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Hot Butter Cuttlefish
Recovering from an unhappy marriage, personal trainer Malik relocates to the village of Kalabola, nestling snugly in the armpit of Sri Lanka’s largest lake, which spreads its tentacles, octopus-like, between Colombo and Kalutara. Do octopuses have armpits? Possibly not. If they did, Kalabola would be curled right in there. When Covid strikes, the villagers are mortified. It’s Karma, obviously. What have they done to deserve this very personal insult? How will they ever again hold their heads high in Gampaha and Warakapola? They are now the chosen ones, chosen to be humiliated in this utterly shameful—no, shameless!—manner. In this deliciously dark Sri Lankan romantic comedy, lines between hero and villain are smudged. Love arrives in strange disguises, politics get deeply personal, redemption is just a rumour. At its centre stands Karma, who may well be its true leading lady.
As the arch-villain and local MP Biju puts it, ‘If you don’t ride your Karma, you’ll find one day your Karma riding you.’
As the arch-villain and local MP Biju puts it, ‘If you don’t ride your Karma, you’ll find one day your Karma riding you.’
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2026
About the author
Ashok Ferrey
9 books90 followersAshok Ferrey - Sri Lanka Born in Colombo, raised in East Africa, educated at a Benedictine monastery in the wilds of Sussex, Ferrey read Pure Maths at Christ Church Oxford, ending up (naturally) in Brixton, converting Victorian houses during the Thatcher Years.
He describes himself as a failed builder, indifferent mathematician, barman and personal trainer to the rich and infamous. Ferrey's Colpetty People was short-listed for the Gratiaen Prize in 2003.
His second book The Good Little Ceylonese Girl was published in December 2006. Today Ferrey continues to design houses, and is a guest lecturer at the Sri Lanka Institute of Architecture.
He describes himself as a failed builder, indifferent mathematician, barman and personal trainer to the rich and infamous. Ferrey's Colpetty People was short-listed for the Gratiaen Prize in 2003.
His second book The Good Little Ceylonese Girl was published in December 2006. Today Ferrey continues to design houses, and is a guest lecturer at the Sri Lanka Institute of Architecture.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 9, 2026
A fun read, with some profound moments. Story is chaotic and all over the place, but that's part of its charm. The caveats are that I don't remember Covid unfolding in SL quite as described in the novel, and cant vouch for the representation of village life as very authentic? Also, this is not so much the romantic comedy it is marketed to be, but a dark comedy with morally ambiguous characters, the best of which is of course Kamala.
June 17, 2026
When I started reading " Hot Butter Cuttlefish", I thought it would be a light and funny story, but it turned out to be much deeper than I expected. The humour pulled me in from the very first few pages, but what stayed with me was the way the book explores loneliness, relationships, fear, and the many contradictions that make us human.
What I loved most was the village of Kalabola and its wonderfully flawed characters. Nobody is perfect, and that's what made them feel so real. Some made me laugh, some frustrated me, and some surprised me with their vulnerability. The humour never felt forced; it came naturally from the characters and the situations they found themselves in.
Beneath all the chaos and comedy, the story quietly reflects on how people behave during uncertain times, how quickly judgments are formed, and how everyone is simply trying to cope in their own way. There were moments that made me smile, but there were also moments that made me stop and think.
For me, " Hot Butter Cuttlefish " was more than just a funny read. It was warm, insightful, and unexpectedly emotional. A story that entertained me throughout while also leaving me with plenty to reflect on after the last page.
What I loved most was the village of Kalabola and its wonderfully flawed characters. Nobody is perfect, and that's what made them feel so real. Some made me laugh, some frustrated me, and some surprised me with their vulnerability. The humour never felt forced; it came naturally from the characters and the situations they found themselves in.
Beneath all the chaos and comedy, the story quietly reflects on how people behave during uncertain times, how quickly judgments are formed, and how everyone is simply trying to cope in their own way. There were moments that made me smile, but there were also moments that made me stop and think.
For me, " Hot Butter Cuttlefish " was more than just a funny read. It was warm, insightful, and unexpectedly emotional. A story that entertained me throughout while also leaving me with plenty to reflect on after the last page.
July 28, 2026
I went in expecting a light village comedy and came out with something far more layered — which, now that I think about it, might be the whole trick of this book.
We're in Kalabola, a fictional Sri Lankan village tucked somewhere between Colombo and Kalutara, seen mostly through Malik, a personal trainer nursing a failed marriage who's moved there with only his dog for company. He's meant to be on the outside looking in, but Ferrey uses him to pull us straight into the middle of village life. Kamala, descended from old Kandyan nobility and still nursing a decades, old disappointment over Arthur, the wealthy landowner she once hoped to marry. Arthur himself, now training his much younger fiancée Chanchala for a ballet performance, with Malik roped in to get her body match-fit for it. Biju, Kamala's cousin, the local MP, whose ambition finds fertile ground in every bit of village gossip.
What really took me aback was how deftly Ferrey balances comedy with something sadder underneath it. Kamala in particular is a delight, her scoldings have real theatrical flourish, one of hers being memorably called "terpsichorean termite" and yet under all that flamboyance sits genuine loyalty, frustration, and years of quiet devotion to a man who chose someone else. Then Covid arrives midway through, and the village decides, with total sincerity, that the pandemic is a personal insult from karma and Ferrey handles that shift beautifully, letting the absurdity sit right beside real fear without ever losing the humour.
I'll be honest about the one thing that gave me pause. The book is having so much fun with its ensemble, the love triangle, the ballet subplot, the politics, the pandemic panic, that I did wonder, closer to the end, whether Ferrey would manage to land all of it together. It doesn't derail the read, but it's worth knowing going in that this is a book more interested in its people than in a tidy plot mechanism.
What stayed with me most is how much warmth Ferrey has for every one of these characters, even the ridiculous ones. Nobody here is purely comic relief or purely villain and that's what turns a whimsical village satire into something with real feeling at its core.
Go for it if you want a Sri Lankan village comedy with real bite, but tender towards everyone caught up in it. Be patient if you want every subplot to resolve as neatly as it began; this one prizes its characters over a clean finish, and I think that's a fair trade.
We're in Kalabola, a fictional Sri Lankan village tucked somewhere between Colombo and Kalutara, seen mostly through Malik, a personal trainer nursing a failed marriage who's moved there with only his dog for company. He's meant to be on the outside looking in, but Ferrey uses him to pull us straight into the middle of village life. Kamala, descended from old Kandyan nobility and still nursing a decades, old disappointment over Arthur, the wealthy landowner she once hoped to marry. Arthur himself, now training his much younger fiancée Chanchala for a ballet performance, with Malik roped in to get her body match-fit for it. Biju, Kamala's cousin, the local MP, whose ambition finds fertile ground in every bit of village gossip.
What really took me aback was how deftly Ferrey balances comedy with something sadder underneath it. Kamala in particular is a delight, her scoldings have real theatrical flourish, one of hers being memorably called "terpsichorean termite" and yet under all that flamboyance sits genuine loyalty, frustration, and years of quiet devotion to a man who chose someone else. Then Covid arrives midway through, and the village decides, with total sincerity, that the pandemic is a personal insult from karma and Ferrey handles that shift beautifully, letting the absurdity sit right beside real fear without ever losing the humour.
I'll be honest about the one thing that gave me pause. The book is having so much fun with its ensemble, the love triangle, the ballet subplot, the politics, the pandemic panic, that I did wonder, closer to the end, whether Ferrey would manage to land all of it together. It doesn't derail the read, but it's worth knowing going in that this is a book more interested in its people than in a tidy plot mechanism.
What stayed with me most is how much warmth Ferrey has for every one of these characters, even the ridiculous ones. Nobody here is purely comic relief or purely villain and that's what turns a whimsical village satire into something with real feeling at its core.
Go for it if you want a Sri Lankan village comedy with real bite, but tender towards everyone caught up in it. Be patient if you want every subplot to resolve as neatly as it began; this one prizes its characters over a clean finish, and I think that's a fair trade.
May 28, 2026
Hot Butter Cuttlefish by Ashok Ferrey is the book that surprises you with its humour and you, thinking about loneliness, morality, power, and human nature long after it ends. Set in the strange and unforgettable village of Kalabola during the pandemic, this novel feels wildly chaotic on the surface, yet underneath all the satire and absurdity lies something deeply human and painfully real.
The writing style by Ashok Ferrey is sharp, witty, playful, and filled with observations that feel both ridiculous and truthful at the same time. The village itself almost becomes a living character ~ full of gossip, fear, politics, pride, and people trying desperately to hold onto dignity while everything around them shifts. The humour never feels forced. Instead, it grows naturally from the characters, their beliefs, their selfishness, and the strange situations they find themselves trapped in during Covid.
Malik’s journey carries emotional weight beneath the comedy. He arrives in Kalabola trying to recover from heartbreak and emotional exhaustion, and through him the story explores isolation and the longing for connection in a world that suddenly became fearful and uncertain. The novel also brilliantly captures how quickly fear can turn into blame, shame, and public spectacle. The villagers treating Covid almost like a personal curse says so much about society, pride, and collective panic.
Biju’s character stood out to me because he represents the dangerous blend of charm, manipulation, and political opportunism that exists everywhere. The line between hero and villain constantly shifts throughout the story, making every character feel flawed and believable rather than idealized. That emotional complexity gave the novel depth beyond its comedy.
There is also something beautifully Sri Lankan about this book ~ in its atmosphere, humour, cultural details, and rhythm of storytelling. Ashok Ferrey creates a world that feels vibrant, intimate, messy, and alive. Even in moments of satire, there is compassion in the way he writes about people and their contradictions.
Hot Butter Cuttlefish is not just a romantic comedy. It is a clever social satire wrapped inside humour, grief, politics, and karma. Strange, bold, entertaining, and unexpectedly emotional, this book felt like watching humanity unravel and heal at the same time.
The writing style by Ashok Ferrey is sharp, witty, playful, and filled with observations that feel both ridiculous and truthful at the same time. The village itself almost becomes a living character ~ full of gossip, fear, politics, pride, and people trying desperately to hold onto dignity while everything around them shifts. The humour never feels forced. Instead, it grows naturally from the characters, their beliefs, their selfishness, and the strange situations they find themselves trapped in during Covid.
Malik’s journey carries emotional weight beneath the comedy. He arrives in Kalabola trying to recover from heartbreak and emotional exhaustion, and through him the story explores isolation and the longing for connection in a world that suddenly became fearful and uncertain. The novel also brilliantly captures how quickly fear can turn into blame, shame, and public spectacle. The villagers treating Covid almost like a personal curse says so much about society, pride, and collective panic.
Biju’s character stood out to me because he represents the dangerous blend of charm, manipulation, and political opportunism that exists everywhere. The line between hero and villain constantly shifts throughout the story, making every character feel flawed and believable rather than idealized. That emotional complexity gave the novel depth beyond its comedy.
There is also something beautifully Sri Lankan about this book ~ in its atmosphere, humour, cultural details, and rhythm of storytelling. Ashok Ferrey creates a world that feels vibrant, intimate, messy, and alive. Even in moments of satire, there is compassion in the way he writes about people and their contradictions.
Hot Butter Cuttlefish is not just a romantic comedy. It is a clever social satire wrapped inside humour, grief, politics, and karma. Strange, bold, entertaining, and unexpectedly emotional, this book felt like watching humanity unravel and heal at the same time.
June 16, 2026
Ashok Ferrey’s Hot Butter Cuttlefish is a witty, bittersweet portrait of Sri Lankan village life during the Covid years, blending comedy, eccentric characters, and social commentary. It’s worth reading for its sharp humor, layered storytelling, and the way it captures both the absurdity and poignancy of human relationships.
The novel unfolds through Malik’s( divorced personal trainer seeking peace in Kalabola,) first-person narration, interspersed with omniscient commentary, making the reader constantly question the reliability of characters’ intentions.
Ferrey balances laugh-out-loud humor with moments of melancholy, showing how eccentricity masks deeper vulnerabilities.
The “island mentality” of passivity and resilience is explored, reflecting how ordinary people endure misfortune and political turbulence.
Relationships are depicted as a mix of affection, opportunism, and survival, especially in Chanchala’s pursuit of Arthur.
The pandemic backdrop adds urgency and absurdity, highlighting isolation, shifting loyalties, and human adaptability.
Ferrey’s trademark dark wit and Naipaulian irony shine through, making even serious subjects entertaining.
The oddball characters mirror universal human contradictions-love, greed, loyalty, and regret.
Ferrey uses comedy not just for entertainment but to expose truths about Sri Lankan society and human nature.
The novel offers a vivid glimpse into village life, aristocratic decline, and postcolonial legacies.
The mix of first-person and omniscient voices keeps readers guessing, making it both playful and thought-provoking.
Hot Butter Cuttlefish is a novel that entertains while quietly probing the complexities of love, loyalty, and survival in uncertain times. It’s a book for readers who enjoy sharp humor with emotional depth, and for anyone curious about Sri Lankan life beyond the tourist lens.
June 18, 2026
This was a very very unusual kind of read. A mixture of social commentary and satire and a bit of romance too. But the author has narrated the story in such a funny way, even the darkest parts seemed palatable and I breezed through the book.
Kamala is the shero of this story to me. So what she was rejected by the man she wanted as her husband? She went ahead and attached herself in his life forever, making him dependent on her, that too without any ill motive or nefarious means. She simply wouldn't let him belong to some other girl. Now, this man, Arthur, has fallen in love with a 23 year old girl, Chanchala. To us readers and the main narrator, Malik (the trainer), obviously this looked like grooming. But slowly we get to know that it's actually Chanchala who's taking advantage of Arthur and is binding herself to him in order to get her hands on his property (and to overcome her repressed family image issues). And oh yes, Malik, is also sorta in love with Chanchala and knows the whole double knife situation. And lastly, there's the local MP, Biju, who once got rejected by his first love, Kamala, (who's also his cousin btw) and now he is running some faking holy water miracle Covid cure business, right at the peak time of Covid, when people of this small town in Sri Lanka, Kalabola, refuses to accept that their village has already been inflicted by the deadly virus.
The story was a very eye opening read. People doing whatever they want in the name of karma left and right. Every single character had their own dubious motives for their actions, except Kamala. Only she knew what it means to love and the responsibilities of that choice.
This story made me think a lot about the people around us and how equally deranged they are, in all countries. And it made me travel back to those 2020 quarantine days. It's been already 6 years, can you believe it?
Kamala is the shero of this story to me. So what she was rejected by the man she wanted as her husband? She went ahead and attached herself in his life forever, making him dependent on her, that too without any ill motive or nefarious means. She simply wouldn't let him belong to some other girl. Now, this man, Arthur, has fallen in love with a 23 year old girl, Chanchala. To us readers and the main narrator, Malik (the trainer), obviously this looked like grooming. But slowly we get to know that it's actually Chanchala who's taking advantage of Arthur and is binding herself to him in order to get her hands on his property (and to overcome her repressed family image issues). And oh yes, Malik, is also sorta in love with Chanchala and knows the whole double knife situation. And lastly, there's the local MP, Biju, who once got rejected by his first love, Kamala, (who's also his cousin btw) and now he is running some faking holy water miracle Covid cure business, right at the peak time of Covid, when people of this small town in Sri Lanka, Kalabola, refuses to accept that their village has already been inflicted by the deadly virus.
The story was a very eye opening read. People doing whatever they want in the name of karma left and right. Every single character had their own dubious motives for their actions, except Kamala. Only she knew what it means to love and the responsibilities of that choice.
This story made me think a lot about the people around us and how equally deranged they are, in all countries. And it made me travel back to those 2020 quarantine days. It's been already 6 years, can you believe it?
May 17, 2026
I liked this more than I probably should have. It doesn't have the edge of The Professional or The Ceaseless Chatter of Demons -- in fact, it's a rom-com set in a Sri Lankan village, with local types duly sketched and satirized -- but apparently I'm a sucker for Ferrey's sillier side. The counterweight is his portrayal a one-time belle who for the last 20 years has been working as domestic help for a man, the last of a distinguished family whose fortune is nearly gone, who decades earlier rejected her as a marriage prospect. In fact, he has no idea that he ever knew this aging, savagely angry cook, cleaner and disciplinarian before she came to work for him. It's a doozy of a relationship (no, they don't finally realize they've been in love with each other the whole time), and Ferrey improbably manages to wring some laughs out of it.
Covid co-stars, beginning as distant rumbling, killing off a secondary character about halfway through -- I had the idea, not unreasonably, that this was going to be where the story got grim -- and then slowly receding. The basic tale could have been told without it, but as he does with the people of the village, Ferrey has a interesting take, sympathetic but gently mocking, on Sri Lanka's response to the pandemic.
I happened to meet Ferrey more than a year ago when he was in Brooklyn, asked him what he had coming out next, and was told nothing, that he was taking a break from writing. I assume "Hot Butter Cuttlefish" was on its way to publication at that point, so he presumably meant he wasn't planning anything beyond that. I hope he doesn't enjoy the layoff too much.
Covid co-stars, beginning as distant rumbling, killing off a secondary character about halfway through -- I had the idea, not unreasonably, that this was going to be where the story got grim -- and then slowly receding. The basic tale could have been told without it, but as he does with the people of the village, Ferrey has a interesting take, sympathetic but gently mocking, on Sri Lanka's response to the pandemic.
I happened to meet Ferrey more than a year ago when he was in Brooklyn, asked him what he had coming out next, and was told nothing, that he was taking a break from writing. I assume "Hot Butter Cuttlefish" was on its way to publication at that point, so he presumably meant he wasn't planning anything beyond that. I hope he doesn't enjoy the layoff too much.
June 4, 2026
Hot Butter Cuttlefish served as the longed-for summer escape I desired, a narrative I wished would never conclude. Set in Sri Lanka, this straightforward yet scandalous plot revolves around the eccentric inhabitants of the village of Kalabola.
The cast includes Malik, a personal trainer through whom we are introduced to the village and its peculiar residents: Kamala, a descendant of the Kandyan nobility; Arthur, a wealthy landowner and her employer, whom she once hoped to marry; Chanchala Dabare, Arthur's much younger fiancée; and Biju, the local MP and Kamala's cousin, who also sought to marry her in her prime.
The story unfolds as Arthur trains Chanchala in ballet, eventually developing affection for her. Malik is subsequently hired to help Chanchala achieve the physical condition necessary for her performance. Harmony prevails until Kamala observes the growing closeness between Arthur and Chanchala. Multiple cleverly placed flashbacks illuminate Kamala's opposition to their union. The central catalyst of the plot, the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequently emerges.
Hot Butter Cuttlefish is a leisurely paced novel, where "karma" acts as the subtle force guiding its characters as they strive to reconcile present actions with predetermined destiny. Despite its somewhat predictable nature, this social satire is exceptionally humorous and a book that offers enjoyment with every reading.
The cast includes Malik, a personal trainer through whom we are introduced to the village and its peculiar residents: Kamala, a descendant of the Kandyan nobility; Arthur, a wealthy landowner and her employer, whom she once hoped to marry; Chanchala Dabare, Arthur's much younger fiancée; and Biju, the local MP and Kamala's cousin, who also sought to marry her in her prime.
The story unfolds as Arthur trains Chanchala in ballet, eventually developing affection for her. Malik is subsequently hired to help Chanchala achieve the physical condition necessary for her performance. Harmony prevails until Kamala observes the growing closeness between Arthur and Chanchala. Multiple cleverly placed flashbacks illuminate Kamala's opposition to their union. The central catalyst of the plot, the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequently emerges.
Hot Butter Cuttlefish is a leisurely paced novel, where "karma" acts as the subtle force guiding its characters as they strive to reconcile present actions with predetermined destiny. Despite its somewhat predictable nature, this social satire is exceptionally humorous and a book that offers enjoyment with every reading.
June 16, 2026
This was such a unique and entertaining read. Set in a small Sri Lankan village during the pandemic, the story uses humor, satire, romance, and politics to explore how ordinary people respond when their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos.
What I enjoyed most was how effortlessly the author blends comedy with deeper observations about society, relationships, and human nature. The characters are wonderfully flawed, and the line between hero and villain is rarely clear. Everyone is driven by their own fears, desires, ambitions, and, of course, their karma.
Despite its lighthearted and often absurd moments, the story has surprising emotional depth. Beneath the wit and humor lies a thoughtful exploration of redemption, second chances, and the consequences of our choices. The village itself feels alive, becoming as memorable as the characters who inhabit it.
The writing is sharp, clever, and full of personality, making it impossible not to get invested in the lives of the people of Kalabola. If you enjoy character-driven stories, dark humor, and narratives that balance laughter with meaningful reflection, this is a book worth picking up.
What I enjoyed most was how effortlessly the author blends comedy with deeper observations about society, relationships, and human nature. The characters are wonderfully flawed, and the line between hero and villain is rarely clear. Everyone is driven by their own fears, desires, ambitions, and, of course, their karma.
Despite its lighthearted and often absurd moments, the story has surprising emotional depth. Beneath the wit and humor lies a thoughtful exploration of redemption, second chances, and the consequences of our choices. The village itself feels alive, becoming as memorable as the characters who inhabit it.
The writing is sharp, clever, and full of personality, making it impossible not to get invested in the lives of the people of Kalabola. If you enjoy character-driven stories, dark humor, and narratives that balance laughter with meaningful reflection, this is a book worth picking up.
July 19, 2026
Reading Hot Butter Cuttlefish felt like sitting quietly in a small town, watching life unfold through its imperfect people. Ashok Ferrey reminds us that even in uncertain times, life continues with all its humor, contradictions, misunderstandings, and moments of unexpected kindness.
What stayed with me wasn't just the story but the way it captures the human behavior. The novel gently laughs at society without ever losing compassion for its characters. Every conversation and every small incident adds another layer to a world that feels both chaotic and deeply familiar.The writing is witty yet thoughtful, making you smile one moment and reflect the next.
This isn't a book that rushes to impress. It takes its time, inviting you to slow down and simply observe. And sometimes, that's exactly the kind of story we need, a reminder that even in the middle of uncertainty, humanity finds ways to endure, connect, and keep moving forward.
What stayed with me wasn't just the story but the way it captures the human behavior. The novel gently laughs at society without ever losing compassion for its characters. Every conversation and every small incident adds another layer to a world that feels both chaotic and deeply familiar.The writing is witty yet thoughtful, making you smile one moment and reflect the next.
This isn't a book that rushes to impress. It takes its time, inviting you to slow down and simply observe. And sometimes, that's exactly the kind of story we need, a reminder that even in the middle of uncertainty, humanity finds ways to endure, connect, and keep moving forward.
July 23, 2026
2026 for me is a year when I am honestly surprised by book that I am picking to read. Hot Butter Cuttle Fish has just become another banger of a book in that list for me.
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I went into this book knowing that I would be in for a satirical ride - what I didn’t expect was the sense of chaos, within the calm, the subtlety of romance and the reimagining a of human beings when faced with circumstances beyond one’s control.
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I enjoyed the way the author reels you in - I mean I thought I was going to read a couple of pages; and I ended up binge reading this beauty. I just couldn’t let go; the author had me feel *everything* for the characters - and that honestly is a win because I still can’t let go of this beauty!
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Definitely recommended who need a little emotions with their calm and chaos - that makes you laugh and feel all at the same time.
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I went into this book knowing that I would be in for a satirical ride - what I didn’t expect was the sense of chaos, within the calm, the subtlety of romance and the reimagining a of human beings when faced with circumstances beyond one’s control.
•
I enjoyed the way the author reels you in - I mean I thought I was going to read a couple of pages; and I ended up binge reading this beauty. I just couldn’t let go; the author had me feel *everything* for the characters - and that honestly is a win because I still can’t let go of this beauty!
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Definitely recommended who need a little emotions with their calm and chaos - that makes you laugh and feel all at the same time.
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June 7, 2026
It was definitely a fun read. The narrative of the Covid period in this book, made me almost forget how horrifying the reality actually was or felt back then. I didn’t find it all that thought provoking as much as I found it entertaining, not that I’m complaining. It’s a great read, especially if you’re on vacation.
March 12, 2026
A easy and nice story about a trainer in a small Sri Lanka village.
September 9, 2026
It was OK. Some funny bits. But a bit basic!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews