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 Now it has been replaced by a concrete bridge to carry heavy traffic.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.