Elīna Hatuļeva is a 26-year-old girl from Latvia who describes herself as friendly, outgoing, and active. Her passion for travel has led her into many adventures in countries far and wide.
Speaking to Brunch on her escapades, she said: “I don’t like to stay at home or in one place too long, and I always try to do new things. I am lucky because in my country, we have four seasons – winter, autumn, spring, and summer – so there is more possibility to have many hobbies.”
Her hobbies are not your typical ones; she enjoys skiing during winter, and when the temperature outside is at least +13° C, she loves to ride her motorcycle. She has worked a day job, which, as she put it, “had to do with just documents and computers”. Her true calling was travel, so she decided to quit her job and is currently on the lookout for jobs in the travel field.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, her love for travel prevailed. Her last trip was actually to our motherland. We spoke to her on her experience travelling through Sri Lanka during a pandemic, and she also shared some advice for anyone who wishes to do so.
Following are excerpts of the interview.
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Elīna Hatuļeva[/caption]
When did you discover your passion for travel?
I don’t know exactly when I discovered it. I could say that I started travelling when I moved out from my parents’ house. I have been to many countries, but when I went to Rome, Italy with my best friend, that was the first time I realised that it was so cool and that I want to travel more.
I want to learn new cultures, meet new people, and see all the beautiful places in the world, because I am a person who really loves seeing those beautiful moments with my own eyes, and in those moments, I realise how amazing life is. I have been in 13 countries, some of them more than one or two times, but I think it’s nothing – I want more and more.
What was it like travelling to Sri Lanka during the pandemic?
This was my first time in Sri Lanka. I don’t know how it would have been when there wasn’t the pandemic, but the situation in the world was easy to feel. Firstly, it was comfortable to visit tourism spots without the large crowds. Secondly, because of the pandemic, every place I went to checked our body temperature, and there was always the ability to wash or disinfect hands. Because we were mandated to wear masks, it made us feel a lot more safe.
Once we came out from the hotel we were quarantined at, we travelled through Sri Lanka for four more weeks, and during the whole of the trip, a lot of local people said we are the first tourists that they have seen after a year of lockdown. But they were happy – some of them asked us to take a selfie with them! Overall, Sri Lankan people were amazingly friendly, and I really enjoyed this culture because of the people.
What was your quarantine experience like?
We chose a hotel with a swimming pool and with access to the beach to enjoy these 14 days in quarantine. Of course, it was hard to sit only in hotel territory, but the experience was good. I met new people, had awesome conversations, and had a great time with other hotel guests. The hotel was only about 10% booked, so that they could provide distance from the other guests. I could say that during the quarantine period, I saw the most beautiful sunsets in my entire life. I will never forget the beauty of Mother Nature that I saw.
How much of Sri Lanka were you able to see, and did the pandemic affect your experience?
We travelled more in the South and Central of Sri Lanka – including Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Galle, Arugam Bay, Ella, and Colombo, to name a few. We also wanted to travel to the North, but after Arugam Bay, we understood that there is no point in going because it is off-season. Arugam Bay was totally empty – like a ghost city – but most of the tourism sights were open, so the pandemic didn’t affect us a lot.
What would you describe as your most memorable moment in Sri Lanka?
When someone is asking me about Sri Lanka, I tell them that I’m in love with the local people – how friendly and communicable they are. I love nature in Sri Lanka – the animal world and views. Both sides of Sri Lanka are magical – the green nature and big city buildings. There is no “one most memorable moment”, there are a lot of them. But as I said, in Sri Lanka, I saw the most beautiful sunsets in my life. I have never seen anything like it anywhere else.
Are you planning on travelling in the future?
Yes, of course! Although I have been back in my country only for one month, I am totally ready to continue my experience and jump on a plane; but we all know that it isn’t free, so I need to work on that (or win money in some lottery, I hope!) and hope to soon get back to exploring new countries, new cultures, meet new people, and maybe gain some friends for life!
I already have a list of countries in my mind, where I want to go next. I will never stop doing this. You get the best life experience from travelling.
What advice would you give someone looking to travel during the pandemic?
First of all, stay safe and be careful. Your safety is most important. I also don’t want to influence somebody to travel, but how we want to live is our choice, whether it’s to stay home while there will be a pandemic (maybe forever), or maybe continue living.
Taking into consideration the current situation in the world, travelling and living life is different and more difficult, but that doesn’t mean that life has stopped. I continue to live my life. These two months travelling during the pandemic has thus far been my best experience in my life. I don’t regret anything. Once you go travelling, you never go back.
Thank you Sri Lanka! I am totally in love with you and hope someday that I see you again!
Elīna Hatuļeva[/caption]
When did you discover your passion for travel?
I don’t know exactly when I discovered it. I could say that I started travelling when I moved out from my parents’ house. I have been to many countries, but when I went to Rome, Italy with my best friend, that was the first time I realised that it was so cool and that I want to travel more.
I want to learn new cultures, meet new people, and see all the beautiful places in the world, because I am a person who really loves seeing those beautiful moments with my own eyes, and in those moments, I realise how amazing life is. I have been in 13 countries, some of them more than one or two times, but I think it’s nothing – I want more and more.
What was it like travelling to Sri Lanka during the pandemic?
This was my first time in Sri Lanka. I don’t know how it would have been when there wasn’t the pandemic, but the situation in the world was easy to feel. Firstly, it was comfortable to visit tourism spots without the large crowds. Secondly, because of the pandemic, every place I went to checked our body temperature, and there was always the ability to wash or disinfect hands. Because we were mandated to wear masks, it made us feel a lot more safe.
Once we came out from the hotel we were quarantined at, we travelled through Sri Lanka for four more weeks, and during the whole of the trip, a lot of local people said we are the first tourists that they have seen after a year of lockdown. But they were happy – some of them asked us to take a selfie with them! Overall, Sri Lankan people were amazingly friendly, and I really enjoyed this culture because of the people.
What was your quarantine experience like?
We chose a hotel with a swimming pool and with access to the beach to enjoy these 14 days in quarantine. Of course, it was hard to sit only in hotel territory, but the experience was good. I met new people, had awesome conversations, and had a great time with other hotel guests. The hotel was only about 10% booked, so that they could provide distance from the other guests. I could say that during the quarantine period, I saw the most beautiful sunsets in my entire life. I will never forget the beauty of Mother Nature that I saw.
How much of Sri Lanka were you able to see, and did the pandemic affect your experience?
We travelled more in the South and Central of Sri Lanka – including Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Galle, Arugam Bay, Ella, and Colombo, to name a few. We also wanted to travel to the North, but after Arugam Bay, we understood that there is no point in going because it is off-season. Arugam Bay was totally empty – like a ghost city – but most of the tourism sights were open, so the pandemic didn’t affect us a lot.
What would you describe as your most memorable moment in Sri Lanka?
When someone is asking me about Sri Lanka, I tell them that I’m in love with the local people – how friendly and communicable they are. I love nature in Sri Lanka – the animal world and views. Both sides of Sri Lanka are magical – the green nature and big city buildings. There is no “one most memorable moment”, there are a lot of them. But as I said, in Sri Lanka, I saw the most beautiful sunsets in my life. I have never seen anything like it anywhere else.
Are you planning on travelling in the future?
Yes, of course! Although I have been back in my country only for one month, I am totally ready to continue my experience and jump on a plane; but we all know that it isn’t free, so I need to work on that (or win money in some lottery, I hope!) and hope to soon get back to exploring new countries, new cultures, meet new people, and maybe gain some friends for life!
I already have a list of countries in my mind, where I want to go next. I will never stop doing this. You get the best life experience from travelling.
What advice would you give someone looking to travel during the pandemic?
First of all, stay safe and be careful. Your safety is most important. I also don’t want to influence somebody to travel, but how we want to live is our choice, whether it’s to stay home while there will be a pandemic (maybe forever), or maybe continue living.
Taking into consideration the current situation in the world, travelling and living life is different and more difficult, but that doesn’t mean that life has stopped. I continue to live my life. These two months travelling during the pandemic has thus far been my best experience in my life. I don’t regret anything. Once you go travelling, you never go back.
Thank you Sri Lanka! I am totally in love with you and hope someday that I see you again!