Although predominantly based in Batticaloa, Ocean Stars also
has projects in Trincomalee, a coastal town in the North-East of Sri Lanka. The projects in
Trinco include a child educational sponsorship programme, of which there
are over 100 children being sponsored up until the age 18, as well as
business-oriented donations, including fishing boats and chickens for those
in-need in the community.
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| Sunset in Trinco |
Our work from Sunday to Wednesday centred around the sponsor
children. Speaking to over 45 children about their daily routines, favourite
foods and hobbies etc, in order to better understand the lives and
personalities of the OST sponsor children. Aside from a different location, the
sponsor children in Trinco are from a Muslim community, many of whom relocated
to the village after fleeing during the civil war. The religious diversity
amongst OST’s beneficiaries is always a fascination. Through living in the
village and speaking with sponsor children in Trinco for a few days this week,
we certainly gained a better understanding of the cultural norms, expectations
and conflicts that govern the community.
After a really productive and insightful few days in Trinco
we decided to have a few days off!
Starting first in Kandy, best-known for being the centre of
Sinhala-Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with the Temple of the Tooth (Buddha’s tooth)
central to the buzz of the city.
We stayed at the Queen’s
Hotel, an old British colonial hotel featuring an 178 year-old,
Titanic-style lift, which would certainly make anxious any claustrophobes! Conveniently
located in the centre of Kandy, we visited the Temple of the Tooth where a nightly
ceremony occurs from 6.30pm, with many making offerings to the sacred relic, as
well as an interesting museum hall detailing the nomadic journey of Buddha’s
tooth, ending up in Kandy.
An unexpected highlight of the evening was being serenaded
by a four-piece band whilst having dinner. They even knew a Swahili song, Zeddy
was very happy!
On Friday morning we journeyed on the famous train ride
from Kandy to Ella, passing through the tea plantations and hill country.
Although initially standing room only, we managed to negotiate some seats 30
minutes into the 7-hour journey!
Green, green, green. All you could see is green. Amazing how
the origins of a cup of tea dominate the landscape of central / lower Sri
Lanka. Breathtaking!
Ella is beautiful. A small tourist town set 1200m above sea
level, is the perfect getaway. We were lucky to stay at Green Hill hotel with the most amazing
view from our room and dining area. Little Adams Peak to the left, Ella Pass in
the middle and Ella Rock to the right. Dreamy and cool. Yes, the temperature was
cool!! A pure delight to not sweat for a few days.
On Saturday we ventured on the well-known 10km hike,
featuring Little Adams Peak, a visit to Finlays Green Tea Factory and a walk
across the mightily impressive nine-arch railway bridge.
It was wonderful to
experience the unique landscape, walking on the hills, seeing the views and
taking selfies! Ella felt like a different country to our home in Batticaloa.
Tea plantations replacing paddy fields, pine forests replacing palm trees and
fresh cool air replacing humidity. We would thoroughly recommend it!
It has been a week of diversity. From working with a Muslim
community in Trinco, to engaging with sacred rituals of Buddhism in Kandy, to
escaping to the mountainous terrain of Ella.
This is why Sri Lanka is an amazing country to visit. For a
small island floating in the Indian Ocean to have such diversity within a train
or bus journey away, ensures both an enjoyable and endlessly fascinating
experience.
