“We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.” Andy Goldsworthy
I’m starting with the video because Ingeborg brought her underwater camera and I’m so excited about the awesome footage she captured of our snorkeling excursion, I just can’t wait until the end to share it. Check out the recap video of our land and sea adventures in Trincomalee!
Ingeborg and I did all things water while we were in Trincomalee…plus, sightseeing at a couple of Hindu temples.
Our first full day was all about the beach. We rode bikes to the beach. We ate lunch on the beach. We drank fruity drinks on the beach. We relaxed and read books on the beach. We swam in the sea. It was a glorious day. We even watched cows walk on the beach.
After spending most of the day at the beach, we rode the bikes back to our hotel, showered, and rented a scooter to go check out one of the local temples at sunset, Thirukoneswaram Kovil, inside Fort Frederick. It was absolutely gorgeous. It’s built on the top of a cliff so there are almost 360° of panoramic sea views. One of the visitors explained that visiting the temple isn’t so much about praying but connecting with nature to ground yourself in preparation for meditation and prayer. That is why everyone walks barefoot and the place is surrounded by sand and trees…to bring the nature elements for connection.
On our walk up to the temple we saw the famous spotted dear and monkeys who are known to run all over the area…and are not afraid of tourists. We watched them share dinner together.
We booked a snorkeling trip for Pigeon Island National Park for the next morning. It’s known for the coral reefs and sea life. I loved this part of our trip to Trincomalee. I love being in the water and swimming with all the fish, turtles, and even a few sharks. But I will say, the rising temperatures of the water have absolutely destroyed the coral. It’s bleached white and there are not many signs of living creatures in and around the coral. It’s beyond sad…it’s devastating. I don’t want to debate climate change (which is different from weather) or politics but our planet is being destroyed. I don’t know or have the answers but I hope there are some really smart people out there to educate us so we can fix what is able to be fixed.
I digress.
Swimming with the turtles was my favorite. They are so calm and docile. Not in a rush. Happy just being. They will let you get close and look you in the eye. It’s magical.
At one point during our swim, Ingeborg screamed my name. I popped my head out of the water and she yelled with excitement, “SHARK! Come here!” And as if responding to being called to dinner, I calmly said, “Coming,” and swam over. Then I thought what if we are the dinner?
The sharks were absolutely beautiful gliding below us in the water. We saw three in total. They didn’t seem to even notice us. They had other fish to catch for dinner.
After our snorkeling trip and lunch we headed off on the scooter to see the Shri Badrakali Amman Hindu Temple. It’s in the middle of town near the bus station but it is absolutely stunning. The outside is an attention getter but the inside was magnificent. The carvings and the colors were so beautiful. I can see why it is easy to find peace and feel connected to a higher power in this place. Every little design and color means something. I just wish I knew!
On our last morning in Trincomalee, we went whale watching. Sad news, we didn’t see any whales. Good news, we saw a ton of dolphins! They told us it’s the end of the whale season and since it was a full moon, the whales may have already started their journey back. Also, they told us that if the jellyfish are stinging people, that is nature’s sign that the whale season is over. We met two people today who had been stung several times snorkeling the day before we went. They said the jellyfish were everywhere. At least one to two thousand in the water. They were stung all over their bodies including their face. I about fell out of my chair. Glad we missed that experience. Ouch!
I didn’t get many photos of the dolphins because they are so quick! But I got a couple of videos.
We took a another bus ride to a town called Sigiriya and we are staying in a tree house for two nights. We are off the grid so no reception. See you in a few days!
Goodnight and much love & gratitude from Sri Lanka! 🇱🇰
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