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.

Alupola waterfalls, Rathnapura, Sri Lanka.

The series of three separate waterfalls forms the Alupola falls. You see a picture showing all three falls.

At Horton Plains, Sri Lanka.

On the first few metres of the walk to Baker's falls at Horton plains, you come across this beautiful sight. I took this picture in 1998.

Rathgange vihara, Galaboda, Rathnapura.

The Rathganga vihara nestles in the Adam's peak wilderness. It is engulfed in mist most of the year. There is a road leading from Rathnapura via Galaboda Estate to Rathganga. Quite a lot of pilgrims visit this site. I took this photograph a few years back.

Looking back

When a child is past one year of age and starts to walk there are some additional antics which it can do. The photo shows one of these antics. There is a superstition in Sri Lanka that this act by the child means that it will soon get a younger brother or sister. Apparently the child is looking back between its thighs to see the new arrival.