A very timid visit, to the Ladies hoste,l at De Saram Place, Colombo 10.

 

This incident was related to me by my friend the late Dr. Daya Rodrigo.  

One of our illustrious seniors at the Medical College, was what was called ‘capping’ (courting) a female medical student named ‘Anoma’ who was boarded at the De Saram Ladies Medical Hostel. He had dressed up more of his smart self and walked to the entrance of the Hostel. He saw a middle-aged lady, seated in the porch, whom he presumed was the ‘Warden’ of the hostel. When he went in, he greeted the lady who in turn had asked him whether he had come visiting anyone in the hostel. He had replied ‘Anoma’ was name of the medical student that he had come calling. The ‘Warden’ then asked him how the female student was related to him. He had felt very shy and putting up a bold front, told the ‘Matron’ that ‘Anoma’ was his sister. The lady had expressed surprise and said ‘As far as I know ‘Anoma’ has no brothers and I ought to know that well, because I AM HER MOTHER’. At this moment the smart young man, related later to his friends, that he felt like running away, but he stood his ground. The arrival of ‘Anoma’ on the scene at this moment smoothed matters over, in a very feminine way. The romance proceeded and they got married after getting their MBBS degree with colors. Both later became very popular Specialist Medical Officers in the Health Department of Ceylon. 

 

'Arai moody', loin cover, jewelry,

 

Female children had this jewelry worn, suspended from the loin thread by two eyelets on the upper part of the jewelry. It is made of silver and covered the pudenda. It was worn often by the female children of the tea estate workers. It was called ‘Arai moody’ in Thamil - loin cover. I presume it must have been very popular in South India.  I have seen it, also being worn by the infant-daughters of Thamils of the North and the East of Sri Lanka. 

  In the early 1940s, Ceylon was under British rule. The Governer had an official mansion in the ‘Fort’ area. 'Pettah' was the commercial area. The British Governer had his friends and family friends, paying a visit to the Governer and occasionally staying in the mansion as guests. There was a Lady staying with the Governer who went on a trip, to see the sights of Pettah. The lady had seen a female child wearing silver banges, silver anklet and an ornament to cover her genital area. The Lady on going back to the Governers Mansion, had requested a worker there named Arnolis, to purchase a similar piece of jewelry for her. She had given the worker Arnolis, a small amount of money and waited the outcome. After a few days she noticed that Arnolis, was avoiding her. She cornered him and asked him about the piece of jewelry. Arnolis appeared very bashful and told ‘I searched all over Pettah but none of the shops had the size to fit Madam’. Now it was the Lady’s turn to become red in the face and make a hasty exit.  

She had wanted to take one of these to show her friends, In the UK when she returned to Britain. Arnolis must have thought, that that particular piece of jewelry, was needed for the lady's personal use. This type of jewelry is worn only in infants.

Fruits of Sri Lanka

Oranges from Bibile, Pineapple, Durian, 

Opened Durian fruit

Mangoosteen fruits

Jak fruit seeds and Rambuttan fruits 

Jak fruit

Avocado, oranges, plantains and mangoes.

 

Our home garden sights, Solar water fountain, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Built in small solar-panel powered, totally independent, water fountain floating in the pond.
The height of the water spurted out, varies with the brightness of the sunlight stiking the black, circular, floating solar panel.

Coconuts plucked by a tree climber, in our home garden.

A coconut tree climber collects Rs.300/= per tree he climbs. This was the rate in the Month of August 2022. On a sunny day of he climbs 10 trees in one hour he gets Rs.3000/=. The price of a coconut is Rs.80/= upwards.

A leisured life contemplating our home garden, Avissawella, Sri Lanka, 17/8/2022.

The steel swing, which has seen our daughters growing up into adulthood.

Pillows and cushions left out to dry.

The ever-alert neighbor's cat, waiting near the bird feeder.

 

Old Ceylon,

Snake charmer

Crossing a river by ferry

Devil dancers exorcising a patient

Knitting lace on 'beeralus'

Betel seller

Dalada Maligawa a hundred years ago

Busy street scene

Gypsy with a monkey

River transport, Kalu Ganga, Rathnapura.