Sri Lanka, Surfing in Bathwater & Barefoot Bliss

December started with a one-way ticket to absolute paradise—and honestly, it feels like I’ve exhaled for the first time all year. Not just a little breath out, but one of those full-body sighs that shakes off all the city grit and leaves you standing barefoot in the sand, wondering why you didn’t do this sooner.

Because there’s something about landing in Sri Lanka, stepping onto a sun-drenched beach, and instantly feeling the noise of London, deadlines, and existential spirals dissolve into the sound of waves. Gone. Just like that. The moment the salty breeze hit my face, I knew I’d left behind not just Heathrow, but the low-level hum of burnout I hadn’t even fully acknowledged.

And Hiriketiya? A literal dream.

The kind of place that makes you forget your last name and contemplate starting a coconut cart business. I half-joked about it over cocktails one night and realised I wasn’t actually joking.

Hiriketiya Beach: The Ultimate Surf & Chill Spot

I knew Sri Lanka was going to be beautiful.

What I wasn’t prepared for? Just how perfect Hiriketiya Beach would be. It’s not just a postcard—it’s a love letter to slow living.

Some highlights:

• Sunsets so stunning they make you question reality. The sky doesn’t just glow—it burns. Golden reds, deep oranges, lilac purples—it’s emotional.

• Beach bars where the only rule is ‘shoes optional’ and happy hour seems to last all day, with live music spilling into the tide.

• Waking up to the sound of waves, rolling straight out of bed and into the sea like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

• Monkeys literally everywhere. On rooftops, stealing fruit, causing chaos, and making it look cute. I’ve named two.

• Humidity so high my hair has given up entirely—but in a way I’ve made peace with. Frizz is freedom. I might start a cult.

• Friendly locals, golden retriever energy from every surfer, and fresh mango at every turn. Honestly, mangoes taste different here—like they’ve got a soul.

Also: Sri Lanka might have just ruined all other beaches for me. I said what I said. The bar is now somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Trying to Surf (Again): The Bathwater Experience

Surfing here is… different. In the best way.

Because unlike my past experiences of freezing in a wetsuit in Devon, being spat out by grey waves and questioning my life choices, this? Felt like paddling out in a warm, tropical bath. Luxurious chaos.

Some key takeaways:

• The water is so warm it feels illegal. Like someone left the kettle on.

• The waves are gentle, rolling, and genuinely friendly. Like the ocean’s in a good mood and wants to hug you.

• I’m still terrible at surfing, but at least I’m terrible in paradise.

• Watching a group of beginner surfers get wiped out by an unexpected set is elite comedy. (Yes, I was one of them. Repeatedly.)

• Salt in my eyes, hair like seaweed, board rash in odd places—and I’ve never felt more alive.

• There is something wildly humbling and hilarious about falling off a board for the 47th time and still paddling back out because the sun is shining and you’ve decided joy is a skill worth practising.

Also: I’ve now got a tan line shaped exactly like a leash string, and I’m not mad about it. It feels like a badge of honour.

The Vibes: Slow, Simple, Pure Bliss

This trip has been exactly what I needed. A full nervous system reset.

• No rush, no pressure, no expectations.

• Morning yoga overlooking the jungle, where monkeys interrupt shavasana.

• Afternoon surf sessions that make my arms ache in the best way.

• Sunset drinks with sandy feet and windblown hair, the soundtrack being a mix of bossa nova and crashing waves.

• Fresh coconut water straight from the shell. (Why does it taste so much better when someone machetes it open in front of you?)

• Salty skin, sun-bleached hair, and zero need for makeup or small talk.

• Conversations with strangers that go deeper than most London dinners, possibly due to the collective heatstroke.

Also: I have never eaten so much curry in my life. Sri Lankan food is elite, and I will be thinking about that dhal for the rest of time. Papadum crunch now haunts my dreams.

Mindset: Letting Go, Feeling Free

Being here has reminded me that I don’t need a plan for everything. I don’t need to control, schedule, or overanalyse every detail. Sometimes, you just need to float—literally and metaphorically.

Right now, I’m focusing on:

• Living in the moment—even when I’m sunburnt and slightly lost.

• Embracing the unknown instead of fearing it.

• Trusting that life unfolds how it’s meant to—often messily, and almost always beautifully.

• Giving myself permission to just be.

• Ditching comparison and remembering that peace is far more attractive than perfection.

Also: I’ve officially entered my barefoot, beachside, carefree era. I want to bottle this feeling and take it home with me, spritz it on whenever life feels too full, too loud, too ‘London.’

Style: The ‘I’m Basically a Beach Bum Now’ Edit

This month’s wardrobe is minimal, effortless, and borderline non-existent. And I mean that in the most flattering way.

Current rotation:

• Bikinis + linen shirts. Never not sun-dried.

• Oversized sarongs, tied a million different ways depending on mood and humidity.

• Gold jewellery that glows against sun-kissed skin and makes everything look a little luxe.

• Zero shoes, because I haven’t worn any in four days and frankly, why would I?

• Messy hair, don’t care. The humidity won.

• A woven straw hat that has taken on a life of its own and now follows me to breakfast.

Also: I’ve officially stopped caring what I look like. I’m sun-drenched, sandy, and probably glowing. Nature’s makeover. Some might call it scruffy; I call it divine.

Beauty & Wellness: Sun, Salt & Simplicity

Right now, I’m all about:

• SPF, always. I treat my sunscreen like a religious artefact.

• Coconut oil for everything—skin, hair, soul, emotional crises.

• Moving my body in ways that feel joyful: swimming, stretching, slow sunset walks.

• Daily dips in the ocean as therapy. It works. Better than journaling, cheaper than therapy.

• Sleep that’s actually restful. Not ‘collapse at midnight’ sleep, but the real, soul-deep kind.

Also: I have completely lost track of time, and I absolutely love it. No clocks, no alarms, just following the sun and eating when I’m hungry. Revolutionary.

Pop Culture, Trends & What’s Happening Right Now

• The ‘coastal cowgirl’ aesthetic is evolving into ‘barefoot island chic.’ I support this deeply.

• Everyone is debating whether ‘New Year, New Me’ is a scam. Consensus? Yes—but we’re still doing it.

• Instagram is one long vision board right now, and I’m not mad about it.

• Christmas is happening, but I’m blissfully outside the capitalist panic.

• Everyone wants to be the girl who disappears to a tropical beach in December. Highly recommend.

• TikTok wellness girlies are already planning 2024 routines while I sip coconut water and forget what day it is.

The Month Ahead: What’s Coming?

• More surf, more sun, more salty hair.

• More saying yes to whatever comes my way, even if it’s slightly unhinged.

• Less overthinking, more just being.

• Maybe a New Year’s Eve with fireworks on the beach and toes in the sand.

• Maybe a tattoo. Who knows.

• Definitely a moment where I write something life-changing and don’t realise until I’m back in London.

December, you are absolute magic. Wild, golden, sticky, soft magic.

Sophie x