Flowers, Dalada Maligawa.

Flowers for sale at the entrance to the 'Dalada Maligawa' - Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Freshly plucked buds of lotuses and water lilies are on display. These are offered at the shrine by devotees who buy them here.

Adam's Peak, Sri Paada, Sivanoli Paada Malai.

I took this picture of the cloud-touched peak of Adam's Peak, from the road on the approach to Ginigathena, past Kithulgala. It was a gray cloud-cast morning. A few minutes later the peak was covered by clouds and was not visible. Such is the enchanting beauty of this mountain. It is now the season for climbing the peak. The climbing season starts in December and lasts till July (Poson).

Brass container

Working in brass is a speciality in Sri Lanka from very early times. I saw this polished brass container set up for display at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. , and took this picture.

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.