MONTHLY NEWS BULLETIN - MARCH 2021

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Dear Trade Colleagues,

We’re on the brink of the traditional Sinhala & Tamil New Year celebrated in Sri Lanka and there is an air of hope everywhere! Thanks to the vaccination drives and the strict Covid protocols in place, people are starting to believe that the worst is behind them and that better days are ahead. Health guidelines and protocols mandated by the Government are also in place for the much anticipated arrival of holidaymakers and Sri Lanka is ready to welcome you all!

So let’s head up to the hills for the healing rays of Aarunya and try valiantly to eat just one Kokis, all the while learning about pachyderms from the good doctor and what we are doing to mitigate misunderstandings. As always, the possibilities are endless!

I wish you and your clients an experiential journey and look forward to seeing you soon.

Anuruddha Bandara (AB)

Founder
Experiential Journeys

Progress of HEC Mitigation Project

Progress of HEC Mitigation Project Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando visited an area identified as a flashpoint for Human-Elephant Conflict and assessed the situation. Based on his recommendations, a tank in Konketiya, located on the border of Block 4 of Yala National Park, will be renovated and a 100 meter stretch of land along an existing electric fence will be cleared and planted with Guinea Grass (Megathyrsus maximus). Doing this will provide immediate relief to the elephants in the area as a water and food source becomes available to them. The next phase of the project will commence after a population count is...

Dr. Prithiviraj - From healing Humans to healing the World

Dr. Prithiviraj - From healing Humans to healing the World Finding purpose in life is a blessing and for Dr. Prithiviraj, that blessing has grown as the years have passed by. This MBBS Doctor has always been passionate about pachyderms, especially the Asian variety, and has over the years devoted more and more time to helping humans understand them. He is a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) of the IUCN, a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and is also Chairman, Trustee & Scientist of the Centre for Conservation and Research in Sri Lanka. With...

Kokis - You just can’t stop at one!

Kokis - You just can’t stop at one! It’s crunchy, light, sometimes savoury, sometimes sweet, and is quite probably the originator of the term “once you pop, you can’t stop”! The humble Kokis is said to have its roots in the “Koekjes” or cookies introduced by Dutch colonists in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, it has come a long way since then and is very much a Sri Lankan creation now. For such a simple food made of Rice Flour and Coconut Milk with a pinch of Turmeric, these golden wheels are immensely enjoyable. They are coveted by the young...

Bask in the healing rays of Aarunya Nature Resort & Spa

Bask in the healing rays of Aarunya Nature Resort & Spa Nourishing, rejuvenating, energising… the early morning rays of the Sun have always been famed to contain magical and restorative powers. Drawing inspiration from this, the aptly named Aarunya (Sanskrit for “first rays of the Sun''), places all of its focus on the wellness of its guests. From luxurious private villas, sumptuous local cuisine made with the freshest locally sourced ingredients, bespoke wellness & rejuvenation programmes, the spectacular vista of the Knuckles Mountain Range sprawled in front of it and the spice & tea garden that surround it... Aarunya is a...

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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