May 22 2014.
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Lea Podstanicka
Meet Lea, a tourist turned resident of our beautiful island.
Primarily a fashion model and hailing from Slovakia, she has collaborated with many talented artists and designers in Sri Lanka and is planning on expanding her portfolio to explore journalism.
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Full name: Lea Podstanicka
Nickname: Puppy or Leuska
Education: Journalism
Height: 5.9
Eye colour: Green-blue
Hair colour: Light brown
Life’s motto: The secret of happiness is freedom and the secret of freedom is courage!
Your reason for coming to Sri Lanka?
Coming to Sri Lanka was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done in my life thus far. I remember so many people told me not to go. They don't know much about this island and were afraid for my safety. One friend told me that he bets I would come back in one month. And now I am here in Sri Lanka for more than four months already. Living in Sri Lanka is quite difficult for foreigners compared to travellers who just visit. This is an island full of paradoxes and extremes which is both good and bad.
What have the people of Slovakia heard about our paradise island?
Honestly, people don't know that much about this country. Some of them discover its beauty. But in general Sri Lanka is far less known when compared to Thailand or Maldives. I think people are afraid, because there is little knowledge about Sri Lanka generally. Even I was quite concerned and read a lot about the war and life conditions before coming down here. But now I’ve realised that all of them are wrong, this is truely a miracle island!
How long are you planning on staying?
I am not quite sure yet, my plans have been changing tremendously for the past couple of weeks. Sometimes I feel this can be my home for years, in the next moment I want to leave. However, Sri Lanka has taught me many life lessons. One may not believe how many good and bad people I had to meet during my stay. I want to point out the "bad people" since they tried to use my background and the colour of my skin only for their profit. It might sound stupid, but it really made me upset.
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Can you cook Sri Lankan food?
I think yes! I love cooking in general. As for Sri Lankan food, I skip the chili. So it’s more like Lea’a version of Sri Lankan food, when I cook. I was once invited to a local house in Kandy. I stayed with a Sri Lankan family where I watched them cook local food such as egg hoppers, string hoppers and coconut pancakes in a proper way. Only one word - Delicious!
What are the bad experiences here you speak of?
Unfortunately yes, many times. As I already mentioned, contact with local people can be very difficult. Mostly, random people can behave in very abusive and even rude ways towards you. Some people also like to promise you a lot, but they don’t follow it up with actions. I think a lot of people here can't say ‘no’ and rather say ‘yes’ just to make other people happy. But the reality is that, this is worse since a lot of time and energy is wasted in the end. But I have many great experiences as well! With the right people, Sri Lanka can become a real paradise.
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How is your modelling career going?
It’s going on well but I want to give it a rest soon. I want to focus more on my journalistic career. Interesting offers are still coming in and so I am trying to juggle both together, whilst hoping that this will cater to both sides of my personality.
Interview & pics by Jayantha
0 Comments
Sara says:
May 23, 2014 at 12:00 amLooks like a girl with low self-esteem. You would hardly find an attractive woman settling down in Sri Lanka. The people are probably the most unfriendly and deceitful people in the world. Most people who visit and interact with Sri Lankans are beginning to know this. Unfortunately most Sri Lankans still try to advertise the whole "smile" thing. It is outdated and sounds funny now. Sri Lankanks are becoming renowned for being deceitful.
Gamarala says:
May 23, 2014 at 12:00 amWhat is so special about this woman? Why is her opinion important? What special attributes has she attained so far in life - it looks like none. She is just another tourist extending her holiday in Sri Lanka. Arn't there more interesting people to interview?
Anabel says:
May 23, 2014 at 12:00 amLeaa!!! I miss uu so much, reading this i realize how much i would like to see u and chat about our crazy lifes!!!! Kiisses love uuuu
tyipical says:
May 23, 2014 at 12:00 amthis interview teach all of us a good lesson. most of us try to take advantage of tourists and we should stop. they are not dumb and they are human as all of us
nicky karunarathna says:
May 23, 2014 at 12:00 amYou are welcome to paradise isle and this is the only country no restriction on what you want to wear or what religion you want to practise. People are not carrying gun in one hand and bible in the other like USA nor shooting of people when they get bored. So baby please enjoy our immense hospitality with love and loving- kindness.
Ravi says:
May 24, 2014 at 12:00 amAgree 100% with Sara. This country is becoming a "Chennai", if you know what I mean.
Gamarala says:
May 24, 2014 at 12:00 amIt hilarious, some people commenting here about how wonderful Sri Lanka is and call it the paradise isle, but they don't want to live here, but makes derogatory comments about other countries and their pet peeves about other countries and religions.
Ralahamy says:
May 24, 2014 at 12:00 amAdo karunarathna, Have you studied the per capita crime statics in countries around the world to make such an asinine statement about the USA.? There are 317 million people in the USA and Sri Lanka only 21 million. Our crime rate in S/L overhaul in ALL categories is way much higher than in the USA. The only sane advise to you is in future before making a foolish comment, study the subject. Your prejudice against others belief systems is obvious from your comments. Why live in a Christian coun
Johnny Batta says:
May 26, 2014 at 12:00 amSara sounds like a very unattractive girl and she knows it. She is just jealous that a pretty lady like Lea has nice things to say about her adopted country. What is your source when you say "You would hardly find an attractive woman settling down in Sri Lanka" ?? You're just bitter and hateful, so please do stay away from Sri Lanka. You will not be missed :-)
Gunda says:
May 26, 2014 at 12:00 amSL is still one of the most dangerious countries to visit. It is corrupt, decitful and very under developed.
Shukri MIM says:
May 26, 2014 at 12:00 amAs tourist we welcome you to our motherland but please don't spoil our culture
Corey says:
May 26, 2014 at 12:00 amReality check for all Sri Lankans. The place is a mess with very horrible, desperate locals with a low-minded, petty attitude towards everything. Glad I left.
Dendy says:
May 28, 2014 at 12:00 amI left years ago too Corey. SL is just getrting worse in every way every day, low standard of living, poverty, attitide of people, corruption, kidnappings rapes and the list goes on. I live in a paradise heaven overseas and love my life now.
Mahinda Rajapaksha says:
May 28, 2014 at 12:00 amSrilanka is a beautiful island...every body is wellcome anytime. violation and corruption is obvious everywhere around the world, not differentiating developed and non developed countries. each person is evaluated by their speech and attitude and we do not have authority to judge anybody. think good and do good! wellcome down,
Concern says:
May 29, 2014 at 12:00 amYes MR, Sri Lanka is beautiful no doubt about that, but I am agreeing with few of the above readers as to how most of it's people are behaving these days. It is very SAD that things are not getting any better, where ever you go you have to watch your back. You never know who will bite you! Being a Buddhist country, this type of behaviour is not accepted and should not be tolerated! Yes, the tourists also need to be aware of these things. By the way, the culture is already been spoilt by it's own
Sandra says:
May 29, 2014 at 12:00 amYou are correct, everyone is welcome to SL, but not everyone can get out alive. So why visit SL in the first place when there are beautiful wealthy western countries where you can live peacefully with clean air and a good quality lifestyle and high standsrd of living.
Romain says:
May 30, 2014 at 12:00 amJayantha! Good interview. Good work as always.