Fishing communities and mangroves in Kalpitiya

The beach between the lagoon and the open sea is a massive expanse of sand. Kite surfers enjoy the the safety of the lagoon with the wind of the Indian Ocean. As you approach the  beach, it becomes apparent that it is impossible to dodge the plastic - bottles, shoes, toothbrushes, ropes and fishing nets.

 There are often the remains of turtles caught for food (these are endangered species, struggling to survive as light disturbs their nesting, some eat plastic bags instead of jellyfish, some get caught in fishing nets and some are hunted after they lay eggs).

A fisherman took us on a boat ride through the corridors of mangrove forests. I don't know how he kept his bearings. It was hard to imagine that there is any pollution at all while you are floating through this lush, green paradise that is alive with the diverse sounds of various birds and fish leaping out of the water. We stopped to look at an "elephant tree." There was a dung beetle busy with its perfectly spherical load. There was also some huge dug - "wild elephants" I'm told are here. We stop again at a little island where fishermen live in basic huts and the rubbish is all around again. On the way home, I spotted some strange movement in the water - dolphins!