- Avid traveller Nadun Tennakoon shares some tips and tricks
By Venessa Anthony
It’s the season to travel; and upon receiving a message reading “lectures cancelled”, university student and avid traveller Nadun Tennakoon immediately hopped on a train for a quick vacation. Since this is the kind of life most of us dream of having, The Morning Brunch had a chat with Nadun on his recent trip to Sri Pada, and asked for some tips on how to spontaneously go on vacation.
Nadun, with little to no planning, decided he wanted to visit the historical Sri Pada, or Adam’s Peak, on his off day. He simply caught the night mail train to Badulla, and got off at Hatton at 1.30 a.m. Luckily for him, he had a friend residing there, who took him in for the night.
If you’re planning to embark on a similar adventure, Nadun brushed off all worries, stating: “There are plenty of budget hotels and inns that you can stay at, even at 1 a.m.” He explained that since the night mail regularly stops in Hatton at that time, most hotels and rooms in the area are prepared to accommodate guests. A quick Google search will give you a plethora of options to suit any budget.
As soon as the sun rose, Nadun was off to Maskeliya, where he began his journey up Sri Pada. “Making the climb during the off season, and on a weekday, is great if you really want to enjoy the view – there are hardly any other people, about 10 at most, and you almost had the whole mountain to yourself,” he told us, advising anyone planning to make the climb to go during the off season.
The only unfortunate thing was the rain – not too bad, a mere drizzle – and with it came nature. “There were so many animals out and about – the birds, boars, butterflies and the lush trees, it was wonderful!”
He did note that it usually rains during the off season, issuing a warning to prepare for the rain in advance and to always watch your step, as it’s a lot more slippery than usual.
He even stopped for the night at an “ambalama” along the way, for a night’s sleep and some warm traditional food.
“Looking around with a hot mug of coffee in my hand was breathtaking. It was quite chilly because of the rain, but the scenery was stunning – you have to see it for yourself,” he gushed. After a good night’s rest, he set off again to finish the climb early the next morning. He had hopes of catching the morning sunrise, and was not disappointed. 
“I climbed up just as the sun was beginning to rise, so when I reached the summit, the sun was shining. I couldn’t see too far out because of the mist, but it was a very different experience from going during season, and one that everyone must experience at least once in their lifetime,” he affirmed.
The climb down was a breeze for Nadun; the rain had ceased and the forest had dried up, so it was smooth sailing all the way down. If you’re ever planning on making the climb during the off season, you can catch Nadun’s detailed video with all the information you’d need on his YouTube channel. As a content creator, he prides himself on his informative content and hopes that it will ignite a love for travel.
