Ceylon Stories SUP Paddling in Sri Lanka
When you travel around the world, certain places stick in your memory, and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) I left knowing I wanted to see it again. Eight years after the pleasure of the discovery and the fabulous moments of my first trip, I returned, this time sharing the joy of this epic place with French SUP-rider Alexis Deniel and his partner, Melanie. The couple have traveled a lot but never to this part of the world. For a while, Sri Lanka wasn't on anyone's vacation list, but now, more than 10 years after decades of civil war and the 2004 tsunami, it is slowly remaking its name as an international destination, especially for the surf-inclined.
After a long flight with a stopover in Doha, Qatar, we land in Colombo, the capital city. We leave the airport, stepping into the dense, humid heat, and have the impression of entering a parallel world. The Sri Lankan rhythm and its unique lifestyle engulf us like a torrent, our senses immediately bombarded with pleasure. Whiffs of incense and dried flowers invade our nostrils at every corner, made sweeter by the countless smiles and immediate kindness of those we meet.
We reach the southwest coast of the island by mid-day. After dropping our luggage inside the bungalow, Alexis sits for a
