Life, Light & Lenses: February from the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka

It has been a while since I've had the chance to sit down and write here. The past stretch of time has been full in the best possible way: I've been heads-down building out my equestrian media business at RickSilvia.com/media, getting deeply familiar with a new client, and creating some fun marketing materials for the wonderful Lisa Wilcox — who will soon be accepting reservations for her summer clinics as the winter competition season begins to wrap up.

At the same time, it's hard to ignore the weight of what's happening in the world. Turning on the news, scrolling through social media, or simply stepping outside can be disheartening. Here in Sri Lanka, the reality of an energy crisis has arrived in a visceral way; I watched as literally hundreds of motorbikes and tuk-tuks lined up, waiting hours in the sun just for gasoline. It's a sobering reminder of how fragile things can be.

Which is exactly why I wanted to share this photo collage from February's adventures. These images are my antidote.

Many of these photos are from right where I live: my neighborhood of Kamburugamuwa, the beach just outside my villa, and the neighboring town of Mirissa. This stretch of Sri Lanka's southern coast is genuinely stunning and not yet known to many tourists. Every morning feels like something out of a dream: the ocean, the light, the wildlife. My villa sits right on the shore, and I can tell you that working from a laptop here does not feel like work.

I also had the great fortune recently of being included in a safari at Yala National Park, thanks to the neighbors who just leased out the villa next door. The collage includes some of what we encountered: elephants swimming, a mother monkey with her baby, the raw and quiet power of wildlife in its natural setting. It's the kind of thing that recalibrates you, that reminds you why being alive is actually quite extraordinary.

I'm living what I can only describe as an incredible balance. The equestrian media work I love, pursued from a laptop in one of the most beautiful places on earth. There are certainly challenges in a developing country, I encounter examples regularly. It's hard to even describe this experience to someone who hasn't experienced it or been here. It is not something I would have ever envisioned years ago, but I think its changing me for the better.

I hope this collage brings a little brightness to your day, wherever you are. I'm honestly really grateful. 🙏