Sri Lankan 'Paradise Fly-catcher' on a 'Jambu' tree.

The Sri Lankan 'Paradise fly-catcher' is a beautiful bird. The male has a long tail and is a beauty to watch flitting from branch to branch. It is a very shy bird. I took this photo in my garden a few days back.

Away in a manger

Another Christmas song composed in the 1950s

Two versions of 'Away in a manger'. Click on each of the links below separately.

Away in a manger – Celtic woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOJb6uOF05Q&feature=related

Karaoke version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y91yNsdrE4&feature=related

Two versions of the song 'White Christmas'

Click on each link separately to see two versions of the enchanting song 'White Christmas'. Switch your speakers on.

1.White Christmas -Sing along

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HrAy5xqzOs

2.White Christmas – Celtic Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOgaTRFbIlg&feature=related

A farmer working, Salawa, Sri Lanka.

Old ways of using a 'mammoty' to turn up the soil and build earthen bunds in paddy fields are a common sight in Sri Lanka. I took this picture at Salawa in Sri Lanka.

Adisham, Sri Lanka

Another view of 'Adisham'.

'Thirukkaley' - Sinhalese; 'Thirukkal' - Tamil, A bullock drawn cart for the family.

This was the equivalent of the family car in Sri Lanka, in common use about 100 years ago. Entrance was by a door at the rear. The seats were arranged facing each other and the driver of the cart sat in front. The wheels were wooden with an iron rim. The accelerator was a gentle tap on the bull's testicles by the driver. In extreme cases a bite on the bulls tail created a rapid response. It was usually a leisurely journey with time to enjoy the scenery.

Cactus plants, Hambanthota beech, Sri Lanka.

A beech with thorny cactus plants among the casuarina plants at the Hambanthota beech in sight of the newly built harbour, Sri Lanka.