Adventure Therapy

SRI LANKA

Compared to wealthier European nations, Sri Lanka is less developed in terms of the infrastructure and industry but there appears to be a greater freedom for it's people to live well for less money. Food is cheap and accommodation, although quite run down in places, can be obtained for relatively small money - or the land purchased for building a house on, covered with merely a few year's savings. Basic living requirements can be readily met for the working Everyman. 

Driving on the Sri Lankan roads, may seem pretty hectic at first, but there is actually a connective 'flow' to their driving style, which is far more harmonious than European driving once you get used to it. Road regulations and driver etiquette are certainly more relaxed here than in many other places around Europe. There's a certain level of assertiveness required for establishing one's road presence, but similar to how a school of fish moves together as one, the rest of the traffic will adapt to any deviations or contra movements to make allowances for this style of intuitive driving - even the many dogs and cows understand these more natural rules and integrate (mostly) seamlessly with their human neighbours. 

Drivers rarely look behind themselves it seems, likely as they are busy reading the road in front of them for any potential hazards coming up. It's therefore the responsibility of the driver to spot any potential hazards coming up in front of them and not down to the person driving in front to be checking behind for hazards as well. The horn is used a lot here to alert those in front about a pending manoeuvre. What this does, is take the 'blame' away from the pedestrians or people driving up ahead, resulting in very little road rage as a consequence.

The trains can be a free for all - but unlike London commuter trains, people tend to talk with one another more, even when crammed together in a packed 3rd class carriage. I've witnessed much merriment and fun within a short time of riding the public railways. A group of nine families in our carriage yesterday - themselves on holiday, returning south after a festival in Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka, were singing and dancing with their families and encouraging strangers to join in with them. 

Although this country has suffered significantly from the 2004 tsunami, which killed and left homeless thousands of it's civilians, plus endured 35 years of civil war up until 2009, they appear to be very happy with their lives. I put this largely down to their retaining stronger community ties and upholding family duties over self-gain. For a country with such cultural diversity (Buddhist, Sikh, Christian and Muslim faiths), all living closely together, they have all had to learn acceptance of each other's customs and beliefs to allow for it's 20 million inhabitants. The widely accepted message being expressed here, is for getting along with the neighbours and enjoying a good life. This is a message we can all learn from - greater tolerance, understanding and acceptance for a better way to live.