Saturday, May 29, 2010

Long-billed sunbird, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A frequent visitor to my garden at Avissawella. They are difficult to photograph because they flit from flower to flower very fast.

Friday, May 28, 2010

'Brown-headed Barbet enjoying a Jambu fruit.

One of the many species of small birds which come to enjoy the 'Jambu' fruit in our garden in Avissawella.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Monday, May 24, 2010

Castlereigh valley in sunshine - another view.

The beauty of a garden and the green tea bushes on the hills across give a pleasent view from this former planter's bungalow now an Inn.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Hanging parrot eating a 'Jambu' fruit, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture in our home garden. You can see a 'Hanging parrot' nibbling at a 'Jambu' - Rose apple - fruit. You can see a honey bee - most probably from the bee-hive we have a few feet away - sampling the juice from the 'Jambu'.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Castlereigh valley in sunshine.

A look across the tea plantation, over thr reservoir on to the distant hills is what made me take this photograph.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Thursday, May 20, 2010

A country stream for a picnic-bath, Thummodara, Sri Lanka.

A river piucnic and river bath is a fairly regular item in the life of the average Sri Lankan. Many beautiful and safe places abound in Sri Lanka. This is one of them on the Avissawella - Thummodara road.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Road-side tea boutique, Tummodara, Sri Lanka.

The building supported on timber stilts with a floor of wood is a common sight in the villages of Sri Lanka. I took this picture in a village.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Work on a paddy field, Thummodara, Sri Lanka.

A quiet country scene on the road to Thummodara from Avissawella.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

'Wee bissa' - Paddy store, Atale. Sri Lanka.

This device made out of rattan skeleton and clay was the old method of preserving paddy after harvest from the fields. I took this picture on the road to Kegalle from Avissawella.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Zesta tea-shop, Watawala, Sri Lanka.

Photo taken by me a few weeks back.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Church on a hill, Castlereigh, Sri Lanka.

I saw this church built on a hill, surrounded by tea plants on a hill at Castlereigh, Dickoya, Sri Lanka. A remnant of British Colonial days it seems to have been well maintained.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Planter's bungalow built in 1826, Castelereigh, Dickoya, Sri Lanka.

This planters bungalow built in 1826, is now a guest house. It overlooks the Castelreigh Reservoir built in the 1950s to provide hydro-power. The surrounding tea fields are a beauty. Rooms cost Rs.2500/ per day and meals are extra. Lovely country walks and a peaceful environment are guaranteed. I went for a lunch and rest for one day and took this picture.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Boats on the Negombo lagoon.

Fishing boats anchored in the Negombo lagoon were a lovely sight on a sunny day when I took this picture from a boat. You can see the mangroves and the egrets perched on the fishing nets stored on the boats.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Canoe with outrigger on the Negombo lagoon, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture from a boat on the Negombo lagoon. Fishing using lead weighted nets is as old as time. The outrigger canoe is again a very old technology going back into the mists of antiquity.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

'Nellama' - Fish market - in Duwa, Sri Lanka.

The fish market is called ' Nellama' by the locals in Duwa. I took this picture from a boat in the Negombo lagoon.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Birds nesting in the Negombo lagoon.

Little egrets and crows are seen nesting on a small island in the Negombo lagoon.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Mangroves, Lagoon, Negombo, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture during a boat ride on the Negombo Lagoon. You can see the lush trees (Rhizophora apiculata) encroaching on to the lagoon

Monday, May 3, 2010

Cassia fistula - 'Ehela' - 'Konrai' - in bloom on the Negombo road.

The 'Ehela' or 'Konrai' gives a lovely yellow colour to the tree when in bloom in April-May. The yellow blooms hang in chains. I saw this on the negombo road a few days back. Peradeniya University - Galaha road has a few of these lovely trees.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Flowering tree on the road to Negombo from Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The months of April-May have a lot of trees in bloom. I took this picture on the Negombo road.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

The lights of Adam's peak- Sri Paada - Sivanoli Paadha Malai,, Ginigathena, Sri Lanka.

It is now the Pilgrim Season to climb Adam's peak in Sri Lanka. I took this picture through the mist of Adam's peak from close to Ginigathena a few days back. You can see the lights along the pilgrims path and the light at the top of the Peak.