How it all started
It was a day in mid-June of 2022. I was scrolling down some posts on Facebook when I suddenly captured an interesting post on the Rotaract Couch. It was about the Interota, the triennial International Rotaract event which Is to be held in Tunisia in 2023.
With much excitement I proceeded to find more details on the event and fell upon the official website, which had the program in detail. After diving into details, I realized that the early bird offer is already over, and the 2nd stage of registrations is about to commence in a few days. A further investigation revealed that Rtn. Rtr. PP Sathma Jayasinghe had already registered representing Sri Lanka, which injected motivation to proceed with the registration on the 2nd stage. Once the registration was complete, some extra effort had to be made to get payments done on time & then to obtain Tunisian Visa as an embassy nor a consulate was available in Sri Lanka. Once these were sorted, voila, I was ready to embark on a novel adventure to northern Africa!
The Pre Pre-Interota
I departed from Colombo on 27th of February, had a few hours of transit in Dubai and arrived in Tunis at mid-day on the 27th. I had a mini heart attack at the Tunis airport when my luggage didn’t make an appearance on the carousal until only a handful of people from the same flight remained in the airport. After some delay, to get the luggage, I went through customs and met Rtr. Ahmed Besbes who had been waiting for me for a few hours in the arrival terminal. After loading luggage to his car, we departed from the Tunis airport to Sidi Bou Said, where I was staying the penultimate day before the pre-Interota commences.
On the way to Sidi Bou Said, we had discussions on how each other’s countries progress in Rotaract, lifestyle, work & transport systems. After about a 45 minutes’ drive, we arrived in Sidi Bou Said where I thanked Ahamed for his patience & support and left for the hotel. It was around 4 pm in the evening when I checked in at the hotel in Sidi Bou Said. Without wasting any time, I decided to commence my solo adventure for the day of exploring Sidi Bou Said.
Sidi Bou Said is a picturesque village located just a short distance from Tunis, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The village is famous for its striking blue and white buildings, which line the narrow streets and offer stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. This unique geographic location thus resembles a similarity to that of Santorini in Greece. After strolling through the streets & gazing a look at the Mediterranean Sea from the viewpoint on the cliff, I started back my return walk. The porcelain with intricate artworks & colourfulness spontaneously invites any traveller walking along Sidi Bou Said streets to visit souvenir shops. During the return journey, it was a must stop to taste Bambalouni at the famous shop in Sidi Bou Said.
The next part of the adventure was to visit La Marsa Beach by using the TGM. TGM stands for Tunis-Goulette-Marsa, which is a commuter railway line connecting the capital Tunis with La Marsa. The trains are quite old looking, but the ticket prices are very cheap. Generally, the trains operate at a frequency of 15 minutes. It was just a 10–15-minute ride from Sidi Bou Said to La Marsa.
La Marsa Beach offers a picturesque setting, with its golden sands stretching along the shoreline and the Mediterranean Sea sparkling in the background. The corniche was quite lovely & very busy. Apart from the beach, the surrounding area of La Marsa offers several restaurants, cafes, and shops where visitors can enjoy local cuisine. After spending a few hours, it was the time to return to Sidi Bou Said & call it a day.
It was an early wakeup call the next morning to catch the sunrise over the Sidi Bou Said harbour. To my surprise, the streets of Sidi Bou said were empty and there were no tourists at the viewpoint too. Then I decided to descend the ‘365 Steps’ close to the Sidi Bou Said harbour, but that area looked deserted as well. Only a few dogs who have woken up to enjoy the sunrise made my company. But alas! The sun did not make an appearance from the horizon as a layer of thick cloud separated its rays from kissing the earth.
After a quick breakfast, I took the TGM again, but this time towards Tunis. I got down from Carthage Hannibal TGM station & walked towards the Carthage Museum. It was an uphill climb and the cold, gusty winds did not help the cause either. Unfortunately, the church as well as the museum was closed, and I had to be contended with just the outside view. Since there was not enough time to explore the remaining Carthage ruin sites, I returned to the hotel.
By noon, I returned to the Tunis Carthage airport, which was the gathering point for the official transport to the city of Hammamet that the proceedings of pre-Interota was supposed to commence. This is when I met Rtr. Sathma, who had flown all the way from Bangladesh after the conclusion of Rotasia 2023. The other delegates from several countries who had flown to Tunis, joined the contingent one by one and after a few minutes, we were off to Hammamet, a city which is about 70 km south of Tunis.
After checking in at the Hammamet Hotel, it was spare time until official pre-Interota proceedings got underway in the night. So why do we waste time without exploring the area a bit? With the same idea in our minds, both Sathma & I decided to visit Hammamet Fort, which was about 10 km away. The fort dates to the 15th century and was originally built by the Berbers, a North African indigenous population. Situated on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the fortress offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area. The fort also houses a museum that provides a glimpse into the region’s history. Exhibits feature artifacts, weapons, and archaeological discoveries.
After visiting the fort, we wandered through the streets of Hammamet and enjoyed some local snacks as well. After a full day of gloom, the sun finally peeped out to perform an act of a picturesque sunset. Finally, it was time to get back to the hotel for dinner on the opening night of Pre-Interota.
Pre-Interota
It was during the dinner time that we managed to see the number of delegates who had flown from different parts of the world to take part in Interota. The Portugal team was the first to break the ice with us as both Sathma and I had roommates from Portugal. After the sumptuous dinner, the delegates were taken to the lounge where the opening night’s party was organised. The part went on for about two hours and it was past mid night when we returned to our rooms.
After the previous night’s party, the next day’s proceedings commenced a bit late with the Peace Conference. A vivid platform was provided during the Peace Conference at pre-Interota to discuss & share experiences on activities initiated by Rotary & Rotaract, which are focussed on peace building. The Vice President of Rotary International Rtn. Nicki Scott shared her experiences on the efforts to eradicate Polio, while the president of Rotaract Europe elaborated on initiatives carried out by Rotaract Clubs in Europe, which are focussed on peace building, especially the efforts to support Ukraine. These informative sessions were followed by a workshop on SDGs focussed on peace building. The Peace Conference was jointly organized by Rotaract Tunisie, Rotaract Mediterranean & Rotaract Europe.
After the Peace Conference, the delegates travelled back to Tunis. We visited the old city of Tunis, which is known as the Medina of Tunis. Medina of Tunis is a historic walled area in the heart of the Tunis City. While we wandered through the streets, we discovered a bustling marketplace filled with shops selling everything from traditional clothing and textiles to pottery and spices. The architecture of the buildings is also a sight to behold, with intricate tilework, ornate doorways, and vibrant colours that transported the participants back in time. Photo opportunities were not missed while wandering through the Tunis Medina and memories were carved into the digital memory books.
A sumptuous, traditional Tunisian lunch was provided at the Medina, which included Tunisian Carrot and Potato Salad, Brik & Kafteji. During the lunch time, the delegates got to know each other better as we were allocated designated seats in alphabetical order.
After the lunch, it was time for some group photos at the roof top with the Tunis Medina in the background. Fast forward a few more strolls through the Medina streets, the contingent left for Sidi Bou Said. This touristic area was in a different vibe under the colours of the night light.
The late-night event at hotel after returning from Tunis was a memorable one. It was a fun game of Mattress Dominos, organised by the President of Rotaract Europe Rtr. Kārlis Bankovičs to raise funds for people of Ukraine. There was an entrance fee per person & altogether €210 was raised from the event!
It was a very early wakeup call on the next day as we had to transfer from Hammamet to Djerba, which is an island about 500 km south. While transferring from Hammamet to Djerba for the commencement of the official proceedings of Interota 2023, the delegates were presented with an opportunity to visit the Amphitheatre of El Jem. Located in the small Tunisian town of El Jem, this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site stands as a testament to the grandeur and architectural prowess of the Roman Empire. The amphitheatre’s architecture is well preserved and echoes what a magnificent venue it would have been in the past with a seating capacity of close to 35000 spectators. After spending about an hour & half, the contingent commenced the quest towards Djerba.
Interota
After a nearly 8-hour ride from Hammamet to Djerba, the delegates received a warm welcome at the Club Palm Azur, Djerba, which was the event centre of Interota 2023. By the time the check-in procedures & a late lunch was concluded, the sun has almost gone down, paving way to the most awaited event of the evening.
The evening was dedicated to the opening ceremony, which was filled with enthusiasm, colour & vibrance. The country calls saw delegates with flags & colourful costumes running onto the stage ecstatically. The room was filled with vociferous soles belonging to 40+ nations dressed in colourful clothing & bearing their country flags. The HoC warmly welcomed the delegates by expressing gratitude for the participants’ presence and highlighting the significance of Interota.
Post-dinner, the participants were introduced to a glamorous traditional Tunisian party at the Moon Club in Djerba. ‘Tabbala’, a traditional Djerbian band & cultural figures such as ‘Boussadia’, from Stambeli music, enhanced the glamour of the night. The party went on for a few hours and it was a few hours past mid night when we returned to our rooms.
After a very late-night return, it’s always a late morning start! To add some dismay to our excitement, it was raining in the morning. As the next set of activities were supposed to held outside, we had to wait until the rain ceases & sun peeps in. The proceedings of Day 2 of Interota 2023 commenced with Rota-Olympics. The games provided an opportunity for the delegates to compete with one another, while expanding the network beyond borders. The games included mini-Golf, Basketball, Tennis & Soccer.
The afternoon was dedicated to one of the most awaited events in Interota that I have been waiting for. Interota 2023 gathered delegates from 40+ nations under one roof. The Rotaract Global Village aimed to promote cultural exchange, foster understanding, and celebrate the diversity within the global Rotaract community. Each participating country had to setup booths, where they can share food, culture, information, souvenirs, and experiences related to their culture and Rotaract activities. The Sri Lankan booth was full of souvenirs (key tags & stickers), colourful images depicting the beauty f the country, vivid paintings & most importantly a variety of food items including kokis, kevum, thatta wadei, sesame rolls, milk toffee & many more. Surprisingly, the sesame rolls had the highest demand as most of the other food items were too spicy for other global participants. It was heartening to see Rtn. Nicki Scott, the Vice President of Rotary International moving from one booth to another and experience each country’s food & beverages.
That evening saw the delegates flocking to Casino Djerba for the all-important Women Empowerment Conference. The conference was graced by Rtn. Nicki Scott (Vice President of Rotary International), Rtn. Patrick Chisanga (Zone 22 Director), Rtn. Najoua Azzouz (Past District Governor – District 9010), Rtn. Hamadi Siala (District Governor – District 9010) & Rtr. Mariem Sehli (President of Rotaract Mediterranean). Discussions were based on how women could contribute to Rotary and the women in Tunisia who had done a great service to the society. The conference was followed by a majestic dinner & dance night.
Day 3 was all about exploring southern Tunisia. The first stop was at the Salt Lake close to the causeway connecting Djerba to the mainland. After spending some time at the Salt Lake, the delegates proceeded to Sand dunes, and thereafter to Chenini. Chenini is a historic village with a unique geographic terrain, located in the Tataouine Governorate of southern Tunisia. It is a unique location with traditional Berber houses, built with local stone and blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Chenini has also been used as one of the movie locations of the famous Star Wars movie series.
The post-lunch destination on Day 3 was special. Ksar Hadada, one of the movie locations of the famous Star Wars movie series was on the itinerary. The buildings, made of clay bricks and stones, are intricately designed with traditional Berber motifs and architectural features.
Day 3 night was special, not because it was the penultimate party day of Interota 2023, but because it was the first time that most delegates took part in a Sahara Electro Party. The chilling winds in Ksar Jouama, along with electro vibes provided a memorable night for the delegates.
A visit to the Djerba Houmt Souk, Camel & Buggy rides in Djerba lagoon & the closing ceremony were on the agenda for the final day of Interota 2023. Unfortunately, due to a work commitment I had to return to Tunis early in the morning on the final day. Attending Interota was a transformative experience, allowing me to broaden my horizons specially from areas of the world that I haven’t interacted much, build lasting friendships, and gain a global perspective on community service and leadership. It provided a platform for collaboration and learning from the experiences of Rotaractors from diverse backgrounds.
Rtr. PP Himantha Alahakoon