sri lanka 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 »

Hotels in Sri Lanka for dog lovers and a swimming pool

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

Hotels in Sri Lanka for dog lovers and a swimming pool

Hotels in Sri Lanka for dog lovers and a swimming pool.

GlenMyu Estate is located in five acres of the Sri Lankan hill country , just over one hours drive from Ella.

We find that our guests like to stay out of the touristy areas but be within reach so that they can visit and experience the beautiful places to see in the area.

The swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate is filled by a natural spring and you will sometimes be accompanied by one of our dogs who will watch over you whilst you swim.

Meet the dogs

Here are some of the dogs that you will meet at GlenMyu Estate

We are proud to say that we have re-homed many puppies over the time we have lived in Sri Lanka.

It got a little more difficult to find homes in 2022 during the financial crisis experienced by the country.

However, recently (February 2025), we have managed to re-home three street dogs. They are all settled in their new homes with loving owners.

Your bit of charity when you stay with us

We aim to give all dogs that go through pour hands the best start in life as possible.

By staying with us at GlenMyu Estate, part of the money you pay goes to supporting the dogs.

The dogs at the estate are fed, housed and get their annual vaccinations.

We feed street dogs in Beragala town and have recently been supporting a female who gave birth to five puppies.

As some of the local Sri Lankans find it costly to spay or neuter their dogs, we provide funding to ease the financial pressure.

Our fabulous swimming pool

We love our swimming pool.

It is surrounded by a sea of green and listening to the bords as you swim is a joy.

The pool os not overlooked by the house and our guests like the level of privacy.

No need to share

As we only have three guest bedrooms you will often find that you are the only guests at the swimming pool.

Some families or friends book all three rooms at the estate and have the luxury of having the pool all to themselves.

It’s a perfect place to relax, have some fun and make memories that will last for a long time.

No chlorine, just spring water

Don’t you hate the chlorine smell when swimming and when you get out of the pool.

I just can’t wait to have a shower and remove that chemical odour.

As our swimming pool is filled from a natural spring and is constantly flowing, we do not use chlorine in the pool.

It’s and amazing experience and great to know that you are swimming in water as natural as it should be.

Enjoy our dogs and fabulous swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate

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 in Sri Lanka for dog lovers and a swimming pool Read More »

Horton Plain Entry Fee 2025

Birdwatching, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, Waterfalls / By Mikeez

What is the entry fee to Horton Plains National Park in 2025?

Horton Plains National Park Entry Fee 2025

Many of our guests at GlenMyu Estate enjoy a hike around Horton Plains National Park.

Some of our guests have shared their entry tickets with us so that we can share the information with you.

In February 2025, the cost for two foreign adults was LKR 23,382

This is approximately $82 USD for two adults.

The fee includes a service charge and taxes.

There is a lower cost for local Sri Lankans, which is normal at tourist sites on the island to make it affordable for them.

If you’re planning to visit, it’s worth noting that the park opens early, around 6:00 AM.

Going early provides you with the best chance to catch the stunning views at World’s End.

When you enter the trail, we would recommend that you our left to get to World’s End as early as possible before the clouds come in.

Horton Plains National Park is an amazing experience.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers breathtaking landscapes and a unique biodiversity.

It sits at an elevation of 2,100 to 2,300 meters (6,900 to 7,500 feet) above sea level.

Horton Plains spreads across over 3,169 hectares of the highest tableland of the island.

The 11 kilometre hike around is a truly unforgettable experience.

Here's what you can expect during your visit to Horton Plains

World’s End 

This dramatic cliff with a nearly 1,200-meter drop, offering stunning panoramic views of the valleys and tea estates below.  

If you are lucky enough to visit on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Indian Ocean.

Baker’s Falls (Waterfall)

 A picturesque waterfall surrounded by lush greenery.  

The waterfall is a short detour from the main trail down some concrete stairs.

We find that it is a welcome relief and a place where the spray can be cooling during your walk.

It provides a serene spot for photos or simply enjoying nature. Here is a family enjoying the beautiful cascade.

Find out about staying at GlenMyu Estate when you want to hike Horton Plains.

Flora and Fauna

Horton Plains  is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts.

 You’ll encounter sambar deer (this one was at the entrance), endemic bird species, and possibly even the elusive Sri Lankan leopard if you’re lucky.  

The landscape is dotted with montane grasslands and cloud forests.

Chimney Pool and Mini World’s End

There are other viewpoints and features along the way.

Each has their own charm.

We would recommend that you don’t rush your walk which will enable you to enjoy this amazing environment.

Be prepared for a hike!

The park’s early-morning mist creates an almost ethereal atmosphere, and the trekking trails make it an adventurous yet peaceful experience.

Bring a jacket for the walk as it is cool in the morning and you may get a little bit of rain.

Make sure you bring sturdy shoes or walking boots as some of the early garden parts of the trail can be a little tricky to navigate.

Also, bring plenty of water as it can get warm and you will need to keep hydrated.

If you are travelling from GlenMyu Estate, we provide you with a packed brackfast so you have something nice to eat during you hike.

When should I visit Horton Plains?

The best time to visit Horton Plains National Park is during the drier months which are from January to March. We have had guests at GlenMyu Estate hike the trail in December and some were lucky and some unlucky with the weather.

During this period, the weather is more stable, and you can enjoy clear views at attractions like World’s End without the interference of mist or rain.

Early mornings are particularly ideal, as the skies are usually clearer, and the park is less crowded.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and Horton Plains

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.

Horton Plain Entry Fee 2025 Read More »

What should I pack for Horton Plains National Park

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, The Pekoe Trail, Travel / By Mikeez

What should I pack for my hike at Horton Plains National Park?

What items should I pack for my hike around the amazing Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka?

This 11 kilometre hike in a Montane Cloud Forest is a favourite day trip for many of our guests at GlenMyu Estate.

We have compiled a list of 10 things that we would recommend that you bring.

10 Things to take with you to Horton Plains National Park

We have personally hiked around Horton Plains many times from GlenMyu Estate. It is around 1-1.5 hours drive from the estate and we recommend to leave early in the morning to get the best views.

It’s one of the more expensive experiences to do, but we think that it’s still worth the entry price.

Here are the things that we would recommend that you should consider bringing with you.

1. Comfortable clothing

We would recommend that you wear light, breathable layers as mornings can be chilly.

However, it does get warmer as the day progresses. My jacket and fleece is normally removed and put into my backpack some twenty minutes after starting the hike.

You can remove some of the layers and put them back on when needed to ensure that you are comfortable throughout your hike.

2 Sturdy Footwear

Although we often see local Sri Lankans hike around Horton Plains in flip flops, we would recommend that you wear suitable footwear suitable for a hike.

Sri Lankans are particularly adept at navigating the route and not breaking their shoes or slipping over.

Travellers should ensure that they use a a good pair of hiking boots or shoes with good grip is crucial for the trails. Some of the trail can be a bit slippery, especially with the morning dew or if it has been raining.

3. Water and Snacks

If you are staying at GlenMyu Estate, we send you off early in the morning with a sumptuous packed breakfast.

You should bring enough water to stay hydrated and lightweight snacks for energy.

Plastic bottles are allowed with the wrappers removed. Glass bottles are forbidden. I normally bring a couple of metal bottles filled with water.

Keep in mind that littering is strictly prohibited and you must take al your rubbish with you.

It’s important to keep this natural site as natural as possible..

4. Sun Protection:

Although it is cool as you will be hiking at an elevation of ,100 to 2,300 meters (6,900 to 7,500 feet) above sea level, the sun can be strong at higher altitudes.

Make sure that you pack sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.

There is very little tree cover on your hike so it is easy to get sunburnt.

5.Rain Gear:

I always take a lightweight rain jacket with me for the start of the hike and just in case the weather changes. You could also take a poncho which is light and can easily be stored when not needed.

6. Camera or Binoculars:

There are many photo opportunities on your hike. Taking a camera with a zoom lens is recommended as you will want to take wide angle photos of the landscape as well as telephoto photos of the wildlife.

There are lots of opportunities for birdwatching, so bring along a pair of binoculars.

7. Daypack or small rucksack:

It’s good to have a small bag to store your water, camera, snacks and other essentials whilst you walk.

8. ID and Cash:

You will be asked for your ID at the ticket office.

The entry fee is required in Sri Lankan Rupee cash, so bring enough local currency along with you.

For details about entry fees, see the information at the end of this page.

9. Travel Guide/Map:

While the trails are well-marked, it’s helpful to have a guide or map for orientation. You can pick one up at the shop before you start your hike.

It’s worth doing some research beforehand so that you don’t miss out seeing some of the flora and fauna on your hike.

10. A Reusable/Recyling Bag:

You will be visiting a beautiful unique environment and it’s important that everyone does their bit to preserve this natural beauty. Please take a garbage/trash bag with you so that you can take your trash with you and dispose of it responsibly.

What is the ticket cost for Horton Plains National Park?

Some of our guests recently completed the hike (in February 2025) and very kindly allowed us to take a photo of the ticket to share with you.

As you can see, it cost around 24,000 Sri Lankan Rupees for two Foreign Adults.

This is around US$80 (conversion March 2025).

Please note that you will need to bring Sri Lankan rupees cash for the entry fee.

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.

What should I pack for Horton Plains National Park Read More »

Baker's Falls - a family enjoying the view

Family holiday in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Little Adam's Peak, Natural Swimming Pool, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda, Waterfalls / By Mikeez

A family holiday in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a fantastic destination for a family holiday.

It offers a mix of adventure, relaxation, and cultural experiences.

Here are some ideas to make your trip memorable:

Hill Country Experiences

Explore the serene beauty of places like Ella, Nuwara Eliya, or Haputale.

You can enjoy scenic train rides, tea plantations, and waterfalls.

Wildlife Safaris

Visit Yala or Udawalawe National Parks for a chance to see elephants, leopards, and other wildlife.

It’s an exciting experience for kids and adults alike.

Days at the beach

Relax on the golden beaches of Bentota, Mirissa, or Unawatuna. These spots are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or simply soaking up the sun.

Exploring Sri Lanka's culture

Discover the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, or Sigiriya.

The Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a must-see for its history and breathtaking views

Connecting with Sri Lanka's abundant nature

Head to Horton Plains for a family hike to World’s End or visit the Bambarakanda Falls, the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

Spiritual Sites

Explore the sacred city of Kandy, home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, or visit Kataragama for its spiritual significance.

A holiday for all the family

Sri Lanka’s diversity ensures there’s something for everyone in the family.

Stay with your family 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.

Family holiday in Sri Lanka Read More »

How do I stay connected in Sri Lanka?

Birdwatching, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Little Adam's Peak, Natural Swimming Pool, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Staying connected on holiday in Sri Lanka

Staying connected in Sri Lanka has become much easier over the years that I have been travelling to the island.

Mobile coverage is generally quite good around the island.

Here are some practical options for you:

Tourist SIM Cards

Tourist SIM cards can be purchased from providers like Dialog or Mobitel at the airport or in major cities. These are the most popular choices for tourists due to their wide coverage and affordable data packages.

There are kiosks operated by the main providers in the terminal before you exit the airport. I have found that the sales clerks have been very helpful. They are happy to put the Tourist SIM card into your phone so you are ready to go.

A typical tourist SIM card costs around 1,400 LKR and includes generous data allowances. These packages are perfect for navigation, social media, and staying in touch.

eSIMs

If your phone supports eSIM technology, you can pre-order an eSIM online before your trip.

EeSIMS are a convenient option as it eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. You can also top up online if you find that you need more data and connectivity.

Wi-Fi Hotspots

Like in other countries, many hotels, cafes, and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi.

But, the speed and reliability can vary, especially in rural areas.

Data packages for commercial businesses are high compared to Europe and therefore sometimes the data runs out or the business only offers a slower MBPS to save costs.

Sri Lanka is not set up for you to sit in a cafe all day using the businesses data to work or surf the net. The costs are just too high for the businesses unlike Starbucks or another coffee franchise.

Roaming

This is probably the most expensive option. However, if you want to limit your connectivity, perhaps the cost will allow you to focus on your holiday and forget about back home.

It is recommended that you check with your home mobile provider for international roaming packages.

This option is convenient but is likely to be more expensive than local options.

Coverage

What is coverage like in Sri Lanka?

Coverage is generally good in cities and along the coast, but it can be spotty in remote areas like the Hill Country or National Parks.

WiFi at GlenMyu Estate

Keeping people connected is important to us at GlenMyu Estate.

Whether it’s keeping in contact with your family so that they know you are safe or with the office we have Wifi delivered by SLT Fibre.

We find that the speed is adequate for our guests requirements.

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.

How do I stay connected in Sri Lanka? Read More »

How long should I stay?

Accommodation, Birdwatching, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Little Adam's Peak, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

How long should I stay?

How long should I stay?

As GlenMyu Estate has evolved, we have found that most guests find that they wish that they had stayed longer with us.

Recently, we have been receiving more bookings for four night stays.
I came to the conclusion some time ago that seasoned travellers see the benefit of staying at one place for at least three nights.

I can see that in future, more guests will opt for longer stays.

Here are my thoughts as to why.

Race around Sri Lanka on your first time here

A typical first holiday on this beautiful island consists of a race around the island to see all of the headline sights. You must climb the Lion Rock, visit Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth, take the train journey, see Nine Arch Bridge, safari in Yala and get a tan at the southern beaches.

I don’t think that there is anything wrong with this.

Most people think that this will be there one and only experience of Sri Lanka. The fact is that once you have been here once, you will want to come back again.

At GlenMyu Estate we come across many guests that are on their second, third and even twelfth time on the island!

There is so much more!

What people find is that there is so much more to experience on this small island.

Delving deeper on your following trips allows you to explore and get to understand the people and culture to a higher level.

A British thing

Being brought up in Britain has left me with being diplomatic and not pushy. I know that guest should stay longer and ought to tell them. Unfortunately, culturally, I find it really difficult to do.

I really don’t want guests to get the impression that we are just trying to make more money.
We are not naturally pushy people.
But, I know that a longer stay is the right thing.

I just hope that guests read our reviews on Google, Booking.com and Airbnb and see how many guests recommend a longer stay.

One night is not enough!

Although we are happy that guests get to experience GlenMyu Estate, one night is hardly enough.

So many guests really don’t enjoy unpacking for one night. Also, if you arrive late in the day, you won’t get the chance to enjoy the estate. You could spend a day at the estate alone, enjoying the pool, garden tour and the delicious meals we serve.

Why stay for three nights

Some time ago I came to the conclusion that seasoned travellers stay in each hotel for at least three nights.

There are lots of reasons

Unpacking your suitcase every night

I see so many guests getting frustrated by having to unpack one night and repack the following morning.

This is exhausting itself.

So much to see

If you research where you are staying and what to do in the surrounding area you will find that one night is not enough.

For example, within reach of GlenMyu Estate, there are several hiking trails, the tallest and second highest waterfalls, viewpoints, temples and small towns to explore.

Searching on TripAdviser or Google for things to do will provide you with lots of things you may be interested in visiting.

We have a ‘thing to do’ section on our website.

Spending time at the estate

Lots of our guests enjoy spending some time relaxing and exploring the five acre estate.

I love to see guests reading a book after enjoying a swim in the swimming pool.

Travellers need to combine exploring with relaxation during their vacation.

Garden Tours and Cookery Demonstrations

We offer a complimentary garden tour and cookery demonstration at GlenMyu Estate.

These are experiences that you can enjoy after going sightseeing in the morning.

How do I decide on how long I should stay?

Many of our guests contact us directly by WhatsApp to make their booking.

I always ask if they want any recommendations on what to see and do whilst they are here.

We know what previous guests like and are happy to share links to the fabulous sites and experiences to explore in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

We learn from our guests

Some of our guests have discover places that we didn’t know about. Typically these places would be lesser known and off the beaten path.

Recently some architects stayed with us at GlenMyu Estate. Fans of Sri Lanka’s famous architect Geoffrrey Bawa, they had arranged to visit a Bawa designed church near Bandarawela.

We were not aware of this place.

The architects were delighted to show us photos of the beautiful church on their return. It was stunning!

Subsequently, we have suggested to other guests to visit the church, especially if they have an interest in architecture..

Ask your hosts beforehand

So, we would recommend that you message your hosts and ask them. They really should be the experts in their local area and you might get to see something that is not on your list.

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.

How long should I stay? Read More »

What is the Sri Lankan Hill Country?

Bambarakanda Waterfall, Sri Lanka., Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Little Adam's Peak, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda, Waterfalls / By Mikeez

The Sri Lankan Hill Country

The Sri Lankan Hill Country is also known as the Central Highlands.

It is a scenic mountainous region located in the central part of the island. The Sri Lankan Hill Country is renowned for its lush tea plantations, cool climate, and breathtaking landscapes.

Stunning and inspiring landscapes

This part of the island includes famous destinations such as Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Ella, and Haputale.

Each place offers unique experiences and stunning views.

Highlights of the Sri Lankan Hill Country

There are so many amazing places to visit in the hills. Here are a few highlights that we would recommend seeing during your holiday.

Tea Plantations

Sri Lanka is famous for its tea production, and visitors can tour tea estates, learn about the tea-making process, and enjoy a cup of world-class Ceylon tea.

Beautiful Train Journeys

This area of the country has some of the most scenic train rides

Train journeys through the hill country are considered some of the most beautiful in the world, offering picturesque views of rolling hills, waterfalls, and terraced fields.

Hiking and Trekking in Sri Lanka

There are numerous trails for outdoor enthusiasts, including hikes to Horton Plains, World’s End, and Adam’s Peak.

Wonderful waterfalls

The hill country is dotted with stunning waterfalls, such as Ramboda Falls, Diyaluma Falls, and Bambarakanda Falls.

Historical and Cultural Sites

The region is rich in cultural heritage, with places like the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, which is a significant religious site for Buddhists.

Something for everyone

This region is a perfect destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those looking to experience the serene beauty and cultural richness of 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.

What is the Sri Lankan Hill Country? Read More »

Honeymoon Hearts for Valentine's Day in Sri Lanka

Valentine’s Day Sri Lanka

Holiday, Honeymoon, Natural Swimming Pool, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Valentine's Day Sri Lanka

Do you want to do something special on Valentine’s Day in Sri Lanka?

A stay at a luxury boutique villa in the Sri Lankan Hill country, away from the crowds, may be for you and your loved one.

Valentine's Day - what is it?

February the 14th is a special day around the world where loved ones.

It is thought that that this holiday has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which is held in mid-February.

This festival celebrated the coming of spring. Part of the festival included fertility rites and the pairing off of women

Towards the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I forbid the celebration of Lupercalia and he is sometimes attributed with replacing it with St. Valentine’s Day.

The actual origins are not certain however, Valentine’s Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century.

A romantic getaway in Sri Lanka

February the 14th happens to fall during the main tourist season in Sri Lanka.

Many travellers from Northern Europe escape the cold winter temperatures and visit this paradise island.

We, at GlenMyu Estate, think that just because you are on holiday, you should still celebrate Valentine’s Day with your someone special.

As we only have three guests bedrooms, it is a perfect place to spend a romantic night or two together whilst on holiday.

What makes Valentine's Day special?

According to a 2022 US YouGov poll, when asked what they would like to receive as a Valentine’s Day gift, the most common answers were as follows;

A card ( 30%)
To go out for a nice dinner (28%)
Chocolates or candy/sweets 27%)
Flowers (22%)
A homemade meal or baked goods (20%) to celebrate the day.
Under one in five (17%) want sexual favors to celebrate the holiday!
16% would welcome a piece of jewellery.

Going out for an expensive Valentine's Day dinner

In the UK, I used to get quite anxious trying to find the right restaurant to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
It’s a commercial event where restaurants bump up their prices to make the most of the demand in bleak mid February. And February payday is a long time coming!

Apart from feeling a bit ripped off, I really didn’t like sitting in a busy restaurant for the meal. It didn’t feel that special.

GlenMyu Estate has only been open since 2022 and we only have three guest bedrooms, Valentine’s Day feels so much more of a special experience for our guests.

The food is great (read our reviews!) and it is a really special place to spend that romantic night together.
We even encourage you to bring your own wine or bubbly in order to keep the costs as low as possible for you.

Here are a couple from Austria who enjoyed a special Valentine’s evening together at GlenMyu Estate.

Great food to warm the heart

Ru and the team prepare something special for our guests on Valentine’s Day.

We have enough space in the lounges to provide you with some privacy making it a memorable experience for you and your partner.

Spend your Valentine's Day at GlenMyu Estate in 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.

Valentine’s Day 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 »

Street dogs in Sri Lanka

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Charity work in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Street Dogs in Sri Lanka

When you visit Sri Lanka you will come across lots of Street dogs as you travel around the country.

Street dogs were highlighted in Dr Scotts Animals of Asia for ITV’s This Morning programme.

There are around 3 million street dogs in Sri Lanka.

They don’t want a home however, they need feeding, medical and support.

Spaying and neutering dogs in Sri Lanka will help keep the over population of street dogs in Sri Lanka under control.

Ben Fogle was also in Sri Lanka

Ben Fogle has visited Janey on two occasions which highlighted the issues with street dogs in Sri Lanka.

Find out more about We Care Worldwide

Dr Janey and her team at We Care Worldwide do a fabulous job and are deserving of support.

Find out more about We Care Worldwide by visiting their website.

Other great work supporting Street Dogs in Sri Lanka

There are many other organisations doing great work supporting, feeding, caring and arranging adoptions for the street dogs in Sri Lanka.

Here are a few links to others in Sri Lanka that are worthy of your support.

We do our bit for street dogs at GlenMyu Estate

At GlenMyu Estate, we have collected several dogs since we moved to the area in 2018.

We did peak at around 35 when our first dog, Clove, managed to have 7 puppies with her first litter! Yes, we were in trouble.

However, as Clove has a wonderful personality, all of her puppies were in great demand. Is she had 20 puppies, we could have found homes for them all.

We kept one, her grumpy son Roti.

At this date (November 2024), we have 9 rescue dogs that live on the 5 acre estate.

They are all vaccinated, friendly, and love meeting guests.

Some of our guests come and stay at GlenMyu Estate to meet the dogs and explore the many wonderful places to visit within a drive from the estate.

Support our work by staying at GlenMyu Estate

If you read our reviews, you will see that our guests really love their experience at GlenMyu Estate whilst they are on holiday in Sri Lanka.

By staying with us, you support employment for local people and also help to feed and care for our 9 dogs, ducks, chickens, cow and bull!

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.

Street dogs in Sri Lanka Read More »

Searching for Leopards in Sri Lanka

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

Searching for Leopards in Sri Lanka

Searching for Leopards in Sri Lanka

Dr Scott from ITV’s This Morning programme was on the search for Leopard in Sri Lanka.

He visited Sri Lanka’s second largest National Park, Yala, which is located on the south of the island.

The Sri Lankan Leopard

(Panthera pardus, Linnaeus, 1758)

The Sri Lankan Leopard is a leopard species that is native to Sri Lanka.

It is the most secretive and elusive of the large carnivores, and also the shrewdest.

The Sri Lankan leopard has a tawny or rusty yellow coat with dark spots and close-set rosettes, which are smaller than in Indian leopards.

Watch ITV This Mornings Dr Scott

You can watch the episode which was broadcast on the 11th November 2024 here.

Maybe one day!

I unfortunately, have not seen a Leopard in Sri Lanka (Yet!).

The photos I have used are stock photos and not me own.

I hope to see a Leopard myself in Horton Plains National Park, like one of our guests from GlenMyu Estate, did last year.

Animals of Asia

Dr Scott previously was searching for Elephants and you can watch the following clip to see what he found.

Supporting the Street Dogs with Janey of WeCare Worldwide

Ben Fogle on his New Lives in the Wild series had met Janey, the British vet who lives on the south coast of the island and cares for street dogs.

The original programme was launched in 2020 and there was a follow up programme in May 2024.

Dr Scott visited Dr Janey on his recent series Animals of Asia for ITV’s This Morning programme.

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.

Searching for Leopards in Sri Lanka Read More »

Maalu Maalu - swimming at the East Coast of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Holiday in 2025

Bambarakanda Waterfall, Sri Lanka., 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

Sri Lankan holiday in 2025.

A Sri Lankan holiday in 2025?

Everybody appears to be going to Sri Lanka on holiday!

Why should I go on a Sri Lankan holiday in 2025?
When is the best time to go on holiday?
What are the best places to see on the island?

Why is Sri Lanka so popular?

Since the end of the global pandemic Sri Lankan tourist numbers have been increasing.

The country has been through some difficult times economically and now, after a period of stability, is regularly at the top of recommended places to visit in various polls.

Over the last twelve months holidaying in this paradise island came out high in the following awards and news;

Sri Lanka is projected to emerge as one of world’s fastest-growing travel destinations in 2025 according to the 2024 WTM Global Travel Report

Timeout.com ranked Sri Lanka as no 1 in their “Best places for solo female travel in 2024” .

In April 2024, Sri Lanka ranked 5th in CEO World Magazine’s “World’s Best Countries to Visit”

Sri Lanka was awarded the Best International Tourism project in the Wider World for The Pekoe Trail by the British Guild of Travel Writers Tourism in November 2023.

Other countries are suffering from over tourism

Sri Lanka’s tourist numbers peaked at 2.333 million in 2018.
The number of visitors had grown since the end of the 26 year civil war which ended in 2009.

Since 2018 the tourist numbers dropped again due to the global pandemic and then a financial crisis.

It has since been supported by an IMF bailout and stability has now come back to the country.

The main peak tourist season is from December to March when the country welcomes many visitors wanting avoid some of the northern hemisphere winter.

Tourist numbers doubled in December 2023, January and February 2024 compared to the previous years.

However, Sri Lankan tourist numbers are still very small compared to established markets in South East Asia such as Thailand 28 m, Vietnam 11 m, Philippines 5.5m, Cambodia 5.43 and Bali 15.4 m

Tourist numbers are low (comparatively)...at the moment

However, Sri Lankan tourist numbers are still very small compared to established markets in South East Asia such as Thailand 28 m, Vietnam 11 m, Philippines 5.5m, Cambodia 5.43 and Bali 15.4 m

Why should I go on a Sri Lankan holiday in 2025?

The ambition for tourist numbers by the country is high.

It is expected that 2 million tourists will visit in the calendar year to 2024. This is 300,000 short of their original target.

In 2025 the target tourist numbers are 3 million which is a significant rise.

We would suggest that you visit in 2025 so that you can enjoy the sights before it gets too busy.

You can read about the monthly tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka at the following link.

When is it best to visit Sri Lanka on holiday?

Well it depends!

As mentioned, the main tourist season is from December through to March/Mid April.

If you are wanting a “winter’ holiday you will be coming when there are the most tourists in the country.

The island is affected by two monsoons which will determine what part of the island that you can visit without getting too wet!

You can visit the central parts of the country including the cultural triangle and central hill country for most of the year.

It is good to visit the West and Southern beaches and coasts during December to April.

The Northern and Eastern beaches and coast are best visited during May through to September.

What are the best places to see on the island?

The island has so many amazing places to visit that it is impossible to say what the best places are.

Again, it depends on what you really want our of a holiday.

There are a large variety of beaches around the coast where you can get a tan, swim, surf and enjoy the local nightlife.

Wildlife is abundant in many of the the National Park, such as Yala and Udawalawe. There are safari parks around the county and you will find one in reasonably close proximity wherever you are on the island.

You can get your fill of the culture and heritage from many of the sights in the Cultural Traingle.

If you want to hike and get closer to nature there are many hiking trails around the country. The newest is the Pekoe Trail which covers 300 kilometres over 22 stages staring in Kandy and finishing after Ella.

There is hiking to suit most abilities and energies from Little Adam’s Peak, Horton Plains National Park, Knuckles Mountain Range and the religious pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak.

It's your first trip to the island - what we would recommend.

Sri Lanka really can’t be seen in one trip.

However, we would recommend that you start by staying a night in Negombo to get over your flight.

Then most guests do a circular tour around the island, either clockwise or anti-clockwise.

Start from Colombo/Negombo and travel towards Kandy and visit the cultural triangle.

Head south towards Nuwara Eliya and visit a tea factory.

Visit the central hills to see the sights near Ella. (Stay at GlenMyu Estate to hike Horton Plains, see Lipton’s Seat and visit Upper Diyaluma Waterfall).

Travel south to Yala and enjoy a safari.

Finally spend time to recuperate and get a tan at one of the southern beaches.

Visit Sri Lanka - you wont be disappointed!

We find that all of our guests that arrive at GlenMyu Estate have already had a wonderful experience of their time travelling around the island.

Once you have visited you will want to come back again and 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.

Sri Lankan Holiday in 2025 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 »

ITV’s This Mornings’ Dr Scott explores the animals of Asia

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Birds, Birdwatching, Holiday, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

ITV This Mornings' Dr Scotts 'Animals of Asia'

In a brand new series on ITV’s This Morning programme Dr Scott Millar explores the ‘Animals of Asia’.

Dr Scott is embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the tropical island of Sri Lanka.

On the 5th of November 2024 Dr Scott was out on safari in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka searching for the Asian elephant.

This Morning - a daytime magazine TV programme

ITV’s This Morning is a British daytime magazine programme that is broadcast on ITV live every weekday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The programme covers a whole range of topics including news, celeb guests, expert advice, real-life stories and competitions, plus a mix of cookery, health and more.

Dr Scott visits Udawalawe National Park to see the Elephants there.

We can see the reservoir at Udawalawe which provides water for the animals in the park in the distance from our lounge at GlenMyu Estate.

He watches a Crested Hawk Eagle having a bath in the water close to his safari vehicle.

Dr Scott comments that he is in Sri Lanka as it has the highest density of elephants anywhere in the region.

Dr Scott describes himself as a “Broadcaster Author Welfare and Wildlife Warrior” on his Instagram profile.

He also has a Tok Tok channel called Rescue Vet which mainly show his work with animals in the UK.

Rescue Vet

The vet has his own YouTube Channel called Rescue Vet.

This channel shows fresh and new Dr Scott content. It takes a sneak peek inside a Veterinary practice in London.

Sri Lanka - the best place to see animals in their natural environment

According to Dr Scott, Sri Lanka is the nest place to see animals in their natural environment.

On ITV’s This Morning Programme he focussed on the Elephants

There however, is a human elephant conflict in Sri Lanka where the elephants habitat is reducing as more development is taking place.

Sri Lankan Elephants

According to the World Wildlife Fund ‘The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants”

The herd size in Sri Lanka ranges from 12-20 individuals or more. It is led by the oldest female, or matriarch.

The Sri Lankan elephant population has fallen almost 65% since the turn of the 19th century.

Safari Parks in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has many safari parks around the island, all of which provide different experiences to see the animals in their environment.

The most well known is Yala National Park which is on the Southern Coast. Lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate visit Yala prior or after their stay in the Central Hills of the country. Yala has a wide range of animals that you may see on your safari.

We can see Udawalawe Reservoir from the main lounge at GlenMyu Estate. This National Park is great if you want to see mainly Elephants.

There are many other National Parks around the country where our guests have provided positive feedback on their visits.

We have been to Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks which were particularly good for seeing elephants and birds.

There are many other safari parks around the country which provides a variety of experiences and animals and birds to see.

If you are interested in birdwatching then there are some parks that are particularly good. Sinharaja, Kumana, Bundala, and Gal Oya are just a few of many options.

Building a habitat to encourage animals to thrive at GlenMyu Estate

From the outset building GlenMyu Estate, we were focused on bringing biodiversity back to the once dilapidated five acres of land.

The land was once part of a larger tea estate and then a sugar cane plantation. When the production of sugar cane became uneconomic, the land was abandoned.

When Ru bought the land, it was overgrown with mainly Guinea Grass, which was brought in to Sri Lanka as quick growing cattle fodder. It took over the land and did not allow any of the endemic species to thrive.

We have taken some years to take out much of this unwanted grass and aimed to create a food forest. The produce would be a source of food for ourselves, our guests and the animals that visit the estate.

The forest is still in its infancy, however, Ru loves to give our guests a garden tour to show what we are growing on the estate.

Leaving space for the flora and fauna

We also wanted to make sure that we did not overdevelop the land so that we could provide space for flora and fauna.

Commercially, it would have made sense for us to build lots of other guest accommodation around the estate. However, this would not leave sufficient space to create the habitat for the animals that visit or have their home on the estate.

What animal life will you see at GlenMyu Estate?

Nature does not guarantee anything however we regularly get one of two types of monkey visiting the estate.

Occasionally you may see a Barking Deer in the distance.

However, we can almost guarantee that you will see a variety of birdlife foraging at the estate every day.

Support our work by staying at GlenMyu Estate

By choosing GlenMyu Estate as part of your holiday in Sri Lanka you will be supporting the work that we are doing on the land to encourage wildlife to thrive here.

You will also have an amazing experience, as supported by the guest reviews that we have on various platforms.

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.

ITV’s This Mornings’ Dr Scott explores the animals of Asia Read More »

Swimming with my wife

Holiday, Natural Swimming Pool, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda, Waterfalls / By Mikeez

Swimming with my wife

I like swimming on my own, however swimming with my wife is also an amazing experience.

What do I prefer – I am too diplomatic to say!

It was all her idea

Building a swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate was all her idea.

Sure, I thought that if we were opening a bed and breakfast facility, then a swimming pool would be a great addition.

The hitch came when it looked like we were running out of money to build the main house.

Being a conservative ex-banker, I wanted to finish the house first and then build the pool.

My wife insisted that we start the pool early, and, as usual, she got her way.

And then I found out that she couldn't swim

I was a little bit perplexed when we completed the swimming pool.

Trying it out for the first time, I realised that my wife couldn’t swim!

But my wife was the driving force behind building the swimming pool?!!!

The best decision

Building the swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate is one of my wife’s many excellent decisions.

She learnt to swim in her own pool. I guess that we had spent so much money on the pool that she was determined to use it.

I calculated the cost compared to my gym membership and personal trainer cost in London. Working out how much we would need to use the swimming pool to recoup our investment was an incentive for me!

The joy of swimming in an uncrowded swimming pool, as often as we want, is a real luxury.

It certainly was the best decision to build the pool in conjunction with the house construction.

No chlorine

One of my major bug bears with most pools is that you end up smelling of chlorine once you come out of the pool.

The thought of being covered in some nasty toxic smelling chemical was not a great feeling.

We do use a little chlorine from time to time in our pool at GlenMyu Estate. This usually when we don’t have much rains during August and September.

However, the small amount of cholrine we use is added at night. The great thing is that the chemicals evaporate and the smell has gone by the time of your morning swim.

It's not a bath, it's a swimming pool!

We find that swimming in a warm pool is energy sapping. Also the water does not give much resistance making it harder to swim.

My wife and I swam at a hotel pool near Galle earlier in 2024 and we really didn’t like it. We both felt exhausted in the warm water and really didn’t want to swim.

I was really disappointed as I wanted to expend some energy and reenergise myself after a long car drive.

Some swimming pools are too cold

Several years ago we stayed at a hotel near Haputale and used their swimming pool. Haputale is at an elevation of just over, 1,400 metres which is 400 metres higher than GlenMyu Estate.

The pool was cold. So cold that I used it once and didn’t want to use it again. It was not a pleasant experience (although probably very good for you!).

If the sun does not hit our swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate, sometimes it is a challenge getting into the cooler water. However, after a few lengths, my body is warmed up and attuned to the temperature. Once I get myself over this challenge, I love it!

Swimming with my wife - more often please!

The shared experience swimming with my wife is good for us for our fitness. It’s also good for our relationship.

Sure, she splashes sometimes and says that I haven’t swam enough, but it’s a great experience to spend some special time together.

Our guest love our pool

We have found that our guests love the swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate.

It’s a different experience for them on their holiday on this paradise island.

We have some guests that are used to cold water swimming in lakes or the sea and they love our pool.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and swim in our fabulous pool.

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

Apart from enjoying the pool and the amazing five acer estate, you can visit sights like Horton Plains National Park, Liptons Seat and Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

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 so many more fabulous places to experience.

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

Swimming with my wife Read More »

Haputale to Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Haputale to Horton Plains National Park

How do I get from Haputale to Horton Plains National Park?

Does it take long to get there?

What will I see when I get to Horton Plains?

How do I get from Haputale to Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka?

Our guests regularly visit Horton Plains National Park when they stay at GlenMyu Estate.

Find out more about how long it takes and how to get there.

How do I get from Haputale to Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka?

The road from Haputale to Horton Plains National Park takes you through tea estates and some small towns.

You can find the route on Google Maps.

When leaving Haputale you take the B48 road past Haputale Police Station towards Boralanda. This road will take you through a tea estate, over a small railway crossing and through vegetable gardens.

From Boralanda you take the first exit (B508) towards Rahangala and Ohia.

At Ohia you will cross the railway tracks and make your way through Pine Forest and you will reach Horton Plains National Park.

Once you have paid the entrance fee you will make your way to the car park and you can commence your hike.

Entrance fee in Rupees Cash only!

At this stage Horton Plains National Park only takes Rupees cash for the entrance fee.

Please make sure that you bring sufficient Sri Lankan Rupees cash with you so you can get access to the park.

How long does it take to get to Horton Plains from Haputale?

The journey takes around one hour and fifteen minutes and is around thirty kilometres.

From GlenMyu Estate it will take one and a half hours and is around forty kilometres.

We normally send our guests off early in the morning with a packed breakfast which they can eat on their walk.

What will I see when I get there?

Hiking the eleven kilometre circular hike around Horton Plains National Park is an amazing experience.

Apart from the unique landscape, special flora and fauna there are three main sights to visit.

World’s End is a cliff drop of around 970 metres.

Lesser World’s End is also spectacular with a drop of around 270 metres.

Baker’s Falls is a beautiful waterfall within the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Staying at GlenMyu Estate and visiting Horton Plains National Park

A limited time special offer

We have special offer for guests staying at GlenMyu Estate until the 30th of April 2025. Please see the attached offer.

It takes around one hour and thirty minutes to get to Horton Plains from GlenMyu Estate.

We recommend going early in order to get the best chance of a view at World’s End before the clouds come in. A sumptous breakfast is provided so you have the energy for your hike.

The hike will take you around three hours and we always feel great having completed the walk in this special environment.

Returning to our Natural Spring Fed Infinity Swimming Pool

One of the great benefits of staying at GlenMyu Estate is that you can ease those muscles by having a swim in our swimming pool.

The pool is fed from a Natural Spring and the water is cool encouraging you to swim.

It’s a great way to spend the afternoon surrounded by nature..

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.

Haputale to Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka Read More »

A view of Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara, Ella, Sri Lanka.

Heavy influx of tourists visiting Nine Arch Bridge, Ella

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

Heavy influx of tourists visiting Nine Arch Bridge, Ella, Sri Lanka

There was a heavy influx of tourists visiting Nine Arch Bridge in August 2024.

Here is the reason why this tourist attraction was so busy.

It was reported in the Sri Lankan Daily Mirror that on the 22nd of August there was a heavy influx of tourists to visit Nine Arch Bridge Ella.

Read the article by clicking on this link.

Why was there such an influx of tourists to see the bridge?

August is in the middle of school holidays for Sri Lankan children.
It was also a long weekend and therefore many local tourist visited the Sri Lankan hill country that weekend.

This is the main reason why there was lots of tourists visiting Nine Arch Bridge.

There has also been an increase in foreign travellers visiting the island.

Avoid public holidays or long weekends

If you like less crowded tourist spots then we would recommend that you check the public holiday in Sri Lanka. You can avoid the large number of tourists visiting Nine Arch Bridge

On public holidays and long weekends, you will be competing for space at the tourist spots with local travellers along with foreign tourists. Local tourists tend to visit Nine Arch Bridge in numbers during these times.

Take a day trip to visit Ella and Nine Arch Bridge from GlenMyu Estate

Ella Town is just over 1 hours drive from GlenMyu Estate.

Many of our guests take a Tuk Tuk to Haputale and then take the 1 hour train journey to Ella or Demodara Station.

Apart from visiting Nine Arch Bridge you can also do some great hikes near to the town

Little Adam’s Peak is a short hike that end with an amazing view.

Ella Rock is a little bit more challenging of a hike, especially as you reach the top.

There is also some stages of the new Pekoe Trail that you can trek.

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.

Heavy influx of tourists visiting Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Read More »

Bomburu Ella Waterfall, near Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Bomburu Ella Waterfall (Nuwara Eliya)

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

Bomburu Ella Waterfall, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

We did a day trip from GlenMyu Estate to Bomburu Ella Waterfall in July 2024.

Where is Bomburu Ella Waterfall?

Bomburu Ella waterfall is located in Nuwara Eliya District, 15 km away from the town of Welimada.

It is the widest waterfall in the country as it consists of several little waterfalls together.

It is the ideal area for a fun picnic with family and friends.

A beautiful agricultural landscape

As you start your ascent there are some beautiful landscapes to enjoy.

The surrounding area is known for growing all types of vegetables and rice.

There are also places to explore as you make your way towards the main Bomburu Ella falls.

What does it cost to visit Bomburu Ella Waterfall?

We visit the falls in August 2024 and the entry costs are as follows:

Local Adult LKR 100
Local Child LKR 30

Foreign Adult LKR 700
Foreign Child LKR 300

Recycling efforts

It was good to see that the local council are encouraging recycling. As many travellers to Sri Lanka know, garbage disposal is a problem on the island.

Sri Lanka is slowly getting to grips with the amount of plastic it uses. It has a long way to go, however, initiatives like this should change the landscape in the future.

Unfortunately, we visited after a long holiday weekend and the amount of rubbish we saw in the pools at Bomburu Ella was disappointing. A team was due to clear up the garbage later in the week.

Climbing through the forest on the way to Bomburu Ella Waterfall

You certainly can get your heart rate moving as you make your way through the forest up to the falls.

I am always careful in these situations as it would be difficult to get back down with a sprained ankle or a worse injury.

Navigating the tree roots as you climb can be tricky.

However, the shade provided by the trees make it a pleasant climb.

A magnificent sight

The effort to get here was all worthwhile.

We didn’t travel in the best of weather, but the sight that greets you does not disappoint.

The water was in good flow creating a natural soundtrack to this beautiful landscape.

Although the long weekend had ended and most locals had returned to work, there were lots that had extended their holiday.

It was great to see so many people enjoying the water and the spectacular views.

I was one of the few foreign visitors to the falls as it is not on the main tourist itinerary of things to see.

A favourite place for local Sri Lankans

Bomburu Ella Waterfall is not a main spot for foreign tourists to visit, however it is a favourite place for local Sri Lankans.

As this is a little off the beaten track it is not on the main tourist route.
However, if you are staying in Nuwara Eliya and want something different to do, we would highly recommend it as an experience.

It’s great if you want a unique experience in Sri Lanka, especially if you can avoid holidays and weekends when it will be less busy.

We made did this day trip from GlenMyu Estate and had a fabulous experience which we will do again at a less busy time.

Day trips from GlenMyu Estate

Bomburu Ella Waterfall is around 1.5 hours drive from GlenMyu Estate.

You can also visit the waterfall when you are staying in Nuwara Eliya. It is only 45 minutes drive from the town (18.5 km).

There are lots of day trips that you can do when you stay at GlenMyu Estate.

Many of our guests do a day trip to Ella to climb Little Adam’s Peak and visit Nine Arch Bridge.

Our guests also love visiting Horton Plains National Park, Lipton’s Seat and Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

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.

Bomburu Ella Waterfall (Nuwara Eliya) 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.

Population in Sri Lanka Read More »

Glamping in Sri Lanka

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

Glamping in Sri Lanka

Glamping in Sri Lanka

After Ben Fogle’s experience at Cliff Lodge, near Haputale, Sri Lanka, there has been an increased interest in glamping in Sri Lanka.

Ben Fogle visited Naveen and Anke in his program ” New Lives in the Wild” (Series 18 – Episode 6).

The Cliff Lodge

The Cliff Lodge, is a unique glamping experience in the mountains of Haputale, Sri Lanka

There are great reviews of the experience that guest have at this remote spot in the Haputale mountains.

After a hike of 1.8 kilometres after a Safari vehicle takes you the initial part of the journey you reach the glamping site.

The ruins of some old line houses are where the lounge and glamping pods are located. Line houses were the rudimentary accommodation for workers on a tea estate (built in a line).

You will sleep in a glass pod in one of the ruined stone buildings where you will be able to watch the stars at night.

There is no electricity, no hot water and no internet/phone connection. It really does provide an opportunity to reconnect and immerse yourself in nature.

Other glamping opportunities in Sri Lanka

Thema Resorts, Sri Lanka - Gal Oya Wild Glamping

Thema group have good quality hotels around the country.

Gal Oya National Park provides one of the richest and most delicate habitats for wildlife in Sri Lanka. You can take boat safaris in the park to see elephants swimming, crocodiles basking and birdlife up close.

Cinnamon Wild Yala

Several of our guests at GlenMyu Estate have stayed at Yala National Park at Cinnamon Wild.

It’s chalets rather than tents and you have the option of Beach or Jungle.

Leopard Trails - Yala

If you really want top be in a glamping tent in Yala, the roof our guests have stayed at Leopard Trails.

No glamping but closer to nature with a little luxury

At GlenMyu Estate we don’t have a clamping option, however we are focused on getting closer to nature.

The 5 acre estate is continuing to be developed as a place to attract wildlife and provide a habitat to encourage biodiversity.

We salute guests that like to clamp but we like to offer a bit of luxurious respite as you travel around the island.

It’s particularly attractive for those travellers who want to visit Ella, but don’t want to stay in a busy tourist spot.

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.

Glamping in Sri Lanka Read More »

What is World’s End, Sri Lanka?

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

What is World's End, Sri Lanka?

What is World’s End, Sri Lanka?

Where is it? How do I get there? What do I need?
What is the cost? Where should I stay? Is it worth seeing it?

So many of our guests at GlenMyu Estate love their hike around Horton Plains National Park and visiting World’s End.

We answer your questions.

A spectacular viewing point in Horton Plains National Park

The Horton Plains plateau comes to a sudden end at World’s End, a stunning escarpment that plunges 880m.

It offers a stunning landscape to admire and photos of you sitting by the precipice is something to be added to your Instagram account.

You access World’s End on the 11 kilometre circular hike around Horton Plains National Park.

It is a welcome spot to rest before carrying on your walk in this unique environment in Sri Lanka.

Where is World's End, Sri Lanka?

Horton Plains National Park is situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka of Nuwara Eliya District.

Please see the location on the map.

You get to World’s End during part of the 11 kilometre circular hike around this montane cloud forest.

The other main stopping places on the hike Lesser World’s End and Baker’s Falla.

How do I get to World's End, Sri Lanka?

There are two entries to Horton Plans National Park named as Pattipola and Ohiya gates.

The Pattipola entrance is from the Nuwara Eliya side.

You can enter the Ohiya gate when travelling from Haputale or Ella.

It takes around one hour to reach to park entrance if you are travelling from Nuwara Eliya of Haputale.

What will I need for my hike?

We would recommend that you bring the following items:

Suitable footwear (walking shoes, sandals with a good grip or training shoes.
A lightweight windproof jacket (you will probably need this for part of the hike).
A hat and suncream (you are at a high elevation and the UV can be high)
Some water to drink
Some tissue paper (there are two toilets on the hike)
Some snacks (We send you off with a pack breakfast from GlenMyu Estate)
A smal rucksack to take your possessions.
A phone/camera (there will be plenty of Instagram opportunities).
Binoculars (there is plenty of birds and other wildlife to spot)
Walking poles (not essential as most of the walk is relatively easy).

What is the cost?

There are different prices for local and foreign tourists.

We visited Horton Plains in January 2024 and the total cost for two foreign tourists was LKR 24,000 (circa US$80/Euro €74).

Although this is one of the more expensive things to do in Sri Lanka, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and we still believe that it gives good value.

You will also be supporting local people that are employed at Horton Plains along with protecting this unique environment.

The hike around Horton Plains National Park is reasonably well marked and does not require you to use a hiking app to help you navigate.

However, it’s worth viewing the route to see what it entails.

Please click on the following All Trails Hiking link to see the trail.

Where should I stay when visiting World's End?

There is some accommodation close to the park which is cheap and basic.

We expect better quality accommodation to be built in the future however there are lots of options of good quality places to stay in and around Nuwara Eliya and Haputale.

Many of our guests at GlenMyu Estate do a day trip to the park. GlenMyu Estate is a luxury bed and breakfast located near to Haputale.

Guests love being able to swim in the natural spring-fed swimming pool after their hike and enjoy the food and drink we offer.

Is World's End, Sri Lanka worth seeing?

We certainly think that it is.

Despite the high entrance fee compared to other experiences in Sri Lanka, it is something that we recommend to all our guests.

Apart from a little disappointment on not getting a clear view at World’s End on a cloudy day, everyone love the outing.

There is a sense of achievement as our guests return and an appreciation of a dip in our swimming pool to ease their muscles.

We love it at Horton Plains National Park!

Horton Plains National Park is one of our favourite places to visit from GlenMyu Estate.

We have been lucky to get near views from World’s End (t’s not guaranteed!).

The exhilaration that you feel when you complete the hike is the icing on the cake.

We do feel very lucky to live close to the park and have the ability to visit it often seeing how it changes during the year.

The hike always appears to provide something new for us. We see wildlife that we have not seen before and the water flow at Baker’s Falls changes every time we see it.

I love chatting to other walkers that we meet on the trail. Some find it more challenging than others but they all are mesmerised by what they have seen.

I also really enjoy seeing the large groups of local Sri Lankans, who are normally starting the hike as we are finishing. The sharing of the experience with friends and family is really heart-warming.

I am amazed to see fathers carrying their children on the 11 kilometre hike. Grandparents are included and walk at their own pace. They mainly hike in flip flops which provides me with feeling of admiration of their ability and concern that they are not wearing suitable footwear.

Our guests also love World's End and the Horton Plains Hike

Our guests feel fabulous when they return to the luxury of GlenMyu Estate after their adventure at Horton Plains National Park.

The sense of achievement is plain to see. Although the hike is not too difficult, there are places which are a challenge if you do not walk or hike regularly.

Walking at an elevation of 2,100–2,300 m (6,900–7,500 ft) above sea level, then you do feel that you have had a bit of a workout.

Most guests are surprised about what they see in terms of flora and fauna on their hike. It’s such a different landscape from what they have experienced around the island at the beaches or in the historical and cultural sights.

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 World’s End at Horton Plains National Park.

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.

What is World’s End, 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 »

Good News for Tourists to Sri lanka

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

Good News for Tourists to Sri Lanka.

The Minimum Room Rate will end by the 31st May 2024.

Perhaps they will also rethink visa fees!

The change to the minimum room rate is good news for tourists to Sri Lanka and especially to the hotels based in Colombo.

Some hotel operators were happy with the MRR, however many thought that it would deter business coming. They believe that they have lost some MICE business as there are more economic places to hold business meetings and conferences.

You can read more in the Daily Mirror article by clicking on the link.

More good news for tourists rising Sri Lanka

Recently there has been some controversy about the visa process being outsourced to a company called VFS Global.

There have been many newspaper articles highlighting the issues about the increase in cost to tourists.

The good news is that the single entry visa will be reviewed and hopefully this will make it cheaper for travellers to visit Sri Lanka.

Proposed development of a tourist hub in Galle, Sri Lanka

The government wants to advance plans to develop the port of Galle into a tourist spot.

A new passenger terminal is planned and this will enable more tourist vessels to embark and visit the historic Dutch port.

Doing away with tourist visas altogether?

“Travelling should be simple as getting off the plane and getting out,” Fernando told reporters in Colombo yesterday.

Sri Lanka already gives free visas to 67 countries around the globe. Tourism Minister Harin Fernando opined that Sri Lanka should consider doing away with visa altogether for tourists

Visit Sri Lanka and 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.

Good News for Tourists to Sri lanka Read More »

UK updates travel advisory for Sri Lanka

Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Little Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

The UK updates travel advisory for Sri Lanka in April 2024.

UK updates travel advisory to Sri Lanka

Good news for Sri Lanka.

The UK updated its travel advisory for Sri Lanka in April 2024.

The revised advice should result in even more Brits holidaying in the paradise island.

600,000 tourists for the 3 months since January 2024

Sri Lanka’s tourist numbers have already increased hugely, when compared to last year.

This news from the UK Travel Advisory is likely add to the number of holidaymakers coming from the United Kingdom.

You can see the monthly tourist arrivals and the comparisons at the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority website.

In the papers ....

UK updates travel advisory to Sri Lanka

The news of the revised travel advice to Sri Lanka was reported in the press in Sri Lanka.

You can read the articles by clicking the links.

The UK travel advice for Sri Lanka

Keep up to date with current travel advice from the UK Government by visiting their website.

More visitors to GlenMyu Estate from the UK

At GlenMyu Estate we have received lots of guests that travel from the UK.

The revised travel advice to Sri Lanka will most likely increase numbers that we see here in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Both Ruwanthi and her husband lived in the UK for many years before relocating to Sri Lanka.

You can read more about our story by clicking the About Us button on our website.

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 3 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.

UK updates travel advisory for Sri Lanka 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 »

4 reasons not to hate February

Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

4 reasons not to hate February.

4 reasons not to hate February.

I used to think it was the worst month of the year.

But then I moved to Sri Lanka.

Why I used to hate February

The weather was awful…. and the light!
When I lived in the UK I really didn’t like February because of the weather.

The grey skies, cold weather and potential snow meant that it wasn’t my favourite month.

It’s hard to get the enthusiasm for anything when days short of light and uncomfortable temperatures just want you to stay in and hibernate.

January was bad enough

It was a long wait until January payday, but February……

The festive season really hits the bank balance pretty hard.
Whether it’s buying presents for the extended family, getting together with friends or attending Christmas parties, the costs add up.

With the bank account drained in December, it was a long wait until January payday. Thanks to Dry January, some manage to have a good excuse not to go out during this hard month. After the excesses of the festive season it was better for my waist.

We used to get paid early in December (18th rather than the 25th). This meant that it was around six weeks before the next paycheque!

January comes at last!.... but....

January payday comes – it doesn’t get any better!

It’s great to see the balance increase in your account in January, but then comes the credit card bill!

This makes February another hard month before the bank account is under less strain.

The worst month for a birthday?

It just happens that my birthday is in February also!

The elements and knowing that everyone else is under financial strain doesn’t make you feel like celebrating very much. I wouldn’t want to put more stress on my friends and family. And who wants to go out to a bar or restaurant on a dank, bleak evening.

Valentine's Day - Bah Humbug!!!

And of course, you have another expense to come – Valentines Day!

Restaurants bump up prices.

Roses in February – we know that they are not real or full of chemicals.

How much do I spend for love from my bleak looking bank account

And then February got better

We moved to Sri Lanka as my wife wanted to spend time in her home country with her elderly parents.

Living in the tropics changed my feelings towards the month of February.

We are fortunate to live in the Sri Lankan Hill Country at GlenMyu Estate. When we originally came to Sri Lanka we lived in Colombo, however the weather was too hot for me.

The Sri Lankan hill country has temperatures more akin to a UK summer around 26 °C during the daytime.

I now spend my days in shorts and t-shirts for most of the year and don’t have to consider covering up in February.

The Peak Tourist Season in Sri Lanka

Another thing that I now love about February is that is during the peak tourist season in Sri Lanka.

Ordinarily you would think that would not be great as the island would be too crowded.

At GlenMyu Estate we get to meet lots of new people interesting people and share the estate with them. We find that our guests love Sri Lanka and can’t believe that they haven’t visited the island before.

4 reasons not to hate February (if you are in Sri Lanka!).

Our 4 reasons why a holiday in Sri Lanka in February will lift the February blues.

Here are our reasons why visiting Sri Lanka in February may improve your mood and put a smile on your face.

1. The weather is great

Sri Lanka’s peak tourist season is during mid December until the end of March. At this time of the year the best weather is in the South and West of the country.

Of course, you can visit GlenMyu Estate and the Sri Lankan Hill Country for most of the year. Ella town, which is just over an hours drive from the estate is a must see place in all the guide books.

2. Time at the beach will put a smile on your face.

What can put a smile on your face more than spending time at the beach.

Getting a tan during February and then going back to the office will get your colleagues talking.

There are so many beaches in the South coast to discover which deliver different experiences.

3. Some of the sunsets are bliss

We have some great skies during February. In the evenings you may get lucky and experience spectacular colours across the sky before the sun goes down.

4. Hike and feel great

There are lots of opportunities to get out and hike in a more pleasant temperature than back at home.

We love Horton Plains National Park which is an 11 kilometre hike in a montane cloud forest.

You really do feel good completing the walk and if you are staying at GlenMyu Estate you can look forward to a dip in the pool. Your muscles and legs will be thanking you for the relief that the natural spring fed pool provides you.

So, my conclusion is that generally February is not great, unless you happen to visit Sri Lanka and forget all the negative issues you face back at home.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and get away from the February blues.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park.

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.

4 reasons not to hate February Read More »

One day is not enough at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka

Birdwatching, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda, Waterfalls / By Mikeez

One day is not enough at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

One day is not enough at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

Actually, you will find you will want to stay longer once you experience it here.

Read our reviews and you will see that this is what our guests say.

It's a great feeling.

We feel great when our guests say that they will be back.

Now, you could just interpret this as them being polite or trying to make us feel good.

What we have experienced, however, is that several guests have already returned.
Others have given recommendations to friends and family who have stayed with us. Many of our guests plan to come again in the future, and we are confident that they will.

I should have told you.....book more than one day

When we receive a booking on Airbnb or Booking.com for just one night, I don’t feel comfortable saying it’s not enough.

We don’t want to look like we are money grabbing as that is far from what we are.

For many of our guests, it is their first time in Sri Lanka, and they try to see the whole island in one trip.

The fact is, there is so much to see on this tiny island, that you cannot do anything but touch the surface on your first trip.

Once you come here, you will want to stay longer

There are many reasons why guests want to stay longer when they come to GlenMyu Estate.

Exhaustion

Traveling around the island is quite exhausting.

Your senses are hit by all kinds of colours, smells and range of temperature.

Sri Lanka is a fantastic holiday to spend your holiday.

However, it does take longer to get from A to B and it can be quite tiring.

Activity levels when you spend hours behind a desk

Sri Lanka can be full on when it comes to activity. If you are not ready for this, you can get quite tired.

Lots of the sights to see have lots of steps to climb.

When you are doing these kinds of activates in the heat and when you are not normally active it can be quite exhausting.

Just think about skiing. You are supposed to do exercises to increase the strength of your legs and things before you go. If you were take part in any physical activity you are advised to warm up and warm down.

Great experiences like climbing the Lion Rock in Sigiriya or doing the pilgrimage to Adams Peak have lots of steps.

It’s a challenge going uptime and sometimes more painful coping down!

Coping with the heat and humidity

Most of our guests are not used to the temperatures around the island. Anaradhapura and Polunnaruwa are in the dry zone.

Being at the beach is a lovely experience. However, we regularly see the sigh of relief from guests when they arrive to a more accommodating temperature in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

A good nights sleep, without the need for air-conditioning

We are fortunate to be in an area where are located as the temperature usually results in a good nights sleep.

Several guests have arrived at GlenMyu Estate either tired from the noise of an air conditioning unit, or with the onset of a cold. It takes some time to get used to using air conditioning unit and getting the right temperature for you.

The good news at GlenMyu Estate is that the temperature in the Hill country means that we don’t use air conditioning. With minimum(night) and maximum temperature (day) range between 16.5 °C (61.7) °F and 26.4 °C (79.5) ° during the year according to Climate Data.

Real Simple state that “For the best possible sleep environment, keep your bedroom between 16 °C /60 °F and 22 °C/ 72 °F, (65 degrees/18 °C is typically ideal)”.

The food, the food, the food! You will want to stay for more than one day.

We are starting to get a reputation for the food the Ru and the team serves to our guests.

Eating at GlenMyu Estate is an experience itself.

Read our reviews and see what our guests say about the food.

More than a stay, an experience

This is a quote from our Polish guest Greg, who wrote this line in his Google review of his stay here.

We believe that it really reflects what we are all about at GlenMyu Estate and have now taken this quote as our strap line.

So much to see, one day would never be enough

There are so many great experiences and sights within reach of Glenmyu Estate. Staying for one night means that you will not be able to touch the surface here.

Here are some photos of Matt and Millie who experienced Upper Diyaluma Waterfall pools on the way to GlenMyu Estate.

They also saw a spectacular sunrise at Lipton’s Seat.

What they didn’t get to do was a hike at Horton’s Plains and see the view from World’s End. Maybe next time!

So, if they had stayed for one day, they would not have had these superb experiences.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate for more than one night and explore the 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.

One day is not enough at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka Read More »

The House at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and B & B, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Save money on your holiday – book directly

Accommodation, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Save money on your holiday - book directly with us.

Save money on your holiday.

Book directly with us at GlenMyu Estate and avoid the booking fees charged by intermediaries.

We love it when guests book directly with us.

By offering a direct booking rate you save money and we feel good.

I especially feel great because you have found our website and WhatsApp button. It means all my efforts of keeping our website up to date is worth it.

We can offer better deals.

You will be aware that the intermediary companies charge a fee for booking through them.

We still think that they are great because they have brought lots of guests to us at GlenMyu Estate.

Some people feel more comfortable booking through these companies and they serve them well.

Every dollar or euro counts.

When you budget for your holiday it is important to keep an eye on what you spend. By contacting us directly and asking for a direct booking rate we will do the best price we can.

We hope that, after your experience at GlenMyu Estate, you will want to come back and stay with us again.

With the costs that you have back in your home country we are aware that every dollar counts.

Please also look at our food menus on our website so you can budget for the extra meals and drinks that you will have when you stay with us.

The Sri Lankan Hill country has so many places to visit that two or three days are not enough. We will offer better rates for the longer you stay.

Press the WhatsApp button on our website to contact us about direct booking rates.

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.

Save money on your holiday – book directly Read More »

Swim at the top of Sri Lanka’s 2nd Tallest Waterfall.

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

Swim at the top of Sri Lanka's 2nd Tallest Waterfall.

Swim at the top of Sri Lanka’s 2nd Tallest Waterfall.

A unique experience that our guests love to do from GlenMyu Estate.

Upper Diyaluma waterfall is the second tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka at 220 m (720 ft). The falls are the 619th highest waterfall in the world.

It’s based 6 km (3.7 mi) away from Koslanda in Badulla District on Colombo-Badulla Highway.

GlenMyu Estate is located on the Colombo-Badulla Highway and is 19km from Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

Read about our experience at our article “Our day trip to Upper Diyaluma Waterfall”.

We were amazed when we went on our first trip from GlenMyu Estate to Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

The road access has been improved since we have been living in Sri Lanka. As it is only forty minutes from GlenMyu Estate our guests can normally beat the other tourists to the site.

Many of our guests have been able to spend an hour or two exploring Upper Diyalima before other people reach the waterfall.

This makes it a special experience for them to remember.

Here are a few photos of Ru enjoying swimming in the clear waters at Sri Lanka’s 2nd tallest waterfall.

Our guests really enjoy swimming at Sri Lanka's 2nd tallest waterfall

Our guests Matt and Millie enjoying Upper Diyaluma Waterfall in November 2023.

A reasonably priced experience in Sri Lanka.

Swimming at Sri Lanka’s 2nd tallest waterfall.

You can read about the entry cost at our article “Diyaluma Waterfall Entry Cost”.

The local council only started charging an entry fee last year and they have improved the access to this wonderful experience. The costs is minimal at LKR 350 (around £1, US$1, €1).

Other costs to at Sri Lanka's 2nd Tallest Waterfall.

Unless you have your own vehicle there will also be transport costs to take you to Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

We normally send guests in a Tuk Tuk from GlenMyu Estate. The driver will show you the route around Upper Diyaluma, keep your valuables safe whilst you are swimming and take you back to the estate.

In January 2024 the driver has charged around LKR 6,000 for the return journey (around £15, US$19, €17).

Where is Upper Diyaluma Waterfall

The access road to Upper Diyaluma Water can be reached from the A4 Colombo to Batticaloa High near to Koslanda.

GlenMyu Estate is around 40 minutes drive from Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate - swim at Sri Lanka's 2nd tallest waterfall

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Upper Diyaluma Waterfall 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.

Swim at the top of Sri Lanka’s 2nd Tallest Waterfall. 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 »

Our cow got a friend.

Animals that live at our visit GlenMyu Estate., Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Our cow got a friend.

Our cow got a friend.

Maali is excited as she finally has a friend at GlenMyu Estate to accompany her as she grazes at the 5 acre estate.

Read on to find out how this came about.

If you want to read about how Maali arrived at GlenMyu Estate please read our articles “We got a Cow” and also “The Cow, a year on (almost)”.

Dogs and ducks as friends and playmates?

Maali was a little confused. She cleary was lonely and decided that her playmates were the dogs, ducks and chickens.

Maali would graze for the morning until mid afternoon and then we would let her free to room and forage.

So cute, but such bad behaviour.

Maali settled into GlenMyu Estate quite quickly. She was let free on the estate to forage and eat what she liked. Life is a learning curve and we realised that we would have to tie Maali to one spot for a few hours to concentrate on feeding in one area. She had a tendency to flit from one place to the other. Sometimes she would come bounding towards us when we were working on the land. It was funny, but sometimes scary and dangerous.

When we started to take her to forage in one part of the land she was quite stubborn and wouldn’t move. I used to play rugby in the front row so there was often a tug of war to get her to move to where we wanted her to go. Luckily I still have a bit ion technique and she hasn’t neaten me yet!

When Maali was released in the early afternoon she would run around like a crazy cow. The puppies would run after her and she would try to butt them with her small horns. This was the same for any ducks or chickens that she came across. We think that this was play rather than anger as she appeared to seek them out when she was loose.

She would bound around the land running more like a cheetah rather than a cow.

Although this did provide some entertainment, I was worried that she would create an accident either to her playmates or herself.

There needed to be a change at GlenMyu Estate.

A little bit of research - Our cow needed a friend.

We did a little bit of research and found that when cows are alone they sometimes develop bad behaviour. They are herd animals and really should be with other cows.

According to Farm House Guide “The truth is that cows are herd animals, and they need friends to help keep them happy and safe”.

We had known for some time that Maali really needed a friend.

So spoilt!

Doesn’t the first one always get spoilt? Maali was certainly spoilt and given a lot a leeway at GlenMyu Estate.

Here she is waiting near the outside kitchen for a snack.

An opportunity arises for our cow to get a friend.

One of our neighbours has cows which are used to supply milk. One of his cows had a bull calf. His mother had been sick when he was born an he was not fully weaned on his mothers milk. This left him with a pot belly which is normal in these circumstances.

Another neighbour had told us that the owner of the bull calf was looking to sell him.
We asked him to get in contact with us.

After a discussion with the owner and the vet, Ru asked the bull calf to be brought along to meet Maali and see whether they would get along with each other.

What was the alternative for the infant calf?

Unfortunately, if we did not buy the calf, he would have been sent to the butcher. This is the normal outcome for these animals in Sri Lanka.

Ru met the calf when he was brought to the land to see whether Maali would accept him.
Both Maali and Ru made a connection straight away and there was only one choice.
He was going to have a new home at GlenMyu Estate.

We try to do our bit.

Unfortunately, we cannot save all the animals we would like to from the fate that this calf would have met.
We have limited space at GlenMyu Estate to allocate to the animals and being on a hill limits our capacity.
However, at least this animal will have a good life ahead of him.

No room at the inn?

We did not plan to have a second cow.
In early 2023 we had constructed a new home for Maali where she was now settled. We had not planned for two animals and there was “no room at the inn’ so to speak.
Therefore, we had to identify a suitable site for a home for two.

A big move and a some investment.

The land at GlenMyu Estate is bisected by a stream that runs through the middle of the land.
The stream runs alongside the swimming pool and forms a natural barrier for each side.

Maaili did some major damage to our flowers and other plants that she found tasty. We used to have a beautiful array of flowers alongside the lawn in front of the house.
Maali used these flowers as a buffet when she wanted some variety from the grass she normally eats. This has left our flowerbeds devastated and not looking very attractive!

The site is identified.

We decided that we would site the two cows in a new spot across the river. A gate would be placed at one side of the stream to protect the plants we have nearer the house.
This would result in the cows being focussed on one side of the land where we would be happy for them to forage.

More work to make a new home for our cow and her new friend.

The arrival of the prodigal son.

Here are some videos we took of the big moment when Maali met her new friend.

Maali was not aware re at first but in the end she looks very happy.

Happy together -Our cow got a friend.

You can see from this photo that Maali is making her acquaintance with her new friends.

The start looks good, let’s se if it continues and they become good friends and companions.

Our hopes for the future for our cow and her new friend.

Our aim is to provide both Maali and her new friend a good, safe life at GlenMyu Estate.
In exchange we expect lots of manure to put on our organic garden.

How can you help?

Income we generate from guests staying at GlenMyu Estate when they are on holiday in Sri Lanka is the way we fund the costs to run the property.

By choosing GlenMyu Estate you will support what we do.

You will also have a great experience when you stay and explore the fantastic sights in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Your spend with us help fund the following:
Maali, our cow and her friend.
The cost of feeding and providing medication for our rescue dogs.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate, meet our animals 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.

Our cow got a friend. Read More »

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

Swimming in the mist – a unique experience.

Holiday, Natural Swimming Pool, Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Swimming in the mist.

Whatever the weather swimming in the natural spring fed pool at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka is a unique experience.

Despite the weather, swimming when the mist sweeps through the Sri Lankan Hill Country it is a great experience.

The mist provides silence apart from the sounds of the water and some birds flying around.

Water temperature is refreshing and invigorating. The feeling when I finish my swim is amazing.

Swimming in the morning before the sun comes up.

The best start to a morning is to enter the swimming pool and get my exercise out of the way early. Swimming is good for you in so many ways and my muscles get a good workout without the stress as they are supported by the water.

The birds are up and about and provide the background music. As I swim I watch the birds swoop by as they choose where they start their day.

Swimming in the evening.

At the end of the day the colours by the pool make an evening swim a special place to be.

It’s so tranquil watching the colours change as the sun goes down. Any tiredness from the day is washed away by the cool, refreshing water which has been gently warmed by the sun during the day.

Sometimes it just me at the pool. It’s a great time for reflection and giving thanks for another wonderful day in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

The Sri Lankan Hill Swallows swoop and take a sip of water from the pool. I have no idea why they really want to do this. Below the pool we have a large stream where they could drink from. There may also be the added benefit of scooping up an insect of two that are on water. Perhaps a small fish that inhabit the stream.

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.

Swimming in the mist – a unique experience. Read More »

Crowd Free places in Sri Lanka

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Crowd free places in Sri Lanka?

Crowd Free places in Sri Lanka.

Do you want to get away from the crowds?
Do you like Non-Touristy, Off-beat places to visit whilst you are on holiday?

Read on to find out our thoughts, and what we recommend to do when you are on holiday in Sri Lanka.

Everyone is looking for a unique experience.

Social Media outlets like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) appear to have driven a desire for people to strive for unique experiences.

It’s important to get that individual ‘Instagram Moment’ shared with the world.

The more unique it is may make you ‘stand out from the crowd’ and get more like.

There are lots of people that want to be pioneers and be the first. What kudos you will receive, how great will you feel when your name is shining in those bright lights!

Gen Z and Millennials

Gen Z and Millennials have aspirations to travel. What better way to grow your social media audience by getting selfies in crowd free places.

According to the Deloitte US article “Gen Z and Millennial Travel: The Wanderlust generations” their love of travel.
This is fuelling new opportunities for technology, media & entertainment, and telecommunications companies.

Is there any such crowd free places in Sri Lanka.

With the population of the planet being 8 billion and rising according to Worldometers there would appear to be very few places on earth that are crowd free (or will be for long).

Beat the crowds - get there early

I’m sorry, but although you are on holiday and probably want a lie-in, we recommend that you get up early and beat the crowds.

Our guests Millie and Matt got up early to visit Lipton’s Seat. Their experience was unforgettable and special to them. You can read about their adventure in the following article “Sri Lanka Most Beautiful Place”.

Here are the reasons why we recommend getting up early “6 Reasons to Get Up Early”.

By giving up your lay-in on holiday you have more of a chance in beating the crowds.

Crowd free places in Sri Lanka.

Two Indian Lawyers stayed with us at GlenMyu Estate in late April 2023 and experienced some crowd free moments.

This is typically when there are low tourist numbers after the main December to March tourist season.

We recommended that they leave early and return for a late breakfast. You can read more about our advice in our article “6 Reasons to Get up Early”.

As India has a population of 1.4 Billion according to Worldometer there must be very few places in that country where you can experience a crowd free place.

We were delighted that our advice provided them with this special experience which will be with them for many years to come.

Avoid the weekends

We would also recommend that you avoid the weekends.

This is because that’s when the local Sri Lankan community are likely to travel.
Going on the weekend amplifies the numbers visiting the sights to the foreign tourists.

Visit in the off season.

The main tourist season has been mid-December until April.
This is a natural time of year to visit the island as it is cold in Northern Europe.
Also the island is hit by two main monsoons: the North West Monsoon (November to March) and the South West Monsoon(April or May to September).

You can read more about the climate in Sri Lanka on the World Bank knowledge-portal website “Sri Lanka -Climatology”.

During the peak holiday season (mid-December to April), the South and West Coasts are free from the monsoon .

If you take a chance and visit during the lower tourist seasons. You will have a change of seeing more crowd free places.

It is a risk but have seen several guests get lucky taking this route.
They also get to benefit from the lower prices in the off season and the additional attention from underworked staff.

Come quick!

Sri Lanka Tourist numbers are increasing.

Monthly and weekly tourist arrivals are published on the website. If you click this link to the website you will see the rise in numbers month by month captured to the previous year.

Although the target number for 2023 was 2 million, in September 2023 it was expected to achieve over 1.5 million.

Also the government are planning to increase tourist numbers from their target of 2 million to 4 million. This will mean you are less likely to be able to experience a crowd free place on the island. You can read the article in Travel Bulletin about the tourist number targets.

You can read more about their plans in the following articles.

Sri Lanka is promoting itself as an all year round destination.

The North and East of the country is being developed for tourism since the Civil was that ended in May, 2009.

April to September are good months to visit that part of the island as it is monsoon free.
There are less hotels in this part of the country and therefore you are more likely to have some places to yourselves and be able to avoid the crowds.

We had some English visitors in July 2023 who had a great time in Jaffna and Trincomalee.
Their recommendation was to visit now before it gets developed!

October

October is the time of the year when Sri Lanka endures the inter-monsoon. The number of visitors to the island dropped from 136,405 in August to 111,938 in September and 109,199 during October 2023.

We had an Australian visitor in October who was our only guest for the night she stayed at GlenMyu Estate.
She mentioned that she was also the only guest at two other hotels she had visited.

If you can risk the rains, then there are normally good bargains to be had during the inter-monsoon period.
If you really want to go home with a tan, you probably want to avoid the inter-monsoon.

However, some of our French guests has visited the East Coast in October and they advised the the weather was quite pleasant.

So, perhaps look east if you want to visit during October and avoid the crowds.

In summary - our recommendations for a Crowd Free Sri Lanka.

Do some research
Get up early to avoid the crowds
Avoid the weekends
Consider visiting during the off-season.

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, World’s End, 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.

Crowd Free places in Sri Lanka Read More »

10 reasons to Visit Lipton’s Seat.

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

10 reasons to Visit Lipton's Seat.

10 reasons to Visit Lipton’s Seat.

Lipton’s Seat is a favourite place to visit for many of our guests at GlenMyu Estate. Some guests get up early and see the sunrise and take a tour around Dambetenne Tea factory before retuning to GlenMyu Estate for a late breakfast.

1. See what the famous Lipton's Tea Baron saw.

Sir Thomas Lipton used to sit and contemplate his plantation with its stone landscape and green tea bushes.

Seeing some of the most amazing panoramic views you will find in the Sri Lankan Hill Country is a good reason to visit.

You will probably recognise the Lipton’s Tea Brand. There is more information at the Lipton Tea website on the History of Litpon Tea “In the Beginning”.

The Mitchell Library also has “The Life Story of Thomas Lipton”.

2. Get there early and see a spectacular sunrise.

There are many reasons for getting up early when you are on holiday in Sri Lanka. You can read about the reasons to get up early in our article “The six best reasons to get up early”.

Evidence of why you should get up early to see the sunrise are in the pictures that our guests Matt and Millie took. They are spectacular and well worth having an early start.

They said that it was one of the most beautiful places that they had experienced. As they were early, they were the only ones to see this spectacular sky.

How lucky they were and what a memory they took back to Australia with them.

3. Admire the geometry of the lines of tea bushes.

In Sri Lanka, tea is cultivated using the ‘contour planting’ method.

The tea bushes are planted in lines along the contours of the land, usually on slopes.

This also makes it easier for the tea pluckers to access the bushes and pluck the tea leaves.

An even distribution of water without any water logging is required in tea plantations. The hill slopes provide proper drainage and prevents water logging problems. This is the reason why tea plantations are usually grown on hill slopes.

4. Watch the ladies pluck the tea.

Tea plucking is mainly carried out by ladies who are experts at their craft.

The plucking process is usually carried out by women and you will see that they carry a basket on their backs to staffer the tea leaves.

Sri Lanka is one of the few countries where each tea leaf is picked by hand rather than plucking using machines.

The quality of tea degrades using machines because then all the leaves are not whole.

The ladies who pick leaves are so efficient that they are able to pluck rapidly and set a daily target of around 15 to 20 kg. We have heard that some are able to pluck up to 30 kg which increases the pay they receive.

5. See the view across five provinces.

You can see across five provinces from the viewpoint on a clear day. Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and Eastern provinces.

On a clear day, you should be able to spot the Handapanagala Lake, the Chandrika Lake and the Udawalawe Lake as well as the Wedihiti Kanda mountain range.

Sometimes you can also see Hambantota Port.

It’s best to get to Lipton’s Seat early in the day as the clouds can come later in the morning and obscure the view.

6. Get a picture with the tea baron himself.

A bust of the famous Tea Baron, Sir Thomas Lipton, sits on a seat at the viewpoint at Lipton’s Seat.

Take a picture next to the entrepreneur as a reminder of your trip.

7. Walk through the rows of tea and see the tea bushes close up.

Walking through the rows of tea bushes is an experience itself.

Apart from being a beautiful environment (an an Instagram opportunity), you will get to examine the tea bushes close up.

Seeing the tea bushes may inspire you to find out more about how the tea is processed by visiting Dambetenne Tea Factory and participating in a tea tour.

8. Hike the trail down to the tea factory.

Hiking down the 7 kilometre trail from the viewpoint at Lipton’s Seat to the village of Dambetenne is a great experience and photo opportunity.

You can breathe in the rest air and get a little bit of exercise.

There will be plenty of more photo opportunities on your walk.

If you find the 7 kilometres a bit too much, there will be plenty of Tuk Tuks available to take you on your way.

9. See how tea is processed at Dambetenne Tea Factory.

Have you ever wondered how tea is made into a favourite beverage?

Learn about the different quality of leaves and how they are processed on a tour of the tea factory.

It’s interesting to find out about the different grades of tea and what actually goes into your tea bags!

10. Buy some local tea as a memento of your experience.

Support the local community by buying some of the products on sale at the tea factory.
They are a great item for gists for family and friends.
Sipping a cup of Dambetenne Tea when you are back home will bring back memories of your experience ay Lipton’s Seat.

10 reasons to Visit Lipton's Seat. - Summary

See what the famous Lipton’s Tea Baron saw.
Get there early and see a spectacular sunrise.
Admire the geometry of the lines of tea bushes.
Watch the ladies pluck the tea.
See the view across five provinces
Get a picture with the tea baron himself.
Walk through the rows of tea and see the tea bushes close up.
Hike the trail down to the tea factory.
See how tea is processed at Dambetenne Tea Factory.
Buy some local tea as a memento of your experience.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to visit Lipton's Seat.

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.

10 reasons to Visit Lipton’s Seat. 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 »

Moving Abroad from the UK to Sri Lanka

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

Moving abroad

Moving abroad, starting a new life – that’s what I did when I moved to Sri Lanka.

And then we opened a bed and breakfast in the hills.

There appears to be a lot of people that are looking to start a new life and leave their home country.

This headline from Timeout is a strong example of some peoples feelings “F*** This. I’m Moving Abroad” .

According to this article written in October 2022 4.5 million people in the UK had considered leaving the country that year.

“A broken rental market to rising energy costs and a government that seems to change every five seconds” are cited as some of the factors that inspire people to consider a move abroad.

The introduction of Digital Nomad Visas in certain countries have made this option attractive to some, despite the issues that Brexit has caused making it more difficult to move to the EU states in Europe.

Vloggers showing the pros and cons of moving abroad.

I regularly watch You Tube videos of people that have moved to different countries for a new life. There are always challenges encountered and some and positive about their move abroad. Others, however, regret it.

Here are a few videos showing the good, the bad and the ugly.

We moved to Sri Lanka.

My wife and I (who is Sri Lankan), moved to Sri Lanka in 2026.

Our original plan to live in Colombo changed around a year or so into living in the country. I realised that I couldn’t live in the city as the temperature was too high reaching 35/36 degrees Celsius on a regular basis. Living in air conditioning was something that I didn’t want to do. Being a prisoner twice a day when the mosquitos were out to play was also an experience that I didn’t want to live with full time.

I think that it is important that you consider whether you can actually live in the climate of the country you are considering to move to before you take the plunge.

We also realised that the attractions of living in a city was not what we wanted at this stage in life. The benefits and attractions were not what we wanted at this time. We had experienced all the culture, restaurants, bars and nightlife in London and no longer wanted this.

Running to the hills.

My wife had purchased part of an abandoned tea estate some years ago. We had planned to develop a holiday home for ourselves there.

I liked the climate in the Sri Lankan Hill Country which is normally around 25-26 degrees Celsius, which is more like a summers day back in the UK. The air is a lot healthier in the hills being surrounded by trees and plants. The regular sprinkling of rain also clear the gunk out of the air making it feel very fresh and good for you.

As we started to build a two bedroom property for ourselves, somehow it morphed into a four bedroom property.

After going through the global pandemic and then the financial crisis in SriLanka we were in a position to open our bed and breakfast, GlenMyu Estate.

We love our new life abroad.

Do we regret our move abroad? Certainly not.

Would we recommend that other move to Sri Lanka?

This is too difficult a question to answer and it really depends on your circumstances, desire for a new experience and was you really want in life.

We had the advantage of my wife being from the country and being able to communicate as she speaks the language. This issue with not being able to speak the local language is an issue that is mentioned regularly by the Vloggers who have emigrated.

We were also at the right time in our life to want a change. Living in a big city had been done and we were not using all the benefits you have by living there.

We had an advantage but it was not all plain sailing.

Despite the advantages that we had, it really has been a challenge building and then living in a new country. It’s not like being on holiday and we are not people that want to sunbathe all day and drink G & T’s every evening.

All I can recommend is that, if you want to move abroad, then rent a place for at least a year so that you can get a full experience of living in that country. You will have gone through all the weather patterns during the 12 months and works out the differences from your home country.

At that stage you will at least have a better idea of whether you could really make the change.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to see what we created in 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.

Moving Abroad from the UK to Sri Lanka Read More »

Reading a book? When did you last read a book?

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

Reading a book

When did you last read a book?

When did you last read a book? GlenMyu Estate is a perfect place to spend some downtime and get back into the habit of reading a book.

One of the reasons I was happy to move to Sri Lanka was so that I would have more time to do things that I enjoy like reading a book. I often hear the questions “when did you last read a book?”, “what book are you reading at the moment?”, “what book would you recommend?”.

A busy life in London with lots of distractions meant that I had lost the habit of reading for pleasure. As a part of my role at work, I would read lots of technical papers, business books and self help publications to help develop myself and my career.

We brought a lot of books over from the UK and I also have many downloaded on my kindle app. The guilt that I am not reading enough is still with me and I’m sure that it always will be.

I want to read more, but as we experienced in the West, things get in the way.

I think back to when I was a child and I had a voracious appetite for reading and how much joy and pleasure it brought me. Every so I often I would have the opportunity to delve into some fiction and I really enjoyed the experience. However, it was difficult to get back into that habit.

Reading a book - My intentions were good.

I have so many books! Unfortunately I appear to have become a collector, thinking that I may get around to reading this one or that. When the number of books you have that you intend to read is daunting, then perhaps it’s time to declutter and sieve out the ones that you are really going to read.

The good thing about having a surplus number of book for us at GlenMyu Estate, is that there are always plenty of books that can be borrowed whilst you are here.

Distractions that stop you reading a book.

There are many distractions around you that puts reading for pleasure at the back of the queue.

It is so easy to spend too much time on social media scrolling through Instagram reels after reels, YouTube shorts after shorts after ‘Big Bad Brother” has hooked you into a rabbit hole.

The game is to keep you there longer and longer with the hope that the subliminal advertising will impregnate your imagination and create the desire to buy the product that they want to sell you.

We were hooked on TV series when we were living in the UK. An essential diet of “Strictly Come Dancing”, “Who do you think you are?”, Graham Norton’s Friday night chat show and so on stole our time. Sure, we enjoyed it, but if I had my head in a book, would it have been better?

There are so many distractions in everyday life. I wonder what are yours?

Holidays are a perfect time to start that reading habit.

Going on holiday is a great time to release yourself from the rate race and hamster wheel and spend some time with your nose in a book. We find that lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate are able to relax and start reading a book after a day of adventure seeing the local sights.

Pick up a book at the airport

It’s easy to pick up a book that takes your fancy at the airport. There are rows of eye catching books in WH Smith (and other good book retailers) which are great to take your mind away from home.

Download on you Amazon Kindle or e=book reader.

Maybe you want to pack lighter and take less things with you on holiday due to luggage space and weight restrictions. Downloading some books on your kindle or tablet is a great way to carry your reading matter.

What book should I read?

There are plenty of bestseller lists that you can scour before you travel to see what you would like to read on holiday.

There are lots of recommended reading from celebrities and business leaders that are released very year such as Stephen Fry, Bill Gates, Barack Obama ( I’m not sure whether Mr Trump releases his reading recommendations).

Podcast book recommendations

Several podcasts regularly recommend books. There are some podcasts that do book reviews which may give you some pointers.

At GlenMyu Estate, I like to listen to podcasts Flats and Shanks (ex professional rugby union players: David Flatman and Tom Shanklin), Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewarts: The Rest is Politics, who regularly recommend books to read.

Josie Long’s podcast “Your Booked” will also provide you with plenty of ideas on what is an interesting read.

Books of the year lists, prizes and so on.

Every year there are lists published of the most popular and recommended reads of the year.

There is the Booker Prize, Nobel Prize for Literature, The Bookseller/Diagram award for the Oddest Title of the Year, Franz Kafka Prize, European Union Prize for literature, America Award and many more.

Time Magazine has “The 100 Must-Read books of 2023” (There’s a challenge!) and The Guardian “The 100 Bbest books of the 21st Century” and so on.

Don’t feel guilty about not reading enough books.

According to Wordsrated the total number of new book titles released annually is around 4 million.

It can be estimated that between 500,000 to 1 million of these new titles are published through traditional publishers.

At least 1.7 million self-published titles each year are considered to be produced.

However, as many self-published authors do not use a trackable ISBN, this number would be increased further.

So you have no hope of reading anywhere near a small percentage of the number of books published a year, so don’t feel guilty!

No TV’s at GlenMyu Estate creates an opportunity

I don’t know about you but whenever I travelled abroad I really didn’t enjoy watching television. All this adverts we’re irritating and out me off. Before we left the UK we either watched programmes on catch up is we avoided adverts. Our favourite programs on the BBC had no adverts so we didn’t have to deal with the bombardment of adverts for things we were never going to buy.

We left the UK before the global pandemic and therefore missed the window for binging on Netflix Series. Honestly, at GlenMyu Estate, we don’t think we have missed anything at all.

Now you live in Sri Lanka, how much do you read?

Well, disappointingly, not enough. In life so many things keep getting in the way – or is it just an excuse?

I love reading

Reading brings back memories of joyous times as a child where i would get lost in a book. Time was not important and I entered into a wonderful world which was good fir the imagination and the soul. I am too old for the Harry Potter generations, but I envy the kids that were able to immerse themselves into that world. It must have been the same for readers of Tolkien, Pratchett and King.

The joy I had when my nieces in Colombo were fixed in a book desperate to find out what the next page had in store. I yearn for those times again.

I know that I won’t be able to read as many books as I would like, but I’m determined to allocate more time and try.

How can I increase the number of books that I read?

There are lots of different avenues that you can go down to get the discipline and habit to read more books.

Reading a book - The Book Club

My mother is part of a book club where a book is chosen by one of the group. At the end of the month the book is critiqued and discussed by all. This is a great way to be disciplined into reading a book a month at least.

Taking a tip from a neighbour who has years of experience

One of our friends and neighbours sets aside an hour every evening to read in his balcony. A bachelor, he is accompanied by his dogs while he sits and finds it a good way to end the day.

I admire his discipline and will try to follow his example and discipline.

Time to get some discipline into my life!

What I need is some discipline that will create the habit of reading books again. A goal needs to be set and the first step needs to be taken.

When should I start reading a book?

There’s no better time than the present. Turn off the phone, set aside one hour and get on with it.

Now I am off to pick up a book. Hopefully you are too!

Take some time out to read on holiday in Sri Lanka.

GlenMyu Estate is located in five acres of the Sri Lankan Hill country.

There are lots of places to sit and take time out to read a book whilst surrounded by nature.

Find out more about GlenMyu Estate by visiting our website.

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.

Reading a book? When did you last read a book? Read More »

Horton Plains National Park – Need to know.

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

Horton Plains National Park - what you need to know.

Horton Plains National Park is a fabulous place to visit when you are staying at GlenMyu Estate on your holiday in Sri Lanka. What do you need to know about Horton Plains National Park?

We have had many guests visit Horton Plains and we also love it there.

Here is our basic guide on what you need to know before you go.

What is it? What do you need to know about Horton Plains National Park?

Horton Plains National Park is a UNESCO Heritage Site.

It is a Montane Grassland and Cloud Forest in the Hill Country located in between Nuwara Eliya, Haputale, Welimada and Balangoda.

Our guests love to hike the 11 kilometre circuit which takes in Lesser World’s End, Greater World’s End and Baker’s Falls.

During your hike you will experience a unique landscape which is home to a variety of flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to Sri Lanka.

What will I see when I get there?

The Highlights are:

The 270 metre precipice and view at Lesser World’s End.

World’s End view from the 870 metre precipice.

A stunning waterfall called Baker’s Falls.

The unique flora and fauna that inhabit this unique landscape on the island.

Where is it? What do you need to know about Horton Plains National Park?

Horton Plains National Park is located between Haputale and Nuwara Eliya in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

The elevation of the park is between 2,100–2,300 m (6,900–7,500 ft).

How do I get there?

From GlenMyu Estate/Beragala/Haputale

Get there early!

We recommend that you get to the entrance at Horton Plains National Park as early as you can. Our guests leave GlenMyu Estate around 6.30 am with a packed breakfast.

The reason that you need to leave early is because the clouds are likely to obscure the views at Lesser World’s End and Greater World’s End.

Travel from Haputale towards Boralanda.

Take the turning towards Ohiya.

Pass across the railway tracks in Ohiya and carry on to the entrance at Horton Plains National Park.

After paying the entry fee at the gate you will drive to the car park.

There is a short walk to the ticket booth to enter Horton Plains and start your hike.

What will I need to take?

Horton Plains is a hike of moderate difficulty. The first part of the hike takes you through a slightly more difficult cutting however, by taking your time, most people can manage this quite easily. The good news is that the remainder of the hike is much easier. Here is what you need to know about what you should take with you to Horton Plains National Park.

Footwear – I have seen Sri Lankans walk around Horton Plains in flop flips (jangles) however, I would recommend wearing sandals with fastenings.(Thats what I usually wear). Otherwise you can wear training shoes or walking shoes. For this hike walking shoes or boots are not necessary, but if you have brought them with you, why not use them?

Sunscreen – Don’t get caught out by the cloud cover! As you are at an elevation of between 2,100–2,300 m (6,900–7,500 ft) the UV level can be quite high. We have had guests return a little too red in colour, despite our warning.

Jacket – a light wind or rain jacket is all you need to bring along with you to Horton Plains. It is a little chilly at the start of the hike as you will start early in the morning. There could be a little wind or light shower during your walk. I tend to find that I need my jacket for the first fifteen to twenty minutes and then it goes into my small backpack for the rest of the hike.

Food and Drink – At GlenMyu Estate we send you off with a packed breakfast and you can take this on your hike and eat it at one of the sightseeing points. You will just need snacks and some water for the three hour or so hike.

There is a small shop at the entrance to Horton Plains where you can pick up some items if you need to. The selection is limited though.

Please take all you litter with you and keep the park clean.

Loo Paper and soap – There are a some toilets on the route however they don’t supply toilet paper or soap. Take some with you so you don’t get caught short!

Camera and Mobile Phone – you will have plenty of photo opportunities for those Instagram and Social Media moments.

A small backpack – you will need something to carry the items listed above.

Need to know more? Read more about it!

You can read more about Horton Plains National Park and photos that we and our guests have taken at our Hiking in Sri Lanka Articles and Posts Page.

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.

Horton Plains National Park – Need to know. Read More »

Inspiration to paint in the Sri Lankan Hills

Is this my favourite place?

Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs, Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Is this my favourite place?

Is this my favourite place? I often think where is my favourite place to live? At this time in my life, it is the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

My favourite places have changed throughout my life.

I think that my feelings about places have changed over the years. There clearly was a right time and right place at different times of my life.

Formative years in the countryside.

When I was young I spent my secondary school education at a boarding school on a 64 acre estate in the Suffolk Countryside. I loved it there. Spending the time with my school friends, playing rugby with my teammates and enjoying the grounds was a far cry from Brixton, South London.

London - a city with so much to offer

Starting in Banking in Mayfair (the most expensive property on the Monopoly board!) was a great place to start my career. Unfortunately I did have to commute, so it wasn’t ideal.

Working in Kilburn and being able to walk to the office was a joy. The vibe in the area as it was slowly becoming gentrified was an interesting time in my life.

London’s pace and energy was a great place to live in my mid twenties until my mid forties. I used as many of the elements that this city offers (within my budget). The atmosphere in the pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs were just what I wanted at that period. London emits a power that inspires and creates art, music and fashion. It was a pomace that I felt comfortable and proud to live during that time.

Colombo, Sri Lanka - a new place, a new continent

Moving to Sri Lanka at fifty was a deliberate choice to slow down the pace of life and get some time back. Living in Colombo initially was enjoyable. My early morning walk along the walking tracks that abut Parliament was a healthy start to the day. The smiles and relationships that we started to build with the people we met on our walk or in the neighbourhood gave us a good felling of community.

As I got older the realisation that family, friends, people and community are a major part of what makes living in a place more enjoyable and brings elements of happiness.

And then to the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

My favourite place at this time in my life is GlenMyu Estate and the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

What makes GlenMyu Estate my favourite place?

Great people make this my favourite place.

We are so fortunate to have great neighbours that have a similar outlook on life. They go through the same trials and tribulations that we go through living in the hills means that we have empathy for each other. The fact that most have travelled widely, have lived interesting lives and enjoy good food and drink are a bonus.

We get to meet people

Starting GlenMyu Estate and inviting guests into our house was quite daunting at first. We were not hoteliers and would it work. Both my wife and I had lived on our own together in North West London for many years, so how would we manage with strangers coming in and out of the house?

Well, it worked out great and we love it.

We live on the top floor of the house and have a separate entrance which gives guests their separate space.

Meeting new guests exploring this paradise island adds so much colour to our lives. We really enjoy getting to know our guests, finding out about their lives and where they live. As our guests are on holiday and they have enjoyed their tour around the country spirits are positive and high.

Having people to stay with us is one of the most enjoyable parts of living here and the main reason that it is my favourite place.

The estate keeps us busy

With fives acres to maintain and look after we are always busy. There is always something to do, Lawns and pathways need cut, shrubs and trees need pruning and trees, flowers and vegetables need planting.

We are continually developing the estate to improve it for ourselves and our guests. The development of our version of Lombard Street is taking longer than I wanted. Our circular pathway around the border of the estate needs completed. We always have new ideas on what we want to do and the work needs to be planned between guests and seasons.

We wait for the rainy season to start and clear areas in readiness for planting. The rain doesn’t come and we can’t plant what we planned.

There are great places to visit nearby

We love living at GlenMyu Estate because it is close enough to so many great places to visit. A day trip to Ella to see Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Waterfall or people watch from a bar in the high street. Visiting the UNESCO heritage site Horton Plains became one of our favourite places to go when we first started living here. Being in the Montane Cloud Forest and enjoying the eleven kilometre hike makes life interesting and makes you feel good.

Finding Upper Diyaluma Waterfall when accompanying a German couple on their trip was a wonderful find. We feel that we were lucky to visit the second tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka before it gets too busy with tourist.

Seeing the views from Lipton’s Seat, Haputale looking over the manicured tea estates are also an enjoyable experience. There are so many other places to see and visit nearby, like the stages of the new Pekoe Trail and we never have enough time to go as regularly as we would like to.

Never a dull moment

Whether it’s the animals, the weather or our staff’s stories, there is never a dull moment for us at GlenMyu Estate. We have a crazy cow who keeps us entertained. Ru is regularly nursing one of the chickens who may be under the weather. We can be searching for a duck who has decided to nest in a dangerous location as the nigh falls. Some of our dogs are needy and refuse to let me get on with my work unless I spend time petting them.

My favourite place - at the moment.

So GlenMyu Estate and the Sri Lankan Hill Country is my favourite place at the moment. I love it when guests stay and enjoy their time here so much. The reviews that they leave make both Ru and I feel great and it gives us inspiration to work hard and provide our guests with the best experience.

We hope that this also becomes their favourite place also.

Is this my favourite place? Read More »

Sri Lanka’s most beautiful place

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

Sri Lanka's most beautiful place.

“Probably, the most beautiful place we have ever seen”. Our guests reaction when they returned from seeing the siunrise at Lipton’s Seat. Is this Sri Lanka’s most beautiful place.

This is not something that I was expecting to hear and something that you do not hear that often.

We live on a paradise island and there are some spectacular and memorable places to experience and visit that make a great impact on your senses.

Today (3rd November 2023), our guests returned from their early morning trip to see the sunrise at Lipton’s Seat.

It’s been a while since I’ve visited Lipton’s Seat and this inspires me to make another trip soon.

An early start

Lipton’s Seat is just over an hours drive from GlenMyu Estate Hotel.

Our Australian couple were travelling around Sri Lanka, for the first time, and are to end up in Colombo at a friends wedding.

The end of October and beginning of November is not the best time to visit the island as it is hit by the Inter-monsoon.

We have experienced quite a lot of rain and fortunately when they arrived the rain had eased, thankfully. When guests arrive we always want the view from the lounge to be spectacular. This afternoon we had an okay view in our opinion. I guess you get a little spoilt when living at GlenMyu Estate all year round. For us it is a little disappointing, however, for our guests they were knocked over by the beauty.

It's easy to get blase!

We tend to forget that most visitors live in cities and they don’t have a view like ours.

I was so pleased that they were bowled over by the view.

Maybe tomorrow

Sometimes when the new is not as spectacular as I would like, I hope and I pray the view the next morning would be fabulous after the rains. Unfortunately, after looking at the weather forecast, rain was also expected the following day.

Up early and off to Lipton’s Seat

The view the next morning from GlenMyu Estate was not going to be a issue as our guests had already planned to get up at 4.30 a.m.

They were aiming to get to Lipton’s Seat to see the sunrise.

I was a little skeptical that there would be a sunrise worth seeing, given the weather and the forecast.

Lipton’s Seat - what’s that?

Do you know the brand Liptons Tea. Maybe you have drank an Liptons Iced tea?

Lipton’s Seat is located an hour away from Haputale town.

Lipton’s Seat is a viewpoint which was named after the celebrated Thomas Lipton.

Sir Thomas Lipton was a Scottish businessman who moved to the island in 1890 when it was a British colony.

He met James Taylor, and together they introduced tea gardens to the country.

Before Thomas Lipton’s more to the country, James Taylor had attempted to grow coffee on the island.

Sadly, the coffee plantations were devastated by a leaf-blight. With Thomas Lipton’s assistance, the two men started on an enterprise which would carry on for generations after.

The Viewpoint
Lipton’s Seat is a popular viewpoint, from where Sir Thomas Lipton would sit with a cup of tea in hand and survey the landscape of his estate.

Today, you can enjoy one of the best views from the lookout.

You can even get a photo with the Tea Baron! There is a life-sized statue of the man himself sitting on a bench.

If you want a better chance of getting a great photo of the beautiful landscape, it is recommended that you go early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the late-morning mist and fog

The next morning

The following morning our guests had left early as planned, with a flask of tea, provided by one of our staff, in hand to keep them warm at the peak.

I was delighted, again, that the overnight rain had cleared the clouds sufficiently so that the guests had a chance of seeing a view.

We were aware that the guests would also make a trip to Dambethenna Tea Factory to see how the tea is processed after their hike to Lipton’s Seat. This would result in them returning for breakfast around 10 a.m.

We are up early most days.

As normal, both Ru and I were up early. Ru made and baked the breads and prepared the rest of the breakfast in readiness for their return.

I watched the skies hoping that it stayed clear and dry enough for the guests to have an enjoyable start to the day.

Then it was my time to be bowled over!

Almost on cue, the guest arrived back to GlenMyu Estate at 10 a.m. as planned.

I greeted them as they entered the house and they had big smiles on their faces.

The view from the house was so much better when they arrived back. Cleared skies and Udawalawe Reservoir could be seen in the distance. There were photo opportunities not to be missed before I got a debrief of their early morning adventure.

Probably the most beautiful place they have ever seen

Once the photo session from the house had concluded I got to see some of the photos they had captured that morning. They said that the view from Lipton’s Seat “Was probably the most beautiful place they have ever seen”.

I was amazed to hear this as they have travelled quite extensively and there are so many beautiful places to see in Australia.

There was an added bonus, as they were the only people at Lipton’s Seat that morning.

Sri Lanka Tourism Authority has a plan to attract between four and five million tourists at 2030 (from a plan of 1.5 million in 2023). Given this target, what our guests experienced will be truly a unique experience compared to what is expected in the future.

The photos - just wow!

I asked the guests to share the photos with me so that I could share them with you.

The photos of the sunrise is just wow and spectacular.

I’m sure you agree.

Getting up early is worth it

We recommend an early start to guests when they stay at GlenMyu Estate. You can have your adventure and exploration early on in the day and enjoy the afternoon at the estate.

You can read more about why you should get up early in our article “The 6 best reasons to wake up early “.

Inspired!

I have not seen the sunrise at Lipton’s Seat and seeing these photos and hearing about our guests experience gives me an incentive to do the same.

Hopefully their experience will also inspire and encourage you to see the sunrise at Lipton’s Seat.

Thank you Matt and Millie for sharing your photographs with us at GlenMyu Estate.

Find out more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate

What you will experience.

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

Find us on Booking.com and Airbnb.

Read our reviews on TripAdvisor, Google, Booking.com and Airbnb.

Stunning sunsets from the House at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Swimming at the natural pool at GlenMyu Estate — An early evening swim.

A family gathering at the balcony. — Make memories together as family or friends at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, B Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Creating special moments at GlenMyu Estate — Special moments on the balcony at GlenMyu Estate.

Glenmyu Estate view — The view from the house at GlenMyu Estate

The best homestay in Sri Lanka — Relax in the lounge

The view of Udawalawe Tank - the colours are good for the Soul. — Udawalawe Tank (reservoir) appears to be floating in the air. On clear days it is a spectacular sight from the lounges at GlenMyu Estate. It’s good for the soul.

It’s Good for the Soul when you wake up to a view like this.

A pair of White- Throated Kingfishers. — A pair of White-Throated Kingfishers by the stream at GlenMyu Estate, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s most beautiful place Read More »

Swimming at our natural pool in Sri Lanka

Why we love our swimming Pool.

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

Why do we love our swimming pool?

Why do we love our swimming pool? Building our Natural Spring Fed Swimming Pool was one of the best decisions we made!

Why a swimming pool?

I certainly never had the ambition to have a swimming pool.

Whenever I swam in a pool in the UK, it was either too cold, or overrun with people. I used to dislike swimming lengths as there was always either someone in front slowing me down or some speedster was on my tail.

It felt very uncomfortable and, the result was that, I really did not enjoy swimming.

This may upset a few people or raise their temperature, but I also found it a little boring. Swimming length after length for such a long time to burn those calories was not very exciting. Nothing to look at and the echo of the noises in the pool was also off-putting.

Swimming on holiday was not much better. It was great to jump in the pool to cool myself off however the UV’s hitting my Northern Hemisphere skin meant that I couldn’t stay in the water for too long. Holiday swimming pools are also mainly for leisure and not for doing a little fitness. I needed to work off those calories eaten at the buffet breakfast!

I was surprised.

My wife was really determined to have a swimming pool. After all, it is an additional attraction for guests.

I was more concerned about spending our budget on the main house and grounds. However, my wife is very determined and she got her way.

We completed the building of GlenMyu Estate during the global pandemic and Sri Lanka was not open for tourists at that time. This meant that we had GlenMyu Estate all to ourselves.

After a hard days work on the estate progressing the landscaping, we started to go for an evening swim together.

I was amazed and surprised at the experience that we had.

The luxury of few.

There was a special luxury to be able to spend the late afternoon swimming with my wife without any other people. Apart from being good for our relationships chatting as we stopped for breath in between lengthy, it was also good for the body.

The strains and stresses on our bodies, which had been used to sitting in front of computer screens for years, were relieved by our swim. We got fitter and were able to increase the amount of time we spent in the pool.

GlenMyu Estate only has three bedrooms and therefore we have no need to provide time slots for the pool like other hotels. There is a luxury to this and we find that often our guests have the pool to themselves as other residents may be out discovering the Sri lankan Hill Country.

Now I have to time my swim.

I try to time my daily swim around guests either early in the morning on late in the afternoon. This gives the guests full access to the pool when they want it.

I’m delighted to be able to share this fantastic facility with our guests.

What do you find special about the swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate?

I love swimming either before the sun is fully up around 8.30 am. It’s a really refreshing start to the day and you know that you are alive as the pool is not heated! However, i assure you the temperature is not too cold and you will enjoy it.

As we are used to the cooler pool temperature we find that when we swim in warmer hotel pools it feels more like a jacuzzi rather than a swimming pool. Our pool temperature inspires you to swim rather than lounge around and play with a beach ball.

Our other favourite time is around 4.30 p.m. when the sun is starting to go down, The pool has been warmed during the day by the midday sun and is a nice temperature. Sometimes we swim through layers of warm into cold which is quite an odd sensation.

A little later, when the sun goes down around 6 p.m. – 6.30 p.m. is another amazing experience to swim. The colours in the sky can be quite spectacular and it easy to sit for a while admiring natures delivery.

Sight and sound

Another thing we love about the swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate is that we feel more connected with nature.

The sounds of the birds that provide the background music and the array of colours from the trees, plants and flowers are something special. Sometimes the Hill Swallows take sips of water from the surface of the pool (despite there being a stream below). I also love the sound of the parrots making loud noises as they speed from tree to tree.

Why do we love our swimming pool? No chlorine!

The swimming pool is filled from a Natural Spring. The water goes through sand and rock filters before reaching the pool. As we are in a region where we get enough rainfall, spread throughout the year, we are able to empty and clean the pool fully every month to six weeks (apart from drier months in July and August).

We don’t use chlorine in the pool as the spring water constantly flows in and out the pool. It’s such a good experience to have to deal with chlorine when swimming and leaving the pool with the chlorine smell.

Sometimes, if we see the start of the build up of some algae, we do stop the water over night and add a little chlorine to clear it, however it is all gone by the morning.

We love that our guests enjoy our pool.

It is a real pleasure talking to our guests about their experience in the pool.

Several of our guests use the pool more than once during the day. Our record is by a German couple who were in the pool four times in one day. We were really impressed!

It’s also great when families spend their time in the pool with their children. I love the noise and the memories that these families create.

I let all our guests know that they have to be careful in the sun as we are around 1,000 metres above sea level. The UV rays can be quite strong and it’s easy to get burnt.

Despite my warnings there have been too many sore red shoulders and legs for my liking!

Easing those legs and the body after a hike.

Many of our guests enjoy a day trip to Horton Plains National Park and complete the eleven kilometre hike.
A dip in the pool to ease those legs is a great way to end the day.

There are some other great hikes within an easy drive from GlenMyu Estate to enjoy which may test the body. Little Adams Peak and Ella Rock near Ella Town is just over an hours drive.

There are several sections of the new Pekoe Trail near to the estate. Some of our recent guests did the hike from Haputale to Lipton’s Seat and enjoyed a swim on their return.

Nearby stages are:
Stage 11 – Horton Plains to Udaweriya
Stage 12 – Udaweriya to Haputale
Stage 13 – Haputale to St. Catherine
Stage 14 – St. Catherine to Makulella
Stage 15 – Makulella to Ella
Stage 16 – Ella to Demodara

Stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country at GlenMyu Estate.

GlenMyu Estate is located on the Wellawaya/Koslanda Road, four kilometres from Beragala. It is conveniently situated to do day trips to Ella Town, Diyaluma Waterfall, Bambarakanda Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Horton Plains National Park and many more.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb however you can enquire about direct booking rates by pressing the WhatsApp button on our website.

You can see more information about a stay at GlenMyu Estate at our website and follow us on our social media channels.

Experience our Natural Spring Fed Swimming Pool for yourselves when you book your stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Why we love our swimming Pool. 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.

Our Cow and a dog. Wandering around GlenMyu Estate. Inspires my though for the day — Malli and Patch getting to know each other.

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.

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 »

Hindu Festival in Sri Lanka

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

Hindu Festival in Sri Lanka

During mid August there is an annual Hindu Festival that takes place close to GlenMyu Estate Hotel. It normally lasts for around three days, however this year it was extended to five days. The Festival is part of the local culture here in Sri Lanka and we understand that it consists of rituals to gods that provide water which is essential for life. Across the road from the estate lies the stream that provides water for the villagers and this is the focus for parts of the festival.

As it can be noisy and the festivities can take place overnight we close the hotel during this period so our guests do not get disturbed. It also allows the Tamil Hindu workers at GlenMyu Estate Hotel to enjoy and participate in their festival which is very important to the community.

Worshippers at the source of the water just above GlenMyu Estate Hotel.

The local Hindu village along with family and friends get together.

There was a large crowd gathered for the occasion.

A healthy offering.

It is traditional in the Hindu community to offer fruits and coconuts to their gods.

We knew there was a festival because the band was playing.

Spectacular colours at the Hindu Festival.

The array of beautiful colours make it a spectacular local event.

You can hear the level of the noise from the band as one devotee takes part in his ritual to the gods.

Although this looks painful the devotee is mentally ready and prepared to go through this pain barrier. We understand from one of our workers that did this a few years ago that they regularly fast and only eat vegetarian meals on the run up to the ceremony.

A large crowd has gathered at the road above GlenMyu Estate to take part in the festivities.

Cleary the celebrations are all too much for some!

Do not read further if you are squeamish!

DON’T LOOK IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH.

Some of the traditions are not for the fainthearted.

The Festival takes place just above GlenMyu Estate on the A4 road between Beragala Junction and Koslanda.

Windows looking toward the valley making the best of the view. — Windows making rooms with views

A stunning red sky view from the House at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka. An inspirational landscape

The Natural Spring Fed Infinity Swimming Pool at GlenMyu Estate

A stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country on your holiday.

GlenMyu Estate is a three bedroom boutique hotel in the Sri Lankan Hill Country on a five acre estate.

GlenMyu Estate is on Booking.com and Airbnb. Contact us directly by WhatsApp to ask about our direct booking rates.

Visit our website or contact us by WhatsApp for further details.

Hindu Festival in Sri Lanka Read More »

One of the rescue dogs at GlenMyu Estate and Hotel, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

A holiday for Animal Lovers

Holiday, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs / By Mikeez

A holiday for animal lovers.

When we initially opened GlenMyu Estate Hotel, in the Sri Lankan Hill Country, we were concerned that having dogs would be detrimental to the business. What we have found though is that there are animal lovers from all parts of Sri Lanka and the World

The animals that we have at GlenMyu Estate have really added to the guest experience. We have been amazed that one of the reasons that guests have chosen us is because we have our rescue dogs.

All vaccinated and loved.

All of our dogs are vaccinated and are also used to greeting new guests on a regular basis. Sometimes I feel sorry for the dogs (and guests) because I can see how quickly a relationship and friendship is developed, only to be broken when the guests leave to discover more parts of this paradise island.

So you thought that you didn't like dogs?

We have had a few guests come that are not too keen on dogs. However, I don’t know how the dogs manage it, but they are able to forge a relationship really quickly. We recently had a family stay and the mother didn’t want the attention from the dogs unlike the rest of her family. A few hours later she was cuddling one of our abandoned puppies and didn’t want to let her go!

There was also a Sri Lankan family comprising of Mum, Dad and three delightful daughters. The girls were pinned close to their mother when the alighted the car and were met by several excited dogs. Within an hour they were playing with the dogs and there were tears in the morning when the left as the youngest wanted to take one home with them!

The house with the seven dogs.

Early on we had a French family living in Colombo stay at GlenMyu Estate. The parents and their two young daughters really loved their time here and picked out their own favourite dogs.

On their second visit their mother told us that we were known as “the house with the seven dogs” and that they had remembered all their names!

We often have puppies at GlenMyu Estate.

Over the few years we have been at GlenMyu Estate we have had puppies from time to time.

As spaying a neutering dogs in Sri Lanka is not the norm there are lots of unwanted puppies that turn up throughout the year.

Sri Lankans are animal lovers however we do wish that a sterilisation programme was enacted by the government to control the population.

We have lots of tourists arrive and comment on the number and poor condition of the street dogs that they have seen around the island.

There are charities and organisations that do their best to help, treat and care for the street dogs. However, the challenge is huge and overwhelming. We just do our best to care for these animals at GlenMyu Estate. After providing them with them with a good start in life with a good diet, additional vitamins and the relevant vaccinations we try to re-home them with loving families.

Were you always animal lovers?

Both Ru and I had been around dogs and animals all of our lives through each of our parents who had dogs, cats and so on. However, we had never had the full responsibility of the animals ourselves. Living in London in a small apartment, working long hours and travelling meant that it was not feasible to have a pet. We were so busy that it was not even a consideration.

Living in Sri Lanka has reconnected us with animals.

Ru’s dream was always to have an organic farm up in the mountains with her own animals. I suppose that the original intention was to have farm animals that we functional on a farm. However, the focus has changed since we have been in Sri Lanka and the main driver is being animal lovers providing a good safe environment rather than seeing their role as part of farming.

A holiday for animal lovers?

There is so much to enjoy about a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country at GlenMyu Estate. Sri Lanka’s Hill country offers lots of wonderful places to see and visit. Ella Town is around one hours drive and lots of our guests visit Nine Arch Bridge, climb Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak. They also visit Ravana Waterfall and Ravana’s Cave.

Hiking at then UNESCO Heritage site of Horton Plains National Park and seeing the spectacular views at Lesser World’s End, Greater World’s End and the beautiful Baker’s Falls is a favourite.

Upper Diyaluma Waterfall is a relatively new discovery for us and as it is only a 40 minute drive it is now one of the most popular day trips. A visit to Lipton’s Seat and seeing how tea is processed at Dambetenne Tea Factory is also a great experience.

After exploring the area coming back to the five acre estate and being welcomed by the dogs adds to your holiday memories.

GlenMyu Estate has more than street dogs to provide interest for animal lovers.

We also have a rescue cow called Maali. She has been a resident at the estate since December 2022 and adds to the landscape. Maali provides us with manure for our organic garden and grass around the estate. She is interested to meet new guests and give them a sniff and perhaps even a lick with her coarse tongue!

You will see lots of ducks wandering around the estate foraging for food and then bathing in the streams that run through the land. They are a perfect way to lose some hours watching them go about their daily lives. We find them very relaxing (apart from when they are mating!) and it is our form of meditation.

Our chickens and roosters also wander around the estate looking for tasty things to eat. We do keep them in an enclosure for part of the day to protect them from predators such as the mongoose and eagles.

Meet some of our animals.

Here are some of our dogs that will be happy to meet you!

Our ducks provide a relaxing experience at the estate.

And Maali may also welcome you

Other visitors to the estate.

Apart from the animals that we care for at GlenMyu Estate there are lots of visitors, some you will see and some are hidden. Occasionally you may see a Barking Deer in the distance eating leaves and fresh grass. You are unlikely to see a porcupine or Wild Boar as they tend to come in the middle of the night, however you may see the damage that they do to our crops.

There are a variety of birds that visit the estate daily and seasonally. We have a bird book to help you identify what you see whilst you are here.

We also have lots of squirrels and occasionally a beautiful Giant Squirrel eating our Jackfruits on the tree.

GlenMyu Estate Hotel - a holiday for animal lovers.

To find out more about a holiday in the Sri Lankan Hill Country please visit our website and contact us via the WhatsApp button to inquire about direct booking rates.

We are also listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.

You can also see videos of the animals that visit the estate on our social media channels.

If you are particularly interested in the dogs we have a separate YouTube Channel.

Read our guest reviews

Please read how our other guests have found their stay at GlenMyu Estate on Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Airbnb.

A holiday for Animal Lovers Read More »

A selfie at Nine Arch Bridge, Demodara, Ella, Sri Lanka

Nine Arch Bridge, Ella

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

Nine Arch Bridge, Ella, Sri Lanka - Our Guide.

As you travel around this paradise island and make your way towards Ella, the majestic sight of Nine Arch Bridge may end up being one of your most memorable experiences.

This 100+ year old bridge is in situated in the most beautiful setting abutted by tea fields and with the lush jungle as the background.

Nine Arch Bridge is in a stunning spot and, if you happen to time your visit when a train goes over the bridge, it will be a very special experience.

A stunning spot.

A visit to Nine Arch Bridge has become one of the main tourist attractions of Sri Lanka. If you combine your visit with a trip to see one of the other amazing sights close to Ella will make it a very special day. You will savour the amazing natural scenery at Nine Arch Bridge along with perhaps a hike to Little Adams Peak or Ella Rock.

There are also several other sights to see in and around Ella and it is a great place to visit on a day trip from GlenMyu Estate.

How to get there.

You will have a choice of various different options on how to get to Nine Arch Bridge including travelling over it on the train itself.

Taking the famous blue train, which travels at a slow speed, will enable you to enjoy the view of the Sri Lankan Countryside. There are lots of Instagram photos of passengers sitting on the steps enjoying the scenery. The more adventurous hang out of the door to get that, now so common, Instragram pose.

Take care!

Of course this is dangerous, despite the slow sipped of the train, so it’s not something we would recommend.

Surely there are enough of those photo shots now – we would recommend that you consider something more original!

The most popular journey takes you from Kandy to Ella which is around a 6 hour journey (providing the train is not late!). However you could consider taking the super pretty part of the journey from Nuwara Eliya (Nanuoya Rail Station) to Ella which will cut your train journey down to a more palatable 2 hours 27 minutes (or 2 hours 18 minutes for the faster train).

Train Tickets - where are they?

Sri Lankan Railways launched an online portal to purchase train tickets last year.

So why are there no tickets available when I tried to book online?

Well, I cannot really say however I have my own conspiracy theory of course!

Several guests have contacted me looking for tickets. I have been to Haputale Railway station and they have advised that the seats are all sold out several weeks in advance.

I hope that you are lucky enough to purchase these disappearing tickets online in advance however this will continue to get more difficult as more and more tourists visit Sri Lanka.

What we advise our guests.

We have advised our guests who are making there way to Kandy to enquire at their hotel there to source tickets (with seats!) for them. A premium will have to be paid (surprise surprise!) however this has worked for some guests.

If you cannot bear the idea of a 6 hour (or more) journey standing up then another option is to make your way to Nuwara Eliya. Hopefully some passengers will have disembarked from the train and you may then get a seat (fingers crossed).

Other ways to get to Nine Arch Bridge

Reaching Nine Arch ridge is most easily accessible from Ella and you will probably need some transport unless you are really into hiking!

Our Day Trip from GlenMyu Estate to Nine Arch Bridge

In June 2023 we did a day trip from GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, to visit Nine Arch Bridge.

We got to the bridge at around midday and were very happy that we managed to see a train cross over the bridge.

You can read about our trip in the following article “Our day trip to Nine Arch Bridge“.

How to get to Nine Arch Bridge, Ella

There are multiple options and ways to get to the Nine Arch train bridge.

The starting point to the bridge is quite close to Ella’s main street, so you can decide if you want to walk or get a Tuk Tuk.

Perhaps you have rented a scooter or motorbike which will get you there on your own.

Other options to get there.

Tuk Tuk from Ella Town

You can take a tuk-tuk from Ella town to the Nine Arch Bridge parking spot, then hike the remaining 5-10 minutes on foot, which was the quickest and easiest option.

On foot

Another option is that you can walk to Nine Arch Bridge by following the Ella-Passara Road, turning left at Sri Kanaser Temple (where all the street food stalls are) and following the signs past multiple guesthouses until you arrive at the bridge.

When you decide to walk, it takes about 20 minutes to get there. You have to follow the road towards Little Adam’s Peak and turn left at the small colored temple. Then follow Lake Front Cottage on Google Maps.

By car – park and walk.

If you have hired a car you can drive part of the way and then walk from a parking spot or hire a Tuk Tuk to take you to the bridge.

As we live in Sri Lanka and have our own car we drove and parked which left just around a 5 minute walk to the bridge. There was a small parking fee charged at the shop for our parking (around 50 rupees).

However we also had a snack (warm corn on the cob) and a cup of tea when we returned to the car after visiting Nine Arch Bridge.

How we drove to Nine Arch Bridge

Before we arrived at Ella Tunnel and Ella Town we took a left hand turn down the Ella Halpe Road and followed Google Maps to the location of the parking spot.

It was a challenging road to drive and I wish we had taken a Tuk Tuk!

We drove to “Nine Arch Bridge Car Park” which is B on google maps (see the location on the right).

The shop where we parked.

After we had seen the train we needed some refreshment and enjoyed sone tea and hot corn on the cob from a small shop near the parking spot.

Would I recommend driving to Nine Arch Bridge?

Although I have lived and driven in Sri Lanka for several years I would recommend choosing an alternative transport to get to Nine Arch Bridge.

The roads are quite narrow going to Nine Arch Bridge and really it’s much more suitable to hire a Tuk Tuk or go by foot.

You have to be quite brave to navigate the small lanes and hope that you do not meet another vehicle on the route.

Our guests at GlenMyu Estate normally hire a Tuk Tuk with a guide for the day and it it a much more relaxing experience.

Best time to visit the Nine Arch Bridge

This really depends on what your aim is. Do you want to visit when there are few other visitors there? Do you want to see the sunrise or sunset? Do you want the buzz of the crowns waiting to see the train cross the bridge?

It’s all about what you would like to see.

Train Times at Nine Arch Bridge.

The trains pass the bridge about 5 times a day (12 on the schedule I found at Sri Lanka Trains). However the exact times change all the time because the trains are quiet often delayed in Sri Lanka. But usually there should be one every hour. You can check the train schedule here.

If you miss the train don’t worry as there are some small cafes where you can get a snack and a drink near the bridge. The Bridge is quite pretty even in the absence of a train so you will still be able to get some beautiful pictures.

Our best advice is to ask a Tuk Tuk driver what time the train is due – they appear to have the inside knowledge.

Nine Arch Bridge viewpoint

The viewpoint of Nine Arch Bridge is also really worth considering a visit.

There are actually three points where you have to check the bridge and take photos.

From below in the tea fields, walking on the rails of the bridge and from the viewpoint.

Why stay at GlenMyu Estate?

Although GlenMyu Estate is just over an hour away from Ella and Nine Arch Bridge we have found that lots of our guests enjoy staying outside of the busy tourist town of Ella.

Ella is a great place for travellers who want to enjoy the buzz of a lively evening with lots of other like minded tourists. However, Ella is far from what Sri Lanka is really about and many tourist like to stay in a place which is quieter and feels closer to nature.

We only have three bedrooms at GlenMyu Estate so it is more of a bespoke service. Ru lived in the UK for many years and therefore is able to cater for a western palette and adjusts the level of spice accordingly.

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb. You can contact us directly on the WhatsApp button on our website to ask about the best direct rates.

Nine Arch Bridge, Ella 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 »

Flights from Turkey to Sri Lanka are duet start in the coming few months.

Direct Flights from Turkey to Sri Lanka

Holiday, Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Direct flights - Turkey to Sri Lanka.

There was exciting news in June 2023 when it was announced that Turkish Airlines would commence direct flights from Turkey to Sri Lanka.
At GlenMyu Estate we have already received some Turkish guests that love outside the country and we are looking forward to meeting new customers.
The new direct route will be an opportunity for other European Passengers to use Istanbul as a hub when they are flying to this Paradise Island on holiday.

Press about the new flights from Turkey to Sri Lanka.

There was much ado about the news which will bring more tourists to Sri Lanka. The Tourist Authority is planning for 2 million tourists in 2023 and perhaps this new route will help to achieve the target. At the time of writing Tourist numbers had dipped for the first week of June and expectations was that tourist numbers would pass 600,000 by the end of June 2023. If achieved, that would mean another 1.4 million tourists for the remainder of 2023!

The Sri Lankan Cival Aviation authority were excited in this press release.

Financial Times of Sri Lanka also released the following press statement.

Daily News advised that they expect to have The frequency is expected to be four flights per week on their article. Read more here.

It is expected that the new flights will bring, not just tourists from Turkey, but also it should boost arrivals from Europe, the US and Canada.

Connecting to 129 Countries World-wide

In Newswires despatch they state that “This will enable Sri Lanka to quickly connect with 129 countries in the world with shorter flight and connection times at Istanbul Airport”.

What is GlenMyu Estate?

GlenMyu Estate – in short

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

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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 »

The Pekoe Trail

Accommodation, Hiking in Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail / By Mikeez

The Pekoe Trail

The Pekoe Trail is a newly developed 300 kilometre hike in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

It is designed as a 22–day walk from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya via Ella, Haputale, and Horton Plains

You can find out more at the Pekoe Trail Website.

GlenMyu Estate is a perfect place to stay if you are tackling Stage 12 or Stage 13 of the Pekoe Trail.

The Pekoe Trail is part of the European Union’s 5.7 million Euro (LKR 2.2 billion) support for Sri Lanka’s national tourism strategy. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also provided approximately $787,000 (approximately LKR 283 million) to support the trail.

Reasons to Hike the Pekoe Trail

Be one of the first!

In January 2023 Ultra Marathon Runner Hyun Chang Chung ran the 300 kilometre Pekoe Trail in 59 hours. What an achievement!

You can read more at the FT Article and watch the video which will give you a flavour of what you will experience.

By tackling the trail and recording it on on of the hiking Apps then you will help promote the hike to other walkers by sharing your experience.

Here is a video taken by Marc Ramsey in February/March 2023 which gives a beautiful insight into the Pekoe Trail.

The Pekoe Trail is an example of sustainable tourism that uplifts local communities.

It also raises awareness about the importance of protecting the pristine, natural environment.

An Ultra Marathon on the Pekoe Trail

Ultramarathon trail runner Hyun Chang Chung completed his 300 km run along the Pekoe Trail, non-stop in 59 hours.

Hyun is quoted “The diversity in elevation, terrain, and environment as it winds around tea estates, nature reserves, and local communities puts The Pekoe Trail on par with some of the best trails in the world. This is my fourth visit to Sri Lanka, and I’ve found one more thing to love about it.”

Where should I stay in between stages?

As the Pekoe Trail is a newly created hike and recently they have published a list of recommended properties to stay on the trek.

GlenMyu Estate is located near t stages 12 & 13 of the Pekoe Trail and is a comfortable place to relax after an arduous hike.

The Natural Spring Fed Infinity Swimming Pool is a wonderful place to ease those muscles.

We can also arrange for a masseuse to come to the estate and massage your legs so you are in better condition to attempt the next stage of the trail.

Find out more about a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country

We are listed in Airbnb and Booking.com

Horton Plains National Park

You may also be interested in a hike around the UNESCO heritage site Horton Plains National Park.

The Hike is around 1 hour 15 minutes/30 minutes drive from GlenMyu Estate.

If you want to read our Blog Post about Horton Plains National Park, Lesser World’s End, Greater World’s End and Bakers fall click HERE.

The Pekoe Trail 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 »

Which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most?

Holiday, Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

Which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most?

Tourists visit Sri Lanka from all parts of the world to explore the fascinating variety of sights, activities and culture the country has to offer. The Island has years if experience welcoming guests from all different parts of the Worlds. It’s interesting to know which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most so you know what other tourists you may meet in the country.

Sri Lanka Tourist Statistics

The Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority issues annual, monthly and weekly statistics which breakdown the numbers of arrivals and country of origin.
There is comparison figures, month to month and year to year, however you must take into account that there have been external and internal factors that have affected tourist arrivals.

The global pandemic effectively closed the country to tourists and it took some months before Sri Lanka was off the red list for travel. There was also a lag before a more normal number of flights started arriving on the Island. In our experience flights really only started bringing a number of tourists in November 2021.

There was also effectively a halt in tourist numbers arriving in the country from late April 2022 until effectively November 2022 due to the government protests. The protests took place between 31 March and July 2022 as a result of the price of basic goods rising and food and fuel shortages.

Foreign Office warnings against travelling to Sri Lanka started to be lifted in August 2022 forward as the country started to settle down again after a change in government.

Flights from Russia started in September 2022 and other carriers followed in the latter part of the year. Tourist numbers increased to around 100,000 per month in early 2023 and it is hoped that arrivals will continue to move upward. The target tourist numbers for 2023 for Sri Lanka is 2 million and therefore the industry still has a way to go to achieve this goal.

Sri Lanka’s tourist numbers peaked at just over 2.5 million in 2018 according to the World Bank. Clearly the country has a long way to go to reach those numbers again.

Where do the tourists come from?

Visitors from the Russian Federation and India make up the highest number of visitors to Sri Lanka according to the official statistics.

This article from Outlook India states that in December 2022 there 19,000 from Russian and 17,000 from India.

The UK, Australia and Germany follow in passenger numbers. We, at GlenMyu Estate, see a lot of French, Swiss, Austrian and Scandinavian tourists coming to the Sri Lankan Hill Country to visit some of the sights including Ella, Nine Arch Bridge, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton Seat and Diyaluma Waterfall.

What countries is Sri Lanka targeting for tourists?

UK, Germany, France, India, China, Australia, Russia, the Middle East, and Scandinavia
During April and May 2023 the Tourist Development authority in Sri Lanka were targeting nine key markets.
If your country is not in that list please do not be offended. We at GlenMyu Estate have welcomed guests from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Ecuador, Kenya, the US and many more.

What Visa do I need to visit Sri Lanka?

Well, you will need a visa to visit Sri Lanka.

As Tourist Visas have changed over the last few years, in Sri Lanka’s attempt to increase tourism, we would recommend that you visit the Government Visa Website to get the most up to date information.

As a tourist you can visit the country for the following activities:

Sightseeing, holidaying
Visiting friends and relatives
Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and yoga
Participate in sporting events, competitions and activities relating to cultural performance

The most efficient way to apply for a visa is online via an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)

There are three types of ETA:

ETA for Tourist purpose with double entry for 30 (thirty) days
ETA for Business purpose with double entry for 30 (thirty) days
ETA for Transit up to 02 days Free of Charge basis (Documentary proof needed)

At present, there are Tourist Visas which cost between US$20 and US$50, depending upon length of visa and country of origin. Visa duration is up to 30 days or up to 180 days.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Countries visa cost is cheaper due to the special agreement between those countries.

If you are staying longer than 30 days then you should opt for the longer up to 180 days which costs US$50.

Visit the link for extending your visa for more than 30 days here.

What time of year should I visit Sri Lanka?

Similar to other parts of the world climate change appear to be affecting the weather patterns in Sri Lanka.

Therefore it is more difficult to know when the rains will come.

Know when the Monsoons come.

Beware the South West Monsoon…. oh… and also the North West Monsoon

Tourists visiting Sri Lanka should be aware of the annual monsoons that hit the country.

Make sure you check this before you decide what part of the Island to visit.

The North Eastern Monsoon

December to February
Rainy season in the dry zone
Regular showers in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee or Jaffna
This is an ideal time to visit the south and western beaches
It is also the best time to visit Colombo, Kandy, Galle or Nuwara Eliya
Whale watching season at Mirissa
You can experience the amazing wildlife in Udawalawe or Yala National Park
Horton Plains National Park and Knuckles Mountain range
Pilgrimage season of holy Adam’s Peak

The South Western Monsoon
May – September
There are intermittent rains in the wet zone
Also regular showers in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, or Nuwara Eliya
This is the best time to visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya or Dambulla
It is also an ideal to visit north and eastern beaches
It’s the best time of the year to visit Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar, Arugam Bay
During August-September there is the elephant gathering at Minneriya and Kaudulla.

Sri Lanka is an all year round destination.

Sri Lanka is a year-round holiday destination. This is due to its combination of weather systems ensuring that one or several regions, as well as a section of coastline, is statistically always expecting sunshine.

The peak season to visit Sri Lanka is between December and mid-April. The traditional summer holiday months are also favourable on the east coast which is at its peak from May to September.

In summary, please check the weather forecast for the part of the country you plan to visit and don’t discount visiting outside the peak season. Nowadays, tourists are looking for places to visit which are not overpopulated and they can see something without battling other people trying to get those Instagram shots.

Find out more about GlenMyu Estate.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.

Which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most? Read More »

The 6 best reasons to wake up early

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

The 6 best reasons to wake up early in Sri Lanka

The 6 best reasons to wake up early in Sri Lanka.
There are many reasons to wake up early in Sri Lanka. Here are our 6 best reasons to wake up early whilst on holiday.

Some will be unwanted, however, most of the time it is really worth it.

But it’s my holiday!

I know, I know!

You are on holiday and you were really looking forward to a lie in.

What I would recommend is for you to plan your itinerary around the Island which will provide you with enough time for rest day. Sri Lanka can be quite exhausting to travel around taking in new, sounds, colours, smells and information.

The 6 main reasons why you need to wake up early in Sri Lanka (in no particular order!)

Reason 1 - Seeing the Sunrise

We have spectacular sunrises in Sri Lanka which are worth getting up early for.

This a picture I took at the beach in Arugam Bay. It was a really special moment for my wife and I which we always will remember.

You don’t get a second chance and every sunrise if unique so it really is worth getting up early for.

Reason 2 - Avoid the crowds - especially at the weekend

Okay, maybe I’m just not a sociable animal!

Really though, it’s great to have experiences during your holiday in Sri Lanka where there are less crowds. Spending time, hand in hand with your partner walking on the pristine sand covering the beach is more memorable if you are alone. The image of a crowded beach doesn’t create that that same kind of romantic special moment

If you are fighting to get to the spot to take that selfie that will be a special reminder of your holiday it’s not great when there are lots of people trying to do the same thing.

Most people see a holiday as a time where they can wake up late and go out later in the day to explore. As crowds grow during the day the opportunities just are not as special.

We recently had guests visit Upper Diyaluma Waterfall early in the morning and return to GlenMyu Estate for a late breakfast. They were delighted as initially they had the place to themselves and the crowds staying in Ella arrived as they had finished. It was a really special experience for this young couple.

GlenMyu Estate is on Booking.com and Airbnb.

Reason 3 - Wake up early for the best photographs

Don’t miss “Golden Hour”.
The golden hour period is approximately between one half hour before sunrise, and one hour after sunrise. Golden hour is so named because early morning light is soft, and of course, golden!
The sun is low in the sky, shadows are softer, and the angles and length are more flattering.

According to website improvephotography the best time to take a portrait is with a couple of hours after sunrise and within a couple of hours before sunset.

Light changes quickly during this period and therefore it is important to get to the spot you want to photograph early to capture a range of photos. This will enable you to pick the ones where you like the light the best.

Reason 4 - It may get quite hot later on

One of the main reasons as a tourist in Sri Lanka to get up early is to avoid the heat later in the day.

It’s much more of a pleasure visiting tourist sites before it gets uncomfortably hot. Most visitors are not used to the temperatures (and sometimes humidity) and it can really sap you energy and enjoyment of the experience.

There is a song and a saying about “Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”.
It’s a comical song but has a very salient point.

If you are not from a tropical country then seeing the wonderful sights in Sri Lanka such as climbing Sigiria Rock Fortress, Hiking Horton Plains National Park, visiting the temples in ancient Polunaruwa or seeing the view at Lipton’s Seat it can be quite exhausting. You will also need to carry plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

Reason 5 - Wake up early and you can relax in the afternoon

“The early bird catches the worm”
Get an advantage on your day so that you can fully relax after seeing a fabulous site or having an experience early.

By expending energy in the morning after, say, a hike around Horton Plains National Park or climbing the Lion Rock then your body will be ready for a relaxing afternoon.
The temperature is more likely to be warmer and the world is telling you to slow down and take it easy. Your body will tell you that it is ready to slow down and recover from the rigorous morning experience it has been through.

There are some fabulous, hotels, guest houses, homestays and beach huts around Sri Lanka and I would recommend that you allocate some time to enjoy them.
At GlenMyu Estate, Ru will usually do a garden tour showing the spices, fruits and vegetables that we grow on the estate. Sometimes this will incorporate picking some of the fresh ingredients required for the evening meal such as salad leaves, vegetables and fruits.

We always suggest that guests build in a little bit of downtime during their holiday in Sri Lanka. After all, you are on holiday! If you end up missing visiting a sight there is no guilt as you can always come back to Sri Lanka again.

Reason 6 - You are more likely to see the animals on a safari

Getting up early means that you will be more likely to see a wider range of animals on Safari. In Sri Lanka there are morning and afternoon safaris. If you do a morning safari you always have the opportunity to also do an afternoon safari to compare how many and what types of animal you see.

We would choose a morning safari as animals typically search for water sources early in the morning after a safe nights sleep. Most nocturnal animals are become active at dusk and remain active for a few hours after sunset.

Some animals are mostly active during sunrise and therefore you have the best chance to see them in the morning. They prefer the cooler parts of the day: early morning or early evening.

Getting up early at GlenMyu Estate

What we find at GlenMyu Estate is that by time our guests have arrived here they need some downtime.

Most travellers arrive after topping up the tan or surfing at the coast on on the 6 hour train ride from Kandy.

There are lots to see within reach of GlenMyu Estate which are best or essential to see early in the morning. So there will be times where you will need to wake up early here as well.

Are there any better time than those personal moments in the early mornings?

Some of the views from the Balcony early in the morning at GlenMyu Estate.

Another reason to get up early at GlenMyu Estate is to enjoy some healthy Kola Kanda.

We pick the healthy leaves from the garden.

An early morning swim or enjoy a balcony view.

From GlenMyu Estate you can reach some fabulous spots that worth getting up early for:

Horton Plains National Park – a UNESCO Heritage Site
We normally send our guests off at 6.30 am so that they reach the park shortly after it opens.
Ru gets up early and provides a sumptuous breakfast so that our guests have a great start to an early day.
The main reason for reaching Horton Plains National Park early is to have a chance to see the awesome views at Lesser World’s End and Greater World’s End.
If you leave it too late the clouds in the Montane Cloud forest may already be obscuring the view meaning you won’t get that Instagram picture or video!
The 11 kilometre hike takes between 3 – 4 hours depending on how often you stop.

Getting there early means that there will be less crowds for you to share this wonderful natural landscape with. Many of our guests have commented on the number of local Sri Lankans who arrive when they are finishing. I doubt that many see the World’s End views.

Read about our experience of our hike at Horton Plains National Park at our BlogPost.

It will also mean that you will get back to GlenMyu Estate in plenty of time to enjoy a swim in the refreshing Natural Spring Fed Infinity Swimming Pool.

Find us on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Upper Diyaluma Waterfall
The second highest Waterfall in Sri Lanka is a favourite spot for us and many of our guests and worth getting up early to experience.

Upper Diyaluma Waterfall is around 1,400 metres high so you really need to get there early so that you don’t experience the full force of the sun. We do recommend our guests to put sun tan lotion on in order to avoid getting sunburn. As the elevation of this and many other tourist sights in the area are quite high it is worth taking the precaution.

A guest who left GlenMyu Estate to get to Upper Diyaluma Waterfall for sunrise at 5.30 am suggested that it was still 30 minutes too late and she should have left at 5 am.
She had a wonderful time and was able to make it back to GlenMyu to have a late breakfast.

Read more about or trip to Upper Diyaluma Waterfall in our BlogPost.

Lipton’s Seat and Dambetenne Tea Factory

This is the viewpoint from where Scottish tea baron, Sir Thomas Lipton, used to survey his vast tea empire.

Lipton’s Seat is at an elevation of 1,970 metres.

It has a panoramic view over the hills and you can see Uda Walawe Tank (reservoir), Handapanagala Lake, the Wedihitikanda Mountains, Chandrika Lake and Hambanthota Port which is located on the southern coast.
You can see five provinces from the viewpoint including Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern Provinces.

Here as some beautiful photos taken by our guests at Lipton’s Seat in April 2023.

It had rained quite heavily on the previous evening which led to the clear skies in the morning. They left GlenMyu Estate at 5 a.m. however they said that they could have left 15 minutes earlier to capture the sunrise fully.

Find out more about GlenMyu Estate by visiting our website or contact us by WhatsApp.

Contact GlenMyu Estate to book your stay by visiting our website.
We are also listed in Airbnb & Booking.com.

The 6 best reasons to wake up early Read More »

Pekoe Trail Stage 7 Kotagala to Norwood

Hiking in Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Travel / By Mikeez

The Pekoe Trail Stage 7

The Pekoe Trail Stage 7 is a 15.5 km hike from Kotagala to Norwood in Sri Lanka. Enjoy scenic views as you make walk past tea estates.

There are some Facebook (Meta) groups that have been set up for the Pekoe Trail.
We have seen lots of posts about local Sri Lankans and tourists hiking the Pekoe Trail.

Are there Hiking Apps which will help me on the Trail?

The Official Pekoe Trail Website suggests that walkers use All Trails, Outdoor Active or Wikiloc.

All Trails – Stage 7 of the Pekoe Trail

Outdoor Active – Stage 7 of the Pekoe Trail

Wikiloc – Stage 7 of the Pekoe Trail

Funded with assistance from the European Union and USAID

The Pekoe Trail is part of the European Union’s 5.7 million Euro support for Sri Lanka’s national tourism strategy. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also provided approximately $787,000 in support of the project.

We are starting to see more videos of people enjoying different stages of the Pekoe Trail.

An Ultra Marathon and the Pekoe Trail

Hyun Chang Chung was the first person to complete an Ultra Marathon on the Pekoe Trail. He covered the 300 kilometre trail in 59 hours in January 2023.

Where should I stay when tackling the Pekoe Trail

There is no official list of places to stay whilst you are hiking the Pekoe Trail on the official website. At the time this is published we will update this article.

There are so many different types of accommodation on offer on this Paradise Island. At this time we would recommend you to look on the normal accommodation websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb.

GlenMyu Estate Hotel - a place to stay

A luxurious stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

A great place to relax in between Pekoe Trail Stages.

Fins us on Booking.com and Airbnb.

GlenMyu Estate is within reach of stages near to Nuewar Eliya, Haputale, Ella and Demodara.

Where is GlenMyu Estate?

Pekoe Trail Stage 7 Kotagala to Norwood Read More »

Pekoe Trail Stage 3 Loolkandura to Thawalantenna

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, The Pekoe Trail, Travel / By Mikeez

The Pekoe Trail Stage 3

The Pekoe Trail Stage 3 is a 17.23 kilometre hike that takes you through tea fields and forests from Loolkandura to Thawalantenna.

What is the Pekoe Trail?

The Pekoe Trail is a new hiking trail from Kandy through to Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka. It encompasses 300 kilometres in 22 stages and takes in some beautiful scenery and

Walking the Pekoe Trail, takes you through some of the finest ecology and mountain terrain in the South of Asia.

Marvel when you encouter across beautiful views as you walk by tea plantations, forests, rivers and paddy fields.

Sri Lanka is steeped in both culture and history. Your experience will be elevated as you meet local folk on the way and see how they live.

You will soon be aware that Sri Lankan’s always have a warm smile for visitors to the Country. They are proud to share how they live their lives to those who show an interest.

These videos give a taste of what you will experience on the Pekoe Trail.

A new trail funded by the european Union and USAID

Funding for the Pekoe Trail was from the European Union (Euros 5.7 million) and The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contributed approximately US$787,000.

How do I navigate the Pekoe Trail?

The Official Pekoe Trail Website recommends that you use one of the following hiking apps:

All Trails
Outdoor Active
Wikiloc

You can also look to hire a guide for the trail which should add to the experience as they should be able to point out areas of interest. They may also have a knowledge of the flora and fauna that you will see on your walk. There are some Facebook (Meta) groups that may be able to help you source a guide.

All Trails – Pekoe Trail Stage 2

Outdoor Active – Pekoe Trail Stage 2

Wikiloc – Pekoe Trail Stage 2

Where should I stay in between stages?

Presently there are no recommended lists of places to stay on the official Pekoe Trail website.

We will update this article when a recommended list is published.

However, there is a wide variety of places to stay to suit all types of budget in Sri Lanka. From Homestay and Hostels to B & B’s to Luxury Hotels you will be able to find something suitable for you.

If you look at the usual hotel booking sites such as Booking.com or Airbnb you will no doubt find something you like.

An option for Stages 12 -16 -GlenMyu Estate Hotel

Located around 12 kilometres from Haputale town, GlenMyu Estate is in a good location for several stages of the Pekoe Trail.

A comfortable place to stay and recover for a few days in between stages of your hike.

There are lots of reasons to choose GlenMyu Estate.

You will find:

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.

There are lots of places of interest to visit within reach of the Estate:

Find us on Airbnb and Booking.com.

Pekoe Trail Stage 3 Loolkandura to Thawalantenna Read More »

Pekoe Trail Stage 22 Kandapola to Nuwara Eliya

Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail / By Mikeez

The Pekoe Trail Stage 22

The Pekoe Trail’s Stage 22 is the final section of the 300 kilometre Trail from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. It is a 10.81 kilometre hike and takes you to Sri Lanka’s “Little England”.

Nuwara Eliya is known as the “Little England” of Sri Lanka due to its’ colder climate and colonial style bungalows.
The town in the misty Central Hills of Sri Lanka at and an elevation of 1,868 metres.

Historically, Nuwara Eliya’s once was a retreat for colonial planters and high-society. Even now there is a season to travel to Nuwara Eliya to avoid the heat of Colombo when the sun is directly over Sri Lanka.

Where is Nuwara Eliya located?

Who is behind the Pekoe Trail

The Pekoe Trail is part of the European Union’s 5.7 million Euro (LKR 2.2 billion) support for Sri Lanka’s national tourism strategy.

In addition, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also provided approximately $787,000 (approximately LKR 283 million) to support the trail.

What will I see on this stage of the Pekoe Trail?

At this time we have not walked this stage of the Pekoe Trail however there are some Meta Posts from hikers that have. We will update this article with commentary, pictures and videos of our hike when we have completed the trek.

Here is a recap of Marc Ramsey’s trek through stages 16, 17, 18, 22, and 12 of the new Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka

Are there Hiking Apps that will help me navigate the trail?

The Pekoe Trail Official website recommend the following Hiking Apps

All Trails – Stage 22

Outdoor Active – Stage 22

Wikiloc – Stage 22

Places to stay along the Pekoe Trail

At present there is not list of recommended accommodation on the Pekoe Trail. When this is published we will add the link to this article so that you can plan your adventure.

GlenMyu Estate is located close to Haputale and therefore is in reach of several of the stages of the Pekoe Trail.

GlenMyu Estate - great for stages 12,13,14,15,16,& 17 of the Pekoe Trail

A stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

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

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

Where is GlenMyu Estate?

An Ultra Marathon on the Pekoe Trail

Yes, it’s already been done!

Hyun Chang Chung, a 49 year old runner from Hong Kong completed the 22 stages of the 300 kilometre trail in 58 hours.

You can read more are the following article.

Here is a Video about the Ultra Marathon.

There is some more information about the Pekoe Trail in the following video by Travel Guru.

Pekoe Trail Stage 22 Kandapola to Nuwara Eliya Read More »

Pekoe Trail Stage 17 Demodara to Hali-Ela

Accommodation, Hiking in Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Travel / By Mikeez

The Pekoe Trail Stage 17

The Pekoe Trail Stage 17.

The 17th Stage of the 300 kilometre newly opened (2023) Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka is a 13 kilometres section between Demodara to Hali-Ela.
The Pekoe Trail Stage 17 is accessible from Ella.
A highlight of this stage is Demodara Railway Station which is considered a colonial era feat of engineering.

This is a video by Marc Ramsey which covers stage 17 of the Pekoe Trail.

The Pekoe Trail is a newly developed 300 kilometre hike in the Sri Lankan Hill Country opened in 2023.

It was designed as a 22–day walk from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya via Ella, Haputale, and Horton Plains

To find out more about the Pekoe please visit the official Pekoe Trail Website.

Why was the new trail created?

The Pekoe Trail is part of the European Union’s 5.7 million Euro (LKR 2.2 billion) support for Sri Lanka’s national tourism strategy.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also provided approximately $787,000 (approximately LKR 283 million) to support the trail.

Hiking Apps to help you navigate stage 17 of the Pekoe Trail

The following Apps will help you with this and other sections of the Pekoe Trail.

Outdooractive
AllTrails
Wikiloc

What's so fascinating aboutDemodara Railway Station?

Demodara Railway station is most notable the ‘Demodara Loop” which is named after its spiral rail line at this location.

The railway line passes under itself, going around the loop.
It emerging from a tunnel which runs directly beneath the Demodara railway station.

The rail loop is approximately 900 metres (3,000 ft) long and the tunnel is 320 m (1,050 ft) in length.

It is considered the only loop in the world with a railway station situated exactly over a tunnel at spiral loop.

The ‘Loop’ was created by engineers as they discovered that, during the construction of the rail extension to Badulla, the elevation between the hills at Demodara was too much for the track to negotiate.
At the time the maximum inclination allowed by the Government Railway was 1 foot per 44 feet (1/44)
Engineers had to come up with an innovative track design.

Why should I hike the Pekoe Trail?

For lots of reasons!

Be one of the first to experience the trail – it was only opened in 2023.

Track you hike on one of the Hiking Apps to help other walkers navigate the trail.

To experience the real Sri Lanka and meet local people on the way.

Support Sri Lanka to help it escape from the enconomic crisis.

An Ultra Marathon on the Pekoe Trail!

Sorry, if this was your plan, it’s aleady been done!
Maybe you can be the second!

Ultra Marathon Runner Hyun Chang Chung ran the 300 kilometre Pekoe Trail in 59 hours in January 2023.

You can read more at the FT Article and watch the video which will give you a flavour of what you will experience.

Are there recommended places to stay in between stages of the Pekoe Trail?

As the Pekoe Trail is a newly created hike opened in 2023 we, at GlenMyu Estate, understand that there are no official recommendations for Hotels, Guest Houses, B & B’s, Camping and Homestay stay on the trail as of yet.

We will update this information as soon as we hear that a recommended list has been published.

Update

Here is the list of places recommended by the official website.

GlenMyu Estate - Stages 10 - 17 of the Pekoe Trail.

If you are tacking Stages 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,or 17 of the Pekoe Trail then perhaps you should consider staying a few days at GlenMyu Estate.

Where can I find out more about GlenMyu Estate?

You can contact us by WhastApp be pressing the button on our Website. Alternatively you can send Michael an email.

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.

At GlenMyu Estate we have:

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

We are listed on Booking.com & Airbnb.

Pekoe Trail Stage 17 Demodara to Hali-Ela Read More »

Pekoe Trail Stage 14: St. Catherine’s (Lipton’s Seat) to Makulella

Hiking in Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail / By Mikeez

Pekoe Trail: Stage 14 - St. Catherine’s to Makulella

St. Catherine’s (Lipton’s Seat) to Makulella is Stage 14 of the Pekoe Trail.

How long is Stage 14?

This stage of the hike of the Pekoe Trail is a distance of 9.38 kilometres.

You can see the section at The Pekoe Trail Official Website.
This section is close to GlenMyu Estate.

Highlight of stage 14 of the Pekoe Trail

On stage 14 of the trail you will come across green tea plantations, farms, village homes & historic bungalows as you trek through the forest, mountains and valleys.

Stage 14 Starts near the famous Tea Baron's Viewpoint

Lipton’s Seat, one of the most popular attractions near to Haputale, is a short walk from this stage of the trail.

For more information about Lipton’s Seat please click here to see our blog post.

Here are come pictures taken at and around Lipton’s Seat.

Find out more about the Pekoe Trail

To read more about the Pekoe Trail please visit the following BlogPost.

If you want to read more about Stage 13 of the Pekoe Trail – Haputale to St. Catherine’s (Lipton Seat) please click here to see our BlogPost.

A place to stay to rest and recover - GlenMyu Estate

A great place to re-energise after a long days hike is GlenMyu Estate which is close to Beragala and Haputale.

A dip in the Natural Spring Fed Infinity Swimming Pool is a great way to ease those muscles.

Eat well

We prepare all meals freshly to order on the day. A majority of the ingredients are sourced from our organic garden. We also support local suppliers by purchasing the items we cannot grow.

Ru is developing a good reputation at GlenMyu Estate for the dishes she serves. Please visit our reviews on Booking.com, Airbnb, TripAdvisor and Google to see what our guests say.

See our website our contact us via the WhatsApp Button for our direct booking rates.

We are also listed on Airbnb and Booking.com

Other hikes to consider

You may also be interested in a hike around the UNESCO heritage site: Horton Plains National Park.

The hike is around 1 hour 15 minutes/30 minutes drive from GlenMyu Estate.

Read our Blog Post about Horton Plains National Park, Lesser World’s End, Greater World’s End and Bakers fall click HERE.

Watch the first Ultra Marathon on the Pekoe Trail here.

Here is the official list of other places to stay on the Pekoe Trail.

Pekoe Trail Stage 14: St. Catherine’s (Lipton’s Seat) to Makulella Read More »

The dog looking upon the swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Our Rescue Dogs

Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Our dogs / By Mikeez

Our Rescue Dogs - making GlenMyu Estate a special place.

We have seven rescue dogs here at GlenMyu Estate.

Dogs were not in our plan!

Ruwanthi and I didn’t intend to have any dogs, they just found us.

We ended up with Seven!

How we ended up here.

In 2018 we were living in our temporary abode whilst we develop the land at Beragala in our “Garage” at the top part of the land – a 1,000 sq ft building with one bedroom, attached bathroom and internal garage.

Ruwanthi had started planting various fruits and vegetables in the kitchen garden new the garage and we were losing produce on a regular basis to various raiders during the day and night which included a wide variety of birds, monkeys and wild boar.

The onsite caretaker for the construction company had two dogs, a male and female called Kahlu and Donnie and we were regularly disturbed at night by the barking warning us of predators looking for a midnight snack or two.

Some of the construction workers alerted us that there were three puppies that had been dropped off at the top of our road which they had been feeding as they arrived and left for the evening.

We were to subsequently find out that dropping off unwanted dogs, especially females, was a regular event in Sri Lanka. It is particularly prevalent around the monthly Poya day and puppies are dropped near temples with the expectation that a worshipper would take on the problem.

Ruwanthi went with one of our workers to investigate and found that the male puppy had died and there were the remaining undernourished female puppies remaining. Despite not being a dog lover the natural instinct was to take the two orphans and provide some sustenance and shelter as you would with any animal in need.

We fell in love

We named them Clove and Cinnamon as they were dark with some flecks of white and brown on them. It was a steep learning curve for us both with lots of searching on the internet finding out what we needed to do.

We didn’t want the dogs inside the garage and their quarters was a box outside with a towel to provide the warmth that they would have gotten from their mother.

At the time Donie was due to have some puppies so we were going to have more animals on the premises than expected however we did think they would all be found new homes and Kahlu and Donie would move on to the next project with their owner.

Donies pups were born and the dog numbers were raised by three. We were feeding Clove and Cinnamon and Kahlu and Donie were mainly fed from our spare rice with their main meals being provided by the unwanted leftovers from the construction workers.

Disaster Strikes and we are heartbroken

Clove and Cinnamon were very sweet and we unexpectedly had gotten quite attached very quickly. A few trips to the vet for advice and the relevant injections they started to grow and get stronger with their regular feeding of rice and curry several times a day.

Cinnamon was the more adventurous of the two and they both provided us with lots of entertainment watching them grow and develop.

One evening we didn’t have too much food available left over for Donie and her pups however they were fed by their owner. Perhaps there was little provided there as some of the workers had gone home for a few days.

In the middle of the night I was awoken by Ruwanthi shouting at the dogs as there was some racquet going on outside. It took us a minute or two to get the garage door open and find out what was going on in the pitch black of the night.

Ruwanthi had seen Donie with one of our puppies hanging from her mouth and she went searching outsides soon as able. Eventually, after what appeared to be an age she returned with the limp body of Cinnamon cradled in her arms. Within a few minutes Cinnamon stopped breathing and was gone.

The Grief Cycle

An event like this never leaves you and I do think about our Cinnamon quite often and wonder what type of character she would have grown into. Early on Clove had attached herself to Ruwanthi and Cinnamon to me.

It was very traumatic for us to think what Cinnamon must have gone through and we were confused and bewildered in trying o work out why this had happened. We felt guilt and sorrow for what Cinnamon must have endured as a shocking end to her short life.

We went through the established emotions of grief and my anger towards Donie was difficult to abate.

We had really become attached to the dogs and were distraught by the events that had taken place.

We came to the conclusion that Donie had not had sufficient food to eat as she was providing for three suckling puppies and perhaps had seen Clove and Cinnamon as threats to her food source. Cinnamon, being adventurous may have been disturbed during the night by the new puppies and went to investigate and Donie decided to protect her pups.

A change or lifestyle

We now changed our outlook to protect Clove until she had grown to a size where she would be able to defend herself. Our reticence to have a dog inside the garage abated and Cloves home was over into the Garage part of the building.

Prior to her moving inside we did not have to worry about midnight trips for the dogs to relieve herself or investigate any potential nocturnal predators at our vegetable garden.

Sleep depravation was now to follow with the garage door being raised and lowered regularly during the night. Clove took some time to work out that the garage was not her toilet and we were regularly met with presents for us to avoid in the morning.

It was all worth it in the end.

Our first dog that we named Clove.

It turns out that Clove was not going to be the last of the dogs that came to us at GlenMyu Estate, however that story will have to wait for another Blog post.

To be continued - the story of our rescue dogs.

We now have Seven dogs. It has not been our maximum number as we have taken in a rehoused lots of puppies over the short time we have been at GlenMyu Estate.

At the time of writing another female puppy has just forced her way into the estate!

Pictures to follow.

See our Dogs YouTube Channel at this link.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate to meet the rescue dogs and so much more.

At GlenMyu Estate we have 3 guest bedrooms nestled in the 5 acres of land.

If you are looking for a different holiday and to meet our rescue dogs please contact us by WhatsApp for our best rates 00 94 752 999 272.

Contact details are also on our website.

Our Rescue Dogs Read More »

Beragala, Badulla District, Uva Province Sri Lanka.

All about Beragala

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

All about Beragala

If you a travelling in the hill country of Sri Lanka you may wish to find out all about Beragala.

Beragala is a small town in the Sri Lankan Hill Country located on the main A4 road.

It is in the Badulla District of Uva Province.

The town is 183 kilometres away from Colombo and is at an elevation of 1,014 metres above sea level

Beragala is a small town in the Sri Lankan Hill Country located on the main A4 road.

It is in the Badulla District of Uva Province.

The town is 183 kilometres away from Colombo

How do I get to Beragala?

By bus

The regular red and blue Government and Private Buses stop in Beragala and sometimes it can be quite busy in the shops as local purchase foodstuff for their onward journey.

There is a coach service (Superline) from Colombo to Badulla which arrives in Beragala in the early hours of the morning. The bus is air-conditioned and quite comfortable compared to the regular buses. By travelling late at night the service is faster than the buses that travel during the day.

By train.

There is a train from Colombo to Haputale. From Haputale a Tuk Tuk can bring you down the hill to Beragala town.

A long journey!

It does take quite a number of hours to get to Haputale from Colombo.

If you want a long scenic train journey then it is worth considering.

I think it is a bit of a challenge to visitors as they are used to trains getting places fast so you really have to get your mind around it.

What’s near to and about Beragala which is worth seeing?

As you approach Beragala from Colombo along the A4 road you will see the entrance to a Hindu Kovil on the right hand side.

You can stop and look down to the Kovil itself which is a long way below the road.

A spectacular scenic view.

Take the right hand fork towards Wellawaya at Beragala Junction and you will see some spectacular views as you walk along the road. There are old Mara Trees along the road which tower above you and provide some shade as you walk.

This is a great place to take some pictures and enjoy the view towards the southern coast.

Shops, shops and more shops.

Although Beragala is quite small there are lots of small shops to enjoy.

Shobi Stores – A grocery store with a wide range of products including foods, drinks and healthcare.

The Sub Post Office in Beragala.

Only open for limited hours.

The fancy goods store.

The Hardware Store – one of two hardware stores in Beragala.

The other store is located near the Hindu Kovil as you enter Beragala from Colombo.

The ATM in Beragala is next door to Dinasiri Foods and Bakers

The Wine Store

A favourite of mine!

You must be aware that the Wine Store comes on Poya (Full Moon) days, Temperance Day and Singhala & Tamil New Year.

The Vegetable Shop – one of several vegetable shops in Beragala to choose from.

The Pharmacy – has a good range of health and beauty products available along with medicines.

A doctor is available at limited times.

The Communications Shop – top up your phone here. Photocopies, pens & pencils and stationery goods.

Views from the Zebra Crossing

Places to Visit close to Beragala.

There are lots of places to visit within reach of Beragala.

Waterfalls, Hiking, Spectacular Views, Tea Factories and more.

Diyaluma Waterfall

Diyaluma Waterfall is the 2nd highest waterfall in Sri Lanka
It ranks 361st in the world.
The height is 220m (720 ft).

You can read about our trip to Diyaluma Waterfall here.

Bambarakanda Waterfall

Bambarakanda Waterfall is the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

You can see our Blog Post about our visit to Bambarakanda Waterfall.

Lipton Seat

Lipton Seat, Sri Lanka – Stunning views from the viewpoint from where Scottish tea baron, Sir Thomas Lipton, used to survey his vast tea empire.

You can read our Blog Post about our visit to Lipton Seat.

Where should I stay in and around Beragala?

There are several hotels off this road including our property Glenmyu Estate which acts as a good base to visit Beragala and the surrounding places of interest.

There are lots of places to stay near Beragala for all types of budget.

Here are a few places you may want to consider if you want to stay in the area.

GlenMyu Estate

GlenMyu Estate is a 3 bedroom property with swimming pool in 5 acres located on the Beragala to Wellawaya Road.

Dream Cliff Mountain Resort

Dream Cliff Mountain Resort is located off the Beragala to Wellawaya Road and has several cabanas with views of the hills below.

Melheim Resort

Melheim Resort is an established hotel with fantastic views.

Akway Resort

Akway Resort is a newer hotel with fabulous views of the hills below the property.

Romance Valley

Romance Valley is a modern looking hotel on the Wellawaya Road.

Find out more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate Hotel by pressing the button.

All about Beragala Read More »

What to pack for Sri Lanka

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

What to pack for Sri Lanka

Here is our guide for what to pack for your holiday in Sri Lanka.
Our experience is that it is so easy to overpack and carry around items that you really won’t need.
Firstly you will need to consider which parts of this beautiful Island you will be travelling to.

Sri Lanka has a wide variety of experiences from beaches to hiking and temples to safaris. You can pack lightly if you are just going to the beach, however, other parts of Sri Lanka may surprise you on what clothing you will need.

The elevation will give you a clue and you can research what the weather is like in the area you will be exploring so you have more information on what clothing you will need for the elements.

Beaches, Hiking, Historic Cities, Safaris and Temples

There is such a variety of things to do on this small island. At 65,610 sq km it is similar in size to Ireland. There is so much diversity and it takes longer to get around than you would anticipate.

The Hill Country, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains and Ella

It may come as a surprise but there are some spots in Sri Lanka where you will need to wrap up a bit.

Horton Plains Cloud Forest is at an elevation of 2,200 metres.
The weather at times can be windy, wet and hot.

Nuwara Eliya is at an elevation of 6,199 feet (1,889 metres) above sea level. It is called “Little England” for a good reason!

Here are our essential items to take with you to Sri Lanka

Passport

Okay, so this is pretty obvious however, it is your key to getting around.

Remember: Keep it safe

Phone

Another obvious one however it needs to be on the list.

You can buy a SIM package for your holiday at the airport when you arrive.

Debit/Credit cards

Yes, you will need some money!

There are plenty of ATM’s around the country where you will be able to withdraw some cash.

Some Hotels and B & B’s will accept payment via online Apps such as Revolut, XE, etc. You will need to check with your accommodation.

As with any travel it is wise to keep the amount of cash you have to a minimum for safety sake.

A Reusable water bottle

The best investment you’ll ever make to reduce your plastic waste.

Now more than ever we encourage you to be responsible in reducing your environmental footprint.

You can also help by bringing a tote bag, reusable straw & reusable coffee cup.

Toiletries

Remember:
Soap,
Shampoo (& conditioner), Deodorant,
Makeup,
Sunscreen,
Sanitary products,
Insect repellent,
… and whatever usually you need!

You will be able to buy most of these items in the supermarkets and small shops in Sri Lanka if you forget them. You may not recognise the brand but they will be sufficient for your holiday.

However, Sunscreen can be very expensive and may not be the Sun Factor 50 that you prefer.
Also the Insect Repellants may not be as good as you can buy in Europe.

Sunglasses - essentail for your holiday

Make sure that you protect your eyes from serious UV rays.

As Sri Lanka is near the Equator you can easily be caught out by the strength of the sun and UV.

Pack a Universal adapter

So you can charge up anywhere.

Most good hotels in Sri Lanka will have an adaptor that you can use during your stay. However, it’s best to take one to ensure your phone and other items are charged when you need them.

In recent years Sri Lanka changed to a Three Pin Plug, similar to that in the UK, so if you are coming from Europe or further afield bring an adapter just i n case.

Power Bank - good to pack for Sri Lanka

Keep your devices charged.

This is especially important when you need to spend so time looking at maps & taking photos.

It was not unusual for Sri Lanka to suffer scheduled power cuts during the financial crisis in 2022 and a power bank was essential at that time.

Power cuts are now unusual however if a tree falls and breaks a power line or there is scheduled maintenance then you will be thankful that you broungt your power bank with you.

Camera, memory cards & spare batteries:

If you are planning on taking a lot of photos and videos make sure that you don’t miss that special moment.

Backpack or Suitcase?

Either a Backpack or Suitcase?

It really depends on what your type of holiday you like and the activities that you will be doing.

If you are taking a backpack, make sure that it is reliable & comfortable.

If you are taking a suitcase, then make sure that it is not a burden for you when travelling around Sri Lanka.

Our Ultimate Recommendation of what to take

Don’t take too much!

From our experience it’s too easy to overpack and just take those heavy jeans, trousers and thick jackets around the Island and never use them.

If you are going to some of the sights in a higher elevation then you will need something light to keep you warm in the evening. Something like a shawl or light sweater should do the trick.

Be prepared for rain or showers. A light waterproof (and windproof) jacket should be all that you need.

However, if you are going to tackle a hike in Knuckles you will need some sturdy walking boots, leech socks, jacket, hat and torch.

Please research weather sites before you arrive in Sri Lanka and pack accordingly.

Some extra items and things to consider

A small torch or head torch

A head torch is not the most fashionable item but we find one very useful.

Know when the Monsoons take place

The Southwest Monsoon
The main southwest (“Yala”) monsoon brings rain to the west and southwest coasts.

It affects the hill country from April or May to September and is wettest from April to June.

The Northeast Monsoon

The less severe northeast (“Maha”) monsoon hits the east coast from November to March. It is wettest from November to December.

We are on Booking.com and Airbnb.

What to pack for Sri Lanka 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 »

A Honeymoon Chair for Valentine's Day in Sri Lanka

Our 1st Honeymoon

Honeymoon, wedding / By Mikeez

Our 1st Honeymoon

As GlenMyu Estate is a new property, completed in 2021, we have had a lot of new experiences when welcoming guests. We have celebrated our 1st Christmas, our 1st Birthday and now our first Honeymoon in Sri Lanka.

Our first honeymooners were a delightful couple from Ireland and Ru and I were keen to do something to make their holiday in Sri Lanka special.

We welcomed the newlyweds in December so we had already decorated the house in readiness for Christmas 2023. Most of the decorations were made by the staff and Ru’s mother did lots of crocheting and needlework to make Santas, festive tablecloths and decorations.

So the House at GlenMyu Estate was already looking good for when our honeymooners arrived.

Preparing the Honeymoon Room.

The honeymooners had chosen the Mahogany Bedroom which has a spectacular view of the hills and valleys below the house.

We wanted to do something extra in the room to make it special for the couple when they arrived.

Ru’s mother had made some love heart cushions and Sampath decorated the bed with red coupled swans made from red towels.

The concrete bath had a scattering of candles in case the couple wanted to have a romantic bath together. Yes, our baths are made for two!

Here are some pictures of what the guests saw when they arrived.

The reaction was just what we were hoping for so it was a job well done.

Happily we have our second honeymoon at the end of December so we will be ready to welcome them with a similar display.

What is a Honeymoon?

A Honeymoon is a holiday spent together by a newly married couple.

The word comes from the Scandinavian custom of drinking mead or fermented honey as it was thought to increase the likelihood of fertility.

Normally the honeymoon is taken immediately or shorty after the wedding.

We have found however that some couples take a “mini moon” and then a longer honeymoon later on.

A mini moon is typically a long weekend (up to 5 days) that gives the couple a much needed rest after all the stress of planning their wedding.

We didn’t know about the phrase when we got married but this is in effect what we did.

Ru and I got married in Sri Lanka and did a short trip to a different part of the island a few days later. We didn’t realise how exhausted we would be and it was really needed.

Our honeymoon was several months later in a cottage in the Welsh Countryside. It was a lovely to spend some time together and reminisce about pour special day.

Why are Honeymoons so important?

A Honeymoon is the first significant time that the couple will spend and share together after a marriage.

One of the main benefits is to have some undistracted time together.

It is a time to bond, relax, celebrate together, reflect on matters, plan and look forward to the time ahead.

The honeymoon is something to look forward to after the marriage.

What should we do on our honeymoon in Sri Lanka?

Well, I suppose that it depends on what you like to do.

Most couples spend their time indulging in a romantic time together. Having a special dinner together, exploring new places, having an adventure or partying at a club.

There are so many things that you can do.

Tips for planning a perfect honeymoon

It is worth planning your honeymoon and we would suggest that you start with the following:

1. Both the Bride & Groom should start by writing down their three favourite things, such as art, food, beach or nature, history and spa. Clearly these items are not exhaustive.

2. Discuss and finely hone down your shared interests which will help define where you want to go

3. Budget and put money away toward the honeymoon and experiences.

By having unified plan for your honeymoon it will add substance to the start of your lives together.

Why Honeymoon in Sri Lanka?

If you are looking for a a honeymoon bursting with culture and adventure then we would suggest that you consider Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka you can:

Visit beautiful temples

Taste a variety of delicious teas at one of the tea plantations.

See a range of animals on a safari.

Relax on one of the many beaches around the island.

Experience a wide range of accommodation for different budgets.

Enjoy breathtaking views from the Lion Rock Temple at Sigiriya, Lipton Seat or the many Waterfalls.

There are so many things that you can do I’m sure that it would fit into one of your items on your honeymoon list.

Why consider GlenMyu Estate as part of your honeymoon trip to Sri Lanka?

A holiday to Sri Lanka is wonderful however it can be quite exhausting.

The colours, new experiences and tropical heat on this Paradise Island are so different than it can drain your energy.

As GlenMyu Estate is in the Sri Lankan Hill Country the temperatures are a little more comfortable than the heat of the coasts and cities.

We find that guests arrive and there is a sense of relief coming to a slightly cooler climate with space and surrounded by nature.

We only have 3 guest bedrooms at the 5 acre estate so there are plenty of opportunities for you to have “couple time” around the estate. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy nature together.

You can find out more at our website.

Our 1st Honeymoon 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 »

The Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

Holiday, Travel / By Mikeez

When is the Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka?

Avoiding the Humidity and Mossies

I was reading an article on TripAdvisor about the Humidity & Mosquitos and the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

Clearly these are 2 things that visitors to this Paradise Island would like to avoid.

The Humidity does take some time to get adjusted to however, I have never got used to Mossies biting me!

Mosquito bites are quite annoying however fortunate Malaria from Mosquitos has mainly been eradicated from Sri Lanka.

The most concerning matter regarding Mosquitos is the risk of contracting Dengue.

I have been living in Sri Lanka for 6 years and feel quite lucky that I have not contracted Dengue.

The number of Dengue cases have been rising in Sri Lanka and there are efforts to reduce the breeding grounds by ensuring that places where there is standing water are removed. There are regular checks in urban areas by the health department to try to educate the population and reduce the breeding grounds.

The Sri Lankan Hill Country

We live at GlenMyu Estate Hotel, Beragala, Haputale which is located in the Sri Lankan Hill Country. The estate is at an elevation of around 900-1000 metres and is a little cooler than other parts of the country. Average temperatures during the day are between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius.

We have found that, although there are some Mosquitos, they are manageable compared to when we lived in Colombo. We also understand that there is no Dengue in the area.

The Humidity is also substantially lower than other parts of Sri Lanka. We have had plenty of guests from countries such as Denmark, Germany, France, UK, Netherlands and also Sri Lanka who arrive and you can see that there is a visible sense of relief to get back to a more comfortable climate.

It’s one of the reasons why we decided that we would be located permanently in the Hill Country. We just love it here!

So, when is the best time to visit the Sri Lankan Hill Country?

Well, it appears that climate change has reached here as well so it is a little more difficult to advise when the rains will come. We have inter monsoon rains so, in the main, it is not as severe as when the main monsoons hit the other parts of the island.

We originally canvassed our neighbours who had resided in the Hill Country for many more years than us to get an insight into when the rains come. In part it is important for us as it determines when we should be planting crops and trees on the estate.

From our conversations historically rains are normally expected from the 15th September to the 15th December and also 15th March to the 15th June. Our experience has not been so and we have prepared lands for planting and the rains have not come. We then take the hoses out and prepare the sprinklers in readiness for a dry spell and we have showers!

Our guests have arrived in heavy rain in mid November and it is sunny the next days enabling them to do their hike around Horton Plains National Park, visit Ella or spend time at Upper Diyaluma Pools and Waterfall.

It’s not as much help as I would like to give but nature doesn’t appear to give any guarantees in the Hill Country!

Why is Sri Lanka so Humid?

The climate in Sri Lanka is tropical (and relatively wet) due to its location slightly North (6-10o) of the Equator in the Indian Ocean.

There are 2 wet (monsoon) seasons.

During May – October, the winds over Sri-Lanka are Westerly to North-Westerly

From December – March, the winds over Sri-Lanka are North-Easterly.

Wind speeds rise in the land surfaces during the months of June – September and also from December – February.

Regionally the average wind speeds are high in the South-Eastern and North-Western extremes of the island and also in the mountain passes

The island is humid all over Sri-Lanka with the relative humidity normally being around and over 65%.

On the coast the humidity can rise to 90% in the wetter seasons.

There are dry dehydrating effects on the levels of humidity due to mountain effects in the windier months. The humidity drops in the eastern region from June to September.

There is a weaker dehydrating effect on the western mountain slopes of the Sri Lanka.

Rainfall

Sri Lanka receives around 1,800 mm of rainfall on average annually distributed unevenly ranging from 500 to 5000 mm/year.

Rainfall follows a bimodal climatology.

Main rains are from September – December.

Subsidiary rains are from April – June.

The Eastern and Western Hill Slopes garner orographic (mountain induced) rainfall from December – March (North-Easterly winds) and May to October (Westerly wind) respectively.

The North-East receives cyclonic rainfall from November to December from the storms and cyclonic systems that are steered from the Bay of Bengal by the North-Easterly winds towards Sri-Lanka. Once they make landfall, these systems can dissipate quickly unless they are particularly strong.

Temperature

The mean annual temperature of the country is 27 oC with lower temperatures in the mountains that rise to 2500M.

The temperature drops during December and January and increases from April to September.

The mean daily range is approximately 6 oC.

These temperatures are more moderate than what is typical for such latitudes during the Northern Hemisphere summer from June – August. This can be attributed to the cooling effect of the oceans during the warmest months.

You can find more detailed information about weather patterns and the climate in Sri Lanka at the Climate Change Knowledge Portal.

Climate for Travel is another good website providing more detailed information.

The Sri Lankan Department of Meteorology also provides moree details for those who want to delve deeper.

So, when its the Best Time to visit Sri Lanka?

Well, it depends on where you want to go and what time of the year you want to come.

The weather and best time will be major fact to consider before planning your Sri Lanka travel.

Sri Lanka’s position between 5 and 10 north latitudes results in an Island with a year-round warm tropical climate.

Seasons

There aren’t any prominent seasons like winter, spring, summer, or autumn that many countries experience around the globe.

But there are monsoons!

2 monsoons, 2 parts of the Island

There are 2 separate monsoons in different regions at different timing in Sri Lanka.

Therefore, you need to avoid the monsoon and select the best time to visit Sri Lanka. The good news is that there is usually good weather somewhere on the island most of the time of year.

When are the Monsoons?

The South Western Monsoon

May – September

Intermittent rains in the wet zone

Frequent showers in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, or Nuwara Eliya

Best time to visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya or Dambulla

An ideal to visit north and eastern beaches

Best time to visit Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar, Arugam Bay

August-September elephant gathering at Minneriya and Kaudulla

The North Eastern Monsoon

December to February

Rainy season in the dry zone

Frequent showers in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee or Jaffna

An ideal to visit the south and western beaches

Best time to visit Colombo, Kandy, Galle or Nuwara Eliya

Whale watching season at Mirissa

See the amazing wildlife in Udawalawe or Yala National Park

Horton Plains National Park and Knuckles Mountain range

Pilgrimage season of holy Adam’s Peak

In Summary - The Best time to visit Sri Lanka.

If you are visiting Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, or Galle on the South and western side, the best period is December to April. Catch some waves and chill out on splendid beaches in southern coastal areas including Weligama, Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, or Unawatuna Bay.

If you are visiting Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, or Jaffna on the North and Eastern coast, the period between May to September is best. Enjoy the pristine beaches of the north, northwest, and eastern coast and ride the waves at Arugam bay or Kalpitiya.

Overall, January, February, March, and April are the best time to visit Sri Lanka when most of the parts of the island are not affected by monsoons. This period is the peak season of tourism, while the months from May to October are the low season of tourism.

The unique feature of totally different weather in different parts of the country attracts a lot of visitors to Sri Lanka as a year-round destination. Whatever time of the year you travel, you can arrange a satisfying itinerary to enjoy the best weather.

So we would recommend….

Choose your destination to avoid monsoons to have an incredible holiday in Sri Lanka.

The Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka Read More »

Luxury Hotel Awards – 98 Acres Resort & Spa

Holiday, Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Congratulations to 98 Acres Resort & Spa

We, at GlenMyu Estate, were delighted to and congratulate, one of our ‘neighbours’, 98 Acres Resort & Spas be awarded World Luxury Mountain Resort 2022 in the Luxury Hotel Awards.

It was great waking up this morning and seeing the article on Newswire.lk about this prestigious award.

If you want to read the article please follow this link Newswire Article.

The Luxury Hotel Awards - 98 acres resort & spa

The World Luxury Hotel Awards were established in 2006.

They are known as thei pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry and offer international recognition. Voting is from guests, travelers and industry players alike.

There are over 300,000 votes amassed from international travellers each year.

There is a 4 week period running up to the selection of the winners.

Hotels have the opportunity to participate in the World Luxury Hotel Awards by entering hotel categories, such as Mountain Resort, which showcase the unique selling points for their establishment.

A much needed boost for the Travel Industry

Sri Lanka tourism has suffered over the past 3-4 years from the Easter Attacks, the Covid 19 Pandemic and then the financial crisis.

As 98 Acres Resort & Spa has won this award, it will be a much needed boost for the travel and tourism industry in Sri Lanka. It will put that renowned Sri Lankan smile back on the faces of the people in the country.

98 Acres Resort & Spa has been a successful and popular hotel in the Ella area in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka.

If you visit their website you can see why they are worthy winners of the award.

It is an elegant, unique hotel set in a scenic 98 acre tea estate and surrounded by a stunning landscape.

There are stunning individual chalets which have stunning views and are surrounded by spectacular scenery.

We love the fact that they are very eco friendly and have been kind to the environment in the material that they have used to construct this beautiful venue.

Located in reach of the buzz of Ella Town

The hotel has enough facilities and offerings to spend your time enjoying the hotel and grounds.

However, it is also located near to Ella Town and the interesting tourist sites there.

There are coffee shops, restaurants and bars in Ella Town that provide a different experience for tourist, especially if you are after a bit of a buzz and atmosphere.

Venues, such as Chill Cafe are popular and sometimes provide live music.

Excursions - places to visit from 98 acres resort & spa

The hotel at 98 Acres Resort & Spa is located in reach of great places to visit.

Highlights are:

Hiking up Little Adam’s Peak.

Upper Diyaluma Waterfall

Ravanna Waterfall

Nine Arch Bridge, Demodora

Lipton Seat

Dambetenne Tea Factory

GlenMyu Estate - an alternative choice

GlenMyu Estate is also located in the Sri Lankan Hill Country and within reach of these wonderful tourist sites.

We consider ourselves as an alternative option to the other hotels in the area.

The Estate is in 5 acres of an abandoned tea estate and has spectacular views towards Udawalawe Reservoir and the Southern coast.

There are only 3 guest bedrooms and therefore an option for those that want a more unique and bespoke experience.

Please visit our website for more information and contact details.

A hearty congratulations to 98 Acres Resort & Spa

So,, again, we congratulate and send our best wishes to 98 Acres Resort & Spa who are worthy recipients of the World Luxury Mountain Resort Award for 2022.

We love what they have created and the awareness of this beautiful part of this paradise Island.

Luxury Hotel Awards – 98 Acres Resort & Spa Read More »

Relax by the Natural Spring Fed Swimming Pool at GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Where can I relax in Sri Lanka?

Holiday, Travel / By Mikeez

Where can I relax in Sri Lanka?

We have found that travellers exploring Sri Lanka want to do too much in a their limited time on the Island. Instead of ticking off as many sites as you can we would recommend setting aside a day or two to relax whilst in Sri Lanka.

Starting with the beach

Several of our guests in 2022 have started with a trip to the southern beaches such as Tangalle, Mirissa, Hireketiya, and Hikkaduwa.

Coming from a European winter it is a good place to start and work on a tan. And also getting some much needed vitamin D.

A Safari, a Hike, a Temple, a Train Ride, a Waterfall, a Tea Factory Tour, Whale watching and so on.

There are so many things to do on this small island that you can get exhausted trying to for too much in during a short holiday.

Although Sri Lanka is a small island (similar in size to Ireland), it does take far longer to travel around than you would anticipate.

A recent guest compared travelling 160 kilometres in Australia to Sri Lanka. It would be around two hours in Australia and around four and a half to five hours in Sri Lanka.

This really does take a large chunk out of your holiday.

We experienced a similar challenge when we did a camper van holiday around South Island New Zealand. It too far longer to get from one place to another and we were quite tired from the travelling.

The Heat and the Activities

It is amazing what energy tropical heat can sap from a visitor who is used to a Northern hemisphere climate.

Ambitions of doing so much in a climate one is not used to can be quite tiring.

I remember when I used to ski in Canada every year and I should have exercised those muscles that I needed before attempting the slopes. Well, I never did and it took a while for my body to get conditioned to the environment. It turned out that I was exhausted at the end of every day – thank goodness for apres ski!

Perhaps working on those muscles that you will be using for a hike in Sri Lanka should also be conditioned before coming on holiday? Sitting behind a desk on a computer for most of the day (and evening) and doing a few kilometres on the treadmill at the gym won’t do it!

Who would enter a marathon without doing some training working your way up to the 26 miles?

It’s not just the hiking that saps your energy. Even being driven around when there is so much to see and take in is also very tiring.

A lovely couple arrive who admirably had completed the hike up Adams Peak the previous evening and enjoyed the sunrise. They had ambitions of going to Horton Plains National Park the next day and seeing some of the Waterfalls nearby.

The next morning they had trouble even walking!

After accepting that they had planned to do too much they changed their plans. Instead they had a fabulous few days at GlenMyu Estate relaxing, exploring the five acres. They also enjoyed dips into the waterfall and also our Natural Spring Fed Infinity swimming pool.

Where can I relax in Sri Lanka? Well, GlenMyu Estate appears to be a good place according to our guests.

Here are a few comments from our guest from Booking.Com

This was by far the most beautiful and spectacular accommodation we have ever stayed at. The house itself is striking and the garden is like a patch of paradise.

We immediately felt at home here. Aside from the AMAZING food, the rooms were so comfortable and clean. And the views were outstanding. The pool and gardens are just so beautiful (Ruwanthi gave us a tour and explanation of all the plants). There’s also a short walk to some lovely secluded waterfalls at the bottom of the garden.

The estate only has a maximum of three rooms making it very easy to enjoy the peaceful surrounding but also get in touch with the other guests which I really enjoyed.

Where can I relax in Sri Lanka? Read More »

Unique Hotels in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Travel / By Mikeez

Unique Hotels in Sri Lanka

There is a drive for holidays to be about new experiences. People want to be off the regular tourist routes. They want to do something that differs from what everyone else is doing. There are some unique hotels in Sri Lanka and perhaps GlenMyu Estate can be considered one of them.

People now want unique experience and that includes discovering and enjoying new types of accommodation.

At GlenMyu Estate, we hope that we provide that new experience that is something. Something a little bit different, from which you will find on your tour of this Paradise Island.

There are some spectacular hotels in fabulous setting around Sri Lanka.
We would never purport today that we can compete with many of the luxurious stays around the island.

There are superb Colonial Bungalows such as Thotalagala, Scottish Planters Bungalow and Mountbatten Bungalow (and many more).

There are five star beach hotels around the coast providing wonderful experiences by the beach with fabulous sunsets. Notable ones include the Galle Face Hotel Colombo, Jetwing Blue Negombo and Maalu Maalu, Pasikuda amongst many others.

There are hotels looking onto UNESCO heritage sites such as Alia Hotel which has a superb view of the Lion Rock.

There are Ayurvedic hotels providing a place of calm and healing such as Saman Villas and Ayurvie Weligama

i Weligama.

When you visit Sri Lanka on holiday you have a variety of styles and experiences at different price points and standards.

There are a great many home-stays around the country which offer an experiencer to get to understand the ways of life for most of the population on the island.

What makes a unique hotel in Sri Lanka?

Well, I suppose it must be something different.

Does GlenMyu Estate fit the definition of a unique hotel in Sri Lanka.

Small and beautiful

We feel that the Covid pandemic has shifted the demand for larger hundred room plus hotels towards smaller personal spaces.

We only have three bedrooms available for guests at GlenMyu Estate which gives a sense of uniqueness and privacy. We have several pathways around the five acre estate which means that you can always have space for yourself.

Limiting the number of guests also ensures that there is no pressure on using the swimming pool. We do not have to allocate slots like other hotels.

Being small also means that we don’t offer large buffets and a large range of menu options for meals. Ruwanthi discusses each meal with our guests and makes fresh bespoke dishes for our clients.

A holiday in a “Grand Designs” home?

Ruwanthi and I loved watching the Grand Designs series whilst we were living in the UK. The presenter, Kevin McCloud, has a soothing, comforting and calming voice whilst narrating the builders struggles as they try to create their dream home.

One of our recent guests tried to describe GlenMyu Estate and said that it was like holidaying in a Grand Designs home. What a good idea for a holiday!

GlenMyu Estate is certainly Ruwanthi’s creation and our struggle and we are touched that a guest would describe it in that way.

Like the other couples, we are just delighted that we finished the project, still together and over budget like everyone else!

Decide for yourself!

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

We think it is the right of our guests to decide whether GlenMyu Estate fits into the category of a unique hotel in Sri Lanka.

Whatever your decision, we love it here, and hope that you do too.

Where is GlenMyu Estate?

Find out more at our website GlenMyu Estate, Haputale

Unique Hotels in Sri Lanka Read More »

Is Sri Lanka a good place for a holiday?

Accommodation, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Is Sri Lanka a good place for a holiday?

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Sri Lanka a good place for a holiday

What is Sri Lank like as a holiday destination?

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Is Sri Lanka Tourist Friendly?

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10 good reasons to visit Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka a good place for a holiday

Why is Sri Lanka the ideal holiday destination right now?

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14 things you should know before traveling to Sri Lanka.

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Why Sri Lanka should be your next holiday destination

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Sri Lanka a good place for a holiday

Is Sri Lanka a good place for a holiday? Read More »

Top 10 Hotels in Haputale

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

Top 10 Hotels in Haputale

We are delighted at GlenMyu Estate, Haputale, Sri Lanka to be featuring on the Top 10 Hotels in Haputale on the Agoda website.

We are new - Opened in 2021

GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, was opened in 2021 during the middle of the pandemic.

Therefore we are still a really new hotel in the Haputale area as there was limited opportunities to host guests due to lockdowns and the wait for the vaccine rollout.

Experience GlenMyu Resort before the word gets out! - top 10 hotels in Haputale

As we have had few guests in 2021 due to the pandemic we are really just getting started. The guests that we have hosted so far just love it here and the reviews on Google support their feelings about our place in the Hill Country.

We are getting more and more enquires and bookings and we are looking forward to a busy December and a great 2022.

Why are we one of the Top 10 Hotels in Haputale?

Well, we don’t have any input into why we are on the list, however we think we provide a unique experience and environment for our guests. We are just really proud that we feature on the list.

What, where and why?

There are plenty of questions to answer about our wonderful piece of this Paradise Island so I will try to outline the answer to the question “What is GlenMyu Estate?”

Set in five acres - top 10 hotels in Haputale

The property is situated within five acres of the Sri Lankan Countryside. There is a feeling of being connected with nature and there is plenty or flora and different fauna that visits the land.

Being in a green space is a great feeling coming out from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Three Luxury Bedrooms with views of the Southern Hills.

The house at GlenMyu has three king size en suite bedrooms which look out to the valley below and has an ever changing view.

The bedrooms have floor to ceiling windows that allow you to wake up to the sun brushing over the hills.

Don’t worry – we have mirror stickers on the outside of the windows in the bathrooms keeping your privacy!

The two bedrooms on the middle floor have concrete baths which are a delight to soak in and watch the stars at night.

Spacious, comfortable lounges

The bedrooms are attached to the comfortable lounges on the middle and lower floors each of which gives a different aspect of the view.

We have two snugs, one on each floor, which are great places to have a drink or a snack and a chat.

We have deliberately chosen comfortable sofas and chairs and it wouldn’t be unusual to nod off for a while after a hard days vacation!

Dining in the House with a view or alternatively Al Fresco around the property

There are different options on where to dine in and around the house.

The dining table is situated on the ground floor and has some great views of the valley below. Watching and listening to the birds as you are eating breakfast in the morning is just blissful.

A Natural Spring Fed Swimming Pool - top 10 hotels in Haputale.

We just love our swimming pool!
The pool is long enough to have a good swim and as it is filled with fresh spring water. It is a really refreshing experience.
We love to swim around 8 am and 4 pm as both are a completely different experience.

The swimming pool is surrounded by a sea of greenery and just feels a real luxury and a joy to be living with nature.

The birdsong provides the music while you swim and is an experience not to be missed

Walking and exploring the Estate

We have several walking pathways around the estate for you to get a little bit of exercise. You will also see the different planting we are continuously doing around the land.

We are reintroducing endemic plants to the estate and planting fruit trees to feed the variety of animals, birds and insects.

Our overall aim is to increase the biodiversity on the land making it a comfortable place for you and our daily visitors to be!

Eat Well

We have an organic garden at GlenMyu Estate and we try to use as much as we can in the meals that we provide for our guests.

Papayas appear to grow well here and there is nothing like a Papaya and Banana Smoothie to set you up in the morning.

We also provide Kola Kanda early in the morning and we collect the herbs in the nutritious porridge drink from the land early in the day making it as fresh as possible.

Ruwanthi is a great cook (you only have to look at her husbands stomach as proof!) and she will discuss what you want to eat on the day as all meals are freshly prepared.

There are plenty of places to visit if you fancy an outing from the Estate

GlenMyu Estate is well located for;

Visits to a waterfall: Diyaluma or Bambarakanda.

A hike – Horton Plains/Worlds End/Bakers Falls or Lipton Seat

A visit to the town of Ella to see Nine Arch Bridge, Ravanna Falls and so on.

Where is GlenMyu Estate located

We are located four kilometres from Beragala towards Wellawaya at the 185/14 Kilometre post.
Here is where we are located on Google maps

Why go to GlenMyu Estate, Haputale, Sri Lanka

A new experience, need to relax, be closer to nature, to breathe in the fresh air in the hills, to eat delicious food, a change in environment and so on!

There are too many reasons to come.

Hopefully we will meet you soon and you will be able to let us know why we are on the Top 10 Hotels in Haputale listing.

One of the best places to stay in Sri Lanka 2022

Accommodation, Holiday, Photography, Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

One of the best places to stay in Sri Lanka 2022 - well that’s just our opinion.

Why do we think we are one of the best places to stay in Sri Lanka in 2022.

Most visitors to Sri Lanka come enjoy the fantastic beaches that surround this beautiful paradise Island which lies off the southern tip of India.

Prior to moving to Sri Lanka in 2016 we visited the Island every year to visit my wife’s family we travelled around the Island and holidayed at some beaches.

I really enjoyed the stunning beach at Negombo when we stayed at Jetwing Beach Hotel in one of my early holidays to the Pearl of the Indian ocean. The beach is an idyllic sandy yellow with palm trees and small fishing boats resting before their next adventure in search of the bounty the ocean offers up.

The east coast has some of the most stunning beaches in the world and during our stay at Maalu Maalu in Pasikuda we walked barefoot on the pristine sand which leads to the inviting warm ocean which is comfortably shallow where you can walk out for quite some way before losing the sea floor.

There is so much to explore on this small island however the building of GlenMyu Estate took our focus from finding out what gems we are yet to discover on the island.

The pandemic has changed our thinking on what type of hotel we want to stay at when we travel around the Island and also when we next get the chance to see the rest of the world.

We now are more reluctant to stay in one of the larger hotels as we want space and some solitary time together. A smaller venue will be our preference in the future.

We have found that from the visitors to GlenMyu Estate so far in our first year that they have really enjoyed having the place to themselves and really submerged themselves in the tranquility of the nature that surrounds us. I can see our guests really switch off and relax.

There are several places of interest near to GlenMyu Estate which we expected our guests to carry out day trips to and return for a delicious meal in the dining room in the early evening.

However, we have found that although there are great intentions to explore the area, most people quickly change their outlook and just stay on the Estate.

The morning is spent listening to the birds starting their day and watching our ducks wander down to the streams and ponds to enjoy their early morning bath.

A wholesome breakfast is followed by a stroll around the pathways around the Estate taking pictures of those Instagram moments.

There are plenty of places to sit and take in the fresh air, the delightful scenery and listen to mother nature getting on with her work.

A refreshing swim in the natural sorting fed swimming pool is followed by drying off sitting on the stone seat looking onto the water.

If you are considering a place to stay in the Central Hills of Sri Lanka maybe Glenmyu Estate is for you.

One of the best places to stay in Sri Lanka 2022 Read More »

What gets you up in the morning?

Holiday, Photography, Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

What gets you up in the morning?

Well, sometimes you need a little bit of inspiration.

Fortunately in the Sri Lankan Hill Country you just never know what you might get.

Is this worth waking up early for? You bet!

When in Sri Lanka, get up early and see the Country at its best.

I know that it’s a tough ask to get up early when you are on holiday, however, I assure you that it is just worth it.

Any photographer, worth his salt, would tell you that the light is the kindest to the camera either in the early morning or as the sun goes down.

It’s just boring when the sun comes up and goes down around the same time everyday

When I was living in the UK I remember having various conversations with friends and them saying that they really like the seasons and wouldn’t want to live in a place where the seasons didn’t change during the year.

I must admit that I would probably have agreed with them for most of my life.

I remember being young and really looking forward to the rugby season from September to May after a long and uneventful Summer.

I wasn’t a cricketer, athlete or sailor so my summers were very long and I looked forward to the grounds getting softer to make hitting the floor a bit more palatable.

A beer or two and an exaggerated story or three in a pub when it is chilly inside and you are being warmed by a pint or four of Guiness is a thing of beauty to a rugby player.

The optimism of Spring, where the weather becomes more pleasant and the evenings get longer, are a thing that was eagerly awaited.

So, seasons were really important for me.

However, as age crept up on me, I longed for a stretched summer and a concentrated winter where Jack Frost would throw his javelins of icicles at me.

As I sit in Sri Lanka and can forgive the sunset at six p.m.

Compromise is what a lot of life is about.

I have given up those long, comforting summer evenings which were full of excitement and optimism for a twelve hour life in shorts and t-shirt all year round.

I feel that I am the victor in this choice.

Every time I get a little melancholy for what I had in the past I bring back the memory of the challenge of getting from Bank Station to my office on a bleak November morning with blast of cold and driving rain accompanying me on my way. I felt abused and uncomfortable at the end of that tumultuous journey and that awakens my senses to appreciate what I have in this Paradise Island.

My wife wakes me up from time to time

My wife is great at sleeping.

I say this and I am just jealous of her.

I had difficulty sleeping when living in the heart of London.

As soon as it got dark in the darker months I would want to go to bed and sleep – it’s just natural for me but at 6 p.m. in the winter it’s a bit of a problem. A disturbed night as sirens from police cars, ambulances and the drunken shouts of a late night reveller would ensure a broken night.

In the warm nights of Summer when it was dark at midnight and light at four a.m. I would have sleep deprivation as when there is light “I am awake!”

Every so often when I do get a good nights sleep I am awaken before my body is ready by my wife saying “look”.

From my slumber my bleary eyes slowly focus on a thing of beauty that nature has delivered to us and I survey the view of the hills below which are bathed in a beautiful light whilst I am reclining in our bed.

I feel guilty if the I am too drowsy to really appreciate what mother nature has put before my eyes and I then make an incredible effort to rouse myself so that I don’t miss this snapshot of our life.

I, however, am comforted that I will be able to enjoy another magical view on another morning when I am more engaged in life.

Wake up early, you won’t regret it.

I urge our guests to leave the blinds in their rooms open and be woken up by the light in the early morning and take their chance to see the potential heartwarming view in the morning. I can’t guarantee a splendid view as mother nature is in charge of the daily event and it is up to her to deliver, our guests have the option of turning over and going back to sleep and getting up when their body tells them it is ready. It appears to me to be a win-win situation.

Experience spectacular mornings from the comfort of your bed (sometimes) at GlenMyu Estate, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

We have three kingsize bedrooms at GlenMyu Estate which have floor to ceiling windows which look out onto the valley below towards the South Coast of the Island.

Waking up to a spectacular view is a great start to a day.

If you want to find out more about a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill country please visit our website via the link below.

What gets you up in the morning? Read More »

Birds of Sri Lanka – what you might see at GlenMyu Estate, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Birds, Birdwatching, Holiday / By Mikeez

What kind of birds live in Sri Lanka?

What birds will I see when I stay at GlenMyu Estate, Haputale, Sri Lanka?

We are lucky at GlenMyu Estate to have an environment that is attractive to birds and we have a variety that we regularly see here foraging, nesting and swooping around the land.

Here are some pictures and videos of birds that I have seen visiting the Estate.

Unfortunately my camera and video are great for capturing the birds and if you visit the estate with better equipment you will no doubt get much better pictures than I have!

A Black Throated Kingfisher — A White-Throated Kingfisher

A White-Browed Fantail and Chicks — A White-Browed Fantail and two chicks

A pair of Ceylon Hill Mynas — A pair of Lesser Hill Mynas.

A Hill Swallow on a nest — A Hill Swallow nesting.

A Hill Swallow with some twigs — A Hill Swallow gathering twigs.

Black eagle — A Black Eagle passing over GlenMyu Estate

Birdwatching in Sri Lanka — A bird starting flight

A Purple Rumped Sunbird — Purple Rumped Sunbird

Here are some videos that I have taken of some birds that visited the estate.

We are also very lucky to have a neighbour who has a lifelong interest in birds and bird watches daily. She has identified a large number of the 34 endemic species of birds that visit this part of Sri Lanka.

How do I find out more about Birds of Sri Lanka?

If you want to know more about the endemic birds of Sri Lanka, the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka has a complete list pf birds and additional interesting information in the following link https://fogsl.cmb.ac.lk/list-of-birds-of-sri-lanka/

Another website where a community identifies birds is https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-sri-lanka

Avibase – The World Bird Database gives details of the birds and also some examples of bird song https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibase.jsp?lang=EN

The Ceylon Bird Club is another good resource http://www.ceylonbirdclub.org/endemic_birds.php

Books?

I use “A Photographic Guide to theBirds of Sri Lanka” by Gehan De Silva Wijeyaratne which I find has some good pictures to help identify the birds.

Find out more about GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and B & B, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

There are three king size on suite bedrooms for guests which all have superb views of the hills below.

A natural spring fed swimming pool is available for the use for guests and is a great place to have a refreshing swim or just hang out listening to the nature that passes by.

Where is GlenMyu Estate?

You can find out where we are on the map below.

Birds of Sri Lanka – what you might see at GlenMyu Estate, Haputale, Sri Lanka. Read More »

A dog called Clove and a Clove Tree Orchard.

Holiday, Our dogs, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu / By Mikeez

A story of the rescue dogs we have at GlenMyu Resort and Hotel, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

A dog called Clove and a Clove Tree Orchard.

Cloves remind me of both Christmas and skiing in Europe.

Oranges peppered with cloves sunk in gallons of red wine and brandy on the stove creating an intoxicating beverage on a chilly December day just gives me a glowing warming comfortable feeling.

This perfect combination is something to look forward to as the temperatures dive towards the end of the year.

It’s not a drink for Sri Lanka, apart from maybe Nuwara-Eliya, as it just doesn’t get cold enough here to do justice to this delicious beverage.

What are Cloves?

Cloves are the flower buds of the clove tree which is a tropical evergreen tree known as Myrtaceae Syzygium aromatic.

The trees are native to the Moluccus Islands, or Spice Islands in Indonesia.

Cloves have a strong aroma and a hot, pungent taste. They are used to flavour many foods and in particular meat and bakery products. It is used in Europe to flavour Christmas foods such as …… hence my picture of Christmas when I smell the aroma of cloves.

Indonesia is still the worlds largest producer of cloves followed by Madagascar, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.

An accident or fate? - How we met Clove and she found a place in our hearts

Early on during the build of the main house on GlenMyu Estate we were made aware that some of the construction workers were feeding some abandoned puppies near our gate entrance. Once of the three foundlings had already dies and there were two black waifs struggling to survive. My wife Ruwanthi went up to investigate and brought the starving creatures down to the garage.

My parents had always had dogs when I was growing up and Ruwanthi was the same however, we had not considered having any animals ourselves. We both had worked long hours in the UK and it would not have worked for us and we would not have been able to provide the care for the animals so the thought had not entered our minds.

Our small Clove Orchard

The agricultural department supplied us with around thirty trees which we planted in an area where they would get sufficient shade for them to survive during the warmer months from mid June to mid September.

Our worker dug some rather large holes before planting however as the land is very rocky it was important to provide the trees with the ability to establish their roots without too many obstacles.

Once planted they looked a bit lost as they were so small however, as we have learnt over the last few years, they require sufficient space when they are established to thrive.

Early on I planted lots of coleus around the saplings which gave them a bit of shade when needed and a bit of colour in the developing orchard.

It has taken a lot of work initially watering, clearing around the trees and occasionally feeding with organic compost made on the estate. I patiently inspected them over the months hoping that they would change from waif like twigs into something that resembles a proper tree.

In the last few months however they really appear to have got going and hopefully it will not be too long until we are ready for our first harvest.

Clove and Cinnamon were destined to become part of our family

Our outlook on not having dogs soon changed as both Clove and her sister Cinnamon became embedded into our daily life.

After the initial continual feeding, trips to the vet, injections, skin treatments and so on they became lots of fun and something both Ruwanthi looked forward to waking up to.

Unfortunately Cinnamon did not survive, which broke our hearts, and we were left with Clove who became an important member of our family.

Clove is such a lovely dog, who is so friendly with everyone it is difficult for her not to melt your heart.

Cooking with Cloves

What are Cloves used for in Sri Lankan cooking?

Clove recipes

Come to GlenMyu Estate and see what other trees, fruits and vegetables we are growing

We were lucky enough to have some established trees on the five acre Estate and we have continued to plant more trees and other plants as we have developed the land.

We have an organic garden which provides the staples to lots of the items we serve on our menu. We are also developing Plant Based, Vegetarian and Vegan Menus as an offering for guests who stay at the Estate.

There are three king size on suite bedrooms for guests which all have superb views of the hills below.

A natural spring fed swimming pool is available for the use for guests and is a great place to have a refreshing swim or just hang out listening to the nature that passes by.

Please visit our website https://resortglenmyu.com for further details or contact Ruwanthi by WhatsApp.

We hope that you come an enjoy our little part of paradise and watch it grow.

Where we are located.

Can I bring my own dog to GlenMyu Estate?

We love dogs, however, as GlenMyu Estate is home to seven dogs we do not permit guests to bring their pets.

We believe that the risk, however small., would be too much and both the guests and ourselves would not be able to enjoy your stay as we would be concerned about your pet and ours.

A dog called Clove and a Clove Tree Orchard. Read More »

Bambarakanda Waterfall

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

Bambarakanda Waterfall

Things to do and places of interest near to GlenMyu Estate, Hotel and B & B, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Bambarakanda Waterfall is the tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka.

It is ranked the 461st highest waterfall in the world being 263 m (863 ft).

The waterfall is situated in Kalupahana, which is in Badulla District.

It is circa185 km away from Colombo on the Colombo to Batticaloa A4 Highway.

It is located between Belihuloya and Haputale and is around 5 km from the highway.

The waterfall is well signposted at the junction that you turn off on the A4 road. The road heads towards Ohiya and is quite small and poorly maintained so you will need to drive carefully.

There is adequate parking once you reach the entrance point.

Bambarakanda Waterfall - What does it cost - Entrance Fee

There is a Ticket Booth at the entrance of the walk to the waterfalls and a small fee is changed.

There are some customer toilets however we didn’t look for them on our trip so I can’t point you to were they are. I will update this information on our next trip.

The walk to the base of the waterfall takes you through a Pine Forest and is around 600 m in distance.

The walk is reasonably easy and should be comfortable if you are reasonably fit.

There are points that you can stop and get your breath on the climb if you need to.

What will I find when I reach Bambarakanda Waterfall?

A natural pool forms at the bottom of the falls and there is a viewing point with some railings (in need of repair when we did our trip there)..

It is a spectacular sight looking into the crystal clear water.

As you look up there is a beautiful flow of water cascading down from the top of the falls. The water flow does change during different times of the year which affects the volume dropping down from above you.

We thought it was an amazing sight on our visit and as usual the photos that I took really don’t do it justice. However, there are plenty of pictures on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/bambarakanda/), Facebook etc that are far better than mine!

There was just a bit of an aura about the place for us as it was cool, calm and just brought a feeling of peacefulness.

What time of the day should I go?

This is my usual answer when it comes to visiting most of the sites around the island.

I would recommend that you get there early!

The falls tend to get a bit more crowded as the day goes on which puts pressure on parking and the small walkways to the falls.

My recommendation on when it is best to take those Instagram photos holds as the light is so much better and your pic will look great.

We went reasonably early midweek and were the only people there and we really felt connected to nature and really appreciated the wonder of the place so much more than we would have if we had shared it with lots of other sightseers.

A bit more about Bambarakanda Waterfall.

The waterfall is formed by the Kuda Oya waterway, which is a tributary of the Walawe River which originates from Horton Plains (please see our other Blog Post about Horton Plains National Park).

How do I get to Bambarakanda Waterfall from GlenMyu resort?

Bambarakanda Waterfall is located off the main A4 Colombo to Batticaloa Highway and the exit is after Belihiloya if travelling from Colombo.

Enjoy a relaxing stay at GlenMyu Resort and visit the local sites including Bambarakanda Waterfall.

There are several places of interest and worthwhile visiting within easy reach of GlenMyu Estate.

After your trip it is just great to come back to a confortable, spacious space to relax and ponder on the great day that you have just had.
A refreshing dip in our Natural Spring Fed Waterfall followed by a lazy afternoon on the leather sofas in the lounge taking in the breathtaking view.
A delicious meal which is sourced mainly from our organic garden followed by retiring to bed on one of the three luxurious king sized double bedrooms.

Sounds like the perfect vacation?

If you want to find out more please click on one of the links below.

Where is GlenMyu Resort Hotel located?

Beware the leeches!

One of our guests went to visit the falls during the rainy season and managed to pick up a few leeches on the way.

When we visited the Falls in February we didn’t come across any leeches however they are quite common in the wetter part of the year.

Our experience

We were a little traumatised when we first encountered leeches however after the first few times we got used to them and either just pick them up (if they have just grabbed on to you) and roll them up a bit and throw them away.

If they have managed to get a proper grip we just leave them and either put a little salt on them to encourage them to drop off or we just let them suck away and fall off.

Anticoagulant

The saliva of the leech consists of anaesthetic agents, anticoagulant and other items that allow them to suck the blood. The anticoagulant result in the skin bleeding for a while afterwards until the chemical has been diluted enough to allow the blood to start clotting. A good clean with soap and water and pressure with a tissue will eventually stop the bleeding and we normally find the only affects a small mark and a bit of itching for a while.

Is there anything that I can do to avoid them?

https://ceylontoday.lk/news/leeching-out-bad-bloodThere are leech socks and various concoctions available to discourage the leeches however we have found them to be pretty persistent and just let them do their thing and deal with them as mentioned above.

They were used in a variety of medicinal uses.

Here is an interesting article about leaches from the Ceylon Today Newspaper https://ceylontoday.lk/news/leeching-out-bad-blood

Bambarakanda Waterfall Read More »

Wedding Photo Shoot

wedding, wedding venues / By Mikeez

A first for us - A Wedding Photo Shoot at Glenmyu Estate, Haputale.

We hadn’t considered Glenmyu Estate as a background where the Bride and Groom would have their wedding photos taken.

We do consider Glenmyu Estate to be a beautiful place and we a really proud of what we have developed here. We also are excited about the years to come where the planting around the grounds becomes more established and the continual landscaping we carry out make more beautiful spots to discover around the property.

No weddings here …… well perhaps if it is a small one.

We had not considered having weddings at Glenmyu Estate as we only have three bedrooms and insufficient facilities to cater for a large number of guests. Typically local weddings in Sri Lanka would have upwards of 100 guests and we just can’t accommodate such a larger number.

However, if in the future we were approached to hold a small wedding for up to say thirty guests, we might just be able to manage.

Our first wedding shoot

We were approached by a friend for the Bride and Groom (Dakshi and Hasitha) to take their homecoming photos at the Estate. We didn’t have any guests staying on the day and therefore agreed to the request.

It wasn’t the best day weather wise however, the photographers at Sparkle Lifetime Wedding Studio, Rathnapura were experienced and were able to get some great photos on the lawn in front of the house and also by the swimming pool.

The Wedding and the Homecoming - what’s this all about?

In Sri Lanka the wedding normally is hosted by the Bride’s family and takes places local to where the Bride’s family resides.

A few days (or longer) after the wedding ceremony there is Homecoming which is like another wedding reception. The Homecoming is given by the groom’s family and marks that the groom is “bringing home” a new bride.

Traditionally Brides left their homes and joined the groom, a practice which is still widely held in rural areas in Sri Lanka. Nowadays, most married couples choose to build their own home, however, at times there is a period where they would live at the groom’s home until there is sufficient resources saved until they move into their new home.

The Bride would also typically wear red for her Homecoming.

A gatecrasher!

As we have seven dogs on the Estate and sometimes they get excited about new visitors coming we kept them in their kennels when the wedding party arrived.

One of our dogs just loves people and is not housed in the kennel and managed to make his escape and introduce himself to the bride, groom, photographers and a few friends.

He is a lovely looking friendly dog and no-one had a problem with him gatecrashing the event.

The Thank You Card

The Bride and Groom normally present their guests with a thank you card as they leave the homecoming and the photographers downloaded the chosen picture to be printed so that they could be handed out that evening.

Photobombing - by a dog!

Well, this is the photo that …… they chose for their thank you card.

Who is that dog?

We heard a few days later that our dog was the talk of the homecoming with everyone asking “who is that dog”.

I guess that in years to come Dakshi and Hasitha will look back at this photo and it will bring back good memories.

A happy life

We at Glenmyu Estate wish Dakshi and Hasitha a long and happy marriage and we are delighted that they were the first couple to have their homecoming shoot at our place.

More photo opportunities at Glenmyu Estate

There are lots of opportunities to take great photos of your own at Glenmyu Estate.

Whether it is being photobombed by one of our dogs, taking shots of the other flora or fauna on the estate or the spectacular views from the lounge and bedroom balconies you are bound to get a keeper.

Photos of friends and family relaxing in the lounge or enjoying a meal sourced from our organic garden at one of the dining places inside or outside the property opportunities to make lasting memories.

If you want to see the post on Sparkle Lifestyle Wedding Studios Facebook Page please click on this link https://www.facebook.com/SparkleLifestyleWeddingPhotography/photos/5028648563832665

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.

Wedding Photo Shoot Read More »

Over 50 million – yes 50 million views on YouTube!

Holiday, Music, Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Over 50 million - yes 50 million views on YouTube!

“Manike Mage Hithe” - this could be the tune that you can’t get out of your head this Autumn.

It has already had over fifty million views on Youtube by the 25th August 2021.

Maybe this is the hit song that we will associate as the easing of the restrictions of the global pandemic?

Rap in Sinhala

The Sinhala song features Sri Lankan female singer Yohani De Silva and rapper Chamath Satheesan and was originally produced in July 2020 by Chamath Sangeeth.

It became vastly popular in India, Bangladesh, The Middle East and the Maldives because of its’ melodious tune and rap in Sinhala.

It has become so popular that it has been released in both Malayalam and Tamil and the tunes’ popularity is spreading to other continents.

Rap has a good following in Sri Lanka.

UK based Sri Lankan comedian Romesh Ranganathan is well known for his love of Rap and Hip Hop.

He hosts a Podcast “Hip Hop Saved My Life” and he also had a “Rap Battle” when he visited Colombo during his successful television series “Asian Provocateur”.

Sri Lanka has three official languages, Sinhala, Tamil and English

The first popular Hip Hop artists in Sri Lanka to be recognised were Brown Boogie Nation (You Get Around, Lions and Tigers) and Rude Boy Republic in the late 1990’s. Urban Sound released “Gangsta Raps” and “Smooth Flow” in 1998. Their “Stop the Virus” won an award for Best TV Campaign on HIV awareness from a local broadcasting institute.

Tamil Rap started in 2004 by the successful “J Town Story” by Krishan Maheson and the first Sinhala Rap track by Iraj.

Sri Lankan American DeLon debuted at no. 36 in the Billboard Charts with Nasty Girl.

The youngest Sri Lankan Artists to be signed to an international record label (Sony India) were Ranidu Lankage and Ashanthi.

“Kelle” was successful in being featured on the BBC Asian Chart.

Popular local artists Bathiya and Santhush and Randhir worked together on a hip hop remix song “Siri Sangabodhi”

Sri Lankan Rap has become a stalwart of the music culture in the country over the last twenty years or so.

What does “Manike Mage Hithe” mean?

A straight translation of the words are
Mage – My

Hithe – Heart

Manike – Derived from Manika which is a diamond. Manike later became a pet name between men and women for a partner like “honey”, “love”, “dear” or in this instance “gem”.

Manike Mage Hithe therefore translates to “Gem in my Heart”, however I have also seen translations of the song lyric as “Baby in my Heart”

The song is a beautiful enrapturing melodic serenade of forbidden love referencing passion and desire.

Other popular music in Sri Lanka to explore.

The earliest form of music came via the theatre when traditional open-air dramas, known as Kolam, Sokari and Nagadam in Sinhala.

The first music album was released by Radio Ceylon in 1903 and was called Nurthi.
During the 1960’s Indian Films (now Bollywood) has a significant influence on Sri Lankan music and subsequently artists such as Sunil Shantha found popularity and success in India.

Songwriters that gained widespread success include Ananda Smarakoon and Mahatma Sekara.

Other notable artists to dive into would include Milton Mallawarachchi, MS Fernando, Clarence Wijewardene, WD Amaradeva, Annesley Malewana and HR Jothipala.

It is worth researching the following types of music to understand what has influenced the development of music in the Country.

Traditional Folk Music

Ragadiri Music – Hindustani Classical Music
Karnataka Music – South Indian Classical Music

Tamil and Hindustani Film Music

Baila and Saralagee

After Independence of the Country in 1948 there was rise in popularity of both Baila and Saralagee music

Saralagee music was attractive to the middle class and elite whereas Baila was popular amongst the lower class.

It is almost unheard of to go to a wedding or dance without hearing Baila.

Baila derived from the Portuguese song style called Baile or Bailo which translates to dance in both Portuguese and Spanish.

Make your own music at Glenmyu Estate, Haputale

If you are searching for inspiration a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country may be the thing for you.

Glenmyu Estate is located in five acres in the beautiful hills of Sri Lanka, surrounded by natures views and sounds.

Over 50 million – yes 50 million views on YouTube! 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 »

Holiday in Sri Lanka in 2021

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

Holidays in Sri Lanka 2023 - do something different!

GlenMyu Estate is located in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka. The Hill Country is also commonly known as Up Country.

The nearest town is Beragala which is located on the main A4 road towards Welawaya.

The nearest larger town is Haputale which lies 400 plus metres above Glenmyu

If you enjoy peace and relaxation we believe that there is no better place to be.

Three Luxury Bedrooms

The house has three luxury bedrooms with on-suites and they all have views of the spectacular hills leading to the southern coast of the Island.

In this changing world we believe holidaying in a property which is spacious, luxurious and private for smaller groups of people is the way forward.

New in 2021

The building was completed in early 2021 and we are continuing to improve our offer to our guests by landscaping around the fives acres of land creating special places to experience and generate life long memories.

Western and Asian dining

We lived in the UK before moving to Sri Lanka and are comfortable providing meals to suit the local palette and also visitors from outside Sri Lanka.

Ruwanthi lived in the UK for 14 years and developed her cooking skills there and her learning was supplemented by completing a short Cordon Bleu course.

I am proud to say that our home was the place that everyone wanted to come to for dinner parties.

We have had superb reactions to the food that we have prepared for the guests that have stayed at GlenMyu.

Food sourced from and organic garden.

We have developed an organic garden at GlenMyu and base our menus on the food we produce which we know has had no chemical or non-organic fertiliser has been used. We source as much of the foods that we do not produce here as locally as possible keeping the food miles down and doing our bit for the planet.

Aiming towards a Plant Based Diet

We have personally being moving towards a Plant Based Diet and are developing a menu to cater for the growing demand to live a healthy lifestyle and reduce the amount of meat, poultry and fish consumed.

A flexible menu

We have a sample menu on our website however we tend to discuss with our clients what they would like for their meals and prepare and cook them on the day. We find that this results in less waste and avoiding overeating which I was guilty of whenever I went to a large hotel with an irresistible buffet table!