The 'Kelani Valley' train at Miriswaththe, Sri Lanka.

The "Kelani valley' train was initially a narrow gauge train from Colombo to Avissawella. From Avissawella one track went to Yatiyantota the other went to Openayake. This train served to handle the freight traffic of the rubber and tea plantations situated in these areas. It also catered to the Sri Paada pilgrims and to the horses and visitors to the Talduwa Planters club close to Avissawella. It is now a wide gauge train and goes only up to Avissawella. I took this picture in July 2009.

'Yaka mala' - A black flower, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

This flowering plant was called a 'Yaka mala' in Sinhalese (Devil flower). It was also said to resemble a lion's head. I bought a plant at a flower show in Colombo. It bloomed in our home garden, to produce this flower, all black in colour..

Rambuttan fruits on the tree, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

It is the end of the 'rambuttan' season now. Each fruit sells for about Rs.3/- at the roadside vending stalls. There are quite a lot of rambuttan estates around Avissawella. Trees are rented out for Rs50,000/ to a lakh during the season. The bats and birds have a field day picking the fruits. People tie a transistor radio to the tree at full blast, to scare away the bats at night. The newer generation of bats, seem to appreciate the music especially the 'rap', according to what I hear. We would go to one of these estates and buy the fruits at Rs.2/- each, straight from the tree.

Full moon, Sri Lanka

The view of a full moon through clouds with the trees outlined as silhouettes at Avissawella, Sri Lanka. The tops of coconut, mango, betel, orchid and plantain trees are easily identified in the picture. I took this picture in August 2009 at about 9pm, with the camera mounted on a tripod.

Baker's van doing the rounds, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Bakers are taking their produce by mini vans, to the door-steps of the villagers in Sri Lanka. The van's arrival at a set time is announced, by playing a melody as is the case with ice-cream vans. I took this picture in a by lane on the outskirts of Avissawella, Sri Lanka.