CEYLON STORIES

SERENDIPIDITY IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.

- L .NEVAREZ

After years of civil war and a devastating tsunami in December 2004, Sri Lanka has bravely moved forward to become a destination that lures surfers from all over the globe. French surfer Alexis Deniel and his partner had the chance to enjoy its beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture and variety of waves.

Some places around the world leave a mark on you more than others. And Sri Lanka was one of those intense places that I wanted to see again one day, for countless reasons. After a fabulous visit eight years ago, I couldn’t wait to return and share this place with Alexis and Melanie.

After a long flight and a stopover in Qatar, we arrived on Sri Lankan soil and instantly imbibed the local perfume. Besides the typical aromas of incense and dried flowers, the kindness and smiles of each person we met, surprised us like the damp heat that enveloped us.

We reached the southwest coast of the island by midday, and after watching the ocean from the balcony of our accommodation for a few minutes, Alexis couldn’t resist the temptation to go for a little session at the break in front of the house. The afternoon’s thermal winds degraded the surf somewhat, but some nice 4-5 feet waves were still breaking pretty nicely on the uncrowded reef. It was the perfect opportunity for the French surfer to clear his mind after the exhausting journey.