of our guests feeding Malli some Papaya. It was a special experience for both parties!
She is becoming quite a character
Malli has quickly become one of the family here at GlenMyu Estate.

A turnaround

I must admit that I have changed.

Malli is a real asset for the Estate and has become part of the experience for guests at the estate. My fears of Malli destroying large parts of our work and making lots of unwanted noise has not come to fruition. The main issues are whether we can keep “some” of our flowers and whether we can dodge the cowpats before they are picked up and added to the compost.
Unfortunately, during my brush-cutting, I have not seen one of Malli’s fresh offerings and been “splattered” which is not a pretty sight!

My concerns have been lifted

The main reasons why I didn’t want a cow have mainly disappeared.
Malli bounds around the property without fear or concern. I have been really surprised on how she manages to get up to steeper parts of the land when she forages.
She appears to have settled into the climate and environment quite quickly and despite being premature she shows no sign of needing a vet.
It also turns out that one of our staff has experience in looking after cows and he has taken on the main part of this responsibility that I was concerned about.

Early days - don't speak too soon!

We are still in the early days of Malli being at GlenMyu Estate but most of my concerns have been lifted.

Meet Malli, our chickens and our ducks

If you want a holiday with a difference in Sri Lanka, then maybe GlenMyu Estate is the experience for you. To find out more please visit our website or contact Ru on WhatsApp for direct booking rates.

We got a cow! Read More »

The Good Life

Holiday, Organic, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

The Good Life in the 21st Century

Are we living “The Good Life” at GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, Sri Lanka in the 21st Century?
This is something that I have thought about often as I strim the lawns & pathways around the 5 acre estate in anticipation of our next guests.
For me, it’s very important to keep the grass height. At a low level to make a walk around the land an enjoyable experience. It also makes the Estate look fabulous and me particularly proud of the work.

The Good Life - the sitcom

British sitcom “The Good Life” consisted of 30 episodes running from 1975 to 1978. As there were only a few television channels in the UK during the 1970’s and 1980’s the hit series was rerun often.

The Series starts with the midlife crisis of Tom Good, a 40 year old plastics designer. He and his wife Barbara attempt to escape from the “rate race”. The couple try to become self sufficient in their suburban house in Surbiton (a neighbourhood in South West London).

They change their gardens into allotments to grow fruits and vegetables. Tom and Barbara introduce chickens, pigs and goats into their garden. They try to make their own electricity, clothes and sell and barter their produce reducing the amount of money they need.

Their neighbours, Margo and Jerry, are horrified by what Tom and Barbara are doing next door. This is where a lot of the comedy for the series is generated. They are often placated by the Goods very strong homemade wine.

An enjoyable watch.

When I watched the repeats of the sitcom in the UK and I remember finding it a little bit boring and frustrating as a young child who preferred his comedy in the form of cartoons.

The Good Life - GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, Haputale, Sri Lanka

My wife always dreamed of owning her own farm in the mountains, having animals and being self sufficient.

I must admit, I don’t remember her mentioning this to me over the years we have been together, until we settled in Sri Lanka.
We had met in London and I always understood that Ru wanted to move back to Sri Lanka to spend more time with her parents as they get older.
Maybe I wasn’t listening at the right time!

Did you plan this?

I had never aspired to become a farmer however, there appeared to be a movement during ones “middle age” contemporaries of ours moved out of London for a more suburban or rural life.

Every so often I read in various newspapers, magazines and articles about professionals leaving the “rate race” changing career to something more artisan and moving to the countryside.
I read books about people moving to France, Italy or Spain and renovating an old property and starting their own business. I watched YouTube videos of renovations of old farmhouses in France and Spain.

It was an attractive idea but I questioned my confidence to enter into a new venture after being part of an institution and system for so long

A special song.

A song replayed on repeat in the back of my mind which gave me some impetus in part to consider a change. “Rat Race” by the Coventry Ska Band “The Specials” really did resonate over the years.
I was however, very thankful for the experience, lifestyle, opportunities and so many more things that my career had given me. There were lots of good times over the years, great colleagues and clients that made the commitment worthwhile.

Changes made me look for a change

As with most industries, things change and some of that enjoyment (in the good old days) are not there anymore.

I also was aware that if I did not make a change my health would deteriorate.
Every morning I would go to the gym before work, sometimes have a session with my personal trainer and try to change the results of the bad habits I had picked up over the years.
Too many lunches with clients, drinks with colleagues at the end of the day and exploits after playing rugby on a Saturday had taken its toll

Decision made - lets go.

Once the decision was made to relocate to Sri Lanka it was quite a relief that I didn’t have to do the commute to work and all that a day in the office entails.

It was scary. Having been used to the comfort of collecting my monthly salary to having no pay and trying to live off savings it was a large ask. This was the big test. Can we change from being employees to working for ourselves?

Fast forward 6 plus years we have managed the challenges and struggles to create a small business that allows us to pay our way.
The huge task of building a property, managing a 5 acre estate and dealing with all kinds of contractors in a new country was something that nearly broke us. We could see why the couples that built their Grand Designs Homes were under so much stress and endured the levels of frustration trying to build their dream homes.

Challenges - but worth it.

Sri Lanka has had its’ challenges as a country whilst we have been here and it will continue to do so for some years to come until it can get itself back on its’ feet economically

However, we love it here.

Are we living the Good Life?

My wife and I do feel that we are living the good life.

We have a collection of ducks, chickens, dogs along with a cow on the estate.
There are a variety of fruits and vegetables that we are growing that helps to feed ourselves, our workers and the guests.
Any food waste is composted or eaten by the chickens or the dogs.

Let's be creative.

Ru has been very creative in the dishes we eat and serve to our guests using as much as we can from the land. We do not add any chemical and pesticides to what we grow so are as organic as we can be. Our diet has changed to one based a lot on the convenience of meat in the UK to a more plant based diet. We eat some chicken and fish occasionally however are fully satisfied with the delicious vegetarian and vegan dishes we create.

If you look at our food menus you should get a grasp of the idea.

Mainly plant based but....

We do serve chicken or fish dishes to our guests if required but we have found that most people are really happy with the plant based dishes we offer once they have tasted them.

It is great that wee have learnt so much about farming and operating a small bed & breakfast business over the last few years. Howver, we continue to learn.

We love meeting guests which adds so much to our Good Life.

Welcoming guests and getting to know about their lives back in their respective countries adds so much value and interest to our lives. We have met people from different countries that have different and interesting professions that we would not have met in our lives in the UK.

Would we recommend the Good Life?

Well, for us, this was the right time in our lives to make the change. We also think it is inevitable for the benefit of the planet and all who live here. More people will need to carry out some of the concepts we are practising. Some are already doing this. Composting food waste, eating mainly organic, turning to a plant based diet and planting more trees.
Since we have been living in Sri Lanka we have reduced our consumption, partly as a lack of choice available in the supermarkets, but also because we feel that we don’t need as much.

Less consumption is more!

Both of us were never wanting the latest Apple I-Phone, a new car every year or the hippest fashion. The environment where we live has meant that we don’t need new clothes as often due to working on the land and on the farm.
We are too busy for our time to be consumed by the amount of television that we watched in the UK. That being said we do watch some TV and series every so often.
Our wine consumption has reduced as it is quite expensive being imported so we are a little bit more healthy.
We no longer spend hours at a desk looking at a screen as we have work to do around the property. It has the benefit of us feeling physically stronger (especially walking up and down the hills).
My wife used to fly quite a lot for work and this is an experience that she does not miss.
We both have much more interest in the environment, trees, plants and what food we can grow locally.

In conclusion.

So, in conclusion, if you are able and it is the right time for you, we would highly recommend it.

If you are interested in visiting GlenMyu Estate and experiencing the Good Life in the Sri Lankan Hill Country please visit our website to find out more.

The Good Life Read More »

Veganuary 2023

Sri Lanka, Travel, Vegan / By Mikeez

Veganuary 2023

In 2022, at GlenMyu Estate we launched our Vegan menu in support of Veganuary and to reflect the changing requirements of our customers. We are revamping our Vegan menu in support of Veganuary 2023.

How was our Vegan menu launched in 2022 received?

Our guests really enjoyed the dishes that Ruwanthi has devised.

When our guests arrive we normally offer a small range of meal options and lots pick our Sri Lankan Paratha Sharing Platter.

The platter varies depending on seasonal items available and normally consists of:

Freshly prepared parathas

Aubergine curry

Jackfruit curry

Kohlu curry

Passionfruit leaf salad

We had two ladies from Austria who said that they had not eaten as delicious food in Vienna.

A couple from Melbourne, Australia really enjoyed their Vegan meals as they had found that Vegan meals had mainly been just eating rice and curry around the Island.

And we have also been surprised on the number of guests who have either been Vegan or Vegetarian who have stayed at GlenMyu Estate in 2022.

If you want to view our existing Vegan Menu please click the tab

We are not Vegan but…

At GlenMyu Estate we still offer meat, fish and vegetarian meals.

We feel we need to do this to reflect the requirements of our customers.

However, we are pleasantly surprised of the amount of people that have stayed with us that are vegetarian or vegan.

We will continuously adapt our Vegan and Vegetarian Menus with a plan to establish a reputation as a place to go for Vegan and Vegetarian food.

A change is coming

There are several factors which has led us to come to the conclusion that there will be more requirements for Vegan food in the future.

The events of early 2022 should result in the change in peoples habits being quicker to take place.

We list some of the events that have led us in our thinking.

Inflation and rising costs

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka had led to change in habits for people on the island.

The lack of fuel available earlier in 2022 lead to goods not being able to be transported around the island.This led to us looking at substitutes for things like butter and milk leading us to more use of fresh coconuts.

Import restrictions and the depreciation of the Rupee led to a shortage of chicken feed which in turn reduced the number of eggs being produced. A forecast food shortage led to the Government encouraging people to grow more fruits and vegetable in their gardens, in pots on windowsill and other means to try to fill this expected gap.

Inflation has skyrocketed here.

CCPI based headline inflation recorded at 64.3% on year-on-year basis in August 2022.

It is a real challenge for people to cope as wages have not increased and this has led to many missing meals as it is unaffordable.

The Current Situation

A fuel quota system has been introduced so we are seeing supermarket shelves filled again and those stales are in reasonable supply.

The costs of some staples have been reduced however are significantly higher than last year. For example rice was around 110 rupees per kilo and now is 240 per kilo.

A fertiliser ban was revoked and is now imported and being donated by other countries. This should lead to an increased production of crops such as rice next season.

The Country wants to go down the organic route and we think it will achieve this in the future however it must be phased in slowly.

An increase in Tourist numbers

We were pleased to see that in August 2022 most Foreign Office advice was lifted by many countries and it was considered okay for tourists to visit this paradise island again.

There have also been press about the number of airlines that will start flying to Sri Lanka again from early November.

The country really needs to generate more foreign income to try to get the economy back on track so we really appreciate tourists coming wherever they stay in Sri Lanka.

So, we at GlenMyu Estate, are looking forward to welcoming guests and them sampling the menus we have to offer.

Veganuary 2022 - The Numbers

According to the Veganuary website the good news is that.

629,000 signed up

228 Countries & Territories took part

1,540 new vegan products and menus launched

There is a free celebrity recipe booklet to download if you sign up with your e mail.

On the website there are also Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks and Sweet Treats recipes that you can try and experience homemade Vegan food for yourself.

Maybe sampling some of our Veganuary 2023 will start you on your Vegan journey.

Although we still eat meat, chicken and fish we have changed our own diets so that it is much more plant based. Our aim is to do our bit for the environment along with eating healthier.

As more of our guests opt for Vegetarian and Vegan dishes this reflects what we tend to eat also.

When I was growing up in the UK there was very little in the way of offering for Vegetarian and Vegan food. I’m delighted that there are so many tasty options nowadays and we hope that your experience at GlenMyu Estate will provide a reason to consider a change of lifestyle.

Experience our Vegan menu supporting Veganuary 2023 at GlenMyu Estate

You can contact Ruwanthi at GlenMyu Estate for bookings via the green WhatsApp button or write to Michael by E-mail michael@resortglenmyu.com

Here is a taste of what GlenMyu Estate is all about;

3 Kingsize Double Bedrooms with Spectacular Views

2 Spacious Lounges with views over the hills below the house

A Natural Spring-Fed Infinity Swimming Pool

5 Acres of land to explore

Delicious bespoke meals freshly prepared by the host

A selection of places to dine

A place to relax and be closer to nature

Within reach of the following tourist sites:

Diyaluma Waterfall and Upper Diyaluma Pools

Horton Plains National Park – Mini Worlds End, Worlds End and Bakers Falls

Adisham Bungalow

Lipton Seat

Dambetenna Tea Factory

Bambarakanda Waterfall

Thangamale Bird Sanctuary

Ella Town

9 Arch Bridge

Little Adams Peak

Ravanna Waterfall

Please also visit our website for further details and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Veganuary 2023 Read More »

Free Cooking Classes

Cookery Courses, Ru's Recipes / By Mikeez

Beragala – Haputale – Sri Lanka

Cooking Classes

Beragala - Haputale

Sri Lanka

At GlenMyu Estate, Hotel many of our guests are really interested in Sri Lankan cooking classes.

Learn to cook a Sri Lankan meal at home from our informal cooking classes and demonstrations at GlenMyu Estate.

Cooking Sri Lankan food as well as the ability to prepare a few dishes to an excellent standard.

The free cooking demonstrations are conducted at GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

You can take notes or get involved yourself

The class is provided free on request if you are staying at GlenMyu Estate.

During the ad-hoc cooking lessons you will be able to get busy in the kitchen alongside Ruwanthi, her mother and the staff.

Cooking classes - Western and Fusion Dishes too!

Ru also makes a variety of Western and Fusion dishes for our guests.

Here are some photos when Ru was making Pumpkin Ravioli.

A selection of the dishes that Ru cooks for our guests.

Find out more and cooking classes.

To arrange a stay at GlenMyu Estate and learn more about how Ru prepares the dishes and cooking classes please contact us for rates.

Call us on 0752999272 or send Michael an email at michael@resortglenmyu.com.

Ru's recipes on YouTube

We will be launching Ru’s recipes on YouTube.

Please subscribe so you don’t miss the videos as they are released.

More about GlenMyu Estate

GlenMyu Estate – Summary

3 Kingsize Double Bedrooms with Spectacular Views

2 Spacious Lounges with views over the hills below the house

A Natural Spring-Fed Infinity Swimming Pool

5 Acres of land to explore

Delicious bespoke meals freshly prepared by the host

A selection of places to dine

A place to relax and be closer to nature

Within reach of the following tourist sites

Diyaluma Waterfall and Upper Diyaluma Pools

Horton Plains National Park – Mini Worlds End, Worlds End and Bakers Falls

Adisham Bungalow

Lipton Seat

Dambetenna Tea Factory

Bambarakanda Waterfall

Thangamale Bird Sanctuary

Ella Town

9 Arch Bridge

Little Adams Peak

Ravanna Waterfall

Free Cooking Classes Read More »

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce

Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce is one of our guest favourites at GlenMyu Estate.

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce Read More »

Papaya and Banana Smoothie

Food and Drink, Organic / By Mikeez

Papaya and Banana Smoothie

I love my Papaya and Banana Smoothie in the morning.

I feel that it provides me with a healthy start to the day.

It’s also delicious, so it’s also something that I really look forward to almost every day.

Did you know that there is more than one type of Banana?

We are very luck in Sri Lanka to have a variety of Bananas all of which have their own unique taste. Whilst living in London we only sampled the Cavendish Bananas which were imported fro the West Indies and South America.

It was quite a taste sensation trying out the different types of Banana that are available in Sri Lanka. If you are going to visit I would recommend that you ask your guide to buy a variety of bananas and see what the difference in the tastes are for yourself.

It's never boring!

The good thing about the variety of bananas means that my smoothie never gets boring as the taste changes throughout the year as different type of banana are available.

We pick our Papayas and Bananas from the garden

At GlenMyu Estate both Papayas and Bananas grow really well. All our produce is organic and you can really taste the goodness in our fruits and vegetables.

The Papayas sweetness does vary throughout the year depending on how much rainfall we get.

There are also several different type of Papayas and therefore the taste of my smoothie changes depending what has come off the tree.

What happens when the bananas get too old?

When we get a hand of bananas from our tree there is too much to eat before they go all black and mushy.

Of course we distribute some of the bananas to our friends and family. Also our workers on the estate are provided with bananas when they take a break.

Actually, some are also left near where the monkeys that forage close to the estate eat so some animals also get a share!

Even distributing bananas results in a large amount leftover which would go off.

We peel the bananas and keep them in the freezer so that they can be added to a smoothie when we are out of fresh bananas.

As they are coming from the freezer there is no need to ass ice to the smoothie for that cool taste.

Making a Papaya & Banana Smoothie - It’s so easy!

My method for making a Papaya and Banana Smoothie is quite simple.

Peel and cube half of a Papaya.

Peel and chop two of three bananas, depending upon taste.

Add some water.

Whizz in the blender until there are no lumps and pieces of fruit.

Sit back and enjoy natures goodness!

Other Smoothie recipes that I love

Banana and Rose Apple Smoothie

Rose apples do not have a really strong taste however it’s amazing what it does when you add it to bananas and a little bit of yoghurt to make a smoothie!

The colour turns a lovely shade of pink and It has a taste similar to a strawberry smoothie.

Here are some other recipes that I have found on the web that I like:

Papaya Smoothie Cook Click and Devour

try our Papaya and Banana Smoothie onHoliday in Sri Lanka

If you are holidaying in Sri Lanka and are in the Hill Country near to Ella, Beragala, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya you may want to stay at GlenMyu Estate to experience the smoothies for yourself.

We have three guest bedrooms with spectacular views of the hills leading to the South coast.

The five acre estate is a calm and peaceful place for you to stay and get closer to nature.

Our guests really enjoy a tour around the garden to see what other fruits and vegetables we grow here.

Please click on this link to our website for further details.

Papaya and Banana Smoothie Read More »

Our First Birthday!

Cookery Courses / By Mikeez

Our First Birthday!

We are new however we were not celebrating our first birthday – we were celebrating the first birthday at GlenMyu Estate of one of our guests.

We opened our business in 2021, however, not many people were travelling during that year due to the global pandemic.

Sri Lanka imposed several lockdowns and then inter provincial travel bans during 2021 and therefore we had a slow start to our business.

We used the opportunity to test and fine tune the house and the menu so we did use the time well.

We also were able to spend more time landscaping the gardens and providing more places for our guests to explore.

Steps were made down to the waterfall at the bottom of the land and, although the last part is still a little tricky, many of our guests have really enjoyed this experience.

The inter-provincial lockdown was lifted in November 2021 and the Island saw an increase in foreign tourists from December 2021 forwards.

A great start to 2022

We appear to have been “found” in 2022 and we have had a steady stream of guests since the start of the year

The 2nd March 2022 - our first Birthday Celebration

We had new guests arrive on the 2nd March and we discovered that it was Chloe’s birthday that day.

Chloe and her partner had decided that they wanted to stay in a nice place for her birthday and she had searched for a long time before coming across GlenMyu Estate and making the booking.

We were delighted and honoured that Chloe had chosen our place to celebrate.

When we showed them their room and around the property they remarked that they has made a good choice which was very satisfying for Ruwanthi and I.

With no prior notice of a birthday Ruwanthi did her miracle and made a cake for the guests to celebrate Chloe’s birthday.

Our Informal Cookery Course

Shortly after confirming her booking Chloe had asked whether she could learn some Sri Lankan cookery which we were happy to oblige.

You have to work for your own dinner

Getting involved in cooking at Glenmyu Estate includes Ruwanthi taking you a tour of our vegetable garden and picking some of the ingredients that will make up that evenings dinner.

Ruwanthi’s mother is our in-house expert on Sri Lankan cooking and she takes charge of the kitchen and explains the process as she prepares and cooks the food.

Ruwanthi translates her mothers commentary into English and the other staff at the Estate are there to help the preparation and clean the dishes and kitchen as the lesson is in progress so there are lots of people involved.

It’s like a TV cookery demonstration with all the aromas and sounds

Our guests really enjoyed the cookery demonstration and took lots of notes whilst savouring the smells and tastes as the dishes were being prepared.

The good thing about Sri Lankan cooking is that a majority of the ingredients would be available in supermarkets in our guests home cities and therefore there is no excuse on trying the dishes at home.

The Cake

Here is the last minute cake that Ruwanthi prepared for Chloe

The cake was delicious and a great end to a fantastic meal.

A Special Birthday Venue?

As we celebrated with Chloe, I remembered our favourite restaurant in London, the Oslo Court in St Johns Wood https://oslocourtrestaurant.co.uk.

The restaurant is old fashioned and has a really unique ambience to it. We loved the food. We loved the service. The staff were great.

Whenever we dined at the restaurant there were always several birthdays taking place. There were repeated rounds of the diners singing “Happy Birthday” to the individual celebrating their special day, whether at their table or another, known or unknown. A good time was had by all.

I wonder whether GlenMyu Estate will become a special place to celebrate a birthday in the future.

If you are looking to celebrate your birthday at GlenMyu Estate, it would be great to know in advance so we can make it special for you.

https://resortglenmyu.comPlease click on the following link for our contact details .

Our First Birthday! Read More »

Cooking Sri Lankan Style

Cookery Courses, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Cooking Sri Lankan Style

Opportunities to take part in a Sri Lankan cooking demonstration at GlenMyu Resort, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

We have had many guests that visit GlenMyu Estate who are really interested in Sri Lankan Cooking.

For some, their visit to this Paradise Island is their first taste of the local cuisine.

Similar other countries there are delicate differences between how food is prepared and the ingredients used around the Island.

Feeling, hot , hot, hot!

The level of heat is something that visitors have to get used to.

Even asking for no or only a little black pepper and chilli pepper is something that is interpreted in different ways.

The consequences of this is that some food is overtaken by the spice and you really don’t get to savour the best of Sri Lankan cooking.

Sri Lankans generally expect that you will have chilli in your meal even, if you ask for none to be added.

Expectations and unexpected results

An example of the expectation of my own was in our early holidays to the Island an elderly aunt of my wife would regularly make tea for us.

Unlike in the UK, I always have Plain Tea (black tea without milk) as Sri Lanka is known for the quality of the tea and I really enjoy the flavours here.

I also have not had sugar in my tea since I was around 16 years old.

I would always ask for Plain Tea with no sugar.

I always received Plain Tea with sugar.

The elderly aunt did understand enough English to know how I liked my tea.

After several days of sugary tea, I asked my wife to tell the elderly aunt that I did not want sugar in my tea.

The elderly aunt shook her head and advised that she understood my request, however, “how can you drink tea without sugar?!!!”

Building a tolerance level.

Being from the West, but married to a Sri Lankan, my tolerance for chilli has been watched up over the years. However, I am normally the taster in the kitchen and the barometer of what is likely to be acceptable to a Western palette, and what will having them running for glasses of water to cool them down.

An interest in Sri Lankan Cooking

Often guests have wanted to know more about how dishes are made and what ingredients the food is made from.

Ruwanthi has regularly had guests in the kitchen and given them an outline of how the dishes are made.

Last week Ruwanthi had guests using the pestle and mortar to grind the ingredients for Lunumiris – a spicy Sri Lankan samba paste which is served as a condiment. The dish consists of chilli pepper, shallots, Maldivian fish, sea salt, black pepper and lime juice.

Pick the ingredients and learn how to cook by my mother-in-law

Today we had a couple from Europe who had extended their two night stay to three and they had also really enjoyed the food that we had provided.

They were really interested in Sri Lankan cooking and wanted to be able to replicate some of the dishes when they got home.

Our guest really enjoyed the experience of being part of the team making the dishes and she took plenty of notes as illustrated in the pictures below.

Veganuary – launching our new Vegan Menu.

Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka, Vegan / By Mikeez

January may be over however we just love our Vegan Menu!

We supported Veganuary 2022 and we are delighted with the response to our menu.

The menu will continue to be available and we will tweak it every so often depending on what local produce is available.

We hope that you come to GlenMyu Estate in the near future, enjoy a wonderful stay and sample our menus.

Veganuary 2022 - Supporting this cause by launching our new Vegan Menu

In order to support this worthy challenge and to encourage a more healthy lifestyle whilst looking after the planet we at GlenMyu Estate are launching our new Vegan Menu.

To find out more about the challenge please click on this link. https://veganuary.com

Our New Vegan Menu

We understand that some of our clients will not wish to participate in the challenge and therefore we are still offering our normal menus which can be found on the following link.

Veganuary – launching our new Vegan Menu. Read More »

An Egg Hunt ….but it’s not Easter!!!

Accommodation, Holiday, Organic, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Photography, Sri Lanka, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

An Egg Hunt… but it’s not Easter

It’s been a really steep learning curve being new to raising ducks and only being 18 months in

It started with a ......

A spur of the moment birthday present for my wife in late 2019 brought four ducklings to GlenMyu Estate.

We didn’t know at the time that you cannot work out the sex of the duckling until it grows a bit and therefore we were unsure what mix of a batch we had picked from the retailer.

Waiting, waiting and......

We waited with anticipation and we thought that we were lucky as it turned out we had two males and two females. We thought we would have a stream of eggs coming from these pairs in the coming months.

Little did we realise that there is a rule of thumb ratio of one male to four or five female ducks however we were soon to find this out. From the markings we appeared to have two Muscovy Ducks and two ….well we don’t really know what they are!

The dominant Drake would bully the Muscovy Drake and it was pitiful to watch.

One day the Muscovy Drake decided enough was enough and flew away never to be seen again despite and extensive search by us and our team. We often think about what happened to him. Did he manage to survive or was he lunch for a mongoose or one of the other predators that may be hiding in the forests.

Anguish and agony!

The remaining Muscovy female was a little bit lost for a few days however settled into life with her duck house mates.

The Muscovy female decided one day that she was going to sit on her eggs and our egg production was reduced however, we were intrigued to see what would happen

Amazing Mother Nature.

We are amazed by mother nature and how animals, without any training or knowledge, instinctively mate, deliver and care for their offspring.

Been here....done it!

We had witnessed this with our first dog, Clove, who had been on heat whilst we were in Colombo and we missed the boat on getting her spayed to avoid adding to the already large number of dogs in the community.

Clove was so young but delivered, cleaned and fed her seven puppies to our astonishment and admiration. We were disappointed that she decided after three or four weeks feeding them was too much of a bother and handed the responsibility over to us!

Mama Duck.

Mama Duck, as she is now known, also instinctively did what was required to see seven eggs through to the emergence of seven beautiful, cute, and hungry ducklings.

Mama Duck has turned out to be quite prolific and has delivered several batches of new life since.

The Lonely Duckling.

We have one of her offspring who are now sitting on its own batch of eggs and we are awaiting to see if she are as successful as their mother is. Mama Duck is also sitting on eggs so we are expecting lots of new arrivals in late July or early August.

Both females are sitting on eggs in the security of the greenhouse and duck house. This is a first as Mama Duck usually sets up her next near our Temple Rock which is not secure from predators and we have had many nights of lost sleep concerned about her safety. We are sleeping better now knowing that they are better protected and can be locked in at night.

You have to laugh.

We joke that every morning we have to go on an egg hunt to find where the ducks have laid their eggs so we can collect them. They can lay their eggs in the most awkward of places and are really good at hiding them!

Hide and Seek!

One of the other females is now laying and hiding her eggs in anticipation of sitting on them delivering more life to GlenMyu. She has tried a few spots before settling on one place.

Around six thirty this morning I decided I would go open an egg hunt and watch where she went after her morning dip in the stream.

I kept my distance and had an idea of roughly where she was sitting.

At around midday I had a look at the spot and eventually uncovered five eggs well hidden by leaves, grass and other flora. I took a short video showing what I found.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

An Egg Hunt ….but it’s not Easter!!! Read More »