I was at the Bellanvilla temple last night, photographing the perahara when I got a chance to take this photograph of two elephants being brought to the temple premises. Yesterday was the second day so there weren’t many elephants taking part. It’s usually on the third day that most elephants arrive for the perahara. So I’m off again to hopefully get some photographs of elephants.
Made another visit to Kukuleganga a couple weeks ago and this time it wasn’t raining. So the water level was safe enough to go swimming. According to my friends Sankha and Chullaka this is the best spot to swim. The edges are only ankle deep while the center is about six to seven feet deep. The water is crystal clear and quite calm, so we or rather I made good use of the snorkeling gear we brought along.
Oh on another note, today is apparently world photography day. So happy photography day to all.
Please note that all images in this blog are the property of the photographer. No one may use these images without written permission from the photographer. The fact that it’s on the internet is not an excuse for you to steal it. Legal action will be taken against anyone using these images without permission from the photographer.
If you are interested in using these photographs, please email (rangad.silva[at]gmail.com) me for permission.
The National Association of Photographers is conducting a photographic competition. You can download the application form here along with submission requirements.
My friends’ mother is building a small lodge in Kukuleganga called “Natures Hideout”. It’s really a nice place if you want to just get away from it all. It’s got all the modern comforts, electricity, running water, clean toilets. But the best feature of them all is that cell phones don’t work.
A recently constructed cabin with a kitchen and bedroom. This is a bit away from the main compound.
Getting there is a bit of a challenge though. You’ll need a four wheel drive vehicle to negotiate the muddy roads and the river that needs to be crossed to get to the lodge.
It’s actually a small river that needs to be crossed but when it rains it tends to swell and getting across is a bit difficult or at times impossible, so when it rained that night we were not exactly sure if we’ll have to spend an extra day in Kukulegagnga.
Sanka and Chullaka check out the best place to take a swim in the river. There’s a short trek trough a leach infested footpath then a climb down to get to it. But the river had risen because of the rains so we had to go back to the place where we initially crossed for our swim.
The place usually comes with a cook but since it’s closed down these days because of the rains we had to do the cooking ourselves. Sanka decided to whip up some sausages for tea.
I’ve been feeling rather burnt out, uninspired and down with life. Work seems to have gotten quite monotonous. Guess that happens when your stuck in an office the whole day. Haven’t had much time to work on my photography either. Got tons of pics to edit but just haven’t had the time nor the motivation. Coming down with a severe case of the flue last week didn’t help either.
Anyways I’m off to Kukulegama tomorrow to just get away from it all and forget about these shitty couple of months. Hopefully to find some inspiration as well.
The above picture of what seems to be two legs belonging to big foot was taken a month back in Udawalawe. I had a chance to just relax and put my feet up so to speak during the afternoons, when we weren’t running around in our four by fours photographing elephants. Yes hopefully I’ll finish editing them soon.
The Jetavanaramaya stupa is said to have been the third tallest structure next to the Great Pyramids of Giza when it was built by King Mahasena (273-301 AD). You can find more detail on this Wiki.
Basically it’s huge. You can’t help but have a sense of awe when you see it up close. The two specks standing at the base are my friends Charlot and Gayan. Kind of gives you an idea as to how large the stupa is.
Please note that all images in this blog are the property of the photographer. No one may use these images without written permission from the photographer. The fact that it’s on the internet is not an excuse for you to steal it. Legal action will be taken against anyone using these images without permission from the photographer.
If you are interested in using these photographs, please email (rangad.silva[at]gmail.com) me for permission.
I spent this years Vesak at BMICH, where the Light of Asia foundation together with the National Film Corporation and BMICH organized a Buddhist Film Festival for the second consecutive year. The aim of the festival was to showcase local and foreign films with a Buddhist theme. Anyone could walk in off the street and watch these films being shown on projectors at the BMICH grounds.
BMICH grounds at Twilight.
Decorations at the entrance
The crows move in.
Chief guest Chamal Rajapaksa inspects an exhibition by the Pakistani embassy on Buddhist stupas in Pakistan.
The Digital Pandal, set-up at the entrance.
People watching films on one of two projectors set up on Baugdhaloka mawatha.
Visitors to the festival watch films on the giant screens under a canopy.
People seated around the BMICH pond watching a movie.
The Bhakthigee stage.
The Bhakthigee troop from Dharmashoka Vidyalaya preparing for their performance.
Performance by the Peoples Bank Bhakthigee troop.
What’s Vesak without rain.
Photographs of Murals at the Kelaniya, Bellanwila and Gothamee Vihara on display.
An artists rendition of the ancient city of Kapilavastu.
The Maggie noodles van besieged by hungry visitors to the festival.
The Bombaimutai or Candyfloss seller.
Please note that all images in this blog are the property of the photographer. No one may use these images without written permission from the photographer. The fact that it’s on the internet is not an excuse for you to steal it. Legal action will be taken against anyone using these images without permission from the photographer.
If you are interested in using these photographs, please email (rangad.silva[at]gmail.com) me for permission.
Was on my way to work this evening when I saw this submerged car just a couple of meters away from the Galle Road in Panadura. All the drains are clogged up with garbage in Panadura so when it rains, a whole stretch of the Galle Road gets flooded.
I’m back. Well I got back last week but given the fact that I now have a day job, I haven’t had time to upload anything. To put it briefly, Riverston is Awesome. The scenery, breathtaking, the locals are the nicest I’ve ever met. Except for those darn leaches, the place is paradise.
Ashan waits for the Matale to I’llukkumbura bus to get going. The bus only goes twice a day, so missing it would have meant spending the night in Matale.
Sunrise at Pathana. We spent the night in the ticket office at the entrance to Mini Worlds End in Pitawala.
Beyond the first mountain is Meemure. Our initial plan was to go there but we decided to stick around in Riverston instead.
The paddy fields and the Village in the valley. We met a policeman named Athula from that village who invited us to stay with him. We didn’t have time to take him up on the offer but next time were definitely paying him a visit.
The dying calf. It’s mother refused to feed it so Sanka decided to give it some of our milk. Unfortunately the calf was too weak to save and we found out that it had passed away a couple of hours later.
A Divimakuluwa or Tiger Spider.
The stream just outside our camp site. It got deeper after it rained.
Waiting out the rain. We feasted on bread, Seeni Sambol and Jam. Washed it all down with Sunquick mixed with an energy drink while the leaches waited patiently for us to step out of the tent.
Leach attack. Apparently I’m a delicacy for the leaches. Over ten leaches attached themselves to the same spot on my foot within one day.
The paddy fields in the villages, surrounded by the mountains.
Sanka munching on Jungle Ice cream. We expected to get lost in the jungle and starve during this trip. So we ended up gorging ourselves every chance we got in case we got lost. We never did. We even found someone selling ice cream during our hike.
The heart shaped cloud. Sanka, Asahan and I would like to thank all the pretty girls who were concerned for our well being during this treacherous trip. We hope to have your support next time as well. Yes Sanka’s got a pic just like this. We’ve got to stop taking the same pics.
I leave for Riverston tonight. I’n going to be camping out in the jungle with a couple of friends for two nights so travelling light is essential. This is basically all the kit I’ll be taking with me. The place is apparently crawling with snakes so went to Pettah last week and bought those army boots. Hopefully the’ll keep me safe. And those poly thin bags are a must. In case it pours they’ll help keep my gear all dry.
So I’m off to catch a quick nap and I’m off. Don’t expect to get much sleep for the next four days.
