Shireen Zainudin-Lowe in Galle, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka lures intrepid traveller Shireen Zainudin-Lowe to its shores for an adventure she will never forget.

There’ something about Sri Lanka that draws you in, be it the spirit of the land, its tragic past, the scenic sights, the food or the people. 

Some say it’s a little preview to India, given its close proximity, but to others, it’s a one-of-its-kind tropical island which has all the makings of an enriching travel experience.

For avid photographer, blogger, mother and kind soul Shireen Zainudin-Lowe, Sri Lanka has been a part of her travel plans for many years but it never quite materialised and she was beginning to think that it was fated the two will never ever meet. “In many ways, it was a bucket list destination I felt I had to fulfil,” she says.

Her recent visit to the little island nation proved to be a memorable one with sisters and girlfriends in tow, having fun in the company of each other and discovering the beautiful fort city of Galle.


Goddesses in Galle

Shireen (standing, fifth from the left) with her sisters and friends all set for the (Not-quite) Innocence In The Indies-themed birthday dinner.

“It was an early birthday getaway for me, organised by my fantastic sisters Hartini Zainudin and Yati Zainudin-Swanson. We called it our ‘Goddesses in Galle Getaway’. There were 12 of us and we had holiday kits made for everyone with sarongs, woven hand fans, personalised mozzie spray and bags to carry everything in.”


Birthday Hot Seat

“There were 2 birthday dinners laid out – a kaleidoscopic flower-festooned ‘village’ celebration at our villa with the most mouth-watering local spread and Kandy fire-dancers to boot; and an elegantly stunning colonial style dinner at Amangalla, themed (Not-quite) Innocence In The Indies where we all wore white and took pretty wicked table gifts home with us!"


Sri Lankan Hospitality

“We stayed at the most charming villa up in the tangled, jungled hills just outside the forted city of Galle called Villa Santori. We all wanted to bring the villa’s in-house chef back to KL with us! Everyday, we would wake up to trays of gleaming fruits, fresh from the garden and an array of different stringhoppers with onion relishes bursting with flavour and succulent curries and the most delicious chili dips. It was heaven, heaped and served up warm.”


Happy Galle

"Like I said, I have always wanted to visit this ancient island called Serendip. I read a book on Galle, about the intimacy of a community living within the fort walls. The slower pace of life, that intoxicating mingling of colonial and traditional cultures; and its exquisite manifestation in the architecture, food and crafts. There are places you set foot on and feel an immediate connection to. I felt that on my first safari in Mandikwe near the border of Botswana and South Africa. I always feel it in Penang and now, Galle."


In Sight The Fort City

"Savour the place slowly, walk the paths down to the beaches and inhale its pure, raw majestic beauty. Take a bicycle tour through the villages and sample the delicate local offerings. Explore the little gem stores found within the fort – there are rubies, emeralds and every hue of natural stone!

Visit a tea plantation. I bought a ridiculously expensive white tea that was traditionally only harvested at sunrise by virgins with golden scissors (LOL!). I have to say it is exquisite. Go farther afield to Bentota and tour Geoffrey Bawa’s ethereal estate Lunuganga. Now that was definitely the way to live!"


 It’s All Gravy

"If I had to sum it up in one word – crabs! Forget Dungeness or Hokkaido Hairy Crabs. These are the crawlers you want! And all the sambals they have. Asian food is Asian food, we all have rice and vegetables and stewy spicy dishes but the magic is in the little accents. The little bursts of flavours in their chutneys and relishes. Bottle that sambal and bring it home, I say!"


(Photos by Shireen Zainudin-Lowe)

For a taste of Sri Lanka without having to travel the distance, A Li Yaa at Bukit Damansara will satisfy all your cravings for Colombo crab curry, string hoppers and appam.