When we hear the words ‘Sri Lanka’, we think of golden beaches, stunning sunsets & spiced teas. It captures our imagination with sights, sounds & flavours. Sri Lankan cuisine, native herbs, Ayurveda & meditation heal the mind, body & soul. Unique, filled with aromatic spices & vibrant colours. Kandy is the cultural capital, home to the Temple Of Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha & a spectacular lake.

Despite it’s small size Sri Lanka boasts the highest rates of biological endemism in plants or animals. Asian elephants, sloth bear, leopards, sambar, wild buffaloes, Loris, Toque Macaque, Purple-faced Langur’s, Uda Walawe National Park & Bundala National Park capture the attention of wildlife enthusiasts.

Taking a dip in the ocean, snorkelling, scuba diving & surfing are the most popular beach sports. Beautiful coral gardens, multitude of exotic fishes & ancient wrecks offer great diving experiences. Wonderfully endowed with a diverse collection of landscapes, climates & natural spectacles. Hidden rock caves, sacred temples, Galle Fort & Colombo reveal fascinating art & architecture. World’s oldest cities like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa & Digamadulla are known for their glorious townships, palaces, temples, monasteries & theatres intricately carved out of stone, in the soaring jungles. 

Colourful national parks, harbours & pristine blue waters offer peace & relaxation. Excellent opportunities to immerse in brilliant jewels, finely carved wood, pottery, metal ware, porcelain, batik, spices, coffee & teas. Walks along palm fringed coastlines with soft white sands, windsurfing, whale-watching, kayaking, yachting, water skiing, diving or just lazing around for the perfect tan, Sri Lanka offers it all.

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The United Nation’s Panel on Climate Change has released an impactful assessment report. Scientists have observed worrying changes in Earth’s climate. Sea level rises, fires, floods are irreversible. Once in 10 year & once in 50 year climate events of extreme heat, heavy rains, droughts will become more frequent & intense.

The world is warming much faster than expected. Global heating is on track to hit 1.5 degrees celsius around 2030, a decade earlier than projected. Sea levels are rising faster due to polar ice sheet melts. Hot extremes (heatwaves) have become more frequent & more intense. Human-induced climate change is seen the main driver of these avoidable changes. Cities are hotspots of global warming because these trap heat, there’s a lack of cooling areas like water & vegetation.

Extreme weather events are likely to be of larger magnitude, increased frequency, new locations, different timings, new combinations like two or more extreme events occurring together (heatwave & drought). Disintegrating ice sheets hold enough water to raise seas a dozen metres, Amazon could transform from a tropical forest to savannah.  

Global warming can be limited but it will take drastic immediate cuts in burning fossil fuels & activities emitting greenhouse gases. It could take 20-30 years to see global temperatures stabilise although benefits for air quality could come quicker. Every tonne of CO2 matters. A reality check, a need for clarity, transparency & an unprecedented urgency in action.

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Read interesting articles on creativity, incredible insights. Actually, creativity is learnable. Like a grain of sand in an oyster, cognitive irritation stimulates creativity. When we give ourself a compelling, complex, unsolved problem & clearly, concisely, vividly articulate it, our brain is stimulated. One way to amp up creativity is by slogging through unsatisfying rounds of generating solutions. Then, walking away for a bit to allow space for our sub-conscious to work. Ideas flow naturally.

Also, if we want to be more creative, we need to have more things to connect. The best way to build a rich mental database is to honour our curiosities. If something tickles our brain, spend a moment with it. Follow mental paths that have no obvious purpose other than to satisfy a curiosity – Lego bricks, books, team conversations. Convergent thinking is linear, involves going through a list of steps to get to a single answer.  In contrast, divergent or creative thinking is exploring different directions from an initial problem to find many possible solutions. Companies like Google, Facebook are promoting mindfulness to stimulate creativity, innovation & emotional intelligence.

Reflecting, reviewing key ideas & insights is inspiring. At unexpected times, we can feel a rush of creativity, capture these moments by journaling. Accelerates development of imaginative thoughts. Creativity though, will always be part mystery.

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Reflecting on nature’s unknowable, mysterious qualities, Grounded explores how we can therapeutically benefit from a deeper connection with nature. By exploring nature we can find balance, stillness, solitude, resilience & contentment. We discover mindfulness, movement, work-life re-balance & natural eco-therapies.

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Email: Grandad’s 70th birthday. Loves classical music, golf. (Norway)

Happy Birthday!

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Email: Cousin’s 60th birthday. Loves nature, gardening. (Australia)

Happy Birthday!

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Hot springs are a most amazing natural wonder. Mineral-rich waters gathered naturally into pools or channeled into spas to offer therapeutic benefits & relaxation. These photogenic attractions have us bubbling with excitement.

The pools of Pamukkale in Turkey are as beautiful as hot springs get. Still waters contained in milky white travertine limestone formations perfectly reflect the cerulean Aegean sky. In India’s gorgeous Parvati Valley, Khir Ganga springs have wonderful views of the Himalayas. Grindavik’s Blue Lagoon in Iceland is otherworldly. Blue waters with steam billowing like clouds. Alaska’s Chena Hot Springs, a boulder-encircled lake with a glimpse of the aurora borealis. Surreal.

Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone, US. Centre of the pool is a piercing blue surrounded by rings of colour from green to orange. Antarctica is like a song of ice & fire, where an active volcano has formed a caldera in the freezing South Shetland Islands. Thermal springs at the shoreline of Pendulum Cove. Gorgeous. Huanglong Valley in Sichuan, China is known for giant pandas, snowy mountains & electric hot springs.

Hot springs are abundant in South Greenland, in the uninhabited island of Uunartoq. Japan is known for its onsen’s & natural hot springs. The quaint town of Kurokawa on Kyushu is spectacular. Pools are located in caves surrounded by bamboo near snowy river banks. California’s Travertine Hot Springs are completely swimmable. Expansive views & epic sunsets.

Champagne Pool is the most colourful attraction in Waiotapu, New Zealand. Technicolour beauty from its fluorescent blue-green waters to neon orange rings, a build-up of metalloid deposits. Chile’s lush Villarrica National Park has thermal pools, a maze of red walkways & cooling waterfalls. Stunning spots, sparking wanderlust.

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