Friday, May 18, 2012

'Bopath Ella', Kuruwita, Sri Lanka.


Shaped like the leaf from a 'Bo tree' - Ficus reliogosa - this waterfall draws numerous visitors year round. Its upper reaches can be very slippery and have caused many fatalities.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U04to8fv-U

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Kelany Valley train, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HKjbewFEJY

The narrow gauge train called the 'Kelany Valley Line' ran from Colombo to Opanayake. With time it was curtailed to Rathnapura and later to Avissawella only. The line was slow and running at a loss unlike the early days of absence of good road transport. The narrow gauge was converted to the standard broad gauge and now runs at a profit. There is a lot of talk about straightening the curves and making it run faster. At present one gets a good shake while travelling in it. The old label on bottles of medicine - 'To be shaken before you are taken' - holds true on this journey.

Friday, May 11, 2012

'Dalada Maligawa', Kandy, Sri Lanka.

A replica of a 'ceremonial oil lamp' made out of coconut leaves ('Gokkola')
The 'Makara Thorana' and the 'Moonstone'

Gold plated pillars

The 'Audience Hall' of  the Kings of Kandy.
The 'Dalada Maligawa' is where the 'Sacred Tooth Relic' of Lord Buddha is enshrined in Kandy, Sri Lanka.. It is a place of veneration and worship to all Buddhists.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_annotate?v=r7ZGg1xtPIU