For the past three months, Issy Croker has called Ahangama home. It’s not the first time she’s been. Last year, the London-based photographer filed a photo journal for SUITCASE that captures the slow-paced seduction of the surf town on Sri Lanka’s balmy southern coast. But this time, she wanted to explore for longer, and to go further, sharing her photographs of a relaxed road trip along the coast.
“In Ahangama, days melt into each other between surf sessions, scooter rides through rice paddies and sunset swims at the beach,” she says. “I decided to take a road trip with some friends up the coast to Hiriketiya. The plan was simple: surf, shoot and explore the coastline. Along the way, we stopped at some favourite surf spots, each offering something different.”
The group grabbed their boards, strapped them to their scooters and set off – scooters are the easiest way to explore Sri Lanka’s winding country roads – heading in search of the best breaks. “From the mellow longboarding waves at Fisherman’s to the picturesque, right-hand point break in Mirissa, every surf spot has its own character,” Issy says.
Issy shot as they rode – and surfed. “Photographing from the water is both challenging and rewarding,” she says. “Finding the right spot in the line-up, timing the shot, and staying aware of your surroundings, all while keeping yourself safe, requires focus. The unpredictability of the ocean only adds to the excitement. But when everything clicks – the spray from the wave, the motion of a friend carving through it – it’s incredibly satisfying to capture those fleeting moments.”
Along the way, the group sought out restaurants, cafés and places to stay. Their favourites? The beachfront cabanas of Swell Shacks and the elegantly dressed suites found at Meraki in Madiha. For post-surf breakfasts, Atha became a regular haunt. The coffee spot, also in Madiha, plates up colourful open sandwiches, freshly made hoppers (local pancakes) and breakfast bowls packed with crispy chickpeas, lentil fritters, beetroot houmous and coconut sambol.
The road trip didn’t take the group far: this was a journey of exploration, rather than distance, its aim being to rediscover past favourite places and uncover unexpected new discoveries. A journey of enjoyment, rather than ambition, you could say.
“When we weren’t surfing, we spent a lot of time cruising around on scooters, looking for empty waves or just exploring the area,” Issy says. “The coast is dotted with small towns and hidden beaches. But it was the local markets that became our most regular stops – to pick up fresh roti and hoppers. It became a ritual; a simple but satisfying way to relax after long hours in the ocean.”
The Lowdown
