I’ve
finally started to make some progress figuring out the details of where I will
be and what I will be doing for my research project, which is good considering
the fact that my month in Colombo is coming to an end. I plan to start by
studying land use around the Sinharaja Rainforest, the largest remaining tract
of rainforest in Sri Lanka. My main contact in Sri Lanka has offered to put me
in touch with an economist who owns an organic tea estate close to Sinharaja
and is working to make tea production sustainable and compatible with
conservation of the rainforest. I hope to learn about what he is doing and how
other people are managing land in this area. I’ll see where the research takes
me, but right now, I’m thinking I then may want to do a comparative study looking
at land use around a different protected area somewhere else in the country.
In
addition to this preliminary research, I’ve had some time to get to know
Colombo, and despite my initial dislike of this city, I’ve had an enjoyable
month. All of us Fulbrighters went to a reception at the Fulbright Commission
early in October, where we met some Sri Lankans about our age, who have been
showing us around the city and even spent a weekend with us in Mirisa on the
southern coast. Even though Mirisa is on a protected inlet, I was reminded of
just how rough the Indian Ocean is, as the waves pushed me over, and I swallowed
large amounts of sea water.
Last
week Anna, Kelsi, and I started going to a fitness class that happens in the
evenings in a park in Colombo (being outside is nice, but the heat and humidity
make excessive physical activity challenging even after dark). Coincidentally,
the leaders of the class are coaches at the Colombo Rowing Club, which was very
exciting for Anna and me, both former rowers. They invited us to a regatta last
weekend, and we even got to row in a double this morning!
Other
highlights include the Good Market, a weekly market with fresh produce, crafts,
and food from all parts of the world. It’s great to be able to buy a falafel sandwich,
frozen yogurt, and coconut roti with lunu miris (chilies and onions) all at the
same place. Continuing on the food
theme, fresh fruit juice has become a staple of my diet. I particularly enjoy
the papaya, passion fruit, avocado, and wood apple juices. For those of you who don’t
know what a wood apple is, check out this website: http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-wood-apple-or-bel-fruit.html
and here’s a picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wood-apple_dec2007.jpg.
Don’t let the picture fool you, it’s actually quite delicious, and the health
benefits are pretty impressive.
This is the house I've been living in for the past month
Some beach pictures.
Walking down the streets of Colombo
Oktoberfest in Colombo (don't be fooled by the German outfits--they're actually British)
Anna and me on the bus. We were lucky to get a seat--sometimes on buses and trains, there's barely room to stand.
The regatta between Royal and St. Thomas High Schools at the Colombo Rowing Club
