Saturday, August 22, 2009

Materials for packing of an older era, Sri Lanka.

Fresh vegetables were wrapped inside the base of the leaf of an arecanut palm, to retain their freshness in days gone by. Old newspapers were also used extensively. This method was bio-degradable and eco-friendly. I had some vegetables wrapped for me by a villager from Kosgama, Sri Lanka.

Friday, August 21, 2009

River-bathing, Alupola, Sri Lanka.

River-bathing is a popular pastime in Sri Lanka. The villagers in the hills take their daily baths, in the ice-cold water of the rivers and streams. It is also a social get to-gether where fun, frolicking and even romance blossoms. You see a group of people taking a river bath in Alupola, Rathnapura.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

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.

Tuesday, August 18, 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.