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 *****

12 April, 2016

SRI LANKA - DRIED FISH

Drying food is the oldest method of preservation, flattened fish and squid are dried on the hot beach in Negombo. The excess fish when dried fetch a good price, fish dried in this cheap and effective method has a storage life of many years.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

07 April, 2016

SRI LANKA - SNAKES [HUMP-NOSED VIPER]

This mildly venomous snake can be found in dark, damp soil with rotting leaves; although not highly venomous a bite will be very painful and lead to complications if not treated properly.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

01 April, 2016

SRI LANKA - FIREWOOD SELLERS

On the way to Arugam Bay, the surfing destination in the Eastern Province, I came across these firewood sellers - a five foot stack of chopped firewood perfectly balanced, a fascinating sight.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

23 March, 2016

SRI LANKA - BLOGGING [700,000 PAGEVIEWS FOR DISCOVER-SRI LANKA]

Discover-Sri Lanka reaches 700,000 pageviews on 23rd March, 2016 - publishing 547 posts with over 1000 photographs in six years and eight months.

Thank you and keep reading!

19 March, 2016

SRI LANKA - FEEDING TIME [PINNAWELA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE]

This is an unforgettable moment for a traveler from the West, feeding an elephant banana and pineapple, the feeding hand touching the slimy lump of a tongue at times.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

10 March, 2016

SRI LANKA - ARECA NUT PALM

The Areca nut palm is native to Asia and the Pacific region, the fruit of the palm is used to chew with betel leaves, a habit with some of the people of this region.

Substances found in the Areca nut are carcinogenic to humans.