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Wednesday, 6 August 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Trincomalee and its pristine beaches was the destination of choice for the ‘Explorations’ series in Land Rover and Cinnamon Nature Trails partnership. Six Land Rover vehicles and their owners, set off from Colombo to the sunny shores of Trincomalee. The observation and conservation of the amazing marine life was the objective during the 3-day adventure. Chaaya Blue was home to the Land Rover owners during this period of time with a very luxurious agenda mixed in with the wild.
The explorations series had a unique itinerary, specially planned by the Land Rover and Cinnamon Nature Trails team, for the owners. Upon leaving Colombo early morning, the customers were treated to a high-end breakfast at the Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana. The breakfast was elegantly set on an island with a view of natures finest. The Cinnamon and Land Rover team ensured that the customers had the best experience possible whilst setting a high tone to the start of the adventure.
Reaching Trincomalee mid-afternoon the customers were given a few hours relaxation before an evening of events, which included a boat excursion to Koneswaran Temple, jet skis and a special presentation on marine conservation by Dr. Terney Pradeep.
Conservation education was the main goal of the ‘White Sands’ exploration and Dr. Terney’s vibrant presentation was seen as a highlight of the evening. Canapés and champagne accompanied a fantastic photography presentation on whales and dolphins by renowned wildlife naturalist Chitral Jayatilake which ended the day’s events. Customers were then given an array of high-end DSLR cameras, provided by Canon Sri Lanka, for their use during the trip.
The excursion to Pigeon Island, early morning on day 2, gave the Explorations customers a firsthand glimpse of what they had learnt from Dr. Terney. The special snorkelling session yielded many sightings and included coming into close contact with six-foot reef sharks, which was a magical moment for all. Late afternoon, customers and their Land Rovers drove in convoy to the heritage site of Thiriyaya where they explored the famous temple and learnt of its beginnings. A high tea organised by the lakeside in Thiriyaya was a treat to customers who enjoyed smoked salmon, battered prawns and delicacies made fresh by the Chaaya Blu team at the venue.
“Land Rover put together a fantastic experience in Trincomalee and we had a wonderful time. I am extremely happy with the entire trip and will definitely be partaking in the next event that they plan. It was great to explore the lovely lands of Trincomalee and aide in the conservation education of its beautiful surroundings,” said Shirendra Lawrence, Managing Director, MAS Active – a Range Rover owner and an avid Land Rover enthusiast.
“The away weekend to Chaaya Blu at Trincomalee was as action packed and to the high standard that I have come to expect of my Land Rovers from my Series 1 through Defender, Discovery to my present Range Rover. An absolute epitome of quality and style with superb comfort and enjoyment – that is the Frontier weekend – of course,” said Sir Ian Jennings, a Range Rover owner and a well-known personality.
The trip to Trincomalee was truly an adventure for the Land Rover owners filled with unexpected surprises. The many vivid sightings, within the three-day series, were unforgettable and the participants were thrilled to have experienced such rare and breathtaking moments. On the final evening, cocktails followed by a buffet beach dinner organized by Chaaya Blu, concluded the event and garnered unforgettable memories.
“‘White Sands’ was another epic ‘exploration’. The strength of our brand is epitomised by our customers; leaders, visionaries, environmentalists and such who are amazing people to spend a weekend with,” said Sheran Fernando, Managing Director, SML Frontier Automotive.
The next excursion in the series will see Land Rover owners head to Habarana in exploring ‘The Gathering,’ where customers will be taken to Minneriya to observe, learn and understand the gathering of elephants. Young Land Rover enthusiasts will be a part of the research team at the Cinnamon Lodge, contributing data to the ongoing elephant research. A special jungle 4 x4 driver training experience will also be arranged during this expedition which is scheduled for September. Land Rover owners will stay at Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana during the ‘Exploration’ and revel in the luxury of the partnership between Cinnamon Nature Trails and Land Rover.
