If you ever tasted a cup of good High Grown Ceylon Tea, preferably
in the unblended form, you have tasted the BEST TEA there is. Of
course, to experience that pleasure, you must go to the central hill country
of Sri Lanka. And once you are there, take Route 5 from Maha Nuwara (Kandy)
to Nuwara Eliya. This take you through some of the best scenery of the Hill
Country. The road takes you by the shores of Mahaweli River from Peradeniya
( don't forget to visit the famous botanical gardens - remember "Bridge on
the River Kwai?") to Gampola, long ago a capital of Sri Lanka. From Gampola
it is a steep climb with many hairpin curves for some sixty kilometers,
through spectacular scenery like this, until you get to Nuwara Eliya, the
old British hill resort. To taste that heavenly cup of tea, on the way to
Nuwara Eliya, look out for tea factories that advertise tea tasting. You
won't forget that unique experience.
The Verdant Hill Country - Ramboda Falls
Text: Siri Ekanayake
Photo: Gamini Jayasinghe
Sri Lanka has 1,340 km of sea shore, and most of it is
spectacular and full of contrasts. A serene, white sandy cove,
next to a craggy promontory with thundering waves beating against
the granite boulders. Few miles up or down the beach, perhaps a
quaint fishing village, with rugged sea going "oru," a craft akin to an
oversized canoe with a history going back to Inca times, drying on the
beach. If you happen to be in the area of Ahangama, or Weligama, near
Matara, the southernmost city in Sri Lanka, exactly 100 miles (161 km), from
Colombo, you might be in for a unique sight - the stilt fishermen of
Weligama -. Have your cameras ready and with a full roll of film, because
you won't find this anywhere else in the world.
Seascape
Text: Siri Ekanayake
Photo: G. Hettiarachchia
If you like to do some scuba diving, or do some quiet swimming, go past
Matara to the four-mile-wide bay at Tangalla. The calm and clear water of
Tangalla bay is a swimmers paradise. Perhaps you like some rougher water, to
do some surfing--- not to worry, The small towns of Hikkaduwa, Totagamuwa,
and Dodanduwa, in the south- west corner of the island are blessed with the
ideal beaches for that sport.
Text: Siri Ekanayake
Photo: Dominic Sansoni
Photo: Tom Tidball
Frangipani or Pansal Mal (temple flowers) trees can be seen just
about anywhere in Sri Lanka. They flower all year round and come
in a variety of shades, from pure white to deep red, to dark purple. The
fragrant flowers, fresh picked in bunches, are a favorite offering at
Buddhist temples, thus the name "pansal mal." The color of the more abundant
variety, yellow, resembles the color of the robes worn by the Buddhist
monks, again making it the favorite color of the devotees. The flowers are
used in making modern day fragrances, and when dried, can be used in a
potpourri with other flowers and spices. In Sri Lanka and India, garlands
made with fresh frangipani flowers are favorites when welcoming dignitaries
to various functions. Anybody who has been to Hawaii as part of a tourist
group will also recognize this as the flower used in making the Ôlei's" that
welcome the visitor to that island paradise.
A Carpet of Flowers
Text: Siri Ekanayake
Photo: Lal Hegoda
Photo: Tom Tidball
The year-round hot and humid climate of southwestern Sri Lanka,
makes the ideal climate for growing some varieties of orchids,
while the dry and cool climates of the central highlands make other
varieties thrive, thus making the whole island, except perhaps the dry north
eastern sector, one large nursery for many varieties of this exotic bloom.
Originally started as a hobby by the "idle rich," growing orchids, now is a
money making hobby for anybody with a green thumb. As the world demand for
exotic flowers gets more intense, Sri Lanka seems to be in an enviable
position to supply that demand, and earn some badly needed foreign exchange
too. Shown here are some of the more common "every day" varieties of orchid.
Since many orchid varieties lack alluring scents to attract life-giving bees
and other insects to aid in pollination, they depend on their profusion of
colors to lure these insects. Thus, in good nursery one can find orchids of
just about any color of the rainbow.
Orchids
Text: Siri Ekanayake
Photo: Muditha Abhayagunawardhana
This, the "Nil Mahanel," botanical name "Nympheae Stelleta," has
been the national flower of Sri Lanka from 1986. This flower
mentioned in many Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit literary works, occupies a
pre-eminent position in Buddhist literature. Legend also, has it that the
'Nil Mahanel Flower' is among the many ceremonial designs found on the
footprint of Prince Siddhartha, giving it a special significance among the
many devotees of Lord Buddha. This flower in the hands of the exotic ladies
immortalized in Sigiriya Frescoes, enhance their ethereal beauty, and poets
have always likened women's eyes to the unopened Nil Mahanel flower. The Nil
Mahanel plant grows in shallow, warm waters, and is found in all parts of
the country. It is specially plentiful in the northern dry zone and as a
result, this flower is a favorite among the Buddhist devotees as an offering
at the many temples and "dagobas" in and around the ruined cities in that
area. The flower which is purplish blue in color has a heavy concentration
of petals in the center. The Nil Mahanel flower is also considered a symbol
of truth, purity and discipline.
Nil Mahanel Flower
Text: Siri Ekanayake
Photo: Unknown
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Photo: Air Lanka
Photo: Gamini Jayasinghe
A clear cool morning in the valley, everywhere eyes can see, lush,
green, vegetation, birds singing their heart out --- perhaps
Tchaikovsky spent a night here before writing his famous symphony. In Sri
Lanka we have a special branch of poetry, "pal kavi" (poems of a cottage),
inspired by scenes like these. These poems keep the farmers, who spend the
night at temporary huts like these to protect the crop from marauding
animals, awake and entertained. It is not uncommon to hear "poetry contests"
that sometimes run all night, between farmers in adjoining farms.
These huts have a bamboo frame, covered with woven coconut fronds. This
allows for good air circulation to beat the mid day heat, yet provide ample
protection from the monsoon rain that keep the vegetation lush and green.
These huts also are used during the growing season, for resting between
bouts of work, and serve as a convenient place to enjoy the meals brought to
the field by the women folk of the village.
Pastoral Symphony
Text: Siri Ekanayake
Photo: Tom Tidball
Photo: Mortlake Press
