Who – August 10, 2019

travel

andKangaroos.Werelishedthechancetobe
surfingwithpeoplefromallovertheworldand
especiallyaninspiringnumberoffemalesurfers.
Thedailymorningsurfis followedbya coconut
andblissballinthepoolandsomefreetimeto
rest,readorindulgeina massagefromthe
in-housetherapist.
Thefoodis a highlightofourstayandlunch
is somethingwelookforwardtoafteranactive
morning.
Afteranothercoupleofhours’downtime,
weheadoutontuktuksforourafternoonsurf
session,followedbysunsetYinyogapractice.
Wepracticallyfloatdowntodinner,whichis
anythingfromfragrantSriLankancurriesloaded
withspices,coconutsambolanddahl,togrilled
tunasteaksandhealthyvegetableburgers.
Giventhefulldailyschedule,afterourmeals
andsomeinterestingconversation,mostguests
aremorethanreadytoretreattotheirrooms
ata civilisedhoureachnight.
Therearethreelevelsofaccommodationat
the12-bedroomvilla– sixQuiteSpecialrooms,
fourExtraSpecialandtwoTopRoomswith
balconies looking over the pool.
Marissa and I share an Extra Special room,
which boasts considered, stylish interiors with
mid-century modernist touches, concrete floors,
pops of pastel, bespoke artwork designed by
co-founder Ed Templeton, and the pièce de
résistance; a concrete outdoor bathtub for a soak
under the stars.
More relaxed than a yoga retreat and not
as serious as a surfing camp, Soul & Surf was
founded by British couple Ed and Sophie
Templeton in Kerala, India, during an around-
the-world sabbatical 10 years ago.
Pop-ups in Sri Lanka followed, and the
permanent stay opened three years ago.
“Soul & Surf is not overly worthy,” Sophie
tells me. “We set it up to be what we would enjoy.

Wedidn’twanta lot of surfers sitting around

talkingaboutsurfing all day. We modelled it

onthetypeofplace we’d want to go to.”

Withitslaid-back vibe, stylish setting and

warmSriLankanhospitality, Soul & Surf attracts

a lotofsolotravellers, particularly women, looking

fortimeawayfrom their daily routine and a

chancetoimmerse themselves in another culture,

andmeetnewfriends.

“Whenstayingat Soul & Surf you’re instantly

partofa community, so the idea of travelling

solobecomesboth more accessible and more

exciting,”saidSophie.

Cooltunesareplayed in common areas,

there’sa sunkenlounge area by the pool for

chilltimesandplenty of sun lounges positioned

aroundthegardens.

A child-free retreat was just

what we both needed!

Needless to say, spare time is spent talking

and exploring nearby beaches and towns with

fellow Soul & Surf-ers.

A highlight of our stay was a long tuk tuk ride

to the completely unspoiled and truly spectacular

Hiriketiya Beach where we hired long boards,

surfed with sea turtles and ate $6 local fish curries

and drank vodka nuts on the sand.

Another morning, we woke before dawn and

enjoyed a guided stand-up paddleboarding

session down the river, taking in the sunrise,

local wildlife and our lush jungle surroundings

from another perspective.

Needless to say, a week at Soul & Surf Sri

Lanka felt like a month, and the memories and

friendships formed will stay with me for a lifetime.

soulandsurf.com

Cooling off in

the pool at

Soul & Surf.

Marissa (right)

and me – surfing

like old times!

Following the April 21 terrorist

attacks, Smartraveller have

lowered the level of advice to

‘exercise a high degree of caution.’

Travellers should pay close

attention to their personal

security at all times.

smartraveller.gov.au

TIP