ASÍ ES SRI LANKA: el país “más barato” de Asia | ¿Cómo viven? 🇱🇰

0:00 Imagine yourself driving one day and you

0:02 come across an elephant blocking the street,

0:04 asking you for bananas to let you pass.

0:08 Then you go up in a tuk-tuk,

0:09 drive through an extremely dense city with the tallest tower from South Asia,

0:13 to finally arrive in villages where there are more monkeys than pigeons,

0:17 where men live in the middle of the jungle.

0:21 You move a little further and a leopard passes a few centimeters from you,

0:25 and finally you come home to learn that the president has resigned by email.

0:30 All this and much more is possible possible in this country.

0:33 Welcome to Sri Lanka.

0:47 We are in Sri Lanka, a fascinating country historically known as Ceylon,

0:53 Serendib, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, or the Tear of India.

0:58 Here nowadays, more than 22 million people live here,

1:01 and in this video we're going to see a little bit of everything,

1:06 from big and lively cities to striking natural beauties.

1:09 With a little luck, we might even cross some elephants, leopards, some sloths.

1:14 Say no more, let this adventure begin!

1:18 Normally I would say let's go for it,

1:20 but we're in Sri Lanka, so I'll say happy amudem.

1:23 We begin in the city of Colombo,

1:25 undoubtedly the largest and noisiest town in the country,

1:29 about 6 million people live throughout the metropolitan area.

1:33 And yes, it's very busy.

1:34 You can feel it.

1:35 It's really noisy.

1:36 There's a lot of buildings.

1:38 There's street commerce everywhere.

1:40 It has that charming and pleasant atmosphere typical

1:43 of big cities from all over the world.

1:46 Something we've noticed is that these streets are full of tuk-tuks.

1:50 I would say this is the most common vehicle that you see everywhere.

1:53 I mean, everywhere.

1:55 They even call them crazy tuk-tuks because they drive crazy, my friend.

1:59 They go for it.

1:59 Actually, you know what, let's continue to provide information from a tuk-tuk

2:03 ride to feel the ambience of Colombo, of the metropolitan area.

2:07 How do tuk-tuks work, which I tell you is the most common way of transportation,

2:11 is that they usually have a taxi meter.

2:14 Here's the taxi meter, but my friend didn't turn it on.

2:17 Okay, it happens a lot everywhere in the world, right,

2:19 that the taxi driver has his taxi meter

2:21 and everything but then he doesn't turn it on.

2:23 Just ask beforehand that how much,

2:25 and you need to be able to negotiate, my friend.

2:27 The tuk-tuk is very popular,

2:29 firstly because the traffic in this city becomes heavy and Secondly,

2:33 because it's very cheap.

2:35 For normal distances, say 15-20 minutes,

2:38 you can spend the equivalent of $1, $1.50.

2:41 Besides, let's talk about currency in Sri Lanka.

2:45 Here they use the Sri Lanka rupee.

2:48 I believe that's the correct pronunciation,

2:50 which at the date of me filming this video,

2:52 it's approximately 310 rupees for a dollar.

2:56 And this is one of the most affordable countries on the entire Asian continent.

3:01 Really, here as a foreigner coming from the other side of the world, world,

3:05 we find prices like nowhere else in terms of transport,

3:10 food, daily expenses in general.

3:13 The low prices that we can find here are really, really impressive.

3:17 Although be careful, because for locals it's a very different reality.

3:22 We're talking about the minimum wage in this country,

3:24 which is generally, according to many factors, about 20,000 rupees per month,

3:29 which is equivalent to $70— actually less than $70.

3:34 And it becomes even more complicated when we consider For example,

3:37 the prices of vehicles, motorcycles, tuk-tuks.

3:41 Later we will talk about this, but yes,

3:44 these things are usually very, very expensive.

3:46 If we approach the question of languages,

3:49 you should know that this country has 3 official languages.

3:53 These are Sinhalese, Tamil, and English.

3:55 In fact, everywhere all the signs you see will be in that order because

3:59 they correspond more or less to the percentage

4:02 of the population who speaks them.

4:04 At the top, Sinhalese, which by the way has an alphabet which is magnificent,

4:08 splendid, it is syllabic, certain characters accentuate sounds.

4:13 Tamil also has its own alphabet, which is completely different, and English,

4:18 a result of the fact that for many years

4:20 Sri Lanka has been a colony of the United Kingdom,

4:24 so that's why it's also everywhere,

4:26 and the majority of people who went to school

4:28 in this country will speak at least basic English.

4:32 This really impressed me, by the way.

4:34 Everywhere English is very easy as long as you Tarzan it.

4:37 English should be Tarzaned as a common

4:40 courtesy for more effective communication.

4:42 For travelers, it is very convenient.

4:45 It's quite easy to get around on your own.

4:47 And yes, I think this is good introductory

4:49 information to know a bit of the country.

4:52 Oh my God, the traffic is really intense, like rarely elsewhere.

4:56 It feels a lot— well, yes, like when you visit New Delhi, for example.

4:59 It feels that atmosphere, Goodbye, my friends, goodbye!

5:03 Next time, eh, next time!

5:04 Good guy, good driver, and yes,

5:06 it's not for nothing that they call them the crazy tuk-tuk,

5:10 because they go hard, they sneak everywhere.

5:13 It is estimated that there are nearly

5:16 1.2 million tuk-tuks registered in the country,

5:18 plus those who are not registered, imagine,

5:20 maybe a million and a half of these little cars.

5:23 We're currently walking in the Peta district,

5:25 which is, let's say, the most commercially active center.

5:29 There are really stores for everything: clothes,

5:31 suitcases, hair salons, shops, food, everything, absolutely everything.

5:36 It's really full movement here.

5:37 This is where the working population is located.

5:40 Fun fact about Sri Lanka: did you know that this is the country

5:43 with the most public holidays in the world?

5:47 That's because every full moon here is a day public holiday.

5:50 That is, at least once a month you will

5:52 have a public holiday and people really don't work, they don't go to school.

5:56 And this, the fact that there are so many public holidays,

6:00 is explained by the fact that this country is predominantly Buddhist,

6:03 and the presence of Buddhism Buddhism is noticed everywhere.

6:07 You just have to keep your eyes open in the streets.

6:09 For example, there are Buddhist flags galore, really everywhere, everywhere.

6:13 You see a multitude of Buddha statues scattered everywhere,

6:17 sporting every color imaginable.

6:19 Buddha in a variety of distinct postures, they are everywhere.

6:23 Just take a quick stroll down any street keeping your eyes

6:26 open and you will come across something related to Buddhism.

6:30 And it's very beautiful to see the diversity in the streets.

6:33 You see a lot of people,

6:34 of course a lot of veiled women, right, following followers of Islam,

6:37 but you also see a lot of women wearing beautiful saris, divine,

6:41 a typical garment not only from here but from this entire region.

6:45 It's nice.

6:46 We're going to a gala, for example, something elegant,

6:49 and the girls wear their saris, but like impeccable.

6:52 Today there is no more civil war or war with other countries.

6:55 Today we can say that Sri Lanka is at peace,

6:57 and let us hope that it stays there for a long time.

7:00 I want to ride in a public truck, a public bus.

7:03 The designs are really amazing.

7:05 Let's see, in many parts of the world we see the typical minibus,

7:08 the bus well painted, very pretty.

7:10 We saw some beautiful ones in Guatemala for the channel,

7:14 in Pakistan, very beautiful ones.

7:16 However, here, frankly, the designs are just as impressive, if not superior.

7:20 And you have to be very keen, that is to say,

7:23 I see that people even come down with the bus moving.

7:26 We have witnessed situations where passengers get

7:28 on and off as the bus continues on its way, with people hanging on the outside.

7:33 Fares for a bus ride start at ₹30,

7:35 which is equivalent to approximately 2 Mexican pesos or 10 cents on the dollar.

7:40 And depending on the distance and your honesty to tell the driver where you go,

7:44 the price increases.

7:45 Let's get in one, no?

7:46 Let's see, to get the right experience.

7:49 Okay, let's take this bus.

7:51 Frankly, we don't know its destination, but let's go.

7:54 Hanging there, hope for the best.

7:55 It's cool, there's a speaker.

7:57 Oh, that's great.

7:58 The design doesn't stop there, the design extends to the interior as well.

8:02 Yes, it's rush hour indeed, as we observe in many places.

8:06 During working hours, point, it is necessary to remain standing.

8:09 This is a complete reality.

8:11 Reality.

8:12 In fact, the bus constitutes the most

8:14 efficient mode of transport for local population,

8:16 surpassing the tuk-tuk, which is a private service and therefore more expensive.

8:21 In addition, there are no subway or cable cars here.

8:24 The bus is what there is, the bus is what remains.

8:27 And frankly, it's nice but full.

8:29 You can feel the atmosphere of the lively area of the city.

8:32 I love that the guy comes around collecting money with his money rings,

8:35 just like in Mexico.

8:36 It's the same, the same.

8:37 He comes with his wads of bills as if they were rings.

8:40 The driver here has like his figurines,

8:43 I think it's Hinduism, excuse my ignorance.

8:46 He has a little lamp that moves.

8:48 No, no, honestly, Mexicans and Sri Lanka,

8:51 same persons despite their distinct beliefs.

8:54 Traveling to India, Sri Lanka, or the cities of Mexico, it's very similar.

8:59 Orale!

9:00 Mission accomplished, really nice, but damn, we sweat a lot in there.

9:04 No, it was hot.

9:05 That thing was really, really hot.

9:07 Listen and let's see, we're currently in the big city as I told you.

9:11 Later we will explore more nature and wildlife and so on.

9:15 Don't get but it's always good to know the capital.

9:18 By the way, the capital of Sri Lanka is not Colombo.

9:21 The capital itself, I'm going to read it to you because it's very difficult.

9:25 Sri Jayawardene Purakotte, which is actually a town right next to Colombo.

9:30 It's practically the same thing.

9:31 It's the metropolitan area.

9:33 My advice to residents would be to rename

9:35 it Colombo or simplify the name because that's cool.

9:39 When they ask about the capital of Sri Lanka,

9:40 yes, oh, it's— I already forgot, already forgot.

9:43 Wow, what about this guy that we just met here in the street?

9:47 How are you, my boss?

9:48 Good.

9:48 Okay, okay, okay.

9:49 Good life, my life then.

9:50 I mean, just look at his flow, his jewelry, his clothes.

9:54 He's truly a genius.

9:56 We're told that he works in the transportation industry

9:58 and people know him a little bit on social media.

10:01 It's cool.

10:02 He's a crack.

10:03 Nice time, my brother.

10:04 Check all the billboards on the street.

10:06 It reminds me a lot of the first time when you go to Tokyo, doesn't it?

10:09 And you're impressed by all the neon signs and letters,

10:13 things that you don't understand.

10:15 But obviously much more chaotic.

10:17 Indeed, here to cross the street you have to dare

10:19 and have faith that you will not be hit.

10:22 Absolutely, it is undoubtedly a city in details, full of life.

10:26 I have never considered Sri Lanka from this angle.

10:29 Usually we associate Sri Lanka with nature, elephants, and Buddhism,

10:34 but never to such busy and noisy streets, and I like it a lot.

10:37 Something that unfortunately continues to happen here in Sri Lanka and which is

10:42 even completely legal is that they have

10:44 elephants to offer walks for tourism purposes,

10:46 for entertainment purposes, let's call it as we want.

10:49 It's having the little elephant chained right here.

10:52 Look, in the middle of the street we found

10:55 ourselves with this elephant that they chained in this place.

10:58 I want to make this clear,

10:59 this is not an invitation to do so when you come here to Sri Lanka.

11:02 On the contrary, I invite you not to do it at all.

11:04 It's unfortunate, isn't it, for such a majestic species?

11:07 And yes, they sell the rides, and the most unfortunate thing is

11:11 that the law authorizes the sale of these elephants,

11:14 which are also sold at very high Theoretically,

11:16 as the law regulates it, the government,

11:19 is that to be able to buy one of these elephants,

11:22 you must demonstrate that you have a large space to keep it.

11:25 They check your family background,

11:26 that there isn't a record of animal abuse or something,

11:29 that you're going to treat them well, between quotes,

11:31 not so bad, and that you're going to take them for walks not too much tiring,

11:35 like a limit of kilometers per day, etc., etc.

11:38 In more or less told, it's not like you buy them from private traders,

11:42 but you buy them directly from the government.

11:45 And the way they manage to train them is that at a young age

11:48 They put them very heavy chains and spikes that hurt them if they use force.

11:53 And that's how the little elephant develops a kind of a fear.

11:56 And that's why such a strong species, because let's be honest,

11:59 if he wanted out, he could make a disaster, kill us all and run away.

12:03 But since they are little ones, they instill fear in them.

12:06 They put these spikes on them which hurt their legs when they move.

12:10 And this is how they manage to train them.

12:12 It's very sad.

12:13 It's very ugly.

12:14 I guess when you come, frankly, don't support that.

12:16 And it's not hard to find them.

12:17 I mean, now on a random street like that, we found them,

12:20 and as if nothing was happening.

12:22 But yes, personally, I would tell you, when you come to Sri Lanka, don't do it.

12:25 But if it's possible, yes, it is, it's possible.

12:27 We are staying in a very cool but very

12:30 pretty hotel which could well be called the Monkey's Den.

12:33 Look at that.

12:34 Look how many little monkeys there are.

12:36 And they're everywhere, but really, really everywhere.

12:38 We saw them from breakfast, like on the roof.

12:41 And you see them playing, you see them chasing each other,

12:43 they throw themselves off the roof.

12:46 At one point an iguana came and they were fighting a bit,

12:49 like they wanted to ambush him, but then the monkeys got scared.

12:53 And then there's another part from the swimming pool.

12:56 You see monkeys running, but "genomel" monkeys, like really big ones.

13:01 A fight with one of them, I think you'd lose.

13:04 There are peacocks too, they really are everywhere.

13:07 They are very used to humans.

13:08 Obviously they advise you, it's a bit of an order, brother,

13:12 don't try to touch them or feeding them

13:14 because it can be dangerous and it's not cool.

13:17 Look, 2 meters away, there they are taking care of each other,

13:20 taking each other off leaves.

13:22 It's cool, really.

13:23 This resort is very,

13:23 very pretty and it's like a hotel in the middle of the marshes.

13:26 Really, it's very, very pretty.

13:28 Exactly.

13:29 I have the impression that this is the face that we see the most of Sri Lanka,

13:32 no, as through the world,

13:34 as if there were monkeys everywhere, nature beyond crazy city.

13:37 Don't be afraid, little one, we are safe here.

13:39 We went up a little towards the north and we sailed here on Lake Talcoté.

13:44 It's very cool that by law it is not allowed to have

13:48 motorboats to reduce noise pollution and also to protect the water, no?

13:52 So everything must be done here by rowing.

13:55 We just hired a strong guy, so he's a brother who really, really, really got it.

13:59 And our guide of the region explains

14:01 to us some very beautiful things about here.

14:03 They take great care of nature, they take great care of animals.

14:08 To fish, you must have a special license, which by the way,

14:11 fishing is the main economic activity with the rice crops.

14:15 And from here we see a lot of birds, a lot of monkeys too, we saw some there,

14:19 many beautiful flowers, fruits of everything,

14:21 and we are told that we can even see crocodiles.

14:25 Watch out for crocodiles, okay?

14:27 Really, it's very pretty, we breathe very well here,

14:29 it smells like rain, you know, like that good smell of rain.

14:33 It's beautifully pretty here.

14:34 We moved on from the noise of the city, the horns,

14:37 the very high density of population, to this quiet paradise.

14:41 We breathe deliciously.

14:44 Yes, Sri Lanka has a bit of everything.

14:47 Wow, we fly over with the drone and it's crazy that we are alone here.

14:51 I don't know what happened today, people said I won't go,

14:53 or maybe because it's raining a little bit, I don't know.

14:56 I mean, look at this shot, it's really impressive.

14:58 We are the only little boat here.

15:00 I see there like a mattress floating in the water and that's all we see.

15:04 And it's really about divine, divine, divine.

15:06 No, frankly It's beautiful that they take so much care

15:09 of nature around here because that is something very precious, a paradise.

15:19 Here I'd like to introduce you to the good Porramala.

15:22 Porramala welcomes us here in his field, on his land,

15:25 to give us a walk in the jungle.

15:28 Porramala belongs to the Vetta ethnic group,

15:31 which is an indigenous group that lives here in Sri Lanka.

15:35 Currently there are perhaps 3,000 to 4,000 betta distributed across the country.

15:41 We're currently in the Ratugala area where there are about 400.

15:46 Mama, catch your hondamaya.

15:47 He already taught me to say thank you and more

15:50 or less hello and what a pleasure and stuff.

15:53 It's very interesting.

15:54 As we see, this is how they live without shoes,

15:58 covering themselves only the private parts.

16:00 They let their beards grow, they let themselves grow hair.

16:04 This is an ax.

16:05 Okay, the ax is important.

16:06 He will explain different explains things to us later.

16:09 They hunt to eat, they fish,

16:10 they have their own crops, their own language, of course.

16:14 This is very interesting and we are grateful for this opportunity.

16:18 So let's go!

16:19 He taught me to say let's go and it's mangachamu.

16:22 Oh, and by the way, I didn't even tell you,

16:24 to come here we obviously went quite far from the city.

16:27 We're currently in the central part of the country, but rather in the south.

16:31 Yala, yes, it's crazy, like their feet don't hurt, like nothing at all.

16:35 And to establish contact, all it took was our guide,

16:38 as if I told him a few words.

16:40 Obviously, we also offered him to give him a tip,

16:43 and it's up almost to everything.

16:45 Me, all stupid, saying, "We're going to the jungle,

16:48 I'll put on long socks." No, brother, we have to cross the river.

16:52 So let's go barefoot like the good porra mala.

16:55 That's cool, there you go, huh?

16:57 We're ready for what's to come.

16:58 So come on, here we go.

16:59 Imagine a Komodo dragon shows up here.

17:02 The water is cold, and it's even good

17:04 for refreshing us because it is really very hot, honestly.

17:07 And now what I'm going to do is I'm going to put my shoes

17:10 back on because You never know if there's a sharp branch here or a centipede,

17:14 or what else do I know?

17:15 We clearly don't have the powerful souls of the good Porramala.

17:19 Porramala shows us how to make a little joint out of the jungle.

17:22 They make a cigarette with this, it's called the bidi.

17:25 Just look at this, it's a little joint,

17:27 and if I've learned something about traveling so much

17:29 is that people love to get high as fuck.

17:32 Really, all of them, all of them.

17:34 Look, here we can see that an elephant has clearly passed by.

17:38 Do you see that?

17:39 Because everything is crushed there.

17:41 Yes, elephant passed by.

17:42 Says my brother.

17:44 Yes, it's daily.

17:44 Here, more evidence of an elephant.

17:46 Here's a big, massive, and heavily piled of dung.

17:49 Okay, he might be close.

17:51 Let's keep our eyes peeled.

17:52 Look, he's showing us something very interesting.

17:54 Every time they venture here into the jungle,

17:56 they leave an offering here for the deities.

17:59 Let's see, they're animists.

18:00 So today, in modern times,

18:01 you will come across many who might also be Buddhists or Hindus

18:05 because there's already syncretism and the influence of religions and so on.

18:09 But traditionally, let's see,

18:10 the Vedda are more than 10,000 years old, their culture.

18:13 So they're animists.

18:15 As they believe in their ancestors, in the spirit of the earth,

18:18 the tree, the stone, etc., etc., which is very cool.

18:21 And here they leave as an offering a few leaves

18:24 so that the divinities protect them and watch over them.

18:27 So as if to say, okay,

18:28 protect me so I don't fall or I don't get hurt by an animal,

18:32 so I don't run out of water, whatever, whatever.

18:36 Wow, that was super beautiful and moving.

18:46 Ceremony.

18:47 And basically now they explained to us what it was.

18:50 He made a song, poetry, as for the ancestors, as for their spirits,

18:54 as if he had connected to the earth,

18:56 gave thanks for the fruits, for the trees, for insects, for everything.

19:00 It was a deep connection.

19:01 And it's a way of thanking the deities who are here,

19:03 the divinities who give them food, who give them life, who protect them.

19:07 So honestly, very beautiful.

19:09 I feel, wow, very, very moved.

19:10 Okay, then now we just have to put our leaf here and this way,

19:14 on the Maya, on the Maya, and ready.

19:16 We thanks them all.

19:17 How pretty that is.

19:18 Our brother Ramallah also explained to us here

19:21 that in his generation it wasn't very normal to go to school.

19:24 Very few people of his generation and previous

19:26 generations know how to read and write,

19:29 but nowadays this area is actually much more modern.

19:32 They have more roads, they have electricity,

19:35 young people are starting to have a telephone.

19:38 There's no phone signal, no, they are quite disconnected in this regard,

19:41 but young people are already going to school,

19:43 and about 80% perhaps of young people know how to read,

19:47 know how to write, which is very cool.

19:49 But he told us that the school of him and his ancestors,

19:52 it was more like the countryside.

19:54 It was more like learning how to hunt,

19:56 learning how to make medicine with plants,

19:58 because yes, they didn't really go to hospitals.

20:00 They were giving birth here in these communities, which, let's see,

20:04 although they have certain structures, are still very, very, very rural.

20:07 Oh, look, he's showing us his arm.

20:09 He says he fought with a bear here for honey,

20:11 because yes, these brothers collect honey to make alcohol and stuff.

20:15 Oh, he bite him!

20:16 Yes, he really did.

20:17 Wow, wow, wow, it's crazy.

20:19 They got bitten for honey, literally.

20:21 Ask him who won the fight.

20:22 He won, he won because he had the ax.

20:24 He won.

20:28 He says he didn't kill the bear but just scared him, like, uh, go away, go away.

20:32 And that is why it's important for them to always carry their ax,

20:35 because they never know when a risk may arise.

20:37 In fact, our guys tell me that here on social medias.

20:41 Not a long time ago, a case of a Hueta leader went viral,

20:44 which was supposed to fly elsewhere for a trip.

20:47 So he didn't know that he can't take his ax into the airport,

20:50 so he got a special permit because he wanted to get on the plane with his ax.

20:54 And for reasons of his culture,

20:56 they granted him a special permit only for this occasion,

20:59 because yes, the brother said, what if a bear came out of nowhere on the plane?

21:03 And yes, look at him where he goes with his ax.

21:06 In fact, his name Porramala means one who handles the ax,

21:10 and they tell us that is a very common name for them.

21:13 That's it, we say goodbye to the good Porramala.

21:16 Mama, get you gondamaya.

21:19 Really interesting to know more about his lifestyle.

21:32 Look at this, we just found some kids here

21:35 playing cricket in a And let me tell you,

21:38 here football is not the most popular sport.

21:41 Here the king is cricket.

21:43 People play it everywhere.

21:44 That's what you see.

21:45 It's the most popular sport, the one who sells the most,

21:49 the one who is consumed the most.

21:51 Just like in India, for example.

21:53 I actually thought it was like baseball.

21:55 No, frankly, the truth is that it doesn't have too much to do with it.

21:58 In fact, on the date we are visiting here in Sri Lanka,

22:01 the World Cup of Cricket is happening and there are advertisements everywhere.

22:06 Everywhere.

22:06 In bars you see the match schedule, advertisements.

22:10 In sports stores they sell cricket uniforms, cricket bats.

22:14 Yes, cricket is the king here.

22:16 It's the sport that moves the economy.

22:18 Children aspire to be professional cricketers,

22:20 and it's very funny to see street cricket that, well,

22:24 as it happens in all sports, it's normal for the ball to fly, to go away.

22:29 Here too, the kids see the ball fly away, but look at this.

22:32 I mean, here they put a Fence with spikes

22:35 and kids jump like that for the ball with that?

22:37 Better build them a fence because someone's going to get hurt here.

22:41 We can see that children are playing with a tennis ball,

22:44 for professionals it's different, and we also see that in the absence of sticks,

22:48 they put a chair, hehe, they're creative, I like that.

22:51 You have to be resourceful, see, for example,

22:53 when I was a child I played football

22:55 with a simple plastic bottle which served as a ball,

22:58 and the goalposts were made of two flip-flops.

23:00 And it's actually very nice to see street cricket,

23:03 it's the sport that animates the country, the one who people are passionate.

23:07 We're currently driving on a road where we are

23:10 informed that it's possible that we could find some elephants.

23:13 In fact, there are signs suddenly like elephants crossing.

23:17 We got ready and stopped at a store

23:19 before setting out the trip, a small local shop,

23:22 and we bought a few bananas there because we're told that they love bananas,

23:26 that they often even block the roads,

23:28 and that they don't move until you give them a banana.

23:31 By the way, the men who ran the banana shop were also hueta.

23:35 It was very interesting to see, yes, there's the huetas in the modern world,

23:39 owners of their own little shop and so on.

23:41 And on this road we have already seen deer as well as a kind of a lizard,

23:46 particularly long and unique.

23:48 We also saw buffaloes, a lot of water buffaloes,

23:51 that's the name of this species, of which I am told that here they consume

23:54 a lot of their milk and they eat their meat.

23:57 We'll see if we see anything else, like a big elephant.

24:00 Oh my God, look, look, look, we see one there, there it is!

24:04 We'll to get closer.

24:06 Oh, look how crazy it is!

24:08 Yes, we found an elephant here on the street.

24:10 Oh my goodness, it's absolutely gigantic!

24:13 Here, have a banana, my friend, a banana.

24:15 Orale!

24:16 It feels— how can I put it— the hand is rough.

24:19 And look, he devours them in one go.

24:21 Eh, bye, beautiful elephant!

24:23 Wow, well, the myth was true.

24:25 See, on some roads here in Sri Lanka, you actually come across some elephants.

24:30 It's magnificent.

24:31 No, seriously, Seriously, it's incredible.

24:33 I loved it, I really did.

24:35 It's splendid.

24:36 I believe this is how human-elephant interaction should unfold.

24:40 The elephant approaches you because he knows how to get a big banana,

24:43 knowing that the human hand will offer fresh fruit.

24:47 I loved it, how sweet.

24:48 We'll see if we see any others.

24:50 Look at another one here, an impressive specimen.

24:53 This one seems smaller, by the way.

24:55 Wow, it's fantastic.

24:57 Hello, kid, we're here, we're here with the banana.

24:59 Here, little one, a banana for for you.

25:01 See you, brother.

25:02 Bye.

25:02 There you have it, 2 elephants in like no time.

25:06 Further on, we see another one.

25:08 Hey, these tuk-tuks are crazy.

25:10 The elephant can clearly overturn the tuk-tuk.

25:14 Well, us too.

25:14 Yes, no, all of us.

25:16 Hola!

25:17 That one's size is really massive.

25:21 Those in the tuk-tuk were scared to death, that's for sure.

25:25 Another one, look, another!

25:26 Hello, elephant!

25:27 Hello, little one, we bring bananas.

25:29 They are peaceful.

25:33 How sweet that we were able to see the elephants like that.

25:36 Well, I mean, in the streets.

25:38 I don't know how we hear about Sri Lanka,

25:40 not just chained together like we saw before.

25:42 Good, good, very, very cool.

25:44 And let's see, this elephant thing in itself is already very cool,

25:48 frankly, very impressive.

25:49 But also it called my attention a lot to the fact

25:52 that in the streets we see a lot of peacocks crossing signs.

25:55 Yes, like elsewhere there are chickens or Ducks, here they are peacocks.

26:00 To prevent them from being crushed, they put up these signs.

26:03 We see them everywhere.

26:05 And look, this whole animal crossing thing is so,

26:07 so common that there are places where

26:10 they built pedestrian bridges for the animals,

26:13 because they know that during the migration period

26:15 they must pass from one side to other, but roads have been built in the middle.

26:20 So they made bridges for them to cross, and they explained to me that they

26:24 are designed to support the weight of elephants, large herds of deer.

26:28 In short, tons and tons can circulate there simultaneously.

26:32 Orale!

26:33 Yes, I have never seen this anywhere

26:35 else in the world— pedestrian bridges for animals.

26:38 Wow!

26:43 We're currently doing another tuk-tuk ride through the villages of Dambulla.

26:50 It's very pleasant here and bright green, really green.

26:54 Here the people harvest all kinds of fruits in abundance and the place is clean.

26:59 Honestly, it looks clean, like there isn't a lot of trash and so

27:02 on, as if there existed this culture of taking care of things,

27:06 which is very cool, very, very, very good.

27:08 Oh yeah, look at this, see how much cultivation, it's very cool.

27:12 Here it rains almost every day, at least in this season we are visiting.

27:16 Yes, just check the river overflows here.

27:18 Wow, so I am told that sometimes everything, everything is flooded.

27:22 Well, yes, season rains.

27:23 My brothers are taking a bath here.

27:25 Wow, if life gives you water, use it to bathe,

27:28 and these guys have it perfectly understood.

27:31 We met some very friendly locals here and we just asked them like,

27:34 could we visit your house to discover the life outside the city?

27:37 And what a magnificent residence, truly spacious, very spacious.

27:40 They have their coconut field like that and grow all kinds of things.

27:44 Very spacious.

27:44 The shower is outside,

27:46 for It was really nice and the family was very communicative.

27:50 When we go out towards the villages,

27:51 it seems like we breathe differently and people have more space.

27:54 Yes, everything is very, very green.

27:57 Tasty, tasty.

27:58 We drove to a very magical place called the Cave Temple of Dambulla.

28:04 It's literally a Buddhist temple set in a cave and it's truly impressive.

28:10 Around 150 statues of Buddha Buddha are carved here.

28:14 One of them is a monumental statue of a Buddha

28:17 in a reclining position carved directly into the stone of the cave.

28:21 Many of the paintings we see on the ceilings

28:24 were never retouched and they're almost 2,000 years old.

28:28 And the story explaining its creation is also very interesting.

28:33 See, it is said that around the year 100-something before Jesus Christ,

28:38 there was a king who had to hide when people

28:41 from present-day India came to invade the land and wanted, of course, his head.

28:46 The king had to go into hiding to save his own life,

28:50 and it is said that he remained 14 long years hidden here between these caves.

28:56 He lived here all alone, just from the wild, taking refuge inside the caves.

29:01 So when the armed forces finally regained power and he was able to come out,

29:06 of his cave and announced to everyone, hey, what do you think, I am alive.

29:10 He ordered the construction of this temple to honor Buddha because he felt

29:14 that it was the strength of Buddhism that kept him alive and hopeful.

29:18 It is said that there are nearly 80 caves and most

29:21 of them actually have a lot of statues and paintings,

29:24 but nowadays you can visit only 5 of them,

29:27 which are the largest and safest for visitors.

29:30 It is full of people, by the way, that must be be said,

29:32 and since you have to go in barefoot, it smells of feet inside, but strong.

29:37 It smells like cheese, doesn't it?

29:39 Here you can take photos inside without any problem,

29:41 but there are a lot of signs that say don't take selfies,

29:44 don't take photos that could be disrespectful to religion,

29:47 not to touch, not to sit in certain places.

29:51 Obviously, it is a place of religious worship.

29:53 It's also very particular to see how even

29:55 in Buddhist ideology there's a big confrontation between religions.

29:59 Blatant proof, at the very entrance of the temple there's a sign which says

30:03 that it is prohibited from entering with a hijab

30:05 or burqa or something that covers you,

30:08 following the attacks which took place around 2019, so they said no, no, no,

30:13 under these outfits they could hide things explosive or similar,

30:16 so from now on you can no longer enter with a burqa

30:19 or with long outfits or anything similar here at the temple.

30:23 And coming back to architecture,

30:24 it is unreal to observe the structures that they've done.

30:28 It is said that previously this entire rocky part of the mountain

30:32 was completely painted because there remains a specific section still colored,

30:36 like if there was only a small painted fragment.

30:39 So they say everything was like that, everything

30:42 was like a massive piece of art,

30:44 but because of the rains, humidity, etc., etc., it has been deteriorated.

30:49 There's a lot of mischievous little monkeys walking around.

30:52 There's also a lot of cute little ducks that you can tempet,

30:54 it's definitely worth it.

30:56 Great place, 10 out of 10.

30:57 This is the Independence Monument of Sri Lanka.

31:01 We learned that Sri Lanka is actually a country relatively quite new.

31:04 February 4th, 1948 was the day they obtained their independence.

31:09 Before that, they were a British colony.

31:11 And right in the center,

31:12 we can observe a statue of the very first prime minister of the country.

31:17 There are lions everywhere.

31:19 Well, it's a very significant animal.

31:20 It's even on the flag.

31:22 What do I tell you?

31:23 This is a very special flag and very colorful.

31:26 Basically symbolizes the union of the people of Sri Lanka.

31:29 The lion who's holding the sword symbolizes strength, values, and courage.

31:35 The reddish-brown color, let's say,

31:38 that surrounds the lion represents the Sinhalese

31:41 people as well as deeply rooted Buddhist beliefs.

31:45 The orange next to it represents the Tamil

31:47 people with all the beliefs of Hinduism.

31:49 The green color represents the population who follow Islam,

31:54 and all the yellow that surrounds it,

31:56 the other minorities, where the Jews, the Christians, etc., etc.

32:01 This basically symbolizes that all are united in the great nation,

32:06 and the monument is cool, it's very beautiful,

32:08 it has a lot of very refined finishes.

32:11 A little controversial is the fact that next

32:13 to the national monument there's a very large flag of Buddhism,

32:17 as if to say, yes, our national flag includes everyone,

32:21 but let's not forget that the majority are Buddhists.

32:25 And this monument, the Independence Monument,

32:27 is located in one of the richest neighborhoods of Colombo.

32:31 Here we see many pretty squares, magnificent residence,

32:34 and many important embassies are located here.

32:38 It's like the nicest area.

32:40 It's pretty, it's beautiful, and yes,

32:42 it's one of the most visited sights of Colombo.

32:45 We're discovering a bit of the chic side of the city here,

32:49 and it turns out that, for example,

32:51 to have a premium brand car, let's call it that way, you must be doubly rich,

32:56 because as it is an island country and there is no really automotive industry,

33:00 everything has to be imported by ship.

33:04 So for a vehicle, you pay practically double its price elsewhere.

33:09 To give you an idea, just to buy one of One of those tuk-tuks that we see

33:13 literally everywhere here can cost you the equivalent of over $3,000 to $4,000.

33:18 No way, elsewhere does it cost what, $1,000 I think, right?

33:21 From $1,000 to $2,000.

33:23 They're showing me a website of used cars here and look,

33:27 a Mercedes CLA of 2019 costs 27.5 million in Mexican pesos,

33:33 that's what, 1,800,000?

33:35 That's about $95,000 for a 2019 Mercedes.

33:39 So how much does it cost to have a Ferrari here?

33:41 A G-Wagon?

33:43 I am really stoned, but I would like

33:44 to point out that these are the prices of cars, and particularly luxury cars.

33:49 But in general, Sri Lanka, as I said,

33:51 is a country which for the rest of the world could be very affordable.

33:54 You can eat in many places for the equivalent of a dollar.

33:57 An average house in Colombo will cost around $60,000 to $70,000.

34:02 So yes, it is especially the automobile sector

34:05 and the luxury sector where prices goes up to the moon.

34:17 We are on safari.

34:19 We currently are in the Yala National Park.

34:22 It's very cool.

34:24 We're here in a vehicle that, wow, it's amazing.

34:27 And we could see leopards, elephants, many species of monkeys.

34:31 Actually, right there we saw a whole Disney movie,

34:34 little deer living with little monkeys.

34:37 We are told that they have a friendship relationship and even of complicity,

34:42 because as both are terrified of leopards,

34:44 they warn each other like, bro, there comes the big guy,

34:47 and it's like, let's get out of here.

34:49 So they warn each other.

34:50 The monkey makes its little noise,

34:52 the deer make it sounds— I don't really know how the deer does.

34:57 Somehow they understand each other.

34:59 It's like the magic of nature.

35:01 The park is very cool, very well maintained.

35:04 There is a security check, everything is protected.

35:07 The rules are clear: you don't get out of the vehicle.

35:10 So far we have only seen wild peacocks.

35:13 This seems curious to me.

35:15 I have never seen them like this in nature, like free.

35:18 We also saw a few hares,

35:20 which I am told that they are essentially— what is that?

35:23 The bottom of the food chain.

35:25 They are eaten by everyone: birds, leopards, giant iguanas.

35:29 Oh yes, there are some big iguanas, they are huge.

35:32 We saw a lot of birds too, a very beautiful green bird that eat bees, and deers.

35:38 One might think that the deer is also at the very bottom of the food chain,

35:42 but I am told that it's very difficult to catch them.

35:45 And there we hear that other guides

35:47 whispering that there's a leopard lurks around there,

35:50 but I am told that the leopard is actually

35:53 the hardest to see because they are observant and patient.

35:57 They will not attack their prey just like that.

35:59 No, no, no.

36:00 They will observe it for minutes, hours,

36:02 maybe all day, and when the time is right, rácate!

36:06 So basically, we don't find the leopard, the leopard finds us.

36:10 What a disturbing information.

36:12 Oh, look at this crocodile!

36:14 Crocodiles, there they are, quiet, relaxed, brother.

36:18 And there are peacocks which run very fast, they are quite clever.

36:23 A little elephant, look over there, wow, it's super cool, very cute.

36:28 In fact, he's alone,

36:29 he's like walking on the water by himself, just chilling and pooping.

36:34 Look at this turd, wow, he eats and shits at the same time,

36:37 the two best things in this life if you ask me.

36:40 It's magnificent, I loved it,

36:41 and I'm told that he's probably an adult because he's starting to take tints.

36:46 Hola!

36:47 Oh, a leopard!

36:48 We managed to see it.

36:49 Wow, how majestic!

36:50 Look at this.

36:52 It's crazy because everyone is aware.

36:54 And just check, since it's super touristic here, there's quite a traffic jam.

36:58 I mean, I'm showing you the reality.

37:00 I could say we were the only one who see it and all that, but in true,

37:03 that's not the case.

37:04 Look at that.

37:05 Oh, what a massive animal!

37:08 Wow, that's super impressive.

37:09 Look at his skin.

37:11 It's funny where The word of mouth spreads.

37:13 Everyone is here to see the leopard.

37:15 Very epic indeed.

37:16 But at the same time, I think we have disturbed him, the poor guy.

37:20 No, that is to say, the guy says to himself, oh,

37:23 I'm going to go out and do a leisurely ride, and then boom, all the humans.

37:28 Look, look.

37:28 But hey, we leave him alone.

37:30 And yes, that's why we can't get out of the vehicle,

37:33 because yes, for him we are a very tasty snack.

37:37 What an imposing animal.

37:38 We're told that they have seen this leopard

37:40 before and that it even already has a name, and that name is actually Lucas.

37:45 Now he's walking towards here and all the cars are letting him pass.

37:49 Look, what an organization!

37:50 He's very close.

37:52 Look at that.

37:53 Wow, how scary!

37:54 How impressive!

37:55 No, what a celestial animal!

37:57 I were able to record it even in slow motion.

38:00 Wow, what an impressive animal!

38:02 What do I tell you, super Super cool, really super cute, magnificent animal,

38:06 and also very crazy to see how the whole

38:08 tourist movement gathers there to be able to appreciate it.

38:11 I mean, that's why you come to a safari.

38:12 Here the good Indika is showing us his photos, and wow, these ones are awesome.

38:17 What beautiful photos of Indika, eh?

38:19 What a professional.

38:20 Truly a very good safari experience.

38:22 We saw a bit of everything.

38:23 Yala National Park is very cool.

38:35 This massive structure that we see here is the tallest building

38:40 of all the country and the tallest tower in all of South Asia.

38:45 This is the Colombo Lotus Tower,

38:47 which has an approximate height of approximately 350m.

38:52 Wow, that's pretty massive!

38:54 And beyond the fact that she's very beautiful and very impressive,

38:57 she represents a major conflict of interest.

39:01 I'll tell you, it's complicated, but I'll try to simplify it.

39:04 Around the year of 2022, Sri Lanka was,

39:08 under many interpretations, on the verge of disappearance.

39:12 They had an economic crisis, wow, but brutal,

39:15 and they were in debt to many countries.

39:18 Their reserve of dollars was exhausted, and To this are added other factors,

39:23 such as, for example,

39:25 that in 2019 there were terrorist attacks by Islamic groups.

39:29 This has already affected the country's tourism a lot,

39:33 but then the COVID-19 arrived and boom, that was another big blow.

39:37 And then the years passed, they were just starting to recover,

39:41 and there it was, the great crisis of 2022.

39:45 Electricity was cut for periods of up to 12 hours.

39:48 People had to queue for days to get gasoline.

39:51 People came out to demonstrate violently in the street.

39:54 Discontent grew, made of still a tense

39:57 and horrible situation which we wouldn't wish to anyone.

40:00 And the president had to flee the country and then resign by email.

40:05 That's crazy.

40:05 It's even seems a little comical to me that just like that, just like

40:09 you quit your job right at the office that you didn't like it anymore.

40:13 But you didn't have the courage to tell your boss face to face and it was like,

40:17 "Boss, excuse me, I am sending you this letter with all due respect,

40:22 but the truth is that you already have me up to my balls." Exactly,

40:26 but from a president of a country,

40:28 he didn't have the disposition, he didn't have the balls to say it face to face.

40:32 But hey, what does all this have to do

40:34 with this tower and the other structures around the country?

40:37 Well, to get out of this crisis, crisis,

40:39 there is no official version of what happened,

40:41 but what is said in the press is that it

40:44 was necessary to obtain different supports from several places.

40:49 Between others, of course, the International Monetary Fund intervened,

40:53 and it is also commented a lot— this with an asterisk because I don't want

40:58 to be attacked— there is no official version

41:00 as such that China had to rush to help.

41:03 And China, well, it's It's well known

41:05 that they like to peek into several places, no?

41:08 She likes to allocate budgets in different countries

41:10 because they have a strong culture of expansion.

41:13 That's why, it is also why it's possibly the most powerful country in the world.

41:17 So for a long time they have been flirting with Sri Lanka.

41:22 A clear example is a huge complex

41:24 that they offered to Sri Lanka towards the '70s, which we went to see.

41:28 It's very luxurious, it's very good.

41:30 In this complex are exhibited, for example,

41:33 statues of the first woman first minister that ever existed in the world,

41:37 who was from here in Sri Lanka, and from her husband,

41:41 who was also the first minister to renounce the constitution

41:44 of the United Kingdom to implement the constitution of Sri Lanka.

41:48 Beyond this subject, it is a complex that China has offered.

41:52 They offered another massive and similar concert venue called the Theater Lotus,

41:57 and they also put in the money to be able to build this massive tower,

42:02 the Columbus Lotus Tower.

42:05 So for many people, it is very polemic,

42:08 very controversial that this was built here

42:10 in this place really prestigious of the city,

42:13 because yes, a lot of people in Sri Lanka say like,

42:16 hey, how did we really get out of the crisis,

42:19 and what did our leaders really promise to China

42:22 to come to rescue us by putting so many, many resources.

42:27 Look, we don't know yet,

42:28 and still to this day there's a great uncertainty about this subject.

42:37 We're going up to see the Sigiriya Palace,

42:40 and wow, what an impressive structure.

42:42 Really, there's no other way to say it— impressive.

42:45 Basically, many years ago,

42:46 a king had the wonderful idea of I want to build my palace on top of a rock.

42:51 And yes, as soon as you enter, well, you see the rock, which is very beautiful,

42:55 it has a very unique shape,

42:57 and you go up a lot and you see the structure that humans have built.

43:01 There are about 1,200 steps, many staircases,

43:04 and structures are now more modern so that visitors can come more easily.

43:08 Look, also from here we see a Buddha, but wonderfully impressive,

43:12 that is to say, we are very, very far away and Look at this structure.

43:16 How high should it really be?

43:18 How long did it take them to do?

43:20 I'm telling you, here there are Buddhas everywhere

43:22 and there are very impressive ones like this one.

43:24 That is, how do we see it from here and no tree hides it?

43:27 It's impressive.

43:28 And it also caught our attention the amount of small dogs that there are.

43:31 This brother, how did he get here?

43:33 He has already taken his nap because he's tired.

43:35 Look at this.

43:36 And we saw monkeys too, a family, mother, father, son.

43:39 What a cutie with a hairstyle like a mushroom, it seems.

43:42 Very beautiful, a lot of wildlife, a lot of nature, and several monks come here.

43:47 We noticed we all want to see the top of the palace.

43:50 Oof!

43:50 And now we come to the famous Lion's Legs.

43:55 Look at this!

43:56 These are legs that are carved directly in the mountain.

43:59 Very impressive, very crazy,

44:00 and even more so that we believe that before it was a whole lion.

44:04 Really, this whole big wall we see now is supposed to be before a massive

44:09 lion and that the entrance to the palace was through the mouth of this feline.

44:13 Of this there is not much evidence over the centuries it has erased,

44:17 but the legs survived and until today they are quite good, that is to say.

44:22 But just imagine it before, holo borgo!

44:25 We can continue to climb according to what we see to get to the top, but no way,

44:29 look at this queue, and me the truth what I wanted to see is how were the legs.

44:33 I wanted to imagine what this supposed entrance was like to the lion's mouth,

44:36 so with that I am more than satisfied.

44:39 Another day we will come back when there are fewer people because yes,

44:42 it is very touristic here,

44:43 and I am told that on national holidays there's triple the number of people.

44:46 Well, very beautiful, very cool, undoubtedly a demonstration of skill,

44:50 of humanity, and also of the madness of kings, isn't it?

44:53 And their ambition.

44:54 Very crazy, very impressive.

45:00 Well, there you have it, a bit of Sri Lanka.

45:03 Wow, what a magnificent country, really.

45:05 I leave here delighted,

45:06 especially with the welcome given to us by the people here.

45:09 How friendly everyone is, what a smile.

45:12 I leave extremely happy.

45:13 What a great adventure was this one.

45:15 How did you see it?

45:17 What did you think of it?

45:18 What did I forget to document?

45:19 I would love to read you down here in the comments.

45:22 Thank you very much from the bottom

45:23 of my heart for joining me on one more adventure,

45:25 and we will meet us again in a few you guys with a new video.

45:28 Bye!

45:29 Stuttet euch wohl!