Monday, August 5, 2013

Water Buffalo, Paddy field, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

A Water Buffalo used in agriculture confronted me on a foot-path in a paddy field. He would not move and I had to detour.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Garden produce, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Looking after a coconut tree.
It is claimed by the villagers that to make a barren coconut tree bear fruit, a totally naked male adult must take an 'idhaella' - a garden broom stick made of coconut leaf strands - and beat the base of the said coconut tree beating the trun k repe4atedly. This must be done on a full moon night. I heard about this village magic a few years ago at Batticaloa, the eastern part of Sri Lanka. I heard this repeated by a village woman in Avissawella, a few days back.
'Ambaraella' fruits - sour and tasty with salt and chillie powder.

Ripening berries of 'Black Pepper'.

'Black Pepper' - Piper nigrum - climber.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Wild bees, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Wild bees starting to build a nest.
Thermal imaging of above.
The wild bees called 'Danduvael Massa' in Sinhalese are the bees native to Sri Lanka. They do nnot stay put for a long time in one place and are aggressive. The honey production is low and they build their nests in caves and tree hollows. The 'Veddas' harvest their honey. I saw this colony under the canopy of our garden swing. They went away within a week. The thermal imaging shows the dark areas as black to grey and the cold areas are white in color.
Having settled down to build their hive under the canopy of our garden swing they were a potential danger to the children using the swing. A village woman gave the answer to the problem. She said that to drive them away you have to taken an 'idhaella' - garden broom made of coconut leaf strands - and wave in in front of the hive. My wife did it and within a few hours they went away for good. That is what I call 'village magic'.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Roadside scenes, Avissawella to Rathnapura highway, Sri Lanka.

Water melons and 'Durian' fruits for sale by the highway on the Avissawella - Rathnapura road.

We do not want 'Coca Cola' the graffiti in Sinhalese reads.