We looked at each other, decided it was perfect timing and click “Booking confirmed”. Tears started rolling down my face as I started to realize what this meant. We’re going back to Sri Lanka.

Yes! Me and my partner in crime, life and business: Mario, are going back to Sri Lanka end of March. Now you’re probably wondering why I am making such a big deal out of this. Let me give you a little backstory.

As I wrote in my very first blogpost I wanted to go to Sri Lanka and work with elephants since I was just a little girl. Going there last February was always meant as making that dream come true and was never supposed to turn into Pretty ECO. That just happened kind of naturally after I came back.

This past year has been all about Pretty ECO and spreading my story and the knowledge I acquired in Sri Lanka, but I started to realize how important it is for me to go back for a couple of reasons.

First of all because my last visit in Sri Lanka was not with the intention to start a brand (although we were inquiring about that near the end of our stay there), we didn’t really take a lot pictures or videos for the purpose of using them for Pretty ECO. So for example, the picture that was used in the newspaper interviews that I did, I am wearing my pyjama pants!! Well at least you cannot argue the pictures aren’t authentic :’).

Second, I would love to drop by the Fairtrade workplace again and talk all about the ideas that we’re having for product development, so exciting! On top of that I think it’s nice to be able to see the workplace again to and check on the working environment of the employees.

Lastly, in a year time a lot has changed! As we have updated you guys with a couple of weeks ago for example, most elephants are now chain free! Being able to see all the improvements with our own eyes will make us able to keep our story up to date and honest. This will also make us better aware of where improvements do still need to happen.

So about a year later, we decided it was time! It made me so emotional because I was so proud. Since going to Sri Lanka for the first time was such a huge deal for me and now being able to go again (and probably make this a habit!?) with an even bigger goal in mind than “just” volunteering, is so amazing!

Expect lots of awesome content coming your way! If you have any suggestions of what you want us to cover when we’re there, let us know down below.

By buying our products you can support the elephants and Fairtrade work, have a look in our shop to see if there’s anything for you :).