Yesterday was the Project Linus auction on the ship.  Project Linus is non-profit that makes blankets for sick children in the hospital.  They buy the yarn via the auction on each World Cruise and then use the yarn the next year to make new blankets.  The blankets are knitted by people on the cruise.  Everywhere you go you see people knitting.  Nana has been knitting her blanket to give to someone who is sick.  

The blankets are beautiful and Nana could not resist buying some blankets for this great cause.

Today we docked at Columbo Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka is a fascinating island nation with a rich history, diverse wildlife, and vibrant culture. Here are some interesting facts about Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is often called the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” due to its natural beauty and strategic location. It is one of the world’s largest tea exporters, with the famous Ceylon Tea originating here. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a tree in Anuradhapura has been continuously cared for since 288 BC. Sri Lanka has a recorded history of over 2,500 years, with ancient kingdoms like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.  Sometimes called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a breathtaking fortress built on a massive rock. Lanka made history in 1960 when Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world’s first female Prime Minister. The country is home to Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, each contributing to its rich cultural tapestry. Unlike the Western New Year, Sri Lankans celebrate their own New Year in April, based on astrology. Sri Lanka has one of the largest Asian elephant populations, and the annual Elephant Gathering at Minneriya is one of the biggest in the world. It’s one of the few countries where you can see blue whales and leopards in the same day! Sri Lankans use every part of the coconut tree for food, roofing, utensils, and even medicine.

Our excursion today was at the Millennium Elephant Foundation lthe only non-profit organization caring for captive elephants in Sri Lanka. The organization honors Sam Samarasinghe — an animal lover and philanthropist. The 15-acre family estate has been home to elephants since the early 1960s. We enjoyed a close-up encounter with these majestic animals. We had the opportunity to bathe and feed them. It is quite fascinating to talk to the volunteers who care for them.  Nana had a blast in the river and got very wet from the elephant.  We also bought a wonderful picture from an artist in the foundation.

Also located at the Millennium Elephant Foundation is an enterprising business which recycles the dung of the elephant into paper, using traditional production methods. Because pachyderms are pure vegetarians, their waste is actually perfect for making paper. Other ingredients include rice paddy straw, cinnamon, and banana bark. Nana found a store that sells the paper and guess what, she bought some.

We had a great lunch at a hotel restaurant that overlooks the river and the elephants put on a show for us.  We even had an elephant parade and road crossing as we left the restaurant.

Get your quiz answers in.  I have had two responses so far.  We even passed it out to our neighbors on the ship to test their knowledge of where we have been as a lot of them have taken the same tours.

We have a sea day tomorrow and then we stop at the Maldives.  The time keeps changing and we are now only 10 hours ahead of Atlanta time (before your time change in the states).