Travel has always been a huge passion of mine that I’ve woven into all phases of my life.
Five years ago, I decided it was long overdue to feed my curiosity and embark on a six-month solo trip to India and Southeast Asia. I had been planning this trip for years and it’s safe to say that it exceeded all and any expectations I had. This was where my travel bug truly began.
Since then I’ve extensively travelled around Central and South America, fallen in love with many different countries as well as travelling more broadly. The people you meet, the food you eat, the wildlife you see. It’s all absolutely gorgeous and I am lucky enough to be able to say I’ve had my fair share of eye-opening experiences. In November I returned from a four week research trip where I re-visited Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The colour, the wildlife, the history, the utter warmth of the locals. I was, once again, captivated.
I joined the Audley team because I wanted to share what I’ve learned along the way with others; as well as wanting to become a part of the process of creating lifelong memories.
Outside of work, I enjoy running, painting, music and cooking.
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Q&A with Ellie
What’s the best local dish you’ve tasted?
I could never say I’ve tried it all but it’s safe to say I came close having tried 32 dishes in one sitting! I fell in love with lamprais which is a combination of chicken, egg, cutlet (curried potato), fried aubergine, and ash plantain — delicious! However, hoppers and roti are a close second.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
My most vivid travel moment was, without a shadow of a doubt, whale watching on a catamaran. I was one of seven guests on this gorgeous catamaran where we spotted six or seven fin whales. This area, just off the coast of Weligama in Sri Lanka, is quickly becoming one of the most successful places to see a variety of different types of whale including blue, sperm, fin, and even killer whales. Sailing back, a playful group of dolphins off Mirissa joined us and swam with our boat for a while. Unbelievable experiences from start to finish. On top of all that, I love a boat trip, so a seven-hour excursion on a gorgeous catamaran overlooking the sparkling waters at sunrise was just a dream come true.
Your best piece of travel advice?
In a country where food is as creative, varied, and vibrant as it is in Sri Lanka, I would recommend a street food tour (and preferably at the start of your trip so you’re well-informed for the days to come). These tours are great for getting to know the local cuisine and also for locating the hidden gems that are often forgotten about. I went on the Kandy food tour and learned a surprising amount about fruit. For example, In Sri Lanka, there are 10 types of mango and 29 types of banana!