Mid Term Break. We are tired of being wet and cold. So I decide to take the kids with me to Sri Lanka. Rebekah decided to stay home to get a rest from all of us, catch up on her work, and study for her teaching certificate.
We spent the first few days volunteering at a Turtle Rescue Center near Bentota. February is right in the middle of Turtle egg laying and hatchling season, so there was no shortage of activity. Of the 7 sea turtle breeds in the world, 5 of them are found in Sri Lanka.
We worked primarily with Green turtles, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill. The center keeps a number of older turtles on site for education purposes. These also have to be cared for. We were also expected to provide tours to english speaking guests when they showed up at the center. Weston really enjoyed this activity, and did a wonderful job of memorizing all the turtle facts. Scrubbing the pools for algae and turtle poop was less of a hit.
The highlight was working with the babies, and there were lots of babies. We would wake up to find 50 or 60 turtles wandering around the sand enclosure, having broken free of their eggs during the night. They are very small, blind, helpless and adorable!
We would collect them and place them in a pool for a few days, to feed and watch over them. The goal was to increase the chance of their survival once released into the Ocean. It is hard to imagine any survive - being turned loose into the wild ocean, blind, alone, minuscule, and defenseless.
We also received turtle eggs from local fisherman. The center paid the fisherman for these eggs, which would otherwise likely to end up in the local market. The kids would bury the eggs inside a deep nest of sand.
Once the turtles were a bit stronger and prepared, we would bring them down to the beach at dusk, when risk from seabirds and other predators was lowest, and set them free. Instinct would immediately kick in, and the little girls (they were all girls based on the sand temperature at the center) would head out to sea.
Some found it rough to get to through the breaking waves. Others struggled to waddle in the soft sand, and took frequent breaks, but they all made it. It was amazing to think that if successful, these turtles would not be back on land for another 30 years, when it was time for them to repeat the cycle and lay eggs on these same shores. 30 years at sea! Amazing.
It was great to be a part of this process, and see this miracle first hand.
In the afternoon we would jump on a bus and head down to a local school. A number of students opted to stay after school, to take English lessons from us (and the other volunteers).
The kids were all 10 and 11 years old, and excited to have the twins try to teach them about Nouns and Verbs, or play games like Hangman! There was much giggling and laughter. The twins felt the kids were a bit rowdy and disrespectful. Interesting, to see how it feels when the shoe is on the other foot (is the a saying?)
The people of Sri Lanka were very friendly and warm. They were always helpful and easy to be around. The kids felt right at home.
Near our center was the Madu river and Lagoon. One afternoon we went for a 'river safari' for a few hours. We actually saw a number of interesting things - like this crocodile out enjoying the sun.
We stopped by a Cinnamon plantation to see how the spice was harvested and prepared (Cinnamon originally came from Sri Lanka, and played a major role in the early spice trade - which we are studying in history right now). I did not know the tree was to small?
We collected local Lotus flowers (the national flower of Sri Lanka). I wonder if that is legal?
Explored mangrove tunnels
And took time for a refreshing fish massage. We stayed here for over an hour. I am surprised we have any feet or toes left!
One of the unexpected perks of Sri Lanka was the waves. Specifically, it was the opportunity to go Boggie Boarding. The kids had not done it before. It was an immediate hit. I could not get them out of the water.
Even when a big rainstorm passed by. The kids had so much fun in the warm water. Weston decided it would not be as fun in the cold Irish Sea. I had to agree.
We spent the last few days at an actual hotel. It was along the bank of a river, near the beach. Once again, the kids enjoyed the pool, sun, fresh coconut and mango juice.
We took a few more side trips. One to visit the longest reclining Buddha statue in Asia..
And another to look for whales and dolphins.
This was not a unique idea, and we soon joined a noisy, diesel, burning gang of up to 20 boats searching a well known deep underwater trench. We followed one Blue Whale for over an hour. The Whale would pop up every 17 to 18 minutes for a few breaths, and then dive back down below. My iPhone camera was not up to task of getting a good picture. We never knew where it would surface. I felt a bit bad for the poor thing, being chased and hounded by a group of tourists, like paparazzi trailing Kim Kardashian.
We also came across some fin whales and a few huge pods of dolphins. However after over 4 hours in the sun, the twins were exhausted and ready to call it a day.
In fact, as we made our way to the airport, sun burned, tired, dirty, with salty hair and sand in unimaginable places, we were all ready to go home. We enjoyed our time in Sri Lanka - the people, turtles, food, and sun, but were ready to see Rebekah again. Even if it meant more rain and cold weather.
