Ecovillage Silimalombu

This was such a beautiful place! The "ecovillage" is a farm, which grows all the food that guests eat, as well as producing mango wine (very tasty) and various other products from cosmetics to sponges. Reka and I, wanting the full experience, volunteered to grind the bark of a cinnamon tree into powder form, a process which involves 2 spice grinders and many hours of sieving and managing heat, wearing face masks to avoid inhaling cinnamon dust. At the end, our clothes were covered in a thick layer of cinnamon. At the end, Selvie (the manager) gave us some cinnamon liqueur as thanks - it didn't last very long...

As well as all the regular farm animals (mostly puppies and chickens), the farm had a special guest: George the macaque. He was rescued as a roughly 3-day-old baby from certain death by the owners of the eco farm, who have since been raising him themselves. I'm not sure I've ever met something so cute before! George really bonded with me, and we spent a lot of time together, playing and cuddling. I miss him!

-AlexRead more