July 2024

Exciting news! 
In January 2023, Sanuji was one of the first crop of 20 girls to join the Tekanda Girls Cricket Academy. Aged 13, she had never picked up a bat but over the last 18 months has trained and worked with remarkable focus.  Last week we heard the news that Sanuji, who has just turned 15, has been invited to trial at Galle International Stadium for the Sri Lanka Ladies U19 squad. We are all incredibly proud of her and of our wonderful coaches Sandun, Chamodi, Sulesha and Kavindu who have been so integral in her development. We'll keep you posted on her progress!

The Green Season
There has recently emerged a consensus between our fellow travel industry stakeholders in Sri Lanka's south to stop referring to our traditional quieter period from May to November as 'low' or 'slow' season, but rather the 'green' season. It follows Costa Rica's success in showcasing the appeal of a similarly vibrant and varied country beyond the well-trodden attractions of the beach and coast. And Sri Lanka is this on steroids. 

So here is why you should consider visiting Tekanda Lodge in our Green Season: 
*The temperature is consistently between 28-32°C 
*The landscape of the south is at its greenest, lushest and tropical best between June and December
*Our birdlife goes from wonderful to off the charts spectacular
*If you haven't experienced the moody magnificence of a tropical rainstorm rolling across the paddy fields and jungle hills you haven't lived!
*The Tekanda menu knows no season. Chef's Tuna Ceviche or  traditional Sri Lankan curry taster menu tastes as glorious in October as it does in February
*Fishing on lake Kogalla, morning yoga, estate and beach walks, cocktails in Ahangama and visits to the Tekanda Foundation's village heartbeat centre continue just the same 
*The Tekanda pool and Indian Ocean remain at 28°C
*The Green Season in the south west of the island is the dry season in the north east so you can always schedule a two or three stop visit spending a decent chunk where the surf is working perfectly and the lack of rain is the major concern.
 
We are running some very special offers for longer stays between now and November so if you are still thinking about summer or October half-term break don't hesitate to contact us. 

The more things change...
One of the most life affirming observations in travel is that no matter how culturally and geographically distant human communities may be, as the saying goes: we have more in common than that which divides us. We had a very lively reminder of this valuable lesson at the recent inaugural Tekanda Lodge end of season staff party. 
 
In a scene that will be familiar with small company owners the world over, there I was enjoying a peaceful morning coffee on the main verandah trying to work out if there was enough coin in the coffers to pay salaries when a delegation appeared. I knew there was trouble brewing because it was led by head chef Rana whilst Lodge manager Upul was hanging at the back with a slightly uncomfortable demeanour. 'Mr Richard' says Rana 'The staff have asked me to ask you if we are having a company party like all the other hotels'. Now, like every great chef, Rana's genius in the kitchen is only surpassed by his love of a party.  He is Ahangama's equivalent of Marco Pierre White - a veritable Sri Lankan 'enfant terrible'.

I had successfully headed off his three other ideas for a party in the previous year but as we were fast approaching the end of a very busy season where all the staff had gone above and beyond, I knew I had no more road on which to run. And true to form - things escalated quickly. Not quite believing his luck Rana took charge. A beach venue was booked complete with catering and DJ. The 'staff' guest list was prepared featuring not only the seven full-time hotel staff, but the estate manager, five estate ladies, two gardeners, the five-strong gatekeeper and security team and the five Tuk Tuk drivers; upwards of 30 people, who in some shape or form, are now part of the Tekanda Lodge family. 
 
Official start time was 6pm but Rana and a few of the boys thought it best to arrive early (4pm) and help 'set-up'. Charlie and I were asked to arrive at 7pm and it was suggested that around 9pm might be a good time for us to leave. When Charlie and I duly arrived as requested it was clear that, in modern parlance, this was going to be a loose affair. The DJ was already in full swing as was Chef spinning like a Catherine Wheel in the centre of the dance floor. And he was by no means alone. Before so much as a samosa had been served, the whole venue was humming as Chef had corralled most of his colleagues onto the dance floor. There was Dilanka from housekeeping replete with dark glasses and open neck shirt easing into his shapes. There was Chamini and tea estate lady Thaksila doing their thing for All The Single Ladies. Tuk Tuk Driver Samanta, who has been off drink for a month after stomach surgery, had clearly decided this was going to be his 'big comeback'.  And just when I didn't think my eyes could get any wider, there, doing the full John Travolta floor to ceiling pointer moves, was 70-year-old Sarath - or 'Uncle' as he is known -  one of our Tuk Tuk drivers that in the interest of fuel preservation will only drive around 10mph. I secretly hold him in great affection because he doesn't like driving anyone but me and if Charlie is allocated to ride with him without me he drives extra slowly in silence and barely disguised disgust. 
 
And so it went on; a carnival of dancing, colour and a stream of Arak-emboldened staff sharing their ideas to improve operations, mild rebukes for historic mistakes and the occasional commitment of life-long loyalty. All in all, the quintessential office party.