Life in Sri Lanka Archives - GlenMyu Estate Luxury Bed and Breakfast

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 »

We met dancing, and moved to Sri Lanka

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Life in Sri Lanka, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

We met dancing..... and then moved to Sri Lanka

My wife and I met dancing in London , may years ago.

Little did I know that I would end up moving to Sri Lanka many years later.

I’m so glad that we did.

Sri Lanka is a magical island and we have created an amazing place to stay, off the beaten track, in the Sri Lankan hill country.

Find our more about our story and also about our luxury bed and breakfast, GlenMyu Estate.

The photo is of us dancing at our wedding in Negombo. I had a full head of hair when we met!

Ceroc - the perfect type of dancing for me!

A friend of mine in the UK introduced me to Ceroc.

I had no idea about what this dance style was about. He had taken me to a Salsa club in London, but I was overwhelmed with the dance steps and it didn’t appeal to me.

Ceroc was a completely different for me.

I loved it as I could pick up the simpler dance moves.

After some weeks of practice and some ‘beginners weekends’ I managed to grasp what was needed. I loved it so much that I would dance at various venues around London at least three times per week.

What is Ceroc

Ceroc explains on their website that “Our dance moves incorporate a wide variety of dance forms such as Jive, Ballroom, Latin, Tango, Salsa, West-Coast Swing, Blues, Bachata, Zouk…..the list goes on”.

The format in the same every night. There is a beginners class and an intermediate class. In between the classes you get to practice the moves that you have learnt.

You have no rhythm!

At one of my ‘beginners weekends’ I was told by one of my partners that I had no rhythm. She told me to listen to the music.

As much as this was hard to hear, she was right. I could mechanically master the dance moves but I hadn’t connected them to the beat of the music at that stage.

It was a time where I could have easily given up hearing this crushing view of my dancing ability.

However, I was determined to go forward as I enjoyed dancing this style so much.

Over the coming weeks I listened to more music and it clicked.

At the Ceroc sessions that followed, I would be asked to dance by the ladies rather than the other way around.

She happened to be Sri Lankan

I met my future wife through Ceroc dancing.

One of the venues was at International Student House near Great Portland Street station in London.

Ruwanthi was working in London at the time and a work colleague brought her along for a night out. She regularly attended the venue when she was in London and we danced from time to time.

The rhythm was good between us and we really enjoyed dancing with each other.

Ruwanthi was from Sri Lanka. Little did I know that several year later I would be living with her on this beautiful paradise island. I also did not envisage that we would both give up our successful careers and build and operate GlenMyu Estate.

Are we still dancing?

It certainly was a lot easier to dance when you have the lure of a great fun dance venue to go to.

We don’t dance as often as we would like to as there are lots of things for us to do with our time at GlenMyu Estate.

I’m inspired when there is some music on and when you see our lounges we certainly have the setting to dance.

Perhaps this will be a joint New Year’s resolution for us in 2025. Dancing more often as the sunsets at GlenMyu Estate!

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.

We met dancing, and moved to Sri Lanka Read More »

Population in Sri Lanka

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

Population in Sri Lanka.

The Population in Sri Lanka.What is the population in Sri Lanka?

What are the numbers?

Does it feel overpopulated

Is Sri Lanka too touristy and where should I go?

Population of Sri Lanka

The population in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s population has risen significantly since independence in 1948. At that date the population in Sri Lanka was 7.2 million people.

According to Sri Lankan government statistics the population in mid 2023 was just over 22 million.

The island is similar in size of that of the Republic of Ireland and the population is around four times in amount.

Does Sri Lanka appear to be overpopulated?

During the financial crisis the population reduced by around 1 million people.

However, once you leave the larger cities of Colombo and Kandy, it doesn’t appear to be overpopulated.

The lush vegetation also appears to hide buildings and residences which gives the appearance of space.

Is Sri Lanka too touristy?

Although there is a large population in the country who enjoy the wonderful sights around the island, the number of tourists visiting the country is small compared to others in South East Asia.

Tourist numbers for the year ended December 2023 were 1,487,303.

This was just over a 100% increase from the previous year. The countries tourism industry had been recovering from the effects of the global pandemic and subsequently a financial crisis which delayed its recovery as a popular tourist destination.

Tourist numbers are minor compared to Thaland (28.15m), Vietnam (12.6m), Indonesia (11.68m – Bali -5.2m), Singapore (13.6m), Cambodia (5.5m), Philippines (5.5m), Laos (3.4m) and Malaysia (20m).

An increase is planned

Sri Lankas’ peak tourist numbers were 2.3 million in 2018.

There are plans to increase tourist numbers from 1.5 million (2023) to 2.3 million in 2024.

As reported in the Sri Lankan Financial Times in May 2024, the plan is to achieve 5 million tourists by 2030

Where are the less populated and touristy places

Finding places that are off the beaten track.

Most tourists to Sri Lanka take a circular route around the island visiting the country highlights.

At GlenMyu Estate we think that this is the right thing to do on your first visit. Sri Lanka is a place which has so much to see and do, it needs to be visited again and again.

On your second visit you should dive deeper into the country and the culture to get a fuller experience of Sri Lanka.

Love Sri Lanka highlight Gal Oya, Kitugala, Mannar, and Hambantota as off -the beaten path destinations. You can read more about these places in their article.

Selecting places to stay with fewer rooms

Finding places to stay where there are less numbers of guests is the best way to

There are lots of villas and smaller properties that only have two of three rooms for guests. This will mean that you are not sharing the property with many other guests and are able to spend some time on your own.

Avoid large branded hotels that have lots of rooms. Hostels are usually places where there are lots of travellers packed into rooms.

Go for homestay, small guest houses or villas. Look to see whether there are lots of other properties nearby. It may be a small property but it could be surrounded by lots of other buildings which defeats the purpose of what you re looking for.

Some of these properties may be a bit more expensive, but if you like your privacy, it may be worth the additional; price.

GlenMyu Estate - off the beaten track

Ruwanthi created the boutique Bed and Breakfast, GlenMyu Estate, which opened in 2022.

With only three bedrooms in the main house in the five acre estate, it is truly off the beaten track. Guests regularly take day trips to Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Horton Plains and also to see the sights around Ella.

The Cliff Lodge - an off grid experience

The awareness of Cliff Lodge was heightened earlier in 2024 as it featured in an episode of Ben Fogle’s “New Lives in the Wild”.

Anke and Naveen have created an off grid experience in the Sri Lankan Hill country near to Haputale. It’s a huge contract to the popular tourist town of Ella which is also nearby.

Hiking the new 300 kilometre trail

Sri Lanka launched the Pekoe Trail in 2023.

This is a new hiking trail which covers 300 kilometres over 22 stages. It starts in Kandy and passes Hatton Nuwara Eliya, Haputale, and Ella.

As this is a new trail you are likely to have stretches to enjoy all by yourself for parts of your trek.

Visit Sri Lanka before tourist numbers increase

There appear to be headlines everyday about over tourism and local people protesting against the number of people visiting their home. Several tourist spots such as Barcelona, Venice and Machu Picchu have limited the number of visitors.

One of the main reasons for the protests is the effect that tourism has on property prices and the lack of affordable accommodation available for local people.

You can read which places are restricting tourist numbers in Tourism Analytics article.

Sri Lanka is a great country to visit now as tourist numbers are not at the stage where there is pressure on accommodation. If new hotels and infrastructure is not developed to cope with the planned tourist numbers, then either room prices will increase or you will find it difficult to source suitable accommodation.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and avoid the crowds

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.

Population in Sri Lanka Read More »

No televisions, no problem

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Birds, Birdwatching, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Natural Swimming Pool, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

No Televisions, No Problem!

No Televisions, No Problem

I don’t know about you, but I really didn’t enjoy watching television when I was away on holiday.

Whenever we would get to our hotel room my wife and I would flick through the channels to find something that we would like.

There is something about watching television when you are in your own country.

You know what you like, you know when the program is on and you know where to find your favourite programme.

I can't find it, there are too many advertisement breaks.

We tended to watch a lot fo BBC programmes in the UK and therefore didn’t to have to deal with advertisement breaks.

There is something about the rhythm of the programme, even when you watch commercial tv, that is quite comforting. You are used to the timing and the length of the advert break. Years of programming our brains makes it alright.

Television abroad - no thanks

However, I used to get frustrated watching television on holiday as the rhythm wasn’t comfortable for me.

It was a real turnoff.

So, I didn’t watch any television programmes when I went on holiday.

The world has changed

Since moving to Sri Lanka in 2016 the world has been through some incredible changes.

Sitting down in front of the television to relax after a stressful day in the office is no longer the norm.

The global pandemic left lots of people stuck at home looking for entertainment to while away the hours.

Netflix and other streaming services became the go to place for entertainment. Binge watching box sets was what everyone was talking about.

When we were in the UK we only watched a few programmes when they were being broadcasted. Most if what we viewed was on catch up.

No televisions at GlenMyu Estate, no problem

Since living in Sri Lanka we have been weaned off television.

I could see from our first six months on the island that we really craved our favourite programmes that we enjoyed together.

However, as we couldn’t get our usual BBC programmes, we used to buy the occasional DVD and watch them together.

The environment in the Sri Lankan Hill Country has changed our requirements in life. It’s hard not to be affected by the surrounding nature. Whether it’s the noise from the birds, the ever changing view from the lounges or spending time on the five acre estate, sitting in front of a square box does not seem to be important now. If we don’t know who is in Masterchef, the Bake Off or Strictly, it really doesn’t matter.

Immersed in nature

Living in London for many years we were really out of touch with nature. So many people living in big cities must be in the same position.

I don’t know what happened to me.

In the UK I wasn’t interested in birds and trees. My inquisitiveness appears to have been injected into my veins since living here. Planting trees and watching them grow, getting up early to catch the birdsong or making sure I catch the sunset sky.

It’s hard to get the feeling over to you. You really need to come and experience this for yourself.

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.

No televisions, no problem Read More »

Internet Speed in Sri Lanka

Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Internet Speed in Sri Lanka

Internet speed in Sri Lanka.

How good is it?
Is there free WiFi?
Will I be able to work online when I am in Sri Lanka?

We try to answer your questions.

Why is it important?

You are on holiday. Surely, you want to leave your life back home behind!

We realise that we are living in the real world, and being connected is very important.

One of the important things on my list when we check guests in at GlenMyu Estate is to provide the WiFi password.

It's great being off -grid but.......

Ben Fogles’ New Lives in the Wild visited the unique off grid clamping experience at Cliff Lodge, Haputale. The programme was aired in February 2024 and both Anke and Naveen won the hearts of viewers.

Being off grid, with no internet or phone connection is an excellent experience where you can really connect with nature.

We didn't go down that route.

When we originally planned GlenMyu Estate, which is also near Haputale, some of our friends suggested that we didn’t provide an internet connection.

We provide a different experience from that to an off grid holiday. However, we do find that our guests do connect with nature and are abler to switch off.

WiFi is an important service that we provide to our guests and we leave it up to them on how much they use it.

Keeping connected with family and friends

If you are travelling to Sri Lanka for the first time your family and friends will be happier to know that you are safe and enjoying your holiday.

Sharing your experiences

It’s really important to share your experiences with others when you are on holiday. Perhaps it will inspire your friends and family to do a similar trip.

We love it when our guests share pictures and videos of their stay at GlenMyu Estate.

Those important work calls

No one likes taking work calls when they are on holiday, however sometimes it is really important. We have hosted several business owners at GlenMyu Estate and we realise that some information or decisions have to be made by the boss, whatever country they are in

Working on holiday - Digital Nomads

Working love has changed since I left the UK in 2016.

The global pandemic changed the view on working from home and now it is the norm. I would have even loved hybrid working when I was in London. Imagine all those tube journeys that I would not have needed to take!

Here are some videos that will provide some additional information about being a digital nomad in Sri Lanka.

Lots of our guests work and play

At GlenMyu Estate, many of our guests have had to do some work whilst they have been on holiday.

Is there free WIFi in Sri Lanka?

We provide free WiFi to our guest at GlenMyu Estate. This would be a normal offering when you stay in a hotel in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately you cannot guarantee that you will have a fast enough connection to do what you plan.

We had an unfortunate experience when staying at a hotel in the south of the island recently. The WiFi speed was dire. We also could not connect using our own data on our Sri Lankan SIM as there was no coverage there.

Clearly, some hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes have good internet speed. However, you may have to look for them.

Buying a local SIM card

Many of our friends and guests buy a SIM card at the airport when they arrive.

If you are on a vacation for two or three weeks this is a good way to keep connected around the island. You can manage your data package by using free WiFi when you are at your accommodation.

For a longer stay, it is worth buying a local SIM card from a Communication Shop around the island. This will work out a bit cheaper as you will be able to buy a monthly data package.

Internet providers in Sri Lanka

There are lots of internet providers in Sri Lanka. You will see the vendors at the airport after you collect your bags.

Dialog and SLT Mobitel would be considered the main providers. However, Airtel, Hutch and Lanka Bell are others to consider.

Improving Wifi speed for our guests

We are looking to improve our offering to our guests and plan to put in a fibre line which will improve internet speed.

A word of warning - no guarantees

I am writing this article after 36 hours of using a WiFi router rather than the fibre line we have at GlenMyu Estate.

The internet connection stopped working yesterday and we send a message to Sri Lanka Telecom to alert them to the problem.

It turned out that a bees nest had been made at the cable line at the main road which had broken the connection. The brave souls from the repair team managed to move the bees on and repair the line.

So, a word of warning. We will do our best to provide a good, fast and secure internet connection for our guests. However, sometimes nature gets in the way!

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Hopefully, you will not need to work too much!

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.

Internet Speed in Sri Lanka Read More »

Practice Friluftsliv in Sri Lanka in 2024

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Life in Sri Lanka, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Little Adam's Peak, Natural Swimming Pool, Sri Lanka, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Practice Friluftsliv in Sri Lanka in 2024.

Why you should practice Friluftsliv in Sri Lanka in 2024.

The Swedish concept of friluftsliv (open-air living) is something we aspire to do at GlenMyu Estate.

It’s not just Sweden, this practice is also a common philosophy in Denmark, and Norway.

Unwinding outdoors is engrained in the culture in Norway.
Some firms make it part of their working week.
Going for a jog or a walk during your lunchtime, despite plunging temperatures is a common sight.

What is Friluftsliv?

Frilufstliv was first popularised in the 1850s by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in his 1859 poem “On the Heights”.

The concept is much older.
Its literal translation is “free-air life”, but Ibsen used it to convey a spiritual connection with nature.

To modern Norwegians, it means participating in outdoor activities, but also has a deeper sense of de-stressing in nature and sharing in a common culture. Could this outdoor life hold the key to Norwegians’ health and happiness?

Friluftsliv is not a specific activity.

Hiking in the forest, kayaking along the fjords and skiing in the mountains could all be part of it, but so could picking cloudberries or simply sitting in the woods.

How do I practice Friluftsliv?

Unwinding in the open air is so ingrained in the culture, some companies build it into the working week.

I make sure that I take some time out every day to spend time on the five acres we have at GlenMyu Estate. As the land is in the Sri Lankan hill country walking up and down the inclines can increase the heart rate. The lowest part of the land is around 90 metres lower than height at the entrance gate.

Walking around the pathways and surveying what grass cutting and weeding needs to be done. I get ideas on what we should plant or whether we should put in another seat to enjoy the surrounding nature.

Swimming in the natural spring fed swimming pool surrounded by the hills and the birds providing a musical backdrop is another way that I practice Frilutftsliv.

Friluftsliv and GlenMyu Estate

An outdoor culture is a bit easier in the tropics due to the climate.

Unless you really suffer from the heat or sunburn, being outdoors is the natural place to spend your time in Sri Lanka.

Spending time at the beach or hiking through the rainforests or the tea estate of the Pekoe Trail all reflect friluftsliv.

In our opinion, swimming at the pools at Upper Diyaluma Waterfall is the perfect way yo practice Friluftliv.
After the twenty minute hike to the top of Sri Lanka’s 2nd tallest waterfall you will enjoy the cold water pools.

Being out in an unspoilt natural environment will make this a memorable experience.

We normally send guests off after breakfast from GlenMyu Estate so that they can enjoy the nature before the larger crowds arrive later in the day.

Horton Plains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of our favourite places in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Walking through the fresh air, at an elevation of 2,200 metres is exhilarating. The beauty of the flora and fauna in this montane cloud forest is amazing.

It is certainly a place where you can practice friluftsliv.

Even our staff at GlenMyu Estate practice Friluftsliv.

One of our staff members at GlenMyu Estate always takes the long way round to the house rather than a direct approach.
When asked why, he said that it was beautiful walking on the far side of the land.
It’s something we encourage him to do as we know that it is good for him.

Enjoy the outdoors at GlenMyu Estate.

Average annual temperature in Beragala is 21.3 °C / 70.4 °F.

The temperature range in at Beragala is a maximum of 26.4 °C/(79.5) °F in July.
Minimum night time temperature is 16.5 °C
(61.7) °F.

This means that you can enjoy the temperatures during the day and get a good nights sleep.

Connect with nature

As you walk around the five acres at GlenMyu Estate you will come across some animals, birds and insects.

There is a large variety of birds that visit the estate. We also have to types of monkey that regularly visit the trees to forage (and annoy our dogs!).

Connecting with nature is an important part of the enjoyment when you stay at GlenMyu Estate.

Spend time with our dogs, ducks, chickens and cows.

Guests love the connection that they make with the rescue dogs that we have on the estate. Clove will give you a great welcome. The other dogs will say hello and them leave you alone as they go about their day (or sleep!).

The ducks forage around the estate and swim in the ponds that are scattered around the estate.

One of my favourite images of 2023 was seeing a French executive lying on the ground, looking upwards to the trees whilst petting one of the dogs.

He really loved the dogs whilst he was here and really connected with them.

We really enjoy guests that connect with our animals.

A Swiss lady arrived in early 2024 and had a passion for cows. I suppose that Switzerland has an abundance of the animals eating lush grass in the mountains.

Whilst showing the couple around the garden at the estate we had to wait for a while. It was the time for the cows to be put to bed in the cowshed. We waited for our new bull calf to arrive.
He was petted by his new admirer before heading to his bed.

It was a beautiful sight and a great memory for both the guest and also myself.

A walk around the garden

Ru normally does the garden tour.

I also do to but I miss quite a few plants of interest because Ru designed and planted most of the grounds.
Of course, I am very proud of how my Jackfruit, Mango and Avocado trees are coming on, but there is much more to see.

It’s a delight when guests smell the leaves of the mandarin and lemon trees trying to guess what it is.
The curry leaf gets a variety of reactions.
If someone bites onto one of the pepper pods they are normally seeking some water to cool them down

You walk, you see, you learn.

I love it when guests discover that a pepper is grown as a vine.
The amazement that green coffee on the tree becomes a breakfast drink.

Seeing a Jackfruit on the tree and then eating a Jackfruit Burger later on is an experience.

Harvesting sap from the Kithul Tree becomes the syrup that they pour over their breakfast for sweetness.

Some people are a little embarrassed that they didn’t know where some of the food they eat comes from. I was the same.

I used to enjoy cloves in my mulled wine over the festive period when living in the UK. I didn’t have a clue about where a clove comes from .

Here, at GlenMyu Estate, we have planted thirty clove trees. In around five years we will be harvesting our own cloves from the trees we have planted.

When I was living in London, I had no idea about where my food come from and how much work went into producing it.
I thought that peanut grew on a tree.
I’m sure that I got this belief from an advert I saw in television as a child.

They are grown on the ground. I was amazed when we grew them and how delicious they tasted.

Removing the shells however, is another story and I appreciate the work that went into producing the packet of peanuts that I enjoy with a Lion lager!

Are you ready to practice friluftsliv?

We think that everyone should be able to practice Friluftsliv.

GlenMyu Estate and the places you can visit on a day trip are ways that you can get closer to nature on holiday in Sri Lanka.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and practice friluftsliv.

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.

Practice Friluftsliv in Sri Lanka in 2024 Read More »

Podcasts that I love, enjoy and tolerate.

Life in Sri Lanka, Photography, Sri Lanka, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Podcasts that I love, enjoy and tolerate.

Podcasts that I love, enjoy and tolerate.

Life on a paradise island in the Indian ocean. Passing time, learning & amusing myself in Sri Lanka in the Sri Lankan Hills.

When the rest of the world is watching Netflix, my preference it to listen to a podcast.

I was addicted to TV when I was living in the UK. However, I have now eased myself off the screen and I feel that I have a lot more time my hands.

Listening to podcasts as I work around the estate is so much better and healthier than sitting and watching the square screen.

You can subscribe to Netflix in Sri Lanka, and many of my neighbours do. However, after a taste of Netflix in Melbourne, we were put off and look at other options to pass the time.

Of course some of what we listen to is educational, motivational, emotional and sometimes shocking.

Variety is the spice of life and we think that to is important to have a wide range of podcasts which have differing views, so we can make our minds up ourselves.

We are trying to baulk the algorithms so we are not fed the same old same old and things that Big Brother assumes we will like.

Educational podcasts - ones to help me grow.

As I was a Banker in the UK, educational podcasts are swayed towards business topics.

Since living in Sri Lanka, I have become more interested in the environment, growing plants for the garden and

One of my favourite television programmes when I was in the UK was Dragons Den.
Nowadays I only see clips on Facebook of some of the pitches which is enough to keep may interest.

One of the newer dragons, Steven Bartlett, has a podcast called “Diary of a CEO”. It’s really interesting learning business techniques from a range of different people.

One particular thing that I learnt from one of the episodes is that you should also listen to people that you don’t agree with.
I have taken this on board and it gives me an insight of someone else’s view that I may not have ordinarily heard.

When I want to catch up on the news, I make sure that I read a wide range of online newspapers to get writing from different standpoints.

It's not about the money - but it is.

The Rest is Money is hosted by business journalist Steph McGovern and economics guru Robert Peston.
I enjoy the relationship that the two hosts have, which helps listening to a subject, that could easily be a little boring.

Newspaper podcasts

Following the theme of getting different perspectives I regularly listen to the Guardian and the Times podcasts.

The Guardian is historically a more left leaning newspaper whilst the Times is part of Rupert Murdoch’s empire. I enjoy both the Guardian Podcast “Today in Focus” and also the Times Podcast “Stories of our Times”.

A step to the left.

For a proper left wing view from a legendary comedian, I listen to the Alexei Sayle Podcast. This really does show me a view from the other side and it is quite enlightening.

On a completely different theme, I love his BBC Podcast “Strangers on a Train”. I find this such a comforting Podcast, especially when I live so far way from the UK. It is a gentle and interesting podcast where Alexei interviews random passengers on train journeys in the UK. It is one of my favourite podcasts.

A bit of politics

The Rest is Politics with the former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell and cabinet minister Rory Stewart

I like to keep up to date with both UK and World politics. Having hosts who are from the opposite sides of the spectrum makes it interesting and enjoyable listen.

Food and Drink

Out to Lunch was hosted by food critic Jay Rayner and now is hosted by Ade Edmonson.

Accompanying the host is a famous celebrity and the mix of conversation and discussion about food works well. It’s a good advert for the restaurant and I keep adding them to my wish list.

Sport

I love sport and don’t get to watch much in Sri Lanka due to the time difference to the UK.

Rugby

Rugby was my sport when I was in the UK. I used to play, catch and support my local team. Twickenham was a regular event in the calendar during the six nations.

The BBC Rugby Weekly has a good vibe and the hosts, a broadcaster and ex rugby players are a good mix.

My favourite rugby Podcast however, is Flats and Shanks. I love this because it is more about book and tv recommendations rather than rugby.

Football

My New Football Club is my favourite football podcast. It is hosted by comedian David Earl and Jon Beer who support Exeter City FC. The 49 year old and 22 year old make a good team and have created a funny and interesting podcast.

I listen to the BBC Daily Football Podcast to keep myself up to date with the drama and the theatre of the English Football league.

Radio 5’s 606 phone in podcast is hosted by ex football players Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton. A good combination of (I’d better not says as I will get in trouble!).

Gardening

Roots and All podcast is the only gardening podcast that I regularly listen to. Hosted by horticulturist, Sarah Wilson, there are interviews with guests from all areas of gardening and around the world.

Ones that I dip in and out off

There are lots of Podcasts that I have listened got regularly in the past but have taken a break.

As much as I enjoyed them, sometimes you need a little variety. I do dip back into them from times to time.

Distraction Pieces with Scroobius Pip.
Reasons to be Cheerful with Geoff Lloyd and Ed Milliband.
Full Disclosure with James O’Brien
The Political Party with comedian Matt Forde
The High Performance Podcast with Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes.

Just for Laughs

I’m not a parent but during the pandemic I started listening to Lockdown Parenting Hell with Josh Widdicome and Rob Beckett.

The name has now changed to Parenting Hell and I still love listening to the podcast. They have interesting, funny guests and also give an insight to their own parenting challenges weekly.

Their section Boomer Parenting stories is a must listen.

I also listen to The Wolf and Owl Podcast with Romesh Ranganathan and Tom Davis. It is bizarre, and passes the time making me laugh.

Awkward but funny

I have listened to Geoff Lloyd and Annabel Ports’ podcast “Adrift” from the start. A podcast titled “A comic tragedy for anyone flailing in the sea of their own inadequacy”.

I find that listening to podcasts like this help my empathy levels for others and make me more accepting of the uncomfortable moments in my life.

How do you find the time?

There are some podcasts that are a must listen to and some that I can miss and not feel guilty.

If you scan the amount of podcast that are available to listen to, you would never be able to skim the surface.

It really depends on what I feel like at the time and this determines what I will listen to.

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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.

Podcasts that I love, enjoy and tolerate. Read More »

An inspirational landscape to paint

Accommodation, Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Photography, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

An inspirational landscape to paint in Sri Lanka

An inspirational landscape to paint in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

This landscape need painting and photographing!

The continual changing view from GlenMyu Estate really needs to be captured in paint or by camera.

Using painting a stress relief.

Focusing on painting allows mne’ mind to relax and let go of all the problems and demands that may have led to stress.
Creating something beautiful through painting stimulates the creative mind while also relieving mental strain.

A comfortable temperature in an inspirational landscape

The temperature in the hill country means that it is easy to paint outdoors for a long part of day.

It’s worth bringing a hat as the sun can be intense at midday.

The best light is in the early morning an mid to late afternoon.

Whether a portrait, landscape, cloudscape, flora or fauna, there is something to fit most interests at GlenMyu Estate.

The elevation delivers a unique and inspirational landscape

GlenMyu Estate is around 1,000 metres above sea level. Sometimes the clouds are above a below the house. At certain times of the year the mist touches the glass windows for a while providing a unique atmosphere.

The colours in the sky change throughout the year providing an array of colours or shades of grey during the rainier months.

Whatever the weather, this inspirational landscape is inspiring and needs to be captured.

There are lots of opportunities around the five acre estate to find yourself a quiet place to practice your art.

The changes in light in the Sri Lankan Hill Country and the array of colours provide you with a varying landscape.

Looking for the best light

Capturing the colours as the light goes down, especially the we have a beautiful sunset sky would be a good way to record your stay at GlenMyu Estate .

A distraction to everyday life

Painting on holiday serves as a distraction to everyday life and gives some balance in your life.

It allows you to get into a flow and focus your attention on the job at hand. It gives you time to disconnect from the real world and have time for yourself.

An inspirational landscape - Surrounded by nature.

Our natural spring fed swimming pool is a place to relax and get some inspiration.

One of our guests spent time with her pencils and sketchpad and spent some hours drawing next to the pool. It was a relaxing experience whilst carrying out her passion which she couldn’t do in her busy workalike at home.

Animal and bird photography

There are lots of opportunities for bird and animal photography around the estate. We can’t guarantee what visitors we will have but you are likely to see a variety of birds and two types of monkeys during your stay.

Surrounded by inspirational landscapes.

There are also many places near to GlenMyu Estate that need to be captured on canvas.

Inspirational places like Horton Plains National Park, Diyaluma and Bambarakanda Waterfalls and Lipton’s Seat are all iconic places.

I dint remember seeing any paintings or drawings of these vistas. and therefore, perhaps you can be the trailblazer artist in the area.

Pack all your painting equipment when you come on holiday.

Make sure that you have all that you need for painting or drawing on your holiday to capture this inspirational landscape.

In the Hill Country you will not be able to pick up a spare brush or paint easily.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and practice your art.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and get inspired by the landscape and surroundings.

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 inspirational landscape to paint Read More »

A writers retreat in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Life in Sri Lanka, Photography, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

A writers retreat in Sri Lanka.

A writers retreat in Sri Lanka.

Where can I stay when I want the peace, tranquility and inspirations to write when on holiday in Sri Lanka?

We have been asked by several guests whether we would offer a discount for a longer term stay at GlenMyu Estate.

The main reason a writer would request a longer stay is to be in a place which is comfortable for that length of time.
It also provides the opportunity to write or pursue their artistic endeavour.

Some guests have been completing or editing their book whilst staying at GlenMyu Estate.

During this stage of the writing process you need to be in a place of tranquility where you can concentrate on your masterpiece. Having the occasional guest of travellers pass through on their exploration of the island provides some relief and conversation from the endeavours of work.

As long as our internet speed is fast enough for you, and you don’t mind the odd dog or two breaking up the monotony of the day, we are happy to accommodate writers and artists.

What does a writer want from a writing retreat?

A writing retreat could be just what you need to start that novel, finish your chapter, book or poetry. Perhaps it’s a time to revise the short story you’ve been meaning to send out.

The main thing is that your writing retreat gives you a focused break from the trivial distractions of life that keep you from deep diving into the big picture of your personal story.

At GlenMyu Estate we offer a peaceful environment where you can concentrate on your artistic endeavours.

As there will be other travellers coming and going during your stay, you will have the opportunity to meet new, interesting people, outside your normal circles. You never know what conversations may generate an idea or storyline for your to develop.

A chance to get over what's in the way of you finsing your book.

One of the best ways to handle any and all writer issues is to take some time out for a writer’s retreat. Shutting your outside world out and go on a writing vacation may help you progress your writing or get some new inspiration.

A change in environment may help you and the Sri Lankan hill country offers something different that being at home.

You can unwind and not be concerned about distractions of everyday life. Escaping from all the responsibilities and sentiments for a short while will enable your to give 100 per cent to your writing.
No need to worry about the next meal, Ru will make sure you are fed with great home cooked food.

An inspirational landscape.

We believe that the landscape in the Sri Lankan Hill country has not been the subject of many paintings and drawings. It’s a landscape that appears to asking to be recorded.

The variation in the vista from the lounges with clear skies turning into fluffy clouds. Sometimes mist touching the windows of the house makes it a view that novel gets boring.

A temperature range that won't send you to sleep.

In the tropics, it’s easy to get into the habit of a siesta in the balmy weather.

The Sri Lankan Hill country however, is not as warm as the coasts and cities like Colombo, Galle and Kandy.
As the average annual temperature in Beragala is 21.3 °C ( 70.4 °F)/maximum temperature of 26.1 °C ( 78.8 °F ) you will not be knocked out by the heat.

Wake up and be ready to write after a dip in the swimming pool.

A swim in the natural spring fed swimming pool will also provide you with a refreshing wake up. This will ensure that you are ready to write. The natural surroundings may even inspire you writing your next chapter.

Press that WhatsApp button and contact us about a longer stay.

The peak season in Sri Lanka is from mid December to Mid April. During this period it will be more difficult to accommodate a longer stay at GlenMyu Estate.

We only have three bedrooms and we are finding that we are receiving some booking a year in advance.

Therefore we would recommend that you provide us with as much notice as possible to enquire about a longer stay.

Please press the WhatsApp button on our website to make your enquiry.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and write your book or paint the landscape.

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 writers retreat in Sri Lanka Read More »

Holidays in Sri Lanka in 2024

Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Holidays and Public Holidays in Sri Lanka during 2024.

Holidays and public holidays in Sri Lanka in 2024.

There are lots of long weekends in Sri Lanka in 2024 and the tourist sites will be busy.

Most Sri Lankans work on Saturdays, but you will see from the calendar below that there are several holidays on a Saturday. This will mean that tourists will be competing with local Sri Lankans for hotels, restaurants and sightseeing on a lot more weekends this year.

So, we would recommend that you book early.

Here is a list of Public and National Holidays in Sri Lanka during 2024 so you can plan your holiday.

Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - What is a Full Moon Poya Day?

A Poya Day is a civil and bank holiday.

The full moon day is normally considered as the Poya day in every month.

Poya is the name given to the Lunar monthly Buddhist holiday of Uposatha in Sri Lanka.

Usopatha is a Buddhist Day of observance.

The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for “cleansing of the defiled mind”.

On each Poya day, both lay and ordained members of the sangha (community) intensify their practice, deepen their knowledge and express communal commitment through acts of lay-monastic reciprocity.

It is a day for practicing the Budda’s teachings and meditation.

Lay followers make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or traditionally Eight Precepts.

For further information regarding the Precepts https://thebuddhistcentre.com/buddhism has some further reading.

Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - The Poya Days in 2024

Date

Day

Holiday

15th January

Monday

Tamil Thai Pongal

25th January

Thursday

Durutha Full Moon Poya Day

4th February

Sunday

National Day

24th February

Saturday

Navam Full Moon Poya Day

24th March

Sunday

Madin Full Moon Poya Day

29th March

Friday

Good Friday

10th April

Wednesday

Id Ul-Fitr

12th April

Friday

Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day

13th April

Saturday

Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day

23rd April

Tuesday

Bak Full Moon Poya Day

1st May

Wednesday

May Day

23rd May

Thursday

Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

24th May

Friday

Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

17th June

Monday

Poson Full Moon Poya Day

20th July

Saturday

Esala Full Moon Poya Day

19th August

Monday

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day

17th September

Tuesday

Binari Full Moon Poya Day

31st October

Thursday

Vap Full Moon Poya Day

15th November

Friday

III Full Moon Poya Day

14th December

Saturday

Undavap Full Moon Poya Day

25th December

Wednesday

Christmas Day

Please note that these date were researched and found at a Sri Lankan Government website providing dates for public holidays.

Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - What does it mean for me as a tourist to Sri Lanka?

Some of the Five Precepts have a noticeable effect on Poya Days for visitors.

Meat, Fowl and Fish products are not available to buy.

Alcohol is not available in most places.

All the Wine Stores and Supermarket alcohol sales are closed. Most bars and restaurants also are not allowed to sell alcohol on the day.

Buddhist Temples will be busy

A special Buddhist program is conducted by temples on Poya Days and is called Sil (sometimes spelt Sill).

Typically it starts early in the morning around 6 a.m. and comprises of sermons, discussion, blessings and meditation. It can last for 12 hours and the attendees are normally provided with food and drinks during the day.

If you do decide to visit a temple either during a Poya Day or outside the holidays please remember to dress and act appropriately.

What should I wear?

Trousers/pants/skirts or any other dress long enough to cover the knee.
A shirt/t-shirt/blouse or any other dress should cover the shoulders.
No hats and head cover.
No shoes/sandals or slippers.

When taking pictures.

It’s really important also not to take photos with your back to the Buddhist Statue.

Please do not touch, sit near or climb on a Buddhist Statue.

Please also get permission to take photos and never take pictures during worship.

Whatever you plan to do on your holiday in Sri Lanka we hope that you enjoy your time on this Paradise Island.

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.

Holidays in Sri Lanka in 2024 Read More »

Things I am Looking Forward to in 2024.

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Music, Photography, Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Things I am looking forward to in 2024

Things I am looking forward to in 2024.

A year of exploration, meeting new people, learning and getting more balance in my life.

Time to reset and look to the future.

Did you set a New Year’s resolution?

I set my early so that I didn’t have to wait until January the 1st.

However, the beginning of the year is a good time to spend some time thinking and planning what I want from 2024.

Sri Lanka in 2024 - it's going to be a busy year at GlenMyu Estate.

Our to the number of tourists expected to visit Sri Lanka in 2024, we are expecting a busy year. The government’s plans are to substantially increase tourism

We only have three bedrooms at GlenMyu Estate so there is limited capacity.

We can already see that we have a lack of availability in early 2024. This is the main tourist season in Sri Lanka and the number of enquiries reflect this.

Tourist numbers reached 200,000 in December 2023. The curve in visitor arrivals is going upwards.

It’s important for a country that needs foreign income after some difficult years.

It's not about money.

As we expect to be busy it’s important to take some time to reflect on what we achieved in 2023. And what we can improve on in 2024.

But, it’s as important that we look at what we want to achieve personally for ourselves in 2024. It’s not about the money, it’s about our health, wellbeing and achieving a balance in our lives.

We love meeting new people and having visitors, but we will need to take some time our for ourselves. This will mean some time away from the estate.

Our visitors have been to places that we have not been.

Since arriving in Sri Lanka in 2016 and being busy with the construction and development of GlenMyu Estate, we have had little time to enjoy this paradise island ourselves.

So many of our guests arrive in the Sri Lankan Hill country and are able to tell us about places that we haven’t visited ourselves.

Originally, when my then Sri Lankan girlfriend and I started dating we did travel around Sri Lanka on annual trips to visit her family. We started coming during the civil war and there were parts of the country that we were unable to visit.

Since the end of the civil war in May 2009, visiting the North and East of the country has opened up.

Friends from the UK who were visiting Sri Lanka for a wedding that travelled to Jaffna. They loved it there and said that we must explore the region before it gets spoilt.

Exploring Sri Lanka.

One of the things we aim to do in 2024 is to explore Sri Lanka.

We will need some time out for ourselves and will travel during the quieter times of the year.
By visiting more if the island we will be able to pass over our experiences and recommendations to our guests at GlenMyu Estate.

Learning to relax and meditate from our guests.

It’s amazing what each new guests brings to our lives at GlenMyu Estate.

Neither my wife or I were in the hospitality business and we were a little nervous when we started. However, it did not take us long to love hosting new people and learning more about their lives. We love it!

Each new visitor brings a new story and experience to GlenMyu Estate and they add colour to our lives.

I like to do some research on where our guest live, but I learn so much more from our conversations with them. There are places that I have not been, however, I feel that I have a good insight when I meet our guests.

Appreciating the environment and being closer to nature.

One of the main things that we see in our guests demeanour at GlenMyu Estate is how quickly they manage to relax.

The stresses of work and everyday life appear to be lifted in the hill country.

Guests are able to rest and get a good nights sleep.
The temperature at GlenMyu Estate is typically between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius during the day and the humidity levels are not that at the coast.

We often see the sense of relief and relaxation as guests emerge from the vehicle that has brought them he