The quiet village of Vakarai is located north of Pasikudah Bay on the East Coast of Sri Lanka.

At the centre of battle during the recent war, it has now resumed life as the isolated, peaceful fishing hamlet it was before. The pristine beaches along here stretches for miles and the ocean gentle and calm - if you are looking to simply get away from it all with nothing but the sea and sand for company, this is a dream. It is truly paradise, regained. For birdwatchers, this is heaven too. The large expanse of the Uppar Lagoon encircles the area, home to a vast array of birdlife, and many migrants and resident species alike can be spotted – often in their thousands.