'Thooku Kaavady' - Acts of penance, Avissawella, Sri Lanka

Suspended in a cradle of ropes.

Suspended on hoos throush the skin.

A procession from one 'Paththini Kovil' to another in Avissawella. These acts are done to fulfil a vow to the Goddess 'Paththini'. The 'Paththini cult' was introduced around the 2nd Century of the Present Era into Sri Lanka. It is a very-much live cult in this area now.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLQAINZfwYI

Two flowers, Sri Lanka.

An orchid in our garden.

A dahlia at The Waters Edge, Colombo

Scenes at a plants shop, Weliveriya, Sri Lanka.

Water lilies of many hues.

An imitation gun.

On the road to Gampaha from Weliveriya there is a place where varios varieties of plants are for sale. I took these pictures there.

Two scenes, Sri Lanka.

Sweet shop, Lellopitiya.

 The above picture shows an all-night sweet shop on the Rathnapura - Pelmadulla road.

Sunset at Ambulgama.

There is always a beautiful sunset to view anywhere in Sri Lanka. The one above I saw on the  Low-level road past Hanwella on the road to Colombo.

Haldumulla on the Balangoda - Badulla road, Sri Lanka.

The highway through the town.

A hill towering over the town.

Shoppers.

The town of Haldumulla was a ramshackle affair about 50 years ago. It is now a place full of shops and boutiques catering to the travelers on the road to Badulla.