Sunday, May 20, 2012

Rest House, Belihul Oya, Sri Lanka.

The entrance

'Rooftops'

The Belihul Oya - stream flowing by producing a 'white noise' which is calming.

The cafeteria overlooking the stream.
Situated by the side of the Colombo to Badulla Highway, past Balangoda, this Rest House was famous for its amenities from the 1920s. It borders the river and has an idyllic air. Bird life is aplenty and there is a section called 'Rooftops' for the bird fancier. The cuisine is good.

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.