A 'Hanging Parrot' on a 'Jambu' tree.

Long-billed sunbird, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A frequent visitor to my garden at Avissawella. They are difficult to photograph because they flit from flower to flower very fast.

Hanging parrot eating a 'Jambu' fruit, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

I took this picture in our home garden. You can see a 'Hanging parrot' nibbling at a 'Jambu' - Rose apple - fruit. You can see a honey bee - most probably from the bee-hive we have a few feet away - sampling the juice from the 'Jambu'.

Road-side tea boutique, Tummodara, Sri Lanka.

The building supported on timber stilts with a floor of wood is a common sight in the villages of Sri Lanka. I took this picture in a village.

Two king-fishers in the garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A sqirrel collecting material for a nest, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Squirrels are a constant presence in our garden. This one with half its tail missing is a very aggressive character. She is seen carrying material to build her nest.

A garden Lizard preparing a nest for its eggs, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The female garden lizard selects a spot warmed by the sun, digs the soil and lays its eggs. It covers up the soil and goes away. The soft rubbery eggs hatch and the tiny lizards emerge and fend for themselves.

Childrens park, Yahellawaththe, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A quiet contryside park for children to play and listen to birdsong.

Scorpion orchids in bloom.

These Scorpion orchids are in full bloom in our garden at Avissawella now.

Wooden frame used for a 'pillow-fight' contest, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A 'pillow-fighting' contest is held as part of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations in Sri Lanka. The two contestants sit astride the wooden trunk, facing each other. Each has a pillow on one hand and the other hand holds his hip on the same side. The idea is to knock the oppponent down from the bar using the pillow as a weapon. The contest creates a lot of hilarity among the spectators. My brother Saba, resident in Germany from 1972 introduced this in one of their village fairs. It was received very enthusiastically.

A loverly bunch of 'King coconuts' - Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The ripe king coconuts are sold for Rs.5/- to Rs.9/- while still on the tree. They are then plucked and transported to the wayside where they are sold for anything between Rs.15/- to Rs.20/-. The prices go up during the hot days. By comparison a one litre bottle of Coca Cola sells for Rs.100/-.
Wish you all a happy 'Aluth Avuruddha' - 'Puthu varudam'.

Climbing the 'greasy pole', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

One of the popular competitions of the 'New year' is climbing the greasy pole and bringing down the red flag on the top of the pole. Here you see one of the competitors attempting it.

A school band, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

There are two types of school bands in present Sri Lanka. They are the western and the occidental. The photo above shows an eastern school band in action at the 'Janadhipathi Vidyalaya', Avissawella.

Mango fruit and squirrel, Avissawela, Sri Lanka.

The first mango fruit in our garden being consumed with relish by a squirrel.

Bevy of girls welcoming a guest, Sri Lanka.

A group of dancing girls welcoming a guest with dancing and drum beat is a common one in many functions. I took this picture in Avissawella of girls waiting to receive a guest.

Spotted dove hiding among mango leaves, Avissawella, Sri Lanka

Annual sports meet in progress, Avissawella, Sri Lanka

The first term of January to April is allocated for sports in the Government Schools in Sri Lanka. The above picture shows the final day of the sports meet at a school in Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Red-vented Bulubul' chicks, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Two 'Red-vented Bulbul' chicks, all skin and no feathers in their nest. At the slightest sound they open their mouths wide and stretch their necks upwards, to receive the titbits from their parents. Photo taken by me on 18/2/2010.

Female 'Red-vented bulbul' guarding her nest.

It was scorchingly hot outside today. I saw this female bulbul sitting in her nest, covering her delicate chicks. She was getting the heat on her plumes and was protecting her young ones. This was in my garden in Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

A squirrel having his breakfast, my home garden, Avissawella.

The antics of squirrels amazes me all the time. The above is a regular in my garden at Avissawella. They build their nests inside the drawers of my desk. The little ones grow up safe there.