I’ve spent time in five countries since I last wrote: Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Northern Vietnam and China, all with radically different natural environments and human relationships to nature. First, some comments on Sri Lanka…
I’m very impressed with Sri Lanka’s recognition of nature in culture, religion and policy. Perhaps because it’s an island and so realizes the limits of resources or perhaps due to Buddhism’s reverence toward nature, the people prioritize nature in a way unique to the region.
With one of the highest biodiversity concentrations (oh the birds!) and heavy reliance on ecotourism, Sri Lanka has good reason to preserve its natural resources. Some observations from time spent in Sri Lanka:
· There’s noticeably less trash discarded in streets and waterways than in other parts of Asia.
· Wetlands, often the first landscape lost to development, form a network of protected park spaces in the middle of the capital.
· Thus, rare migratory birds can be seen right in central Colombo.
· Newspaper articles call-out environmental law offenders and highlight environmental best practices of companies and achievements of citizens.
· Billboards, most commonly used for communist government propaganda or capitalist messages by neighboring countries, instead remind of right behavior for recycling and water use.
· The average person knows about the countries natural resources (not just the ‘Big Five’ promoted by the tourism industry: sloth bear, leopard, elephant, whale, and X.
· This likely the result of the fact that a majority of people live closely with nature due to the high rural population. Colombo, the only major city, stills feels like a small town.
· Aryuvedic medicine, the oldest recorded medical system started in present-day India, is still practiced and focuses on natural elements, physical environs and healing/balancing properties of herbs, spices and foods. Beware: an aryuvedic massage is more about oil than rubbing. Sliding off the plastic table is a real danger.
Key to my perspective was our dear friend and eco-travel partner, Harshini de Silva (website). With exceptional knowledge of plants and animals (most intriguingly and providing everyday fun, of birds), she patiently and skillfully introduced us to the natural beauty of Sri Lanka. We also met a network of young professionals with social and environmental sustainability woven into their careers as a core not add-on value.
One of my most memorable travel experiences of my life is our time at the Heritage Tea Factory, an historic renovation of a tea factory set in still-operating tea plantations. Tamil tea pickers at work and everyday life in the village were visible from our window. My bday gift was a night in the Flowerdew Suite, which was indescribably fun. This combined with a sunset run through tea fields, past waterfalls, listening to the red-headed bobbets call in sync with the village Hindu temple religious/discotech sounds made it magically. Topped by a final day bike ride on paths to a preserved forest. Much older, but with the same ancient and mysterious feel as Hawaii’s forests, the flora have evolved only here and seem so fragile yet so full of wisdom and stories.
The existence of these natural wonders is known not just to the people, but by the government as well. I’m inspired by Sri Lanka’s policies on conservation of land and genuine protection of the base of its ecotourism economy. It’s heartening to see that from bottom to top there exists a consistent valuing of nature.
The country is a great example for everyone, especially it’s Asian neighbors racing to develop. Recently re-categorized as a middle-income country, Sri Lanka debunks the myth that you must develop before you protect nature and proves instead that you can develop because you have protected it.
Thank you, Sri Lanka, for your example and beauty.
I’m very impressed with Sri Lanka’s recognition of nature in culture, religion and policy. Perhaps because it’s an island and so realizes the limits of resources or perhaps due to Buddhism’s reverence toward nature, the people prioritize nature in a way unique to the region.
With one of the highest biodiversity concentrations (oh the birds!) and heavy reliance on ecotourism, Sri Lanka has good reason to preserve its natural resources. Some observations from time spent in Sri Lanka:
· There’s noticeably less trash discarded in streets and waterways than in other parts of Asia.
· Wetlands, often the first landscape lost to development, form a network of protected park spaces in the middle of the capital.
· Thus, rare migratory birds can be seen right in central Colombo.
· Newspaper articles call-out environmental law offenders and highlight environmental best practices of companies and achievements of citizens.
· Billboards, most commonly used for communist government propaganda or capitalist messages by neighboring countries, instead remind of right behavior for recycling and water use.
· The average person knows about the countries natural resources (not just the ‘Big Five’ promoted by the tourism industry: sloth bear, leopard, elephant, whale, and X.
· This likely the result of the fact that a majority of people live closely with nature due to the high rural population. Colombo, the only major city, stills feels like a small town.
· Aryuvedic medicine, the oldest recorded medical system started in present-day India, is still practiced and focuses on natural elements, physical environs and healing/balancing properties of herbs, spices and foods. Beware: an aryuvedic massage is more about oil than rubbing. Sliding off the plastic table is a real danger.
Key to my perspective was our dear friend and eco-travel partner, Harshini de Silva (website). With exceptional knowledge of plants and animals (most intriguingly and providing everyday fun, of birds), she patiently and skillfully introduced us to the natural beauty of Sri Lanka. We also met a network of young professionals with social and environmental sustainability woven into their careers as a core not add-on value.
One of my most memorable travel experiences of my life is our time at the Heritage Tea Factory, an historic renovation of a tea factory set in still-operating tea plantations. Tamil tea pickers at work and everyday life in the village were visible from our window. My bday gift was a night in the Flowerdew Suite, which was indescribably fun. This combined with a sunset run through tea fields, past waterfalls, listening to the red-headed bobbets call in sync with the village Hindu temple religious/discotech sounds made it magically. Topped by a final day bike ride on paths to a preserved forest. Much older, but with the same ancient and mysterious feel as Hawaii’s forests, the flora have evolved only here and seem so fragile yet so full of wisdom and stories.
The existence of these natural wonders is known not just to the people, but by the government as well. I’m inspired by Sri Lanka’s policies on conservation of land and genuine protection of the base of its ecotourism economy. It’s heartening to see that from bottom to top there exists a consistent valuing of nature.
The country is a great example for everyone, especially it’s Asian neighbors racing to develop. Recently re-categorized as a middle-income country, Sri Lanka debunks the myth that you must develop before you protect nature and proves instead that you can develop because you have protected it.
Thank you, Sri Lanka, for your example and beauty.