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Quote - Joseph Pulitzer

"PUT IT BEFORE THEM BRIEFLY SO THEY WILL READ IT, CLEARLY SO THEY WILL APPRECIATE IT, PICTURESQUELY SO THEY WILL REMEMBER IT AND, ABOVE ALL, ACCURATELY SO THEY WILL BE GUIDED BY ITS LIGHT" ***** JOSEPH PULITZER *****
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 *****




Over: 70 Pages, 800 Posts, 1000 Photographs and 900,000 Page views

24 April, 2017

SRI LANKA - BIRD RESEARCH CENTER

The Bird Research Center of Hambantota is the biggest of its kind in Asia, covering an area of 50 acres and is home to over 200 species. Endangered species are bred with the collaboration of overseas Research Centers. Hand-feeding the parrots of Bird Research Center will be an unforgettable experience.





Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6

21 April, 2017

SRI LANKA - MEDIRIGIRIYA MONASTERY 3RD CENTURY B.C.

The Medirigiriya monastery, built in the 3rd century B.C., has a shrine circular in shape [Vatadage] built of stone and brick, the stone columns may have supported a wooden roof.





Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6

10 April, 2017

SRI LANKA - ALL SAINT'S CHURCH, GALLE - 1871

The Anglican church in the Fort of Galle, All Saint's Church, built in a Victorian Gothic style of architecture, was consecrated on the 21st of February, 1871. The magnificent stained glass windows, with the mosaic pictures, are in a well preserved state.






Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6

04 April, 2017

THE PARADISE FLYCATCHER - VIDEO

The Paradise Flycatcher is a very vigilant bird while waiting on the lookout for prey, it turns its head constantly to catch a glimpse of a fly passing by.



Video by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6

03 April, 2017

SRI LANKA - LAPIDARY [VIDEO]

Cutting and polishing gemstones, to make jewelry and decorative items, using the traditional method. The grinder is hand operated by a highly skilled craftsman.


Video by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6

24 March, 2017

SRI LANKA - PHILATELY [FIRST DAY COVERS]

Three First Day Covers were issued under the title Unseen Sri Lanka on 2nd December, 2016. These postage stamps depict the lesser known but interesting and somewhat isolated locations on the Island.




Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6

First Day Covers: By courtesy, Ana

19 March, 2017

SRI LANKA - SHOOTING FROM MY WINDOW [PARADISE FLYCATCHER]

The Paradise Flycatcher with rufos, white and black plumage and a prominent crest.






Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6 [55-210mm]

17 March, 2017

SRI LANKA - HOT SPRINGS [KANNIYA]


There are seven square shaped wells only 3 to 4 feet deep and one can see the bottom. The temperature of the water is considerably high but vary from one spring to another. Wells run out of water when 10 to 15 buckets of water are taken out.

The history of the hot water springs can be traced back to the Ravana era.




Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony  NEX 6

10 March, 2017

SRI LANKA - BUDDHA STATUE [MONARAGALA TEMPLE, RAMBODAGALA]



The Bamiyan statues of Afganistan were destroyed by the Taliban on the 16th of March, 2001. On that day a 13 year old child, who was among the devotees at a remote temple, at Monaragala in the Kurunegala District approached the chief incumbent of the temple and suggested the destruction of a mosque or two in retaliation. The Priest explained to the young boy that throughout history Buddhists have not attacked anyone who harmed Buddhists and said the wise thing is to build a colossal statue, on 3rd May this child handed over 1300/- rupees, collected from the congregation, with the help of other children.

This was the first contribution made towards the construction of this mammoth 67.5 foot Samadhi Buddha statue, which is carved out of a  massive rock.




Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6
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