Elrequisitium

Tag: river

  • Arugam Bay: A Surfer’s Paradise with an Unseen Challenge

    Arugam Bay: A Surfer’s Paradise with an Unseen Challenge

    “The waves rise high, a crest of white foam,
    In this rhythm of nature, I’ve found my home    .”

    Arugam Bay, nestled along Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline, is renowned for its world-class waves, stunning sunrises, and welcoming community. The bay itself remains remarkably clean, a testament to the care taken by locals and visitors alike. However, just beyond the immediate coastline, an environmental issue looms—a landfill in nearby Pallakkadu, somewhat 30km away.

    The presence of plastic waste in this area poses a growing concern, not just for the surrounding ecosystem but also for the region’s wildlife. Among the most affected are Sri Lanka’s majestic elephants, which often wander into these dumps in search of food. Tragically, many end up consuming plastic waste, leading to severe health issues and, in some cases, fatalities.

    Despite awareness of the problem, large-scale cleanup efforts have yet to take shape. Elrequisitium recognizes the urgency of this issue and seeks to bring attention to the need for immediate action. The goal is to initiate sustainable waste management solutions that protect both the environment and the wildlife that call this region home.

    Arugam Bay is more than just a surfing destination; it’s part of a delicate ecosystem that deserves preservation. While the beach remains pristine, the hidden impact of plastic waste just beyond its borders is a challenge that cannot be ignored. Addressing this issue will require cooperation, awareness, and a commitment to sustainable change.

    A cleaner, safer environment for both people and wildlife is possible. The question remains: how soon will we act?

  • Midgets of Adam’s peak

    Midgets of Adam’s peak

    Ever been fascinated by the dwarves of the lonely mountain?

    With their crafty ways. And their skill at crafting…

    Dwarves have been associated with mining since the most ancient of times. But we never expected to come across remnants of this ancient tale in Sri Lanka.

    There we were sitting around tea, at a local shop, when the topic of holes drilled into gemstones turning up at the river bed came up. I was intrigued. Modern technology achieves this feat with great pride. Then how did they do it back then?

    At first the story was unintelligible and it just went past me. Upon repeatedly inquiring of the tale, I grasped its gist.

    The story centers around Adam’s peak, a site still famous to this day for attracting the pious and adventurers alike.

    Under the influence of a local divinity named Saman, gemstones were spread around the mountain. Literally sprinkled around the mountain!

    Copy Of How To Climb Adam's Peak In Sri Lanka

    A Midget race, wandering the face of the earth at the time, caught wind of these gemstones and arrived at Ceylon, to try their luck. They offered their services to the king at the time, and he agreed.

    And their work was phenomenal. They diverted the flow of the rivers to mine for gemstones underneath at the rock bed. They had the skills of gem cutting, polishing, & faceting.

    They were probably craftsmen as well.

    They brought prosperity upon the nation and themselves. And so the days passed by. They intermarried with the folks of Ceylon and passed down their knowledge to them. And so the days passed by. To bring about the end of their stay in Ceylon. 

    A new king who had had enough of their crafty ways and cunning, banished them from the Land. and they left, taking away most of their precious knowledge. 

    The little knowledge they left behind, was instrumental in giving Ceylon a reputable name in the ancient world for its gemstones and craftsmanship. 

    Where did they leave to? Are they still wandering about? Did they even exist, or were they just a creation of the mind? That does keep me wondering…. 

    Would that keep you wondering as well?

  • Mining Town

    Mining Town

    I wrote a part of this while I was at the bus stop in this mining town.

    Hope of a Miner

    Is the dynamic nature of this science in the mind of the people here? They spend their time rock hunting, mining, knowing that that one particular stone, whatever that is, when found, is going to make their lives better. And so they continue to mine. Some their whole life, some just a portion of it.

    Gem Rush

    Some just try it for the gold rush in their veins and after their hard work is met with great failure, pack up and leave. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. What’s even sadder is when they don’t know the value of some of the stones they find only to end up back into the river.

    Friendly Town

    Upon entering the town, the general atmosphere feels friendly, with people laughing about, buses moving about, children going to the temple on Sunday, with their mothers behind them. It does feel safe.

    Fertility

    Vegetables, paddy is a specialty of this region…The soil is perfect with the alluvial deposits brought down. How do you get alluvial deposits here? You need dead organic matter of some sort to make soil fertile right? How is mountain soil fertile? Or hills for that matter

    [link out of here]

    Disease

    There is a high prevalence of diabetes and its related complications in this region. I was listening into the conversation between the bus-conductors, and they remarked at the incompetence of the neighboring state hospitals in facilitating transfers, starting antibiotics and how they relied on local common knowledge.

    Remote & Rural

    They complained about the exorbitant prices kept by the local businesses, as there was a scarcity of shops in the town. And to overcome this, they purchase bulk items from the main market whenever they get the time.

    I had to wait for an hour at the bus stop, for my friend from the town to pick me up. This gave me a chance to talk to the locals. It was a bike ride through the town. I avoided filming it and taking photographs just so that I could take the best out of it. The morning air was cold, fresh and promising.

    Wage Work

    There were numerous small shops sparsely located in between large estates of trees. Estates included rubber, tea and woods. The river runs along the main road at most separated from it by 100m. It is evident that almost everyone here tries their luck when the water levels go down. I could hear the general complaint by local investors that the women were keeping their men away from searching for gemstones in the river, thinking it would be better to send them to work in a construction site or estate as it gives them a daily wage. If they spent their time mining they would only get paid if they find something.

    The Mysterious Black River

    I had glanced upon the Kalu-Ganga a multiple number of times.. each time I thought to myself why the water appeared so yellow and murky. I tried searching for historical references to the river. Starting from Adam’s peak in the mountains. Known as Kaanha Nadi in the past. Ancient past. Kaanha is an ancient Paali word for darkness.

    [I will expand on this later]