How did you end up at Gal Oya?
I was exposed to wildlife tourism at an early age as I spent much of my childhood in the jungles of Nepal where my father had started several lodges (tigertops.com). After completing my education in the UK and a brief stint in the City, I decided to return to Asia and pursued hospitality work in Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. With a shared passion for wildlife tourism, two friends and I founded Gal Oya Lodge. Our goal was to create an environmentally-responsible tourism experience, but we were at first unsure of the location. While Yala National Park was the obvious answer, being the most popular national park, it was too crowded for our liking, with sometimes over 500 jeeps entering a day. So, after exploring nearly all of the national parks, we discovered Gal Oya, which offered natural beauty, unique experiences, and remained untouched. We instantly fell in love with the location and chose it as the perfect site for our lodge.
How is life in Sri Lanka post-covid and recent troubles?
Undoubtedly, Sri Lanka has faced challenging times recently, including covid and, more recently economic issues. Although it was a period of immense difficulty, it appears that we have overcome the worst of it, and conditions are improving day-by- day. It is heartening to witness the rapid resurgence of tourism, which is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Sri Lankan people. I wouldn’t say tourism is back to pre-covid levels, but we are close!
Expat or local?
I’m an expat although I’ve been living in Sri Lanka for 11 years now.
“Living and working in the jungle is a true escape from the stresses of modern life.”
Best bits and challenges of living and working in Sri Lanka?
The best bits: most definitely the Sri Lankan people, incredibly kind and easy to work with. Secondly, the island itself is amazing. Despite its relatively small size, there is an abundance of activities and sights to explore, such as the scenic tea country, rich cultural heritage, amazing national parks and picturesque beaches. Even after 11 years I have still not seen all of it; there’s always new places to explore and people to meet. Challenges: Sri Lanka has had its fair share of recent bad luck and challenges firstly with the Easter attacks then Covid and, more recently, the economic crisis. These have been incredibly challenging times but thankfully we have managed to struggle through. Apart from that, ‘island life’ can sometimes mean it takes slightly longer to get work done!
What’s your take on living slow?
For me, living ‘slow’ is all about taking the time to appreciate the little things and being present in the moment. At Gal Oya Lodge, living and working in the jungle is a true escape from the stresses of modern life.”