Week Without Walls!
Week Without Walls is an annual off-campus program where we travel around Sri Lanka and spend a week outside the classroom. Our grade, along with the grade below us, are split and placed in separate groups and sent to different parts of the country.
The group I was placed in is called Highlands. We traveled to the mountainous areas of Sri Lanka and went on various hikes while paying close attention to the surrounding environment and wildlife. A special aspect of the Highlands trip is Photography. We learn how to take pictures using different tools so that we could document our whole trip.
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress Step
Our first day began at 6 am. We departed the school and headed to Pidurangala. After a short stop for breakfast with the Anuradhapura group, we stopped at Yapahuwa Rock. We climbed up Yapahuwa Rock and were met with a beautiful view of the surrounding city. The famous staircase leading up to the fortress was a convenient spot to take pictures and practice composition in photography.
Sunset at the top of Pidurangala
After climbing the rock, we settled in our hotel. We stayed at Back of Beyond Pidurangala. About an hour before sunset, we departed the hotel to climb Pidurangala Rock. Our goal was to get there by sunset. At the peak of Pidurangala Rock, we observed a stunning sunset and took a lot of pictures utilizing the colorful array of light given off the sun. We got back to the hotel for dinner and then headed for a nighttime walk to look for the indigenous Grey Slender Loris. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in finding the Gray Slender Loris, a primate species found in Sri Lanka and India.
Jack at the edge of the top of the first mountain we climbed.
A View of Sigirya from Pidurangala Rock.The next day, we departed to the knuckles. Since most of the day was to be inside the vehicle, I spent most of my time sleeping. It was a scenic drive and we stopped at many places to take pictures. Before arriving at Sir John’s Bungalow, our next accommodation which is located deep in the knuckles mountain range, we stopped at a park called Pitawala Pathana. The Pitawala Pathana is the home to the Nannophyrs Marmorata which is endemic to the knuckles.
Nannophyrs Marmorata
The area was surrounded by scattered shrubs, trees, and thick fog. It was also the way to Mini Worlds End, a steep cliff with breathtaking views. We arrived at Sir. John’s Bungalow for a late lunch. At around 9 pm, we went for a night walk around the area. It was very cold and foggy. The air was so moist that almost everything at the bungalow felt a little wet because it couldn’t get dry. We found a frog that was of extraordinary green color.
The next morning was our big hike. We were to go on the Manigala trail. Unfortunately, it was raining really hard. We had to delay our hike till the rain subsided. Once the rain started to reduce, we decided to go on the hike. I was well prepared for this hike as I had my leech socks on and I was wearing a rain jacket. We drove the van to the spot where the trail began. While we were driving up to the starting point, the rain subsided. But to our luck, the moment we got out of the van and embarked upon our hike, it started to rain again.
Me at the top of Mini World’s End (Photo Credits: Talia Shea)
We followed the guide who was going at a pretty fast pace up the mountain. We walked past a beautiful plantation and a small village hidden up in the mountains. We all went behind the guide with our two teachers at the back of the group. Since all of us were eager to get up to the top of the mountain, we hurried behind the guide while the teachers stopped and took pictures along the way. I kept stopping along the way to get several leeches that had latched on to my shoes and leech socks. As I was walking up, I saw the mailman of the area delivering mail. He was walking up the same trail that we were going on. He said that he has been a mailman for over 30 years and that he would go up and down this trail daily. I was in awe that he has to climb up and down this mountain every day while I was struggling to climb just this once. As we were climbing, we lost sight of the teachers and continued to follow the guide.
When we got to the top of the mountain, it was raining really hard. I was very wet and covered in leeches. At this point, we realized that we had lost the teachers. The guide went to look for them while we waited at the top of the mountain. After waiting for what felt like a long time, the guide was able to find the teachers. They had gone on the wrong trail. Everyone was soaking wet, it hadn’t stopped raining and the number of leeches had reached an extreme level. We decided to leave without completing our hike. We went on a night walk to Pitawala Patana to get more pictures of the Nannophyrs Marmorata. We also saw a snake.
The next day comprised of mainly driving to Nuwara Eliya. After a long drive, we arrived at the beautiful St.Andrew’s Hotel. We went to the Victoria Bird Park in Nuwara Eliya so that we could observe birds that are endemic to Sri Lanka and we went on a long night walk where we photographed many amphibians in the area.
On the last day, we went to the highest point of Sri Lanka, the top of Pidurangala Mountain. After the visit, we drove back to Colombo, concluding the end of our week-long trip. Throughout my Week Without Walls trip, I was able to reflect on the CAS learning outcomes. As the trip progressed, I had the opportunity to
-Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth – Going hiking and taking pictures allowed me to enhance my physical fitness as well as identify areas in which I have to improve in.
– Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process – The unexpected rain that came upon us as we went hiking was a challenge we had to overcome.
– Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences – I showed interest in the various journeys we embarked upon throughout the trip. Although there were moments where I preferred to ‘give up’, I kept going on.
– Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively – Though the chances to work collaboratively on this trip were limited, lending out a helping hand and leaving no one behind was greatly appreciated.
– Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance – Learning about the surrounding ecosystem and its value for specific animal and plant species brought the issue of destruction of biodiversity into my mind. The issue of the destruction of biodiversity around the world was put into perspective on this trip.
– Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions – After witnessing many incorrect waste disposal methods which in particular, is harming the environment. It made me recollect instances where I had done the same.
Our Highlands Group. (Photo Credits: Mr. Lockwood)
View from Piduruthalagala. – The Highest Point in Sri Lanka
When we got to the top of the mountain, it was raining really hard. I was very wet and covered in leeches. At this point, we realized that we had lost the teachers. The guide went to look for them while we waited at the top of the mountain. After waiting for what felt like a long time, the guide was able to find the teachers. They had gone on the wrong trail. Everyone was soaking wet, it hadn’t stopped raining and the number of leeches had reached an extreme level. We decided to leave without completing our hike. We went on a night walk to Pitawala Patana to get more pictures of the Nannophyrs Marmorata. We also saw a snake.
The next day comprised of mainly driving to Nuwara Eliya. After a long drive, we arrived at the beautiful St.Andrew’s Hotel. We went to the Victoria Bird Park in Nuwara Eliya so that we could observe birds that are endemic to Sri Lanka and we went on a long night walk where we photographed many amphibians in the area.
On the last day, we went to the highest point of Sri Lanka, the top of Pidurangala Mountain. After the visit, we drove back to Colombo, concluding the end of our week-long trip. Throughout my Week Without Walls trip, I was able to reflect on the CAS learning outcomes. As the trip progressed, I had the opportunity to
-Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth – Going hiking and taking pictures allowed me to enhance my physical fitness as well as identify areas in which I have to improve in.
– Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process – The unexpected rain that came upon us as we went hiking was a challenge we had to overcome.
– Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences – I showed interest in the various journeys we embarked upon throughout the trip. Although there were moments where I preferred to ‘give up’, I kept going on.
– Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively – Though the chances to work collaboratively on this trip were limited, lending out a helping hand and leaving no one behind was greatly appreciated.
– Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance – Learning about the surrounding ecosystem and its value for specific animal and plant species brought the issue of destruction of biodiversity into my mind. The issue of the destruction of biodiversity around the world was put into perspective on this trip.
– Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions – After witnessing many incorrect waste disposal methods which in particular, is harming the environment. It made me recollect instances where I had done the same.
Featured Image Credits- Alex Parr
rweerawarana21 • February 19, 2020