Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Sleeping on a rock heated by the sun.

In the villages in Sri Lanka, a very relaxed lifestyle exists even now. A bath in the river at mid-day after washing one's clothes and a snooze on a bare rock, wearing a loose sarong, with the gentle breeze wafting the body, is supremely pleasurable. The sounds of nature assail the ears and one is in a dream land. When the clothes have dried in the mid day sun, one wends home for his simple rice and curry meal. Jak and bread-fruit with a twangy chilly sambol, adds relish to the meal. What else do you want in life? The picture shows a snooze on a bare rock by the river-side.

Monday, June 29, 2009

The 'sun-flower', Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka.

The sunflower is cultivated for its seeds from which oil could be extracted. The flower is large, yellow and beautiful and tracks the sun in its journew from dawn to dusk.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Orchid at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Sri Lanka.

The 'Orchid House' at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy, has a veritable collection of orchids. I took this picture in 2002.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Scene around Kandy Lake, Sri Lanka.

The environs of Kandy Lake provides endless hours of entertainment and relaxation. The lake was made by constructing a dam, by the last King of Kandy - Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Waterfall below the Beragalle - Koslanda road, Sri Lanka.

I saw this waterfall close to Lemastota on the Beragalle - Koslanda road. It was just below a bridge on this road. I took this picture in the early 2000s.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Nauw-gala, Kegalle, Sri Lanka.

On the outskirts of Kegalle, on the road to Colombo, you see this huge rock. Since it resembled a ship it was called 'Nauw-gala' ('ship-rock') in Sinhalese. It is a popular pastime to climb to the summit of this rock by waling on steep footpaths.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

An Iguana - 'Thala goya - Sinhalese, 'Udumbu - Tamil, Sri Lanka.

The head of an iguana seen in close-up. The Iguana is hunted and its flesh relished by some. The majority of Buddhists and Hindus would not eat it. It roams in the home gardens of Sri Lanka and is quite often run over by fast traffic on main roads, while it attempts its slow crossing of these roads. I took this picture in my home garden in Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

'Gotukola - Sinhalese, 'Vallaarai' - Tamil, Sri Lanka

'Gotukola in Sinhalese or 'Vallaarai' in Tamil, is a creeper found all over Sri Lanka. It has a tangy taste and is used extensively in cooking. A tasty 'Sambol' can me made with it. A type of gruel called 'Kola kandha' - 'Kanji' - can be made from it. It is said to improve vision, memory and is a general tonic. You see a picture of it growing wild in Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Red anthuriams from a home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Red anthuriums grown in home gardens, with minimal attention fetch a reasonable price in Sri Lanka. They are bought by florists for weddings and other functions. I took this picture of a crop, from a small garden plot in Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

The washer-woman's ('reddy nanda's) visit to a house, Sri Lanka.

The soiled linen in a household in Sri Lanka, was collected by a washer woman, was cleaned and ironed and was delivered back the next week. The washer-woman in Sinhalese and Tamil society held a very responsible position. In Sinhalese society she was called 'reddy nanda' literally 'cloth aunt'. Here you see a 'reddy nanda' paying her once a week visit, to a house in Sri Lanka. This occupation is dying out with washing machines now replacing her duties.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Elephant rehabilitation centre, Uda-Walawe, Sri Lanka

Orphaned young elephants, found abandoned by the herd, in Sri Lanka, are brought to this sanctuary at Uda-walawe. They are fed and looked after. They are then gradually integrated into a herd of wild elephants at the Uda Walawe sanctuary close by and are again sent into the wild. You see in the picture a young elephant being fed milk through a plastic hose.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Old suspension bridge across the Mahaweli Ganga at Levalle, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The Mahaweli Ganga at Lewalle, Kandy, had a suspension bridge for bicycles and pedestrians, till 2000. The suspension bridge was built in 1936. Now it has been replaced by a concrete bridge to carry heavy traffic. The old bridge is left to die a gradual death. I took this picture on 7/6/2009.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The old railway bridge, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The narrow gauge Kelani Valley railway started from Colombo Fort and terminated at Opanayake. It passed through the lush rubber and tea growing Kelani Valley region. The picture shows the abandoned railway bridge, at Rathnapura.Old railway lines form excellent bicycle tracts because of the gentle gradients. In Sri Lanka when the rail track from Avissawella to Opanayake was closed in stages, there was a massive land-grab of the property along the railway line, to dig for gems and to put up houses. Quite a lot of houses are now built illegally on this stretch.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Fruits for sale, Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka

This fruit seller doing his trade by the roadside at Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka, had quite a selection of fresh, tasty luscious fruits for sale. 'Gan-oruwa' - meaning 'fetch the boat' in Sinhalese, was the ferry crossing point into the Capital of the highlands of Ceylon, Kandy, in historic times, across the Mahaweli river. It now houses the agricultural research centre and the veterenirary reseach centre, among other departments. I took this picture on 7/6/2009.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Land-scaped plot, Agricultural Department, Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka.

The Agricultural Research Station at Gannoruwa in Kandy, has a well built road and a new bridge to approach it across the Mahaweli River, from the Getambe end. I took this photograph on the 7th of June 2009, to show a landscaped plot at this site.

Boat house, Kandy Lake, Sri Lanka.

The jetty on the Kandy lake is a very popular spot for people to hire a boat to boat on the Kandy Lake. I took this photo on 7/6/2009.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The image of Lord Buddha on Bahirawakande, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

The image of Lord Buddha looking towards the Dalada Maligawa, from Bahirawakanda, Kandy, Sri Lanka is seen here. I took this picture from the Ampitiya end of the Kandy lake on 7/6/2009.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

View from 'Arthur's seat', Kandy, Sri Lanka.

'Arthur's seat' gives a panoramic view of the Kandy lake, the Dalada Maligawa and the arrow-straight Trincomalee street. It is a good place to relax during the end of the day. I took this picture on the 7th June 2009.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Dalada Maligawa on 7/6/2009 (Poson)

I went to Kandy on Poson day. It was beautiful sunny weather. I took this picture of the Dalada Maligawa. You can see the golden roof ('Ran Viyana'), The 'Octagon ('Paththirippuwa') and the Queens'bath house standing on columns.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Nuwara-Eliya town, Sri Lanka.

Nuwara-Eliya, situated in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, was called 'The little England', during British Colonial times. It is very cold and has unpredictable weather. April and August are the months when it is reasonably comfortable to live in, for the majority of Sri Lankans. This is a photo of the Nuwara-Eliya town I took in February 2009.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Pahiyangala, Horana, Sri Lanka.

'Pahiyangala' has been identified as a prehistoric human cave dwelling, carbon dated at about 32,000 years before the present era. The name 'Pahiyan' has no relationship to 'Fa-Hsien' the famous Chinese traveler of the fifth century AD. It is easily approachable by road and a short climb.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Elephant orphanage, Pinnawala, Sri Lanka.

The total wild elephant population is estimated at roughly 2500 and is going down. Elephant orphanages give succor to abandoned young elephants or those affected by disease or injury. The elephant orphanage at Pinnawala is a big tourist attraction. Here you see the elephants taking a bath in the adjoining river, at Pinnawala during the early afternoon hours..

Monday, June 1, 2009

Rubber trees, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Hevea brazilienensis is the botanical name of the rubber tree. It was a native of Brazil and was propagated from there to the rest of the world. The latex oozing from its cut bark is collected and forms the main ingredient in the manufacture of rubber. There are quite a lot of these rubber plantations in Sri Lanka. I took this picture of the trees standing in a row at Paradise Estate, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.