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This country was never quite on my radar until recently stumbling upon photos of glassy idyllic longboarding waves and hearing exotic tales from far out friends. It’s none other than Sri Lanka, known as the teardrop of India, a land famous for its precious gemstones, vibrant buddhist culture, and, increasingly, the surf culture that’s nestled along the tropical coastline. This past winter, I decided on a whim to redirect all of my travel plans and journey to Sri Lanka to immerse myself in all the wonders of this nation: from getting acquainted with some of the countless surf breaks in the Southern Province and seeking out meaningful ways to get involved in giving back. If finding unique ways to connect with the environment and having a good time are up your adventure alley, then a glimpse into my experience will provide some useful tips for the unfolding of your future Sri Lanka trip! I made my base in Weligama at The Spindrift Hostel, a modern oasis situated along a jungle alleyway, perpendicular to the Indian Sea. I chose Weligama as my headquarters for my swell based undertaking as it’s in the heart of all the Southern Province action, and close enough to numerous other cool spots to move around frequently and freely. The middle zone of Weligama Bay is a beach break, great for longboarding and for sharing waves with a hundred and one people. If you do go here, be sure to brush up on your surf etiquette and do your best to navigate the travellers who haven’t. The best time to go is early in the morning, before the wind blows and the population spikes. In Weligama there’s also multiple opportunities to get your hands dirty in making the earth a little cleaner: every Friday, Freedom Surf School hosts a beach clean at 11 am to remove the plastic pollution plaguing the coastline. In addition to joining this remediation effort, you can also work to avoid all unnecessary plastics on your trip, so check in with your accommodation to make sure their tap water is good to consume. I drank tap water with my reusable bottle during the entire trip and was absolutely fine, so please plan for this! Just 8 km east of Weligama is the town of Mirissa, home to the commonly photographed lookout, Coconut Hill and another beach for you to expand your surf skills! The right-hander reef break on the west side of Mirissa Beach is best for folks with more intermediate experience, so if this is you, grab your board and head out with a camera pal, as this beach contains one of the most aesthetic surf backdrops. One of the most ideal ways to give back to yourself and the local area in Mirissa is to drop into Yoga For Street Dogs at Shady Lane Cafe. This takes place every morning at 7 am, besides Tuesday, and all proceeds go towards WECare, an organization dedicated to helping street dogs in the region. The street dogs in Sri Lanka are as prominent a fixture as the palm trees: they are everywhere, and unfortunately, they aren’t all in the best of health. These dogs don’t have access to veterinary care, neutering or vaccinations, and WeCare has filled this gap, providing this care, education and adoption for dogs in need. So far, this charity has helped and healed 6000 street dogs, and they are on a mission to increase the vitality of these pet-friendly animals across the southern coast. So, shimmy your way down to Shady Lane for this philanthropic class, and then indulge in their sumptuous smoothie bowl cafe. In my short time in Sri Lanka I soaked up all that I could of this lush country, which eclipsed my expectations and left me with the feeling of never wanting to leave. I hope you find yourself on a similar passage, of chasing liquid peaks and reciprocating the benefits you receive from travelling by seeking out the distinctive ways to make the places you visit cleaner and healthier!