2014 - Sri Lanka

The Abundance Golden Rice Fields of Sri Lanka

Harvesting rice

Rice milling in the rural rice fields

Unique sunset surprise with white herrons in the rice field

Dusky hues

Kandy and the Hill Country

High country tea estate-- at an altitude of just under 2000 metres

The splendid view from above

Female tea worker picking tea leaves

The Coastal Region

Galle-Mirissa-Unawatuna-Negambo

Traditional fish trawling

Fisher folks in line pulling in the net

 Riding the high waves

Catch of the day

Happy face

Mirissa Beach

Mirissa shoreline

Mending nets

Stilt fishing is now rarely seen along the coast that used to be the livelihood of the fisher folks here. Instead, the local folks will perform a show and let tourists take photos for a fee. 

Happy and carefree

Cinnamon estate in Mirissa

Cinnamon farming is a thriving cottage industry here. This is one country that produces one of the world's finest young cinnamon for export.

Cinnamon tree

A tool is used to scrap off the outer skin of the branch

It is handed to the next production line worker to clean and brush off any residue before cutting up the bark from the branch. 

The peeling stage -- the barks will be compressed and rolled up to form a one-metre length. 

These barks are compressed, joined to form the one-metre length stick

The compressed and rolled up stage

The one-metred length cinnamon sticks are then placed on ropes suspended from the ceiling to be naturally air-dried for a minimum of six days before they are taken down.

Bundled up to put away in this storeroom, to be kept dry and away from sunlight.

Each bundle weighs 45kg. They are sold to local wholesalers at over USD500 for each bundle

Kitulgala

Bird watching, wild life and light adventures along the Kelani River
This is the place to be, to wake up and immerse in the most natural symphonic music of the jolly chirping sounds of the bird life, wild animals and fishes in the river.

Village folks were bathing, brushing their teeth and washing their clothes by the riverbank from late afternoon to late evening. The kids were swimming and frolicking merrily.

Visitors were kayaking and water rafting along the river.

Like the folks here, I changed into a sarong, walked across a bridge that led into the village tea farm. We met three students on the way walking back home from school. One of them asked, ‘What country?” followed by “What name?”. We spoke in mono-syllabus with the students giggling most of the time. We parted ways as they headed home and we continued to explore this quaint quiet village. 

We took a detour to the riverbank where the village folks wash their clothes and bath by the river. There, I met a local girl from Negambo. She was swimming in the river with her brother. When she saw us, she swam across towards me. We stood right in the middle of the Kelani River talking! She went there for the day with her family. Her parents and family waved to me from the opposite side of the riverbank when she swam back to join them. Such a fun-filled experience to mingle with the local folks in this region.

Light adventure -- crossing the Kelani River

Water rafting or kayaking

Local folks swim and bath by the river

A bridge leads into a quaint village into their tea farms.

Middle country tea farm across the Kelani River

Dusk escapade

Weekend markets

These places are the best to explore if you happen to chance upon one on a Saturday or Sunday. The interesting ones are generally in the smaller towns. 

Saturday market at the old bridge -- an interesting find in a small town near Kandy. We were fortunate that we had the local inspector present to ensure we bought the fresh vegetables and fruits at local prices!

Weighing scale used in most local markets

Negambo Sunday Market.. 

This popular market opens twice week, every Wednesday and Sunday. You can find everything from A to Z being sold here. A number of the stalls are located under a newly constructed building beside the open-air market place. 

The local market scene

A beverage stall selling a variety of colourful beverages. He is seen here mixing  milk tea tarik -- a popular pulled tea. 

Popular roasted spicy nuts, beans. peas, roasted dhal, mixed spicy cassava and many more to suit your taste!

Spices

Negambo is good final destination stop to stay for a night before heading to the airport for your flight home. You can find the best traditional spices sold at the Monica Grinding Mill in Negambo near this Sunday market. The small shop is located near a bustling market that opens every Wednesday and Sundays.

They use fine quality spices. You can get finely grounded spices or mixed spices, packed in small bags or you can ask to buy by the weight required. There carry a good variety of spices.

The lady owner and the photo of her parents proudly displayed at the top of the spice cabinet and, the spices at her shop

The Folks 

On the way home from school

Our hospitable and welcoming host, Sarath. He was up early to get some yummy

bael fruits from his very own tree for us to take home! 

Frolicking in the Kelani River

Such bliss -- the all natural wood  playpen, simple play items. The toddler happily holding on to his toy, a toothbrush

Highlanders in the hill country

Heading home into the island village after a hard day's work with a smile. 

A herbalist in a traditional ayurveda shop

The bread vendor making regular rounds to deliver fresh bread daily

He is the one and only skillful King coconut vendor I have had the pleasure of observing at applying such precision, at opening the fruit in less than few seconds without the support of the chopping board. I could not help but enjoy having more of them; tasted super fresh! 

I am so cool

In all, it has been an interesting journey to this warm and brilliant island. 

The British and the Portuguese had left their footprints here; especially in the Fort, Galle region. A bygone era; once occupied by the Portuguese in the 15h century -- a trading port with other countries; followed by war in the 16^th century when  the Dutch took over and, another war in the 17^th century by the British that had seen this walled fort transformed over the centuries to have arrived to be a world heritage site for tourists. Most of the properties here are owned by the wealthy locals and expatriates.

It is not surprising to see a large number of European tourists to this island although a small number of Asian tourists, especially the Chinese tourists have started to grow in numbers since last year.

Beach resorts have been the top attractions while the ancient cultural triangle, the city of Kandy and the hill countries are the other attractions to visit.

Indeed, the children are the true gem of this country. 

(January/February 2014)