Hey Reader,

We hope December is treating you well so far!

As always, things have been a little spicy with us, and that's not just Sri Lankan curries! So grab a brew ☕️ and let's get into this month's Travel Journal. I'll recap our 3 weeks in Sri Lanka, Sam's 30th Birthday and look to what's up next for us.

Sri Lanka, Surf, Social & Sojourn

The main aim of Sri Lanka was to spend as much time as possible surfing. We got so much more than we bargained for! We headed there with absolutely no expectations and were blown away by the beauty of the country and its hospitality.

For any of you also on a surfing journey, seriously. What's wrong with us? Is there any other sport as frustrating as this? Each day is 50/50 pure joy or utter misery; there is no in-between. We've never been so frustrated in our lives, but we love it! 🏄

Between addiction, stress, fun, progress, overwhelm and injuries, it's an emotional rollercoaster. And that's before you add in crazy weather.

The surf camp in Sri Lanka had an amazing social scene, and we didn't realise how much we needed it. This year has been predominantly spent just us, so it was a welcome change to hang out with so many other travellers, it reminded me of my early backpacking days and Sam's early ski season days.

So, between bruising my nose, both of us getting cut on the reef, battling the elements (I'm really not selling surfing, am I?) and making slow progress, we were also making new friends, eating delicious food and regularly enjoying Karaoke. To clarify, that's me enjoying Sam singing; it would not be fun for anyone the other way around! 😳

From the surf camp in Weligama, we headed to our sacred place, the mountains. Ella is a stunning town high up amongst the hilly region of central Sri Lanka. We spent 4 nights here with other travellers from the surf camp, exploring the village, hikes, local cuisine, a tea plantation and a monastery.

Meditate with a monk on top of a mountain - ✅ Check

The last part of our trip was the famous train journey from Ella - Kandy - Colombo, which we did all in one day as we were short on time. This train journey is famous for a reason! What a unique insight into Sri Lankan life on a journey that takes you through winding valleys, past stunning waterfalls and through charming towns. If you're planning a trip to Sri Lanka, consider putting this on your itinerary.

El = Home Sweet Home

We've been back in the UK for a week, trying to get on top of life admin and, of course, bringing El (our van) back to life. She's needed quite a bit of maintenance, and we have realised that we probably would have saved money in the long run by buying a brand-new vehicle rather than a used one. Hindsight eh?!

But we still love her!

Sam celebrated his 30th birthday this past week! I organised a surprise party with his closest loved ones back in Nottingham and a very grown-up brunch for the following day because that's what you do in your 30s, right? I mean, I'll take a brunch invite over an evening invite any day.

What's Next For Us?

One of our goals with vanlife was to free up more of our time to give back. With all of the different causes, it can become overwhelming to choose which ones you align most with. We have decided to focus our energy mainly on underprivileged families and homeless projects as these are societal issues we feel very strongly about.

Life circumstances can change rapidly for anyone, without financial or emotional support, this can quickly spiral out of control. Christmas can be extra tough on those going without, from children wondering why Santa didn't bring them what he brought other children to adults without a loved one to spend the holidays with.

This Christmas, we will be volunteering for a project called HARC, who feed and clothe the homeless in a safe, warm and welcoming environment. As well as volunteers and cash donations, these projects also need clothing donations.

So, if you are upgrading your winter wardrobe this Christmas, consider donating your old jumpers, coats and winter boots to your local homeless project, these small donations can make a huge difference to someone at this difficult time of year.

As well as HARC, we'd like to shine a light on Crisis, who have UK-wide homeless projects and Snow Camp, who introduce underprivileged youths in the UK to snowsports.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2025! xoxo

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📱Check out all of our favourite travel planning resources here!​

An Aimless Walk | Travel Experts, Vanlifers & Adventure Sport Enthusiasts

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