Unique program designed by Professor Ashton with special access visits An Insider s Look at... Sri Lanka July 17 31, 2015 with Mark Ashton 90 PhD. Professor at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Fishermen off Sri Lanka s Eastern coast
Dear Yale Traveler Join me in this 12-day journey to explore beautiful Sri Lanka, a magical island with a comfortable and moderate climate, rich endemic biodiversity of flora and fauna, tropical rain forests and botanical gardens. The original soul of Buddhism still flourishes in Sri Lanka, a place where nature s beauty remains abundant and unspoiled. Few places in the world can offer the visitor such a remarkable combination of stunning landscapes, captivating cultural heritage and unique experiences. Within a compact 65,610 kilometers lie 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,330 kilometers of coastline much of it pristine beach, mangrove and estuary 15 national parks showcasing an abundance of wildlife, nearly 500,000 acres of lush tea estates, 250 acres of botanical gardens, 350 waterfalls, 25,000 bodies of water, and a culture that extends more than 2,500 years into the past. Discover this island of magical proportions known as Serendib by the Arab traders, Taprobane by the Romans, and Ceylon by the Portuguese and British. Having worked in Sri Lanka for more than 30 years, I am eager to introduce you to this wonderful country so rich in culture and natural beauty where my mother s family has been for over 250 years. I have also arranged the opportunity for you to meet some of my Sri Lankan colleagues and a few students at our research sites, in addition to visiting a remarkable variety of island destinations. I hope that you will join me on this journey full of stimulating lectures and lively discussions, exciting excursions, and delicious food and wine which will ensure you an unforgettable experience. I trust that you will come to love the region as much as I do. I am looking forward to travelling with you in Sri Lanka. Happy travels and Ayubowan or in Sinhala! mark ashton 90 phd Professor Ashton conducts research on the biological and physical processes governing the regeneration of natural forests and on the creation of their agroforestry analogs. In particular, he seeks a better understanding of regeneration establishment among assemblages of closely related trees. His long-term research concentrates on tropical and temperate forests of the Asian and American realms. His field sites within these regions were selected specifically to allow comparison of growth, adaptation, and plasticity within and among close assemblages of species that have evolved within forest climates with differing degrees of seasonality. Findings from these studies have theoretical implications for understanding the maintenance of diversity of tree species in forested ecosystems and the adaptability of forests to change in climate. The results of his research have been applied to the development and testing of silvicultural techniques for restoration of degraded lands and for the management of natural forests for a variety of timber and nontimber products. Field sites include tropical forests in Sri Lanka and Panama, temperate forests in India and New England, and boreal forests in Saskatchewan, Canada. On this program, experience the lifestyle of a jungle researcher, staying three nights at the spectacularly located Martin s Lodge, right in the heart of the jungle, or at a local NGO research station. Mark Ashton Professor, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Below: the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. www.yaleedtravel.org/srilanka15
ITINERARY welcome phone call Thursday, February 20 (tentative) Join the group at 6PM EST/EDT for a pre-trip welcome call with Professor Ashton to ask any questions you may have. in transit Wed. or Thurs., July 15 or 16 Independent departure for Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Note that many flight itineraries to Sri Lanka from the US cross two calendar days, as you cross the international date line during the flight. airport/negombo Friday, July 17 D Be met at the airport and whisked away to your hotel in Negombo, the 5+ star Heritance Negombo. Enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers. kandalama/sigirya Saturday, July 18 B/L/D After breakfast at the hotel, bus to Kandalama and check into the Heritance Kandalama. In the afternoon, climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The Lion Rock is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens (including the renowned water gardens) ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the Heavenly Maidens of Sigiriya, in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. Transfer back to Kandalama for dinner and an overnight stay. polonnaruwa Sunday, July 19 B/L/D After breakfast, transfer to Polonnaruwa to visit the island s medieval capital built in the 11th and 12th century AD. A world heritage site, many of the ruins are in excellent condition. Its great artificial lake, the Parakrama Samudra, covers 6,000 acres and feeds irrigation canals and tanks. Visit the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya which has 4 splendid statues of the Buddha carved out of rock. In the afternoon, visit the Primate Centre. Return to Kandalama to enjoy a lively dinner and the opulence of the Heritance Kandalama. wasgamuwa Monday, July 20 B/L/D After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Wasgamuwa National Park. Originally designated as a nature reserve in 1938, the park is now a safe refuge for displaced wild animals. Here, Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. The name of the Wasgamuwa has derived through the words Walas Gamuwa. Walasa is Sinhala for Sloth bear and Gamuwa means a wood. In the evening, return to Heritance Kandalama. matale/kandy Tuesday, July 21 B/L/D After breakfast, visit Dambulla Rock temple, built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BCE. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest painted area found in the world. See the colossal 14 meter figure of the Buddha carved out of rock. Transfer to Matale to visit a spice garden and see the different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous. Continue to Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings era of Sri Lanka. Dinner and Overnight Stay at Earl s Regency. peradeniya/kandy Wednesday, July 22 B/L/D After breakfast, transfer to Peradeniya, first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and expanded by the British. Enjoy an introduction by the Director of the Peradeniya Botanical Garden (pending). Return to Kandy, where many of the legends, traditions and folklore of the nation are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the town and bazaar; shop for Saris, sarongs and crafts. Visit a gem museum/lapidary. See the Temple of the Tooth Relic (housing a tooth of Buddha) and see a cultural show. Dinner and Overnight at Earl s Regency. tea plantation Thursday, July 23 B/L/D After breakfast, take a train ride from Peradeniya to Nanu Oya (upon availability). Visit a tea plantation and factory and watch the best tea in the world be produced. See how tea is graded and taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea. Transfer from tea plantation to lunch at Hill Club Nuwara Eliya. Enjoy the invigorating mountain climate and scenery of Sri Lanka s most popular hill resort. In the afternoon, visit the Hakkgala Botanical Garden and meet with the Director (pending). Dinner and Overnight at Heritance Tea Factory. scraggy trees and ice-cold rivulets located on a high windswept saddle at about 6,900-7,500 ft above sea level. Experience World s End, considered the finest view in all of Sri Lanka, where an awesome escarpment drops vertically for about 4,000 feet. See the beautiful Bakers falls (Walk is about 14 km). The park shelters mammals, lizards, and over 20 endemic bird species including the Sri Lankan whistling thrush, orange-billed babbler and yellow-eared bulbul. Dinner and Overnight at Heritance Tea Factory. sinharaja Saturday, July 25 B/L/D After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Sinharaja, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. Experience a night nature walk around the lodge. Dinner and Overnight stay at Martin s Lodge or a local NGO research station where Prof. Ashton is based. sinharaja Sunday, July 26 B/L/D After breakfast, explore the Sinharaja rainforest from the Kudawa entrance. Enjoy lectures on rain forest dynamics and see rain forest restoration in action. Experience a night nature walk around the lodge. Dinner and Overnight stay at Martin s Lodge or a local NGO research station. sinharaja Monday, July 27 B/L/D After breakfast, prepare to trek Sri Lanka s only remaining primeval rain forest. The vegetation is many layered as in the Amazon or Congo. Rare orchids blossom and cicadas chirp. The only other sound is that of rain : 200 inches fall annually here, spread through the year. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka s endemic horton plains Friday, July 24 B/L/D Weighing Tea on a plantation Transfer to Horton Plains, an expanse of misty grassland with
species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Dinner and Overnight stay at Martin s Lodge or a local NGO research station. galle/ahungalla Tuesday, July 28 B/L/D After breakfast, transfer to Galle, once the chief port of Ceylon. It was the center of the Dutch regime in the 17th century and the majestic Galle Fort spanning 90 acres bears testimony to this fact. Galle is one of the well preserved colonial-era cities in Southeast Asia and has been declared a World Heritage Site. Visit the Dutch museum & the Dutch church. The city is also known for its delicate handmade lace and ebony carvings. Transfer from Galle to Ahungalla en route visiting a mask factory in Ambalangoda. Dinner and Overnight Stay at Heritance Ahungall. ahungalla/kosgoda Wednesday, July 29 B/L/D After breakfast, visit a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda. Dinner and overnight stay at Heritance Ahungalla. ahungalla/colombo Thursday, July 30 B/L/D Transfer to Colombo, Sri Lanka s capital. A changing capital city in a developing country, some parts retain the old world charm. See several British-built colonial buildings, including a 100-year-old clock tower. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar, Hindu and Buddhist temples, and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People s Republic of China. Dinner and Overnight Stay at Galle Face Hotel in transit Friday, July B Transfer to the airport for the return flight. B/L/D = Breakfast/Lunch//Dinner. program cost $6,950 based on double occupancy Single supplement of $1,250 included features Accommodation Spend one night in five star Heritance Negombo, three nights in five star Heritance Kandalama, two nights in five star hotel Earl s Regency (Kandy), two nights in four star hotel Heritance Tea Factory (Kandapola), three nights in Martin s Lodge or an NGO research station, on the edge of the jungle (Sinharaja), one night in five star Heritance Anhungalla, and one night in the historic, award-winning Galle Face Hotel (Colombo). Meals Enjoy an extensive meal plan with daily breakfast, lunches, and dinners. Water and coffee are included in all lunches and dinners. Your Travel Program As outlined in the itinerary. This educational program is presented by Yale faculty member Mark Ashton, as well as by a knowledgeable trip manager with a background in Sri Lankan culture, and expert local guides. It includes guided tours and excursions to many museums, historic sights, and architectural highlights (see itinerary for details). Many Extras The services of a dedicated trip manager and expert local guides throughout the trip. Motor coach transportation. Bottled water on excursions. Tipping of guides and drivers. Yale Educational Travel Association of Yale Alumni Box 209010 New Haven, CT 06520-9010 Reservations Accommodations contact: 203.432.1952 Spend six nights in Rome at the or deluxe edtravel@yale.edu Hotel Victoria Roma. heritance hotels The word Heritance is a conjoined brand name, developed from the words Heritage and Inheritance. This program will stop mainly at Heritance hotels on this program, which represent the finest in sustainable 5-star travel in Sri Lanka. For example, Heritance Kandalama does not just sit in the landscape it is the landscape. Monkeys clamber up the pillars as if they were trees, swifts swoop along the open corridors and build nests in the corners, and wild elephants come to drink in the lake in front of the hotel. And where else in the world can you stay in a converted tea factory, with some of the machinery still intact, pluck your own tea and take it home with you as a souvenir? Welcome to Heritance Tea Factory, where the kettle is always on. At 2km above sea level, the views over our lush green organic plantations as the sun mingles with the mist are truly unforgettable. sri lankan hospitality Amidst the many cultural highlights, enjoy a change of scenery in the lush Sri Lankan countryside. The rolling hills, tea plantations, and spice fields please the eye. Learn about the production of tea and space. Try the various flavors, and indulge in a experiencing these flavors right from the source. Did you know the spice cinnamon originated in Sri Lanka and was discovered by the Egyptians? Taste some cinnamon from the source! Only with Yale. Quiet vox audio guide system Reader s Corner Want to learn more about the history and culture of Sri Lanka? Here are some selections to get you started. What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula. A classic account of Theravada Buddhism by a respected monk and scholar from Sri Lanka. Provides translations from original texts with explanations for Western readers. A good foundation for any visitor to Southeast Asia. Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje. Award-winning author Ondaatje returns to his native Sri Lanka in this hypnotic travelogue. His lovingly traced family memoirs are interspersed with poetry and ruminations on the island s post-colonial history.
RESERVE YOUR TRIP TO SRI LANKA TODAY Enclosed is a deposit for $ ($2,000 deposit per person) payable to the Association of Yale Alumni to hold place(s) on the Yale An Insider s Look at Sri Lanka trip July 17-31, 2015. Final payment is due March 17, 2015. 1) Name as on passport Passport Origin Relationship 2) Name as on passport Passport Origin Relationship 3) Name as on passport Passport Origin Relationship 4) Name as on passport Passport Origin Relationship* *How is the person related to the person making the deposit? Contact Information Address City/State/Zip Payment Options: Pay by check made out to the Association of Yale Alumni Please charge the deposit of $1,000 per person to: AMEX Visa Mastercard Card # Exp. Date Sec. Code Accommodations Hotel Room Preferences : Double Twin I wish to have a single accommodation (limited availability please call) I will share accommodations with: I/We confirm that I/We have carefully read the Terms and Condtions and Responsibility section of this brochure and agree to their terms on behalf of myself and the members of my party named above. Signature Date: Primary Phone Secondary Phone E-mail Signature Date: Visit www.yaleedtravel.org/srilanka15 to book online or return the above form with check payable to Association of Yale Alumni to Association of Yale Alumni, P.O. Box 209010, New Haven, CT 06520-9010. Phone: (203) 432-1952. Fax: (203) 432-0587. I would like to receive more information about the following trips: (check a box to recieve a brochure) Roatan Submarine Excursion 03/07/2015-03/14/2015 w/mary Beth Decker In Search of Ancient Lost Cities: Rome to Lisbon 04/27/2015-05/08/2015 w/prof. McIntosh and Hale 73 A Yale Week in Barcelona 05/11/2015-05/18/2015 w/ Lourdes Sabe Bhutan: Inside Look at the Land of Gross National Happiness 05/19/2015-05/27/2015 w/hilary Faxon Private Villages of Italy 05/19/2015-05/26/2015 w/ Prof. Mary Ann Carolan National Parks of the Southwest: A Family Exploration 06/23/2015-07/02/2015 w/ Prof. Jay Ague Terms and Conditions Program rates Program rates for this tour are $6550 per person based on double occupancy, single supplement $1,250. These rates include: Accommodation (eight nights in five star luxury hotels, two nights in a four star hotel, three nights in basic accommodations), meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (wine is not included) throughout the tour starting lunch on day 01 and ending breakfast on day 15) as indicated in the itinerary, entrance fees and guided tours, transportation by motor coach within designated itinerary, bottled water on excursions, services of an Aitken-Spence trip manager throughout the journey, gratuities for guides, drivers, and porters, quiet vox audio system. The program rate does not include: airfare, passport and visa fees, medical expenses and immunizations, trip cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance, meals not specified in the itinerary, dishes and beverages not part of the included meals, personal items. Payment Schedule A deposit of $2000 per person, payable to the Association of Yale Alumni, of which $250 is non-refundable for administrative fees, is required with the reservation application. Final payment, payable to Aitken-Spence by check or electronic wire transfer, must be received 120 days (March 19, 2015) prior to departure. Health Participants must be in good health and will be expected to be able to walk for relatively substantial distances, up and down hills and stairs possibly without handrails, and on uneven pavement, to stand for prolonged periods of time at sites and museums. Insurance Travel insurance for trip cancellation and interruption, medical problems, baggage loss and delay, etc. is strongly recommended. Please be sure to carry the details of your travel insurance coverage with you on the trip. Changes in Itinerary and Cost All prices quoted are based on prevailing fuel prices and currency exchange rates in effect at the time of the brochure printing and are subject to change without notice. Of course we do our best to provide the tour arrangements as confirmed, but Aitken-Spence and the Association of Yale Alumni must retain the right to make modifications to the itinerary, if unforeseen circumstances beyond our control should arise. Cancellation Policy All cancellations must be made in writing to the Association of Yale Alumni, and are subject to a $250 non-refundable administration fee. Cancellation from 120 days to 76 days prior to departure will result in forfeiture of 10% of the entire trip cost per person. Cancellation from 75 days to 31 days prior to departure will result in forfeiture of 50% of the entire trip cost per person. Cancellation from 30 days up to the time of departure will result in 100% of the entire trip cost per person. No refunds for any unused parts of the tour program will be given. If the program is cancelled by Aitken-Spence or the Association of Yale Alumni, a full refund will be given without further obligation on our part. Neither Aitken-Spence nor the Association of Yale Alumni accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in conjunction with this program. If the trip is affected by circumstances resulting from force majeure, Aitken-Spence as well as the participants may withdraw from the contract any time. The cost of transportation home will be shared equally by Aitken-Spence and the participant. Aitken-Spence reserves the right at any time to remove from the group (either from the entire trip or from certain activities) a participant who exhibits behavior that creates an unpleasant environment for other group members or trip organizers, or who cannot for any reason keep up with the rest of the group. Liability Aitken-Spence will not be held liable for financial damages, property damages, bodily injury, dismemberment, or death that are not a direct result of intent or negligence on the part of Aitken-Spence or through intent, negligence or fault of an independent supplier. In the event that Aitken-Spence is held liable, the maximum amount of the award will not exceed three times the cost of the trip. Aitken-Spence and the Association of Yale Alumni assume no liability for any damages resulting from force majeure. Passports All travelers are expected to have a current passport with a date of expiry no sooner than six months from the return date, and any required visas. Baggage and Personal Effects Baggage and personal effects remain the travelers responsibility and risk at all times. Authority to Use Images Occasionally Aitken-Spence obtains photographic or video images of passengers and trip activities. By participating in this travel program, you authorize Aitken-Spence, without providing compensation or obtaining additional approvals from you, to include photographic and video recordings including voice recordings of you in our sales, marketing, advertising, and publicity activities.
Association of Yale Alumni Box 209010 New Haven, Connecticut 06520-9010 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 519 New Haven, CT Gangarama Temple in Sri Lanka s capital An Insider s Look at...sri Lanka July 17-31, 2015 with Mark Ashton 90 PhD. Professor at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Highlights of Sri Lanka Experience Sri Lanka as an insider, following Professor Ashton s itinerary based on his 30 years of research in the country, and his family s centuries of history on the island. Marvel at the majestic ruins of ancient civilisations and their great works, such as the Lion Rock, a 5th century citdel rising 200 metres from the surrounding scrub jungle. Explore the natural wonders of Sri Lanka, splendid to behold. See herds of Sri Lankan elephants in Wasgamuwa National Park, marvel at the 4,000 ft vertical drop of World s End at Horton Plains, and trek through Sri Lanka s only remaining primeval rainforest at Sinharaja. Discover Galle, the picturesque center of the Dutch regime in the 17th century, with its majestic 90 acre fort. The city of Galle is one of the most well preserved colonial-era cities in Southeast Asia. Spices and tea? Experience firsthand the tea and spices that put the name of Ceylon on the lips of people worldwide and drove a vast trade empire. Visit a tea plantation and spice garden and see them made before your eyes. Descend into the painted caves of Dambulla, and enjoy it s 2,100 square meters of murals - the largest and best preserved in the world. Get to know Sri Lanka - a marvel at once natural and constructed; with history ancient, colonial, and modern.