Srilanka

The teardrop island inhabited with smiles

Back in 2011 was my first encounter with Sri Lanka and its beautiful people. The experience then will always remain etched in my mind and a blog I wrote then, still best describes this teardrop island inhabited with smiles.

“Personally, I believe that a place is defined not only by its landscape but also by the people who inhabit it. People enrich experiences, people create memories. Imagine being stranded on a beautiful virgin island with people you detest… the thought itself compels you to sideline the beauty of the nature that you would be witnessing and instead focus on the people who would be spoiling it for you. At the same time if one ponders over ones memorable experiences, they often involve memories with friends, family or loved ones, the place being secondary. Being a person who constantly needs people around, I often wonder about the thoughts of a lone traveler on this debate of people versus places. Speaking to various lone travelers over the years, I have gathered that even for a “lone” traveler people play a huge part in defining the experience. The difference being, the lone traveler prefers meeting unknown people from different cultures, backgrounds ethnicity’s and discovering the new world through them, whereas the peoples person likes to have his loved ones around to share the experiences. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon and popularly known as India’s teardrop will disappoint none.

Ironically, despite being called the teardrop island, this island offers everything but melancholy. What strikes one first on landing on this laid-back island are the vibes of the Sinhalese people. They are happy and cheerful! The buses are brimming with people clad in simple but colorful clothes, Sinhalese or Bollywood music playing at just about the right volume, the cool breeze blowing giving you a pleasant break from the otherwise humid weather. The famous stretch of road from Colombo to Galle will have you gasping at the emerald-green waters of the Indian Ocean on your right and the shanty houses and coconut grooves on your left. The Sinhalese often glance at you, in a shy smiling manner, wanting to welcome you in their humble abode, know your itinerary and help you in every possible way. Looking at the perfectly restored beaches, the flourishing national parks and content people, it’s hard to believe that this country had been occupied by the Europeans, gaining independence only in 1948, and been waging a civil war for decades since 1983. In addition, if that was not enough the tear drop island stood up to its name, by witnessing a devastating natural calamity, the tragic tsunami of 2004. The islands have been restored, tourism is back in business but what is the most laudable is the undying spirit of these people.

Though this island feels like a piece of land segregated from the rest of the world, it has almost everything you would want in a peaceful holiday. A trip around the island and you could relax in the warm sand enjoying a cocktail, surf those perfect waves, scuba dive or snorkel to swim with the artistically colored fish or massive sea turtles, spot leopards, elephants in the rich national parks, stroll along the ancient Dutch colonies, titillate your taste buds with the spicy Lankan cuisine, watch a street cricket match and find peace in the numerous Buddhist shrines. One can complete an entire circle around this island feeling content and satisfied! Then I wonder, is this a metaphor for the lives of the Sinhalese, is this their treasured secret? Clearly not everything is hunky dory here. The island is also ridden with poverty and some areas still suffer after-effects of the civil war and tsunami. Are the Sinhalese then able to complete circles, by jumping over the numerous hurdles, coming out stronger each time and with the ability to enjoy what their lives have to offer today rather than what their lives could have offered? They seem completely oblivious to the rat race that the rest of the world seems to be stuck in, unfazed by the financial crises, wars of growing economies and the race to become the strongest. Instead they seem to have found a sense of calm in daily chores, mindless chatter and in a need to serve their society.

At the end of the day, it is all about reflection. And that’s precisely what one does when ones lying on the beach endlessly, watching the rhythmic waves, watching the sun slowly sink into the crimson horizon. You reflect about your past, the hardships you have faced, the problems you have overcome, the places you have visited, the people you have met, the memories you have created, the dreams for your future and you wonder “Am I truly happy?” Then you gaze at the silhouettes of the Sri Lankan fishermen, out in the ocean, doing the mundane, and yet you can’t help but hear the unmistakable sound of cheerfulness in their voices. The scene is beautiful, the perfectly shaded skies, the dark waters, the fisherman perched on their sticks. Can this be the “eureka” moment you have always looked for? Is the secret to eternal happiness finding happiness in the mundane? Can it be so simple? You look back into the infinite sea, you gaze at the group of fisherman, you feel the sand of this tear drop island and you can’t stop your lips from curling into a smile.”