NYAA Outdoor Appreciation – Sri Lanka 2018

Learning About Sri Lankan Culture with Outdoor Activities

In November 2018, I went on a school-organized 7 day trip to Sri Lanka , with a goal of immersing myself in the environment and learn about the local culture in a direct manner. This experience taught me so much about local traditions, wildlife preservation, and our duty to our community to help those in need – all this through visits to national parks, surfing with locals, and a service project at a local school.

Day 1 – Travel Day

Day 2 – Bike, Fort Galle, Turtle Rescue Center

In the morning, we embarked on a 5 hour bike ride around the villages in Unawatuna, located in the coast. We passed by many families along the path, and were greeted with smiles and waves in return. This was definitely a really good opportunity for me to observe the daily life of Sri Lanka’s locals. During the bumpy and treacherous ride, we visited a coconut factory, where many of the villagers worked, and were taught how coconuts were burnt and cut. After the bike ride, we made our way to Fort Galle, a famous heritage monument in Sri Lanka, to learn a little about Sri Lankan history. We learnt that the fort was built by the Portuguese over 400 years ago, but was eventually fortified by the Dutch later. We walked around the different souvenir shops, restaurants, and other exhibits to explore more about Sri Lanka’s rich history. While in Fort Galle, we were given the opportunity to learn about traditional stilt fishing – a trade passed down from generation to generation – from Sri Lanka’s own locals. Finally, in the afternoon, we made a visit to the turtle rescue center, which rescues eggs from the black market and hatches them to release the baby turtles into the sea. We learnt about the plight of the sea turtle, and the different dangers baby turtles face during their short journey from the land to the sea; as well as how these dangers have increased due to the prevalence of illegal poachers and trash on the beach. We were also lucky enough to be able to release some baby turtles into the sea. We walked along the beach, took the baby sea turtle in our hands, and gently dropped it in the sand and watched as the waves carried it away. In this moment, I felt in touch with nature, and truly felt honored to have played a role in this sea turtle’s life.

Day 3 – Surfing, Udawalawe National Park

In the morning, we headed to the beautiful beach in Unawatuna to enjoy a surf lesson. Although this was not my first time surfing, it was definitely still an amazing experience to admire the beauty of Sri Lanka’s coast. Additionally, it was also a great opportunity to chat with the local surf instructors to learn more about the culture – from this, we learnt that surfing was a very popular pastime enjoyed by its locals. After lunch, we then made our way to the Udawalawe National Park to embark on a safari ride to observe Sri Lanka’s wildlife. We rode jeeps and explored the park grounds, observing animals like elephants, leopards, and water buffalos in their natural habitats. This was definitely such a memorable experience and nothing like I have ever seen before. I found a new appreciation for our environment, and suddenly felt the urgency of why we must work together to protect it. It is clear that we can preserve and care for our environment, just as this national park had done itself.

 

Day 4 – Elephant Transit Home, Cricket

In the morning we visited an elephant transit home, which cares for orphaned elephants – helping to feed and raise them in safety. The home had exhibits to learn about the different species of elephants, their diets, and preferred habitats. We also were lucky enough to view a presentation with one of the caretakers and an orphaned baby elephant who was no longer fit to be returned back into the wild. The work being done at the elephant transit home and the passion of its employees was definitely inspiring. We then made our way to the Hill Country, travelling hours along the endless green of the tea plantations, waterfalls, and mountains that just took our breaths away. We toured a tea plantation and factory, learning about the process of making and packaging the tea leaves, as well as how tea is a vital export in Sri Lanka – and very integral to their culture. Upon arriving at Haputale, we had a chance to play some cricket with the locals. This was another amazing opportunity to bond with the locals, as even though we did not speak the same language, this sport was enough to bring us together. While doing so, we learnt the importance and popularity of cricket in the country.

Day 5/6 – Local School Service Project

Finally, we embarked on a 2-day service project a local school to help refurbish and rebuild classrooms, plant trees, paint murals on the walls, etc. Being at the school just served as a reminder of how fortunate we are that we are able to receive a high quality education in a fully-equipped campus, but also how now we have the responsibility to ensure that we are helping others achieve this as well.

Day 7 – Travel Day

Leave a Reply