Around the Pearl by 12 business professionals covers more ground for a worthy cause

Wednesday, 16 April 2014 01:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Day Four: 13 April 2014: Arugam Bay-Passikudah (155 km) Cyclist update - Day Four: Our entire team was excited about cycling through the East of Sri Lanka. The cultural landscape of this part of the

country has been delightful to experience and during our ride, we observed so many vibrant sights and sounds at every turn. Our journey took us from Arugam Bay to Thirukkovil (a famous place for old Tamil culture and temples), we then cycled past Akkaraipattu which is renowned for being an education capital and is acknowledged for grooming the crème of Sri Lankan academics. We cycled onwards past the scenic beaches of Kaluwanchikudy and headed towards Batticaloa, which is lined with towering coconut trees. The

lagoon in Batticaloa is particularly famous for its ‘singing fish’ – a natural phenomenon that occurs during certain months of the year. In Akkaraipattu, we were greeted by many villagers who gathered around and welcomed us when we stopped for a quick snack. We then cycled onwards to our final stop in Passikudah, an up and coming tourist destination that offers one of the most pristine and beautiful stretches of Sri Lanka’s coastline. The east of Sri Lanka is completely unique and beautiful in its own right. All the people we encountered along the way met us with warmth and were exceptionally hospitable. The cultural richness and diversity of this area paired with its scenic beauty and pristine beaches has made this one of the most memorable cycling stretches of our journey to date. Day Five: 14 April 2014: Passikudah-Trincomalee (120 km) Cycling update for day five: After an early morning start, we left Passikudah on an excellent stretch of road. We cycled through Valachchenai and then travelled past Vakari which is home to some of the island’s most scenic lagoons.

Ten Days of Road Safety: Day four & day five

Tips for Motorists: Expect sudden movements by cyclists, especially in windy weather and on bad road surfaces. Watch for cyclists on the inside when you turn left. Tips for Cyclists: Show drivers what you plan to do. Always look and signal before you start, stop or turn. Anticipate driver movements

After a few hours of cycling through immensely hot and dry weather, we reached Kinniya (where Sri Lanka’s longest bridge is located). After a few more hours of gruelling cycling, we finally reached Trincomalee which is a significant town in the north and a place of sacred and historical importance to both Hindu and Buddhist Sri Lankans. Trincomalee is fast becoming a tourist hotspot and has served Sri Lanka as an important seaport since ancient times. Aside from its vast stretches of white beaches, Trincomalee is also home to a series of attractions such as the hot springs of Kinniya, the ruins of Fort Frederic, Koneswaram temple and Swami Rock. The ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative by ‘Wheels for Wheels’ is a 1,427 km bicycle tour around Sri Lanka, which is being conducted by 12 business professionals in an effort to raise awareness about cerebral palsy and raise funds for 1,000 wheelchairs for children with CP. The ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative is being conducted in partnership with the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF) and WrooM – a project focused on promoting cycling in Sri Lanka as an alternative transport mode and increasing awareness of public road safety rules. To follow the cyclists on their journey across Sri Lanka and help them in their efforts to raise funds for children with Cerebral Palsy, log in to www.aroundthepearl.lk.