Hotel check-in: Diyabubula, the Barberyn Art & Jungle Hideaway, Sri Lanka

When the journey should start well

The sandals have been taken off. I sit on a beautiful wooden balcony at the height of the first floor, and look around. The birds are chirping merrily and here it is green. Further away, a small herd of monkeys is walking in the trees. It's February and the heat is perfect here, where I've risen a little, maybe 25 degrees.

The calm falls over me. I just landed in Sri Lanka after a flight from Nepal, where I was picked up by a friendly driver who in a few hours drives me up here in the hilly central part of the island, to Diyabubula, the Barberyn Art & Jungle Hideaway.

Having traveled in almost 100 countries, I know that it is super important to start a journey well. Finding a place where you can land and where it all just plays out as it should.

Therefore, I had also deliberately planned to start at this very place, because it sounded really nice.

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“Welcome to your Water Villa, Sir”

Diyabubula is a rather unique place. I'm not sure I've been to a place in the whole world that can do exactly what one can here.

There are only five houses. Water Villa 1, 2, 3, The Bamboo Grove and The Tree House, all built into nature. That is why they also call themselves a “Private lodge”, where the focus is on tranquility, sustainability and aesthetics in absolute top class.

Watch my two videos from Diyabubula here, including the Water Villa itself

I am staying in my Water Villa, where there are chairs and a swing below, and up on the first floor is a large room in dark wood, with a huge balcony outside.

One of my friends calls the style "Asian Colonial Style", and it is at least infinitely beautiful and human-friendly. Yes, downright cozy.

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Laki Senanayake is the man behind Diyabubula

Aesthetics are an important part of Diyabubula, for the man behind is nothing less than one of the most famous artists in Sri Lanka, namely Laki Senanayake.

I meet the 84-year-old Laki who still lives here in his artist residence by the lake, and he is a revelation of knowledge and earthiness.

A creative soul who, with a super-sharp eye for how people and land can go hand in hand, has built the place as part of his own garden, and today has handed over the operation of the unique place to others so he can make sculptures and paintings.

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Art in the jungle at Diyabubula

The more I look for, the more details I see. There are small and large works of art everywhere. Inside and outside.

Laki has been productive and all the houses have individual works behind the beds and in the bathrooms.

He obviously loves birds, because there are many sculptures of the winged creatures, which makes good sense, because there are many beautiful birds in the area, among others. the colored kingfisher.

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To sleep heavily and well

I try the big bed with the view. I am falling asleep. That was not the intention, because it is only afternoon, but there is so much calm here that my body tells me that now it must be charged.

Right now. Zzzzzz…

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Sounds and tastes in the forest

After that “grandpa” I'm ready again.

I just need to have a bath, and then over for dinner. However, it will take some time, because even though it is not an outdoor bathroom, you are still in the middle of nature, where there is a large window to the forest, so it will be a "Shower with a view".

With peace of mind and an empty stomach, I walk the 50 meters over to the restaurant, where there is already covered up to me.

They had asked me before if I had special wishes or requirements for the food, but when I could tell with a smile that I wanted the most late-English food they could make, and by the way was almost omnivorous, I got a whole range of small dishes .

Curry, coconut, fish, noodles, vegetables, chili and much more good. Color with color on. Taste with taste on. And lots of scents. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger. Served kindly and quickly on a tasteful wooden table with white tablecloth.

I agree with the waiter that I should also rather throw myself into the local breakfast the next day so that I can taste “Masala omelet”, which is a spicy omelet in colors, and which I find out the next day, should be my regular companion for breakfast in this country.

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Luxury eco-lodge that you can pay for

Diyabubula, the Barberyn Art & Jungle Hideaway, is quite close to some of Sri Lanka's major natural and cultural attractions such as Sigiriya (The Lion Rock) and the royal cities with temples Polonnaruwa and Anurdhapura, and is an obvious place to go on day trips from.

If Diyabubula had been lying on Seychelles had it cost a greater fortune, but now it lies on Sri Lanka, so here most people can join.

When they have an offer, it costs less than DKK 500 / person / night for a Water Villa with full board, if there are two, and then they offer for an extra payment to pick up and bring one at the airport or anywhere on the island.

Diyabubula is rated 4,5 / 5 on Tripadvisor and it makes really good sense. It is a accomplished place where you get really great value for your money. A luxury eco-lodge where the focus is on nature, art and personal service, not on marble and bling-bling.

It may be difficult to spell Diyabubula, but the place gets a clear recommendation from here. I am a fan.

Good trip to Sri Lanka.

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RejsRejsRejs had Visit Sri Lanka, Barberyn Resort og Air India as partners on the trip. All positions are, as always, the editorial staff's own.