My mom and I spent a few weeks in Sri Lanka at an ayurvedic health spa called Barberyn Reef Resort, “taking the cure” you could say. The hotel itself was not overly deluxe, but it was the oldest hotel on the beach, with all the old world charm that goes with that. And the ayurvedic treatments were sublime.
Every morning we took the 6am yoga class with a traditional Sri Lankan yogi, and then we went into our treatments. Two women massage you in synchronized movements with an oil tailor made by the apothecary for you. Then they wrap you up and put you in the garden where you watch the white butterflies float against the tall stone wall before being bathed in medicinal herbs. EVERY DAY. The all you can eat buffet is filled with vegetarian curries and papaya juice.
The rest of the day we would spend looking at antiques in old Dutch colonial buildings and visiting the homes of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. We didn’t mean to make the entire trip about Geoffrey Bawa, but he’s amazing. His houses are exquisite. Go to all of them.
Beruwala Beach, a boy and his dog walking the reef
Old Dutch colonial mansions for antiquing
Traffic
Reclining Buddha in cave
Mama on the beach at sunset
Lunch being served to us at Geoffrey Bawa’s country house, Lunuganga
You have the option of Western lunch or traditional Sri Lankan lunch. We chose the latter.
Our tour guide
Bust of Bawa
A Geoffrey Bawa hotel, Kandalama, and the monkeys that tried to steal our Christmas presents
Christmas Day climb up the rock mountain temple Sigiriya
It was steep
There were monsters
Top of Sigiriya
With my mama
Geoffrey Bawa’s Colombo town house
as beautiful as the rest
Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka