Discover-SriLanka

DISCOVER - SRI LANKA: PROLOGUE

IN PRAISE OF MY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND,

INFORMATION, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO.

THE 13th CENTURY VENETIAN TRAVELER MARCO POLO DESCRIBED THE ISLAND AS 'THE JADE PENDANT IN THE INDIAN OCEAN'. THE ABUNDANCE OF GEMSTONES, SPICES, RAIN FORESTS AND WILDLIFE; THE MAGNIFICENT BEACHES, ANCIENT RUINS AND A WRITTEN HISTORY OF OVER 2500 YEARS MAKE THIS ISLAND A TOURISTS' PARADISE.

THE RUINED CITIES OF ANURADHAPURA AND POLONNARUWA ILLUSTRATE THE GLORY OF THE ANCIENT KINGDOMS. THE GIGANTIC STUPAS AND BUDDHA STATUES ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST MAN MADE STRUCTURES OF THE WORLD. THE MASSIVE RESERVOIRS, BUILT BY ANCIENT KINGS TO IRRIGATE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND, ARE MARVELS OF HYDRO ENGINEERING. THERE ARE EIGHT UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN SRI LANKA

THE ISLAND WAS KNOWN TO THE GREEKS AS 'TAPROBANE' AND TO THE ARABS AS 'SERENDIB'. EARLY MERCHANTS VISITED THE ISLAND IN SEARCH OF GEMSTONES AND SPICES, MAINLY CINNAMON AND PEPPER. COFFEE AND TEA PLANTATIONS WERE STARTED BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL RULERS. CEYLON TEA IS FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER.

TOURISM INDUSTRY IS A MAJOR MONEY SPINNER FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND. THE VAST EXPANSE OF BEACHES, RAIN FORESTS AND NATIONAL PARKS WITH HERDS OF WILD ELEPHANTS, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WITH LITHE WATER FALLS, BRING IN THE TOURISTS. THE ISLAND IS DOTTED WITH HUNDREDS OF HOTELS TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAVELER. AN ISLAND OF 25,000 SQ; MILES HAS 103 RIVERS AND 25000 RESERVOIRS, MOSTLY MAN MADE. WITH VARYING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS THIS IS TRULY A 'SMALL MIRACLE'.

" THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA IS A SMALL UNIVERSE, IT CONTAINS AS MANY VARIATIONS OF CULTURE, SCENERY AND CLIMATE AS SOME COUNTRIES A DOZEN TIMES ITS SIZE........I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY COUNTRY WHICH SCORES SO HIGHLY IN ALL DEPARTMENTS - WHICH HAVE SO MANY ADVANTAGES AND SO FEW DISADVANTAGES. LOVELY BEACHES, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, IMPRESSIVE RUINS, A VIBRANT CULTURE AND CHARMING PEOPLE- NO WONDER SRI LANKA IS A SMALL MIRACLE ".***** Arthur C. Clark *****

06 February, 2014

SRI LANKA - VANDA [ ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KANDY ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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30 January, 2014

SRI LANKA - AGAVE TEQUILANA [ ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KANDY ]

The pineapple like bulb at the base of the Agave Tequilana plant is used to manufacture the strong Mexican alcoholic drink Tequila. Also known as Blue Agave, more than 300 million plants are harvested each year for producing this famous drink of high alcohol content.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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23 January, 2014

SRI LANKA - FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY [ ROSES ]

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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16 January, 2014

SRI LANKA - SETHU COINS [ ANCIENT CURRENCY ]

Sethu coins were in circulation from the 13th to the 15th century, mainly in the northern part of the Island.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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Photographed at the economic History Museum

09 January, 2014

SRI LANKA - OLIVER [ CLOSE UP ]

4th January, 2014 8.30 a.m. Oliver posed unconcerned till I captured 200 + shots. Thank you very much, your pictures will adorn my Blog.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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02 January, 2014

SRI LANKA - FOUNTAINS

Erected by the coffee planters of Ceylon in 1875, this cast iron fountain is in pristine condition. One of only two in the world, made by George Smith & Company of England, can be seen in the city of Kandy.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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26 December, 2013

SRI LANKA - RAN KAHAVANU [ ANCIENT GOLD COINS ]

Ran Kahavanu currency of Sri Lanka dates back to the 11th century, typical of coins from around the 11th century, no date is indicated. These gold coins were in circulation during the reign of king Vijayabahu [ 1055 - 1110 ].

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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Photographed at The Economic History Museum

18 December, 2013

SRI LANKA - STAR FRUIT

Star fruit or Carambola is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, it is believed this tropical fruit originated from Sri Lanka. It is found in abundance in the far Eastern countries.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

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17 December, 2013

SRI LANKA - A 49 SECOND VIDEO OF OLIVER THE EAGLE

It's 6.30 A.M. on December 11th, 2013, a misty morning, I spotted our new visitor, the Eagle [ I have named him Oliver ] on the jakfruit tree, on the lookout for prey and made this 49 second movie.