After a recent craving for Sri Lankan cuisine, I turned to this recipe for Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti by The Flavor Bender. Here's a peek at what it was like to prepare my favorite Sri Lankan dish for the first time at home.

From the reef breaks and ‘80s-era resorts of Hikkaduwa in the southwest to the barreling waves and elephant tracks of Arugam Bay in the southeast, it’s all covered in this Sri Lanka surf guide.

In the lead up to my Sri Lanka trip, I sat down with Béné Bicaba of Empathy Travels to ask for a few empathy-focused tips to enhance my experience in Sri Lanka and beyond.