Moving flats in Hong Kong can be an absolute nightmare. From trying to find your new place via an agent or through Facebook Marketplace, to moving in and making it feel like a home.. it can all be incredibly overwhelming. I’ve lived here for almost 9 years and have only moved twice. The last time being just shy of two months ago and boy, was it a process. If you’re thinking about moving flats in HK, here’s how I found the perfect flat for me and then decorated it (and treated myself to the best night’s sleep thanks to my new Emma Mattress!) to make it feel like home. How to find your dream fl ..read more

The lazy beach town of Mirissa has a handful of Instagrammable spots, but the one that everyone lines up for (I’m not kidding) is Coconut Tree Hill. While it is an absolutely stunning spot, because everyone is there to take photos, it isn’t really a place you linger for very long. Regardless, it’s worth checking out if you don’t mind a bit of a wait to get the perfect photo. How to get to Coconut Tree Hill? Coconut Tree Hill is about a 20 minute walk from the main area at the beach. We did decide to walk it during the day as we had some extra time on our hands. However, it was incredibly hot ..read more

Ella is one of my favourite spots in Sri Lanka. From the train ride to get there, to the delicious food, hiking, and incredible views, this quaint little town is definitely worth a visit. I spent three nights in Ella and loved every bit of it. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth a stop or what there is to do there, read on for the top 6 things to do in Ella. 1. Hike up Little Adam’s Peak & Ella Rock This was one of my favourite parts about Ella. Whenever I travel, I love to get outdoors and explore the surrounding hiking trails. These two hikes were absolutely fantastic. If you’re pr ..read more

While we were in Ella, a visit to Lipton’s Seat in Haputale was recommended to us. Although it was a bit out of the way, we had a driver at the time and since we were on our way down to Udawalawe anyway, we decided to make the detour. You’ve likely tried or at least heard of Litpon’s Tea and this is the place where the man behind the name, Sir Thomas Lipton, would sit to survey his tea fields. The combination of historical significance along with the beautiful views is what brought us here. How to get to Lipton’s Seat Our driver could only take us so far before the road becomes too narrow a ..read more

The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is one of the more popular tourist spots thanks to its colonial-era construction. While the bridge itself is truly impressive to look at, many people also time their visit in order to see a train go by. I really loved the look of the old, massive bridge surrounded by lush greenery. The beauty of this scene certainly makes for a great photo op. Whether you want to visit to admire the architecture or to get a photo for the ‘gram, the Nine Arch Bridge is worth a stop while in Ella. When to go to the Nine Arch Bridge You can visit the bridge at any point during the da ..read more

When visiting the quaint little town of Ella and asking locals what they would recommend doing, we were constantly told to head up Little Adam’s Peak. We did that and absolutely loved it. While at the top of Little Adam’s Peak, we realised we were actually looking out at another popular hike: Ella Rock. We had heard a lot of mixed reviews about this hike in regards to hiring a guide, getting scammed on the way up, etc. After a fair bit of research and speaking to some other tourists we met, we made it up to the top unguided. I’m here to help you do the same with this Ella Rock hike guide! Wha ..read more

Since moving to Hong Kong, I’ve really gotten into hiking. The city has hundreds of hiking trails offering incredible views of both sky-high buildings and islands/beaches. When I travel, I’m always on the lookout for a hike to go on. Little Adam’s Peak in Ella is the perfect hike for everyone – it’s not long or difficult. Ella is such a lovely little town, it would be an absolute shame if you missed out on this opportunity to see its surrounding mountains from on top of one! If you are spending a few nights in Ella, Little Adam’s Peak hike should definitely be on your list of things to do. Ho ..read more

The one thing that I associated Sri Lanka with before my trip was the infamous blue train making its way through the mountains with people leaning out the doors for a photo op. All of the photos were stunning and I couldn’t wait to experience the train to Ella for myself. That being said, I was not prepared for the chaos that would come. From ‘blackmarket’ ticket purchases to the hoards of people clambering for a seat, this might not be an experience that’s worth it just for the ‘gram. What you should know before you go I don’t think this experience is something you can fully prepare yourself ..read more

Nuwara Eliya is a small, sleepy city located in the tea hills of Sri Lanka. We were drawn to Nuwara Eliya for a few reasons; the tea plantations, the former British colonial influence on this area, and it was on our way from Kandy to Ella. In fact, the city’s nickname is actually ‘Little England’ as many British civil servants once lived here and other colonialists would visit in order to partake in fox and deer hunting, polo, golf, cricket, etc. I’ll be honest, there aren’t a tonne of things to do in Nuwara Eliya, so I’d recommend only spending two nights here at most. However, I really did ..read more

On our drive from Dambulla to Nuwara Eliya, we wanted to stop at a tea plantation as there are dozens around the area. Our driver recommended the Damro Tea Factory; one of the oldest tea plantations in Sri Lanka. When you visit Damro Labookellie Tea Lounge you’ll get a quick guided tea plantation tour and a free tea tasting in the lounge afterwards. Although we didn’t have the weather on our side when we went, I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend stopping here if you’re passing by. Damro Tea Factory: Why it’s worth a stop We spent about 1.5 hours at the Damro Te ..read more