For those who want an alternative ‘Place in the Sun’ – Not all who wander are lost

I have done and worked in many different things in my life, property, presenting, business and through that I hope I have evolved and understood peoples different needs and aspirations which certainly come to play as a consultant for our lovely house hunters on A Place in The Sun. But for those who perhaps have a more nomadic spirit there is an alternative. For a year of my life as a digital nomad I spent less money than I did in the UK and saw and experienced more wonder than I have in my entire life. The lovely thing is anyone can do it. It is a genuine alternative for those who have a little bit of adventure in their souls and are not yet ready to settle in one place abroad it is a fabulous way to travel the world!

Imagine a life where you were free to travel to far-flung exotic lands, swapping your armchair and the latest soap opera for a hammock and a vista of a turquoise ocean framed by white sands. Where your office became the shade of a palm tree and your biggest stress of the day was the horrifying trauma of whether to have a swim or a cocktail. Imagine that being your life forever.

In the land of lottery wins and dreams right? What if I told you there is a revolution afoot? That there are tens of thousands of people living that life, right now. Basking in the sun of financial freedom. Not hippies, not students on their gap year, not multi-millionaires. But people just like you and me; families, people of all ages and all backgrounds! Gone is the era of being tied to a job you hate and going on bite sized holidays that are never quite long enough. Being an entrepreneur is not difficult anymore. In fact it is the easiest thing I have ever done.

How do they do it? It’s simple, they do the same thing as I did. They used the alchemy of the internet to turn their passions into money! Before you get put off, I’m not an IT graduate or an internet geek and if you asked me to build a website I wouldn’t know where to start but I set up a business online 4 years ago with £500. The business grew very quickly and I have been fortunate enough to travel the world and now can run my business from any country I wish.

I have met some wonderful and fascinating people on my journey who are also ‘digital nomads’ sometimes known as location independent professionals, mobile bohemians or ‘Mobos’. People who have had the courage to follow their dreams and live a life free of the tedium of routine swap their terraced houses for beach huts and have the freedom to work anywhere in the world. I believe anyone can make money online and anyone can have the experience of living if they so wish a perpetual holiday. In this blog you will meet some incredibly aspirational people who are part of the escape the rat race revolution. My wish is that you will be inspired to try it yourself too. Go on what have you got to lose? Welcome to the world of the digital nomad. ;)

Manolo Blahniks and Sri Lanka’s Anti Hotel

“Darling, I tried to commit suicide again , I jumped off a bridge and broke both my ankles, I’m just so depressed I may never be able to wear my Manolo Blahniks again.”

I stared in disbelief at Helga the owner of the legendary artists haven “Helgas Folly Hotel” in Sri Lanka she was talking about a telephone conversation with her late daughter in law, Fashion Icon and magazine editor Isabella Blow after one of her 7 suicide attempts. She had suffered from Bi Polar disorder and tragically finally succeeded in ending her life after swallowing poison at the age of 48.

But this is simply part of the history of this iconic place which accepts tragedy and embraces suffering as art and in it finds beauty . The hotel is a fading majestic butterfly and her old dalmation with his dull greying coat and wracked with arthritis once sleek, proud and beautiful is a living metaphor for the bizarre retreat in Kandy’s hills.

Yes, there are cobwebs, and yes it is over-priced and yes the decor is decaying but the essence of Helgas Folly. Referred to by Helga as ‘she’ and ‘her’ still very much remains, and that for me is why it was worth every penny. The building itself is a labyrinth of different emotions from inside the owners mind. Helga explained when she was going through her first divorce she went ‘slightly mad’ and began painting in a crazed frenzy as therapy, the result is an eccentric Alice in Wonderland on LSD effect. Nothing about this place is dull, uniform or created for a specific clientele. In fact those who expect 5 star luxury need not apply.

For example there are 100’s of monkeys that hang out in the trees next to the hotels with amusing Boris Johnson ‘esque’ hairstyles and quite often run into the building and try and steal your breakfast or hiss at you as the old school butler style waiters run around flapping teacloths to get rid of them. The aura is magical, bonkers and haven like.

For those who appreciate eccentricity, creativity and a building steeped in empathy and refuge I absolutely recommend going. Helga is open to giving discounts for artists at her discretion and welcomes those who are going through divorces or grieving to come and paint by the pool and experience the ‘anti hotel’s’ healing powers.

Forget the Marriot, try it.
http://www.helgasfolly.com