Wait, wasn't the moonsoon supposed to be over already?
Living on a tropical island has its plus points, like coconuts and baby elephants. However, pretty much the only three negatives we have going on right now are all out in simultaneous force:
- Rain
- Traffic
- Those dang mosquitoes
Trapped here in the YAMU office with nothing but a plastic Christmas tree and a dismal view of the steely grey Indian Ocean, we came up with some great ideas to keep you high and dry.
1. Build a Pillow Fort
Whether you have kids, are a kid, or are an adult with a penchant for escapism, pillow forts have got your back. Stay in, grab those sheets and pillows, and make your living room a teensy little escape from the big bad outdoors. Who needs real life anyway?
Things you need:
- Lots and lots of bed linen. Try Cozy Linen or House of Fashion
- Twinky little fairy lights. It's Christmas season, so you can steal them off your tree when no one is looking or pick them up at Odel's Home section or Arpico.
2. Douse Yourself in Citronella
Dengue is no joke, and your repellent shouldn't be either. Make sure you slather yourself liberally with some quality mosquito repellent, because once the rain stops, stagnant pools of water become prime mosquito residential property. We're talking Barnes Place prime. We'd recommend you stay away from the harsher chemical household sprays and lotions, and invest in proper citronella oil. It's locally grown, sourced, and produced, so you'll also be supporting sustainable agriculture. You can also put a few drops of essential oil in diffusers around your home.
Things you need:
- A desire to live
- Citronella oil. We suggest picking it up from the Good Market Shop, Spa Ceylon, Cargills, or Barefoot.
3. Read a Book
It's raining. You'll be perfectly justified in cancelling all your plans, skipping obligations, and catching up on some literary loving. Storms lend themselves to poetic moods, and provide the perfect pathetic fallacy. Colombo's bookstores pretty much all stock the same stuff, but there are some seasonal discounts on right now which are worth looking into. Just promise us you won't buy 50 shades of grey. You can just look out the window for that (grey skies, not dubious fetishes).
Things you need:
- Books! We'd strongly recommend Chapters if you want a cosy coffee with your book, or else just swing by Sarasavi or Vijitha Yapa. As much as we love the Maradana bookstores, they're a total bust during the rain.
4. Get a Cup of Joe
Hot brews of coffee and rain are a match made in stormy heaven. Colombo's lucky to have a whole new smorgasbord of lovely boutiques, restaurants and cafes open this year, but if you're not feeling upto braving the rain, then start brewing at home!
Things you need:
- Basic barista know-how. Check out our A-Z of Coffee for more deets.
- Good coffee beans. We support locally sourced stuff, so strong recommendations for Whight & Co and Hansa Coffee. If you're more into international stuff, you can always check out Coffee Bean. They have a large and consistently stocked selection.
5. Order In, Snuggle Up
Who wants to cook or dress up to go out in this weather? Pizza is great sneaky storm food, perfect for battening down the hatches, getting under a blanket and watching a 3 hour period drama (or the Notebook, if you're alone and the storm is giving you the feels).
Things you need:
- A working phone. You may have fallen in a puddle or gotten soaked and need a new device stat. Check out Takas.lk, they'll deliver.
- A solid pizza place, that also delivers. We recommend staples like Harpo's, or newer additions like Giovanni's and Michaelangelos. You can also try Pizza Hut or Dominos if you care more about timeliness than clogged arteries.
