'Zinniyas' in our garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Wild bees, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Wild bees starting to build a nest.

Thermal imaging of above.

The wild bees called 'Danduvael Massa' in Sinhalese are the bees native to Sri Lanka. They do nnot stay put for a long time in one place and are aggressive. The honey production is low and they build their nests in caves and tree hollows. The 'Veddas' harvest their honey. I saw this colony under the canopy of our garden swing. They went away within a week. The thermal imaging shows the dark areas as black to grey and the cold areas are white in color.
Having settled down to build their hive under the canopy of our garden swing they were a potential danger to the children using the swing. A village woman gave the answer to the problem. She said that to drive them away you have to taken an 'idhaella' - garden broom made of coconut leaf strands - and wave in in front of the hive. My wife did it and within a few hours they went away for good. That is what I call 'village magic'.

Roadside scenes, Avissawella to Rathnapura highway, Sri Lanka.

Water melons and 'Durian' fruits for sale by the highway on the Avissawella - Rathnapura road.

We do not want 'Coca Cola' the graffiti in Sinhalese reads.

Petrol shed, Paradise Estate, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Colourful 'Ferguson High School', Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The colourful plants and flowers inside 'Ferguson High School', Rathnapura.

'Blue-bells', Ferguson High School, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Bee box in our garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

We have been  having bee colonies in boxes in our garden for nearly 20 years. You can harvest about 6 to 8  bottles of bee honey every year from each box. The bees are harmless and do not interfere with human life if left alone. They increase the fruit yield in our garden especially from the coconut trees. They give you a superb leisure activity. You can get a bee box with a colony from the Agricultural department. If you go into Youtube on the internet you can get any amount of advice on their maintainance.I got these pictures from our bee box and will publish more. This is one of the best eco-friendly activities that you can do.

Flora of Kosgama, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The Jak fruit. The story is told of how 'Sakkara Deviyo' had given this fruit to be cooked by a village woman and asked why the fruits on the Jak tree were not plucked. She had replied that no one ate the fruit of that tree. 'Sakkara Deviya' had ordered her to cook a fruit for him and promised to come back for the cooked meal. The aroma of the cooked Jak fruit was irresistible and the woman partook of a small portion of it. When the God 'Sakkara' returned he called the woman a thief (Hora Liya)  and said  'Hera Liya tho ma kaapiya'' - 'Thief woman you finish the entire fruit' and stomped away. To this day the Jak is called 'Heraliya' by the Sinhalese.

A flower on a shrub growing wild.

A wild Orchid, Kosgama, Avissawella.

Leaves of colour.

The flowers in our garden Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'The Kandyan Dancer' orchid.

Flower pots for sale, Ranala, Rathnapura low-level road, Sri Lanka.

Saman Dewala, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

A building in the wall surrounding the front courtyard of the Saman Dewale.

The outer wall of the courtyard.

Worshippers depositing or collecting their footware near the entrance to the temple.

An engraving in stone with a legend below done during Portuguese times in the 16th Century, Present Era. It claims that a soldier in the Portuguese army - Kuruwita Rala - saved a Prince of Jaffna from being killed on the battlefield in Jaffna, by standing guard over the fallen Prince. This stela is mounted on a wall in the front courtyard of the temple.

Squirrel on the lawn, Saman Dewale, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Colours at the 'Saman Dewale', Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Boy with pink water lilies.

Flowers for the 'pooja'

Fruits for the 'pooja vattiya' on sale.

Coloured leaves.

On the way to 'Pothgul Vihara', Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Firewood after being chopped and collected - note the two upright sticks to hold the branches horizontally during chopping, using an axe.

A mud and wattle built hut - a 'Varichchi ge'.

A young and old leaf on a shrub.

A wayside shelter used to sell vegetables.

'Rathganga' scenes. Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

Rathganga Vihara premises, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

An ornamental bridge.

Slope leading to the 'Chaithya'.

Tea-pluckers at work near the 'Chaithya'.