The numbers…..
sixteen three wheelers called the “TUK TUK,” around 35 participants from seven
countries, eight destinations, eleven days on an adventure to travel 1600
kilometers by driving on roads less traveled, and I had the pleasure of being
an entrant along with my friends cum colleagues Lakshi and Chervon in a
customized “TUK TUK” to portray our National and Sri Lankan Airline’s identity
to the world.
The idea
generated by a movement called the “Large Minority,” partnered by the tourist
board of Sri Lanka, Connaissance de Ceylan and SriLankan Airlines, the project
was to showcase Sri Lanka in its own natural habitat and splendor. Not only by
mingling with the local folk of normal life and lore, but also by travelling in
one of its unique mode of transportation called the “Tuk Tuk.”
Aptly named
“Lanka Challenge,” the planned route was from Tamarind Tree hotel Minuwangoda
and on to Kalpitiya, Giant’s tank in Mannar; Jaffna via Pooneryn; Trincomalee
through Paranthan and Mullaittivu; Dambulla via Horowupotana; Wasgamuwa through
Bakamuna; Kandy whilst negotiating the eighteen Hairpin bends; Nuwara-Eliya via
Ramboda and end back at Tamarind tree hotel via Nawalapitiya and Ginigathhena.
The day before
the start was the “Getting to know day”, which included familiarization with
the vehicle, other participants, organizers and the logistics. The constant
rain was no damper due to the excitement creeping in, and the enthusiasm was at
its peak. The vehicle posed a challenge to a bunch of foreigners who were not
accustomed to a contraption that is designed to run on three wheels for a
thousand plus kilometre ride.
The first
day….on a fancy dress footing.
Participants were
dressed in costumes vibrant, some in national dresses, animal garb, and apparel
depicting brands and images and a few were in fancy attire, that no one was too
familiar with, but in festivity. The Tuk Tuk’s were decorated and cameras were
aimed at every angle with the fluttering national flags envisaging an aura of
pride and identity. The music blaring from a few Tuk Tuks and a Scottish couple
clothed in traditional kilt, dancing at six in the morning was ample evidence
of the fanfare to be witnessed and experienced during the following eleven
days.
The adventure
was flagged off at seven in the morning and the first chore was to find the
fish market in the town of Negombo. The Tuk Tuk’s were up to the task but
apparently not the people in it. Initially most got lost and then ran short of
fuel. Changing gears was demanding but keeping to the legal driving side of the
road was even more of a challenge. Stalling, making wrong turns and constant
communication with the local folk was the order of the day.
The first
challenge handed over at the Negombo fish market was to navigate to Kalpitiya,
whilst negotiating a freshly cooked meal from a way-side house and extracting
information about their livelihood and cultures. Exciting, but difficult for
these visitors to our country who did not speak the language. Nevertheless, the
locals were up to the task as portrayed by the tourists who mentioned of
meeting lots of helpful Sri Lankans on the way to their destination.
The second day….
The goal was to
find our way to Giant’s Tank in Mannar and proceed to a campsite through the
jungles of Wilpattu. Sadly due to the bad weather conditions, the Wilpattu
national park was closed and the Tuk Tuks had to find alternate routes. A
logistical nightmare for the organizers, but a challenge with excitement to the
participants.
A mere 180km
run turned out to be a 235km awesome adventure. In Oyamadu in a small village
was a shack of an eating joint for the Chena cultivators (Farmers). We were
famished and decided to indulge. The food was not elaborate but clean and
fresh. The taste was mouthwatering even to this day and the hospitality was
heavenly to our battered bodies. Wild elephants on the middle of the main road
delayed us further but were not a burden. The majestic animals were merely
announcing their intentions of sharing this common land in harmony.
We were the
first to arrive at Giant’s tank simply because of the knowledge we possessed of
the language, but the last arrival was at ten in the night in a convoy of six
tuk tuks. The dangers had been inevitable but thankfully without any
fatalities. However, the frolic continued at Giant’s tank. We bathed, pitched
tent, cooked our food and tasted the local brew (Arrack), that we as locals
introduced, and danced to the tunes of a calypso band.
The third Day....
The Challenge
was to reach Jaffna through Pooneryn, in three separate convoys, whilst
indulging in self-initiated charity work. The roads were bad and under
construction. The Tuk tuks were driven on four wheel dirt roads with only three
wheels to negotiate it. Charity money was achieved by performing individual
acts and songs to an approximate sum of 5000 rupees and handed over to a school
on the way to Jaffna. Our convoy encountered three flat tires, lots of local
help and sumptuous northern sweets.
The short in
distance, but a long journey in terms of road conditions, was tiring. To reach
this once traumatized city of Jaffna and experience the achievement of
physically being present at this metropolis was overwhelming, not only to the
foreign travelers but also to my Sri Lankan friends and me alike.
The fourth day.......
Plotted to be
the longest journey consisting of 260km’s to Trincomalee via Paranthan and
Mullaittivu. On a good road, Witnessed the pre-war country, and the locals claim
that the land mass from Paranthan to Mullaittivu was the most affected by the
war….Sad and happy….Sad for the people who had to go through the rigors of war
and happy that it is over. A sentiment shared alike by all “Lanka challenge”
participants.
The road from
Mullaittivu to Nilavelli was of utmost beauty. The blue eastern ocean was of a
stunning sight to our tired eyes and one that no other part of the country possess.
The extra free day in Trincomalee was a welcome stay for all of us including
the organizers, with the clear crystal waters of the sea making it memorable. Snorkeling,
at “Pigeon Island” was akin to swimming in a meticulously laid out large fish
tank.
The Sixth day.......
On the sixth
day, we had to reach Dambulla via Horowupotana and Ritigala. The influence of
the modern world was nonexistent and the villagers were of a bygone era, which
added that extra nostalgic feeling to us, Sri Lankans.
The Seventh day.....
Dambulla was
comfortable, with the hotel being of good quality named “Amaya Lake”.
From Dambulla
our next destination was Wasgamuwa. But first, the participants had to climb
Pidurangala rock and obtain their route maps from a Buddhist monk living in
seclusion. Incidentally, Pidurangala is a mere kilometre from the famous
Sigiriya rock and the view from the top was the most awesome scenery we had
seen to that point on our tour and to the tourists……simply “heart-stopping.”
The Wasgamuwa
approach was through the town of Bakamuna, and the road showed no commercial
intrusion in the form of traffic. Elephant Dung was aplenty, but not fortunate
enough to witness the animal. The journey was fast in terms of trying to reach
our destination early and visit the famous wildlife park of Wasgamuwa.
The night was
spent inside a tent. With a full moon (Poya) to light the area and a dip in a
lake under a cloudless night sky was an experience.
The Eighth day.....
The objective
was to reach Kandy through Mahiyanganaya, the18 hairpin bends up the hills and
Hunnasgiriya. En route, the participants attended a school that consisted of
children who needed aid to fulfill their dreams of becoming musicians. The
students performed for us, and in turn the tourists from seven nationalities
were awed. The collection of monies was to the tune of around one million
rupees and donated to a school that requires teaching from a different
perspective and goals.
The city of
Kandy was abuzz with the normally busy metropolis traffic. But the Tuk Tuk
convoy added colour to the chaos and was a traffic stopper initiated by the
admiring motorists and the law alike. The Amaya Hills hotel, on the slopes of
the Hantane mountain range was exquisite. The wet weather was constant but soothing
to our bodies that needed an extra day of rest and leisure.
The Tenth day....
To Nuwara
Eliya, but not direct. The man-made
wonder named the Ambuluwawa temple on top of the highest location surrounding
the city of Gampola had to be visited. The climb to the top of the edifice was
hard, twirling and sanctioned in the wake of building an image of attracting
the future tourists.
Further down,
close to the town of Pussellawa, diverting from the main road to a large tea
estate and obtaining different samples of unique tea from Sri Lanka was another
image-building exercise adopted by the organizers. The narrow paths consisted
mainly of dirt roads, but the panoramic views were spectacular.
Back on the
main road, the mist covered majestic mountains of the Piduruthalagala range was
ample evidence of the diverse landscape that our small country possesses. The
waterfalls, streams, winding roads and the ever smiling tea pluckers were aplenty.
The Eleventh
day...
Nuwara Eliya to
Colombo via Ginigathhena. The weather was chilly and a lethargic feeling crept
into all of us. Breakfast was consumed late and the departure was delayed
mainly because the beds and its blankets appealed more to us than the
activities ahead.
Epilogue.....
We ventured
into an adventure not knowing of what to expect or encounter. We overcame
debacles and challenges that nature, environment and the land had to offer. We
also came across beauty, friendship, different cultures and most importantly an
invaluable vehicle called the “Tuk Tuk".
The
unconventional escapade is over, but the reflections of it that will linger in
our thoughts shall never diminish. The foreign nationals were emotional and
hugs were in abundance. We all met new friends. But most significantly, we all
met a country……and that was an amazingly refreshing Country.
Thank you…..Sri
Lanka!
In September 2013
https://www.largeminority.travel/lanka-challenge/
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