From time-to-time, the chaos of everyday life catches up on us all. My answer to that is a dose of solo travel therapy; it’s a chance to escape routine and declutter the mind.
If you’re living in the UAE, Sri Lanka is a great place for a 3-night trip like this because: (1) the flight time from Dubai to Sri-Lanka is less than 4.5 hours; (2) it’s a budget-friendly country; and (3) there’s a little something for every type of solo traveller, whether you want to chill on stunning beaches, wander through old cities or hike the hill-country!
Book yourself into a hotel
How to escape everyday life for 3 nights: book a flight, book a hotel… and go!
The hotel I booked was along the coastline because I thought I was craving the chilled beach life (despite the fact that I am the furthest thing from someone who chills at a beach!). I also wanted to be near a train-line because, having been to Sri Lanka twice before, I knew that the journey along the coastline was worth experiencing again. So, Centara Ceysands was my base for 3 days, thanks to discovering a special 3-night offer when booking directly via their website. The resort is sandwiched between the Indian Ocean and Bentota river, along the Bentota peninsula, so you have to get a boat across the water to its jetty reception. To be honest, the resort was a little too touristy for me, but what made up for that was the location, the solo sunsets at the beach, the Singha beers by the pool and the fact that I knew nobody.
It was a chance to breathe.
Explore your surroundings
After spending day one settling into Centara Ceysands, I was already done with ‘chilling’; I’m a curious soul and I really do find it difficult to sit still. So, day two was all about catching a boat across to the nearest little town, Aluthgama, and finding the local train station. You won’t find many tourists wandering the streets of Aluthgama, so prepare for a few stares and a view hustling tuk-tuk drivers wanting to pick you up while you walk the streets. With no data on my phone, finding the station was all about following a screenshot of a map, but relatively straight-forward
It was my chance to explore.
Experience a Sri-Lankan train ride
The train line at Aluthgama is a scenic experience, passing through the multiple coastal villages; through popular tourist destination, Hikkaduwa; and, stopping in Galle – which was where I was heading. I bought a second class ticket for LKR 100 (the equivalent of just AED 2!); this gives you access to seat, but I still chose to stand by the open doors. Sri Lankan train rides are an experience; with no doors, there’s something extremely liberating and a little bit scary about allowing yourself to watch the coastline whizz by while you hang out with your face in the wind.
It was my chance for a surge of adrenaline.
Discover the historic city of Galle
If you’re ever in Sri-Lanka, spend a day in Galle. This historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Dutch-Portugese colonial influences lie waiting inside the Galle Fort Walls. I was determined to wander the rambling streets, lose track of time and enjoy every second before jumping on the 5pm train back to Aluthgama to catch the sunset… and avoid travelling at night on my own. You can actually walk the entire perimeter of the fort on the top of the walls; I started my day in Galle at the Main Gate and wandered aimlessly from there.
It was my chance to get lost.
Wander through the streets of Galle
The old city of Galle is so a colorful myriad of gridded streets and alleyways that lead you to historic sights and restored buildings dating back from the Dutch era. I had the whole day to explore at my own pace, stopping off to discover little boutiques, spas and cafes; it was a day without plans. It’s clear that there have been purposeful renovations for tourism, but the city still manages to lure you in with a curiosity to discover how the Eurpoean influences resonate in modern-day Sri Lanka.
It was my chance to wander.
Stop at the Heritage Cafe & Bistro
While Galle’s New City boasts some awesome foodie hangouts, I spent most of my day in the Old City, wandering around and stopping off for leisurely sit-downs in places that caught my attention. One of these places was Heritage Cafe & Bistro – it was the terrace and the hand-crafted food menu that drew me in. This little hangout was super artsy and very ‘Instagrammable’ if that’s your thing; my priority was the sandwich, the mint lemonade and the people-watching from the terrace.
It was my chance to refresh.
Soak-up the vibrancy of the Old City
I love a good tuk-tuk picture, and there plenty of vibrantly-painted tuk-tuks along the streets of Galle. Ambling through the alleyways allowed me to reacquaint with my camera and reignite my creativity; it was an opportunity to wander and wonder at my own pace, without the hectic speed of city life back in Dubai.
It was my chance to capture time.
Embrace Sri-Lankan sunsets
If you ever take a glance at my Instagram, you’ll see and read about my obsession with sunset skies. Maybe this stems from not-at-all being a morning person, but I just think there is something fascinating and fabulously calming about the transformation of the sky as the sun goes down. This was the sunset upon my train return from Galle. I headed straight for the beach and let my thoughts roll in and back out to sea with the tide. There’s something very special about the Southern Sri-Lankan coastline.
It was my chance to be grateful.
Find hidden cafes run by the locals
If you’ve ever stumbled across a hidden gem on your travels, then you’ll know the excitement of having discovered a secret hangout that nobody else knows about… because it’s not yet slapped all over Instagram by yet another travel influencer. I left my hotel on the last morning of my stay to experience a bit of city life in Aluthgama. I followed the train line across a bridge to Bentota; watched locals conducting their day-to-day activities, and found Sewan Mark’s cafe on my way back. The owner’s daughter – about 11 years of age – delighted in greeting and communicating with me; she was on school holidays and helping her father run their family-run cafe. I sipped on a falooka, watched local life whizz by, and then retreated to the hotel to pack my bags.
It was my chance unwind.
Switch off… in your own way.
This solo adventure in Sri Lanka was the kind of trip that reminded me, once again, that I cannot sit still. I’ll never – no matter how hard I try – be a beach bum. Give me coastal trains with no doors, whizzy little tuk-tuks, my camera, a notepad and let me discover my surroundings. As odd as it sounds, this was my ‘switch-off’ from the everyday.
It was my chance to escape routine and declutter the mind.
Once a year, get on a plane and go somewhere by yourself… even if it’s just for the weekend.
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