Warm and gregarious, Rajitha is a manager at a technology driven company that provides a wide range of specialist business support services. She likes genuine people, canines and Fridays and lists her hobbies as reading and binge watching TV series. Hypocrites, know-it-all and travelling alone are her pet peeves. 

Why do you love travel? 

I think Mark Twain summed it up best – "Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime." 

Your favourite travel destination and why? 

South East Asia - the laidback lifestyle, the food, the shopping, the spectacular beaches, the weather, the exotic cultures and the people. 

What do you need for a perfect holiday? 

Aside from the obvious basics (passport, credit card, map, etc.),my loved ones - be it family or friends, my journal, and a decent camera. They all help me make memories and then record them. 

In which country have you felt most at home? 

Japan. Probably because I spent 5 years of my life there while I was in university and I speak Japanese. 

Most unusual souvenir you have brought home? 

If I taste something really nice and if it comes in a jar, a bottle or a box – I always bring some back home to share. 

Worst holiday or travel experience? 

Every single place has been kind to me so far or maybe I am just too easy to please. However, being on a 12 hour flight crossing the Pacific totally hungover was a bad idea.I hadn’t slept for a couple of days and couldn’t get a wink of sleep all the way! 

Best piece of travel advice? 

Don’t be too dependent on your devices. I know it’s tempting to be hooked on your smartphone with its seemingly endless apps and features. But I think it destroys your own internal compass and replaces your sense of wonder. They tell us where we are and what’s around us, what to expect, rather than letting us discover those for ourselves. Paper maps on the other hand offer far less information and they are more like treasure maps full of intrigue and surprises. Research about the place you are visiting in advance but go with an open mind and prepared to form your own opinions. AND don’t forget to take your smile! 

Your top five travel destinations? 

Toulouse, France 
Seychelles 
New Zealand 
USA 
Galle, Sri Lanka 

Which country did you taste the best ever cuisine? 

Japan of course and in particular ‘Omakase’–only for the brave and adventurous! (go ahead – Google it). 

Next travel destination? 

That’s harder to pick than a broken nose! New York, Bhutan, Turkey.