Kandy, Sri Lanka + Anchorage, Alaska
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Alison is obsessed with Instacart, it is so user-friendly and the viewable checklist is so fun! Standards for “fun” as an adjective are pretty low these days, but still, convenience is key and this makes a big difference! Lulu is obsessed with only having to do makeup on the top half off her face. Saving on makeup cost is the thing for 2020.
Alison is wishing for Airpods, it would make her socially distanced beach walk/runs easier to not have the headphone cords in the way! Lulu is wishing for the corner of her room where she does her self-tapes, Zoom calls, etc., to become a permanent WFH situation. A few interior design tips sent her way would be greatly appreciated!
Lulu is indulging all of her senses at Helga's Folly hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This whimsical spot is an explosion of visual stimuli, with a cacophony of colors, meticulous murals, spectacular sculptures, and art aplenty! Lulu’s attempt at accurately describing this fabulous find is to declare “imagine if Versace and Liberace and Hugh Hefner and a thrift store had a baby”. And there you go! There are 35 rooms at around $100/night, so Lulu books the entire hotel. With so many unique features and furnishings, she wants to be free to explore the whole place!
According to WorldfTravelFamily.com, Sri Lankan breakfasts are one of the best in the world, so Lulu is going to find a traditional meal first thing. Dahls, curries, and roti for days, Lulus is very excited for her morning meal.
Lulu is bringing over Alison and her two daughters, and has bought matching "Mustan" scarves from Inkmade for everyone! It’s the new family-travel-find-each-other-in-a-crowd matching tees or ball caps, just more stylish and much less embarrassing.
The groups first stop is a tour of Kadugannawa Tea Plantation, where they learn the whole tea process from planting to brewing! There is even a tea plucking competition! ALison will definitely win, and may be the only one that cares about winning enough to “compete”.
This is going to seem out there but just hang tight. Lulu decides to create their own fun partly inspired by the plethora of random objects overtaking the walls and surfaces at their hotel. She buys a junk drawer lot from eBay, photographs every item found in it, distributes them throughout the hotel, and creates her own version of the Finders Keepers gameshow for herself, Alison, and Alison’s kids.
And really its just for the kids, as while they find the hidden objects, Lulu and Alison will be relaxing in different rooms while drinking wine.
Continuing with her love of all things outdoors, Alison chooses a remote accommodation with adventure aplenty! Located on Lake Bulchitna, this three-bedroom cabin on Airbnb has the off-the-grid feel that many of us are craving right about now! There is gear available for fishing along the shore, and they provide a boat and guide for lake fishing or a 19 mile day trip. You can also opt for full-service food to be provided, which Alison is definitely going to take advantage of!
Alison heads to Eklutna Historical Park, which amongst many points of interest is one of particular interest, the Burial Spirit Houses. These dollhouse-sized structures are part of a burial tradition of the Athabaskan Native Peoples of that area blended with Orthodox Christian traditions. According to Atlas Obscura, "When a body is first buried a blanket is placed over the grave to warm and comfort the soul as it transitions to the next world. Forty days later, the spirit box is placed over the blanket and family members paint it in colors that have represented their name for generations.” It is free to visit this park and the cemetery, though you can make a donation to the park, which Alison intends to do!
Now for a very different but equally enthralling attraction, Alison heads to see the Worlds Largest Chocolate Waterfall at the Alaska Wild Berry Products store. Copper melting pots and a specialized heating system pump 3000 pounds of molten chocolate throughout the 20-foot installation. As badly as Alison was tempted to dip a finger in, she settles for a five-plus-pound bar of chocolate from the gift shop.
A trip to this area of the world would not be complete without embarking on an ice adventure. Alison booked the Matanuska Glacier Private Tour which comes with all the gear, warm winter clothing, and boots you need! After a scenic drive, you don ice cleats and your glacier expert guide leads you along a three mile portion of the 27 mile glacier, exposing you to exceptional, breath-taking, life-changing views. To capture said views, Alison wants a new camera, and googles “what is the smallest, most powerful camera in the world?”. She lands on the Leica M10-R Digital Rangefinder Camera, which apparently "puts the 'R' in resolution". A new one costs $8,295, so Alison finds a used one off of Adorama for $2,399. The tour is $745 per group of 1-6 plus $100 per person and gratuities.
Ever the adrenaline junkie, Alison heads to CrossFit Alaska, where they have a "part Spartan, part Ninja warrior" obstacle course every Saturday that features a traverse wall, an 8-ft scaling wall, cargo net, salmon ladder, ropes, rings, peg boards, tires, sleds and more! Alison's love of all things Ninja Warrior has her thinking about how all of the Ninjas had custom workout gear, so Alison purchases this black satin Fendi sweatsuit so she can slay as she, well, slays.
She is starving after all of this activity, so she heads to Glacier Brewhouse to indulge in a seafood tower, a surf-n-turf entree, and why not, she's earned it…TWO desserts! Alison is also excited to try their “Barrel to Bar” wine situation. A glass straight from the barrel means less waste in packaging! How cool is that?
CHECK OUT THE CHARITIES WE FOUND IN THE CITIES WE VISITED:
Millennium Elephant Foundation
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