Lankan delicacies and English tea amidst paddy fields
People hacking out their old clay floor tiles to replace them with the newer, glossy kind was something Daniele and David Francis could never understand. “The older ones are great!” Daniele feels. Much like the tiles, one of the first things the British couple noticed was that the essence of life in Sri Lanka was often undersold to foreigners like themselves.
The Paddy House: David and Daniele are now sharing their slice of paradise with the public
According to Daniele there is only so much one can take of the sun, surf and sands of Unawatuna. “A lot of people are very surprised,” she smiles, speaking of her one- time home, known today as The Paddy House.
With the beach just under two kilometres away from the cottage, it comes as both a welcome change of scenery and a little bit of a surprise that the Paddy House sits on the edge of a lush field of paddy in the coastal holiday destination.
Authenticity is something David, Daniele’s husband is particular about and this love for “going back to the natural beauty of things” as Daniele puts it is evident in the clay tiled floors and large doorways opening out to a panoramic view of the paddy fields. Constructed from scratch by David the cottage served as their family home for about eight years.
Having spent time just sitting outside and watching the fields, the mother of three feels watching the wildlife in the paddy was “just like watching television.” Enveloped by nature is how the Paddy House has been built and she feels this is what it has to offer- untainted Sri Lankan life. “It’s quite amazing,” she shares, each stage of the paddy cycle from the sowing right up until the harvesting brings out different kinds of wildlife. It isn’t without a tinge of sadness that the family moved out, simply because they outgrew the homely dwelling.
Contemporary in terms of the furnishings and facilities like satellite television and air conditioned bedrooms, the rustic, natural beauty of the environment around it and the simple charm of village life is the theme throughout the property.
Across a paddy field from the Paddy House is yet another of David’s creations- Paddy Island. Islands that sit snugly in paddy fields are not unheard of, but more often than not Daniele discloses that they are accidental islands. Certain parts of what is now known as Paddy Island, was a coconut plantation. David’s nurturing and gradual addition of details, be it a new plant or even some paving stones has resulted in the venue that Daniele uses to carry out her cooking classes and her “very English custom of afternoon tea”.
“Well, my mother never cooked, so I had to I guess,” Daniele laughs. The self-taught chef has been cooking for as long as she can remember and has gone from cooking in the canal boats of West London, owning a deli in South Devon to mastering the art of Sri Lankan food. “It’s quite delicious,” she smiles. Picking up all the intricate techniques of Sri Lankan cooking from the people of the area she started offering cooking classes.
Scraping coconuts, learning how to cook Sri Lankan delicacies on an open hearth is something that a lot of people enjoy in her experience, especially those from abroad. The morning’s toil is rewarded when the class carry the food they learned to make at the open kitchen to savour it in the Ambalama.
Both afternoon tea and lunch are generally hosted in the Ambalama, which is also an open structure surrounded by fresh water ponds crafted by David. Sensitive to the unique eco system of the Paddy Island, Daniele says events such as weddings can be held on the Paddy Island but never at the expense of disrupting or upsetting its environment. Easily able to hold up to 250 people she adds- “it’s not the kind of place you can wear heels to.”
The Paddy House and Paddy Island though close to each other are entirely different entities. Having only hosted friends in the Paddy House, David and Daniele are now sharing their slice of paradise with the public. The three bedrooms and living space of the cottage are up for hire and pre-booking is needed for any event on the Paddy Island.
“We have had a couple of weddings,” Daniele discloses.
For afternoon teas that end with a bullock cart ride to the Yatagala Temple at sunset, or relaxed events in the tranquility of the evening under the stars among fireflies Paddy Island is a great option.
For more information and bookings visit- www.thepaddyisland.com