Things to hop-to and get organised asap;

• Book your flights to Colombo Bandaranayake International Airport for arrival on or prior 13th April 2024 - airport is 30-45mins drive to the Meeting Location on 14th April

• Make sure you have 6 months expiry from your date of departure on your passport

• Arrange your Travel Insurance - as agreed to in your retreat T&C’s, important if conditions change with caution to travel to Sri Lanka (which they have not since Nov 2023 on SmartTraveller).

• Consider if any of the health travel advice on SmartTraveller is relevant to you, and your travel insurance

• Apply for your tourist visa for Sri Lanka approx US$50 atleast 30 days prior to your departure date

• Book your accommodation up to 13th April at either Marino Beach Colombo (30-45mins from airport) and arrange with them your airport pickup, or arrange your transport to this address by 9.30am Sunday 14th April where we meet at reception

• pop me in your What’s App for phone/text me +61 434417261 or use email hello@inspyame.com whilst in Sri Lanka

• complete your Digital Arrival card up to 3 days prior online

What to expect when we are there;

• We’re squeezing in between the two main seasons so country-wide this is one of the best times to be there. We may get a touch of an early start to the wet season down in the South-west corner, expect average temps of 30 degrees and mildly humid, mostly if not all sunny days.

• We depart 10am Sunday 14th April from Marino Beach Colombo on our shuttle 2.5-3hrs to the south west corner - PLEASE ADVISE IF YOU ARE NOT NEEDING THIS TRANSPORT OR ON THE DAY IF YOU ARE GOING MISS 10am DEADLINE (What’s App phone/text me)

• We arrive at Tallala Retreat 1pm Sunday for a Welcome Buffet Lunch in the open-air restaurant, check-into your rooms after 2pm (your room type + dietary requests + injuries are noted in your confirmation email + in my email 19th Dec 2023)

• We’ll start with Yoga + Meditation 5pm on Sunday, morning practices each day from 7am with brunch thereafter, 4pm evening practices, dinner thereafter. NB. no classes are compulsory just let me know if you’re skipping any prior/What’s App

• Option to surf, relax, walk, swim, sleep, read from 10am-4pm or arrange your own surfing lessons, cooking classes, Ayurvedic Spa treatments, tea plantation tours with Tallala reception.

• Lunches Mon-Fri are not included but the brunch is plenty, restaurant is available at all times plus plenty of options along the beachfront approx A$10/meal.

• Either Tues/Wed will be our Safari trip to Udawalawe National Park, an early departure travelling around 1.5hrs there, then open-air jeeps 3hrs with tour guides around the park.

• Departure on Friday 19th April from Tallala Retreat at 11.00am - OPTIONAL shuttle bus return to Marino Beach Colombo, arriving around 2pm where you can make your way onto your next location, or have a day pass there and go to airport that evening.

• Tallala local village is a little bit like visiting Kuta in Bali in the 1980’s, nothing fancy, dirt roads, very basic market shops, family run restaurants ~ Sri Lankan people are the most humble honest welcoming gentle culture I have yet to meet. Mostly a Buddhist country, with Hindu + Muslim + Christian the minority. -Be mindful OUTSIDE of the retreat venue and beachside towns in some areas in cities, towns and mountains you are required to have conservative cover of legs and shoulders, nothing revealing.

• If you plan to drink alcohol during our meal times please consider others who may be ‘retreating’ and wishing to avoid it. You can always move from the group table after dinner and continue separately.

Checklist for your packing;

• clothing to keep cosy during your flight, layers are best (or wrap/sarong below?) it maybe warm as you disembark - be mindful OUTSIDE of the retreat venue and beachside towns in some areas in cities, towns and mountains you are required to cover legs and arms, nothing revealing

• a wrap/sarong for meditation/relaxation classes to keep off the breeze + mozies

• insect repellant, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses (towels are provided)

• Personal toiletries + medication (Vitamin B or Berocca is a great mozie repeller, Immodium + Hydralytes are great if you’re prone to tummy upset)

• ear plugs if you are sharing with another, also headphones so you can listen without disturbing your roomie

• Water bottle (refill from filtered water dispensers)

• Journal + pen in case you are inspired to do my write’n release practice, make it a notebook you are happy to rip out the pages though ;-)

• Enough yoga tights/shorts + tops in lighter fabrics and lengths for 9-10 classes

• Comfortable slide-off shoes/thongs (resort is 7 acres so you might be moving long distances about your day), closed in walking shoes

• Meal times will more often be taken in your yoga attire + thongs, however you might like an nice outfit (to wear with your thongs) for the final dinner night Thursday

• Swimwear, surfing attire, goggles? (it’s a lap pool), cozy coverups for day-wear ~ light breathable clothing especially for your Safari trip

• wet weather jacket only if you prefer to avoid a drenching (if we have one)

• any Yoga props you are attached to ie eye pillows, mats, towels etc (however props are provided)

That oughta cover it! Any questions please email me hello@inspyame.com

So looking forward to seeing you there!

Namaste, Nic