MONTHLY NEWS BULLETIN - APRIL 2019

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Dear Trade Colleagues,

This month our celebrations of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year was cut short by the devastating tragedy brought upon by a chain of ruthless terrorist acts on Easter Sunday. Despite the crisis, we stand strong and united more than ever and offer you the best of our lovely Sri Lanka.
Home-brewed elixir of tipsiness, the Lankan toddy; a wonderful homestay in the hills of Kandy (which is also home to Chithrarathna Kurunnase – the country’s famous Kandyan dancer); and an equally exciting and sustainable adventure in the wild for individuals and groups alike are spoken about in this month's "journeys".
With the strong will to better than ever, we hope to introduce you to more beautiful adventures and experiences in Sri Lanka.

Anuruddha Bandara (AB)
Founder
Experiential Journeys

Mahoora’s Carbon Neutrality Legacy

Mahoora’s Carbon Neutrality Legacy Mahoora Tented Safari Camps is Sri Lanka's first Carbon Neutral Safari Camp since the year 2010, certified by Carbon Credit Capital LLC - USA. That means every stay at Mahoora has no negative impact on the environment in terms of CO2 emission. This was achieved back in 2010, where we calculated our carbon emission as 110 kg per guest, per night. The figure was determined after a meticulous study conducted by Bonterra Lanka limited. After arriving at the number which would determine our next mission, we then mitigated it using eco-friendly initiatives such as recycling garbage, using...

Chithrarathna Kurunnase: Sri Lanka’s Famous Traditional Kandyan Dancer and Teacher

Chithrarathna Kurunnase: Sri Lanka’s Famous Traditional Kandyan Dancer and Teacher Chithrarathna Werapitiya, better known in the community as Chithrarathna Kurunnase, is the island’s grand master of the traditional Kandyan dancing art – one of the most respected crafts that originated in the hill country of Ceylon centuries ago. He has been awarded the President’s Award more than 40 times for his exceptional traditional dancing and singing performances over the years, and has represented Sri Lanka on prestigious overseas tours. Passing down the tradition to hundreds more, he founded the Chithrarathna Narthana Ayathanaya Kandyan Dancing Academy. One of the highest honors for any...

Toddy Tapping: tight-rope walking to make Asia’s most unusual alcohol

Toddy Tapping: tight-rope walking to make Asia’s most unusual alcohol Every unusual drink comes with an unusual process to making it, and this particular one happens 60 - 100 feet off the ground! The coconut palm has been harvested for generations to make Toddy or Ra, a local coconut liquor, which is made by fermenting the sap of the coconut flower up in the trees. Before it can be tapped, the flower must first be ‘beaten’ for three days, then cut allowing the sap to drain out. The toddy tapper – those engaged in the profession – has to climb the coconut...

“Nestle in Hills” - Dhammithera’s Homestay in Kandy

“Nestle in Hills” - Dhammithera’s Homestay in Kandy Live in the hills of Kandy amidst nature, in a cozy homestay with naturalist, botanist and professional birdwatcher – Dhammithera! Just 45 minutes from the heart of Kandy is his idyllic haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers. Enjoy the sunrise with a cup of Ceylon tea in your organic farm and garden, with a view of Adam's Peak in the distance. Or, settle back into a reading nook and explore Dhammithera’s personal Natural History Library. If you love a guaranteed panoramic view of the Kandy Central Mountains, wonderful Sri Lankan hospitality, and good...

Frequently Asked Questions

For amazing stories on Exjourneys

Our policy in discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

Animals Are Friends Too: Discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

We at ExJ stay away from tourism experiences that are staged and involve animal cruelty and shopping traps that are contrived to exploit and deceive clients.

Even though some of the popular ‘attractions’ are not included in our programmes due to the above reasons, we have no objections in our clients making their own arrangements with our Drivers to visit these places.

Why we do not promote following attractions

Turtle Hatcheries

As this concept has serious negative aspects in terms of conservation, we do not encourage our visitors to patronize the turtle hatcheries, as not all of them are really turtle-friendly. We instead encourage them to observe turtles in their natural habitats.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

When we became aware that the animal welfare standards there were questionable, we stopped encouraging our clients to visit the orphanage. We are pleased to observe that the Born Free Foundation has now adopted similar measures.

Elephant back rides – Habarana

There’s uncertainty surrounding the attitude of this place towards animal welfare. There may be a few ethical operators, but in general, we are not in agreement with how the place is run. We all would love a photo of us riding an elephant, but is a lifetime of pain caused to these magnificent mammals really worth a few fleeting likes on social media?

Traditional Village Tour with a Canoe Trip and Bullock-Carts – Habarana

This is a tourist trap where a lot of the trip is ‘staged’ for commercial purposes. Such fake touristic experiences will not give our visitors an idea of what life in the country is really like, so join us as we show you the real side of Sri Lanka. And at the end of every vacation, always ask yourself, “Did you feel that your holiday was ethical, eco-friendly, and reduced environmental impacts?”

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