Hello everyone, and welcome to the very first episode of my podcast! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Lakitha Dassanayake. I’m originally from Colombo, specifically Thalawathugoda, but right now, I’m coming to you from the heart of Kalupahana, more precisely, Kuda Kalupahana.

I’ve started this podcast to share an exciting project I’m working on. If you follow me on Facebook, you might have seen some glimpses of what I’ve been up to. Kuda Kalupahana is not just a beautiful village; it’s my ancestral home. My grandfather and his folks lived here before he married my grandmother. Most of my relatives still live here, and for a long time, I’ve dreamt of calling this place home.

I’m currently at the farmhouse my parents built six years ago. This farmhouse has always been our base when we come to look after our small tea plantation or just to relax. But now, it’s mostly me here, clearing the land for my big project.

So, what’s this project all about? It’s about embracing the concept of slow living, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of life in Colombo. As many of you know, life has been incredibly challenging lately, especially with the pandemic and the financial crisis in Sri Lanka. I quit my job during the pandemic and ventured into interior design, but it didn’t bring me the fulfillment I was looking for. That’s when I decided it was time for a major lifestyle change.

I started selling off unnecessary stuff, moved to the farmhouse, and began working with the locals. My goal is to build a home for myself, complete with a permaculture farm and cultivated rice fields.

Now, it hasn’t been a walk in the park. This past week has been particularly tough, working outdoors in conditions I’m not accustomed to. But I’m slowly getting the hang of it. The next big step is building the cabins I’ve designed. These cabins are special because they’re crafted with the local climate, topography, and culture in mind. They’ll be surrounded by a beautiful private garden, which is the second key element of my project. Essentially, I’m my own client, working on my own site, and that’s incredibly exciting.

I’ve been taking it easy this past week to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Most of my time has been spent inside the farmhouse, enjoying the view from the balcony and working on the design.

That’s all for this introductory episode. I’ll keep you updated on my progress and share more details in the next episode. Next time, I’ll try to paint a picture of the site and the ongoing work. Thanks for tuning in, and stay tuned for more. Cheers!