Saturday, May 2, 2015

A squirrel enjoying a meal of bread crumbs, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.


The story told to children as to how the squirrel got its three stripes.
In ancient times, so the story goes, when King Rama was building a bridge to cross over to Sri Lanka, to rescue his wife Sitha, everyone helped. Rama saw a squirrel carrying loads of small stones to help build the bridge. King Rama took the squirrel in his left palm and stroked its back tenderly, using the three fingers of his right hand. This remained as a permanent mark for the subsequent generations of the sqirrel.

Friday, May 1, 2015

Origami.


A few examples - Photo taken at Ms. Durumila Kumara's house, Horton Place, Colombo, Sri Lanka. It takes years of caring and pruning to achieve these miniature beauties.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Fruits on a decorative Palm tree, Home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.



The Common Mynah and Koil are two birds who visit this tree to eat the flesh of these fruits.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The 'Daehaeth Vattiya' - Betel tray, Sri Lanka.


I came across this poster in a 'Pansala'.
It is traditional to welcome a distinguished guest arriving at a home of a Sinhalese, with a wicker or brass tray containing betel leaves, arecanut, dried tobacco leaves and lime. This tray was called 'Daehaeth Vattiya'. This was the equivalent of offering a cup of tea to a guest.
Arecanut, tobacco and lime are implicated in cancer of the oral cavity.
The above poster is a media campaign to eliminate these items from the tray and replace them with other spices.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Drip irrigation, Kaluaggala, Sri Lanka.

Drip faucet watering a Gerbera flower plant.

Drip sprayer inside an orchid house

Water tank, pump and filter.

Timer to control the water pump.
Drip irrigation was a technique pioneered by Israel in the water scarce country. The theory was that water sent in as drips, close to the root of any plant was utilised more efficiently. There was less water loss by evaporation or seeping into adjoining soil.