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 *****

01 August, 2017

SRI LANKA - BEES [VIDEO]

The highest degree of nest construction among insects is found in bees. The architecture of the nest is unsurpassed and unparalleled in the animal kingdom. The hive and comb of the bees is formed mainly by workers. A comb is a vertical sheet of wax, composed of a double layer of hexagonal cells projecting in both directions from central wax-sheet. Comb hangs vertically downward, while cells are horizontal in position.

Video by: Nelsonlanka

Sony Nex 6

30 June, 2017

SRI LANKA - SNAKE CHARMER

I came across this young snake charmer on the way to the Kinniya hot water wells in Trincomalee.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

22 May, 2017

SRI LANKA - KANDALAMA LAKE

The Kandalama reservoir is a popular tourist destination due its scenic surroundings, water from this reservoir is used to irrigate the rice fields of Dambulla area.

Pics by: Nelsonlanka

Sony NEX 6

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.