Picnics in paradise and the end of the world...

I’ve been rather slack with updates lately. And I feel I haven’t done justice to the many beautiful places and people here in my postings. So I’m posting a jumble of photos to show just a taste of the sometimes magical quality of this place and the fact that my life here hasn’t been all gloom and anxiety.

Unfortunately Sri Lanka’s beauty underlines its tragedy. This could and should be a charmed tourist destination. But apart from NGO workers, and the occasional adventure-seeking surfer, there are almost no foreign travelers to be found in the Eastern part of the country.

A former co-worker took me out for a boat ride and hike at this 'tank' not about a half hour from my house.

It was windy and our boat didn't get very far. But it was a lovely trip nonetheless.

This is another place journalists took me for a bonfire at dusk and a really pleasant swim in the lake.

Waterfall at Horton Plains Park, not far from Nuwara Eliya

This place, also in Horton Plains is called "World's End"...

We got there just in time to see it before the daily fog gobbled up the view.

Trail on the way back from the end of the world

Sunset from top of hill overlooking Kandy

Sinhala-Tamil New Years party

Both the Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus celebrate new year's in April. Our journalists tried to bring together both communities, and the Muslim community, with a party at one of our offices--complete with a huge buffet, and live music--featuring songs from all three communities.



It's traditional to buy new clothes for new years. They found it amusing to dress me up in a gift of a new salwar.

Adavasi

The Adavasi or Veddehs are indigenous communities in Sri Lanka. We interviewed members of this community about their concerns over land rights and land use. Most have given up their traditional livelihoods because the government has restricted use of the nature preserve they traditionally used for gathering honey, ayurvedic medicine, and hunting. Just over a week ago someone from their community was arrested for gathering honey. The kids we met went to school occasionally. But it's far, and on this day the family didn't send them because they didn't have food.