What do I want from a holiday?
This is what I want>
This is what I want to get away from!
I want.......
Time away from my daily routine and stress.
The only time that I really managed to relax and properly enjoy a holiday was where I was effectively in between jobs.
I didn’t have that two or three day wind down to start relaxing during the holiday and that heightened level of stress a fews days before going back to work.
Maybe it was just me and my attitude towards my job but I really don’t think I am the only one that goes through this cycle.
On the hamster wheel.
I was a lifer in my organisation and my only really relaxing holiday was when I was transferred from one unit to another leaving me without any work related stressballs to think about in my well earned time away from the office.
I did a good job before I changed roles and delivered my client portfolio over to the team at my existing unit professionally and knew my longstanding customers were in good hands.
I met my new colleagues in my new office however I dd not delve or meet any of my new clients before I left on a three week holiday in Sri Lanka.
Freedom....that's what I want.
I was free and I was so happy not to suffer the anxiety of getting as much work as possible tied up before I left. I was confident that I would not get any crisis emails or telephone calls whilst away and therefore could truly switch off.
I felt totally relaxed during my time on the paradise island and as my wonderful holiday ended I had no worries about what was to meet me in my new office.
Unfortunately we can’t all time our holidays in between roles and therefore I am very conscious of what the guests that we welcome at GlenMyu Estate may be going through.
We try to encourage visitors to relax and enjoy the surroundings
Watch the ducks, I say.
One of the things that I really enjoy on a daily basis is taking some time out to just sit and watch the ducks go about the business.
The duck have the freedom of the estate and you will often see two or three of them going off on a new adventure.
They forage around the grounds and swim in the stream and ponds around the land.
It’s just wonderful watching them waddle around and have a good wash in the fresh water.
However if they are procreating I tend t move on as it is not a pretty business and I would recommend that you do the same!
Reconnecting with nature
One of the things that I feel a sense of envy over Sri Lankans is the pathetic level of knowledge I have of the flora and fauna that adorns the estate. I lived in various UK cities and towns for most of my life and there was little encouragement to get close to nature. I couldn’t identify a tree let alone tell you what it does. I did a foraging walk when I was last in the UK however have forgotten most of what we were shown by the expert on the day.
My experience of Sri Lankans however is that they naturally have a deep knowledge of the trees, plants and animals that are part of their everyday lives.
Most people know what a tree is good for and what a plants uses are, whether endemic or introduced.
Go sightseeing or just enjoy the five acre estate?
My idea of a really good relaxing holiday, and a good time, is where I can spend some time with friends and not travel too far.
Although there are some great places to visit that are within easy reach from GlenMyu Estate such as Horton Plains National Park, Liptons Seat and Diyaluma Waterfall to name a few, there is sufficient things to do on the Estate to keep you occupied.
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In addition to the ducks, we have seven friendly orphan dogs who are also very entertaining whether it is hanging out with the guests or watching them chasing a squirrel or a monkey (without success).
We have several places around the estate to discover, sit and watch the nature around you and listen to their sounds. There are several species of birds that visit the trees and plants on a daily basis and two types of eagles that circle from above seeking their prey. Both Toque Macaque and Grey Langurs are often seen on the trees around the land.
The land is circa 100m in elevation from top to bottom and therefore you can lose a few calories by walking up, down and around the pathways we have created. If you are feeling adventurous you may even hike down to the waterfall that is formed by the streams at the lowest part of the land.
I wish I had gone to…..
My ideal time with friends is to have a good chat, perhaps with a glass in hand, followed by great tasting meal, (with perhaps a drink or two), and then wander off to a comfortable bed knowing that there is no agenda for the next day.
One place I wish I had gone to in the UK that follows my ultimate evening is Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire. To enjoy a Michelin Star Meal with friends, perhaps with the wine flight, and then retiring to a bed in the house knowing that we will wake up to a great breakfast the next day is just something that is on my things to do list.
At GlenMyu you can relax in the comfortable lounges on either the ground or first floors and watch the sun go down at around six pm. It’s a wonderful experience and is different everyday. You can then enjoy a sumptuous meal prepared by Ruwanthi and made primarily from ingredients from the organic garden or from local producers.
Perhaps then after a nightcap you can retire to one of the three comfortable bedrooms and watch the stars from your bed.
Waking up the next morning and seeing the array of light that washes the hills you can see from the floor to ceiling windows is a superb experience.
A Sri Lankan or Western breakfast awaits following a healthy glass of Kola Kanda which is prepared from leaves picked from the land in the morning.
GlenMyu is a great place to relax for a few days on your trip around the island visiting the sites. It is also an ideal venue to get away from the office and the stress and speed of your working life.
Reconnect with nature, relax, eat healthy food and recharge the batteries at our special place in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.
If you want to find out more about GlenMyu Estate please visit our website https://resortglenmyu.com or call Ruwanthi on 0752999272.