the journey

This picture was taken by Dammik exactly an year ago. Possibly one of the last pictures he took. A couple of weeks later he took a long journey, probably the most majestic.

This is in remembrance of Dammik Gunawardana (Oct 1964 - August 2008)

going home

i always wondered where all these people were going. sometime their faces tell you stories that can not be explained in words. i like to believe that they were all going to a place where they are expected

thambili thambilee

i saw this vendor by the side of the railroad, selling king coconuts to thirsty passengers through the trains window, as it stops briefly. sometimes there's hardly any time to finish the transaction. passengers throw out the money and he picks up his money along the track. i fear that the notes may fly away by the current created by the train. is he mindful of the dangers, of forgetting where he is in pursuit of the flying 20 rupee note? will his limp in the left foot let him down?

i am sure i heard the mist whisper something to the tree

this must be one of the most tranquil places on earth. i shall say no more.

Horton Plains

the sambar

photographed by fazi bin jameel, at hortan plains

kanaa mutti

a little late for avurudu, i know. but these are good fun any time of year.

gamarala is back

and i've got sweets from the village fair
(Paramakanda Anamaduwa)

misty morning

a truck takes the turn off at the Peradeniya gardens roundabout, outward bound from Kandy on a beautiful misty morning

bible rock

view from kadugannawa, at dusk

river crossing

Kotadoowa

young Buddhist monks (Novices).they join the order as young as 7, as was prince Rahula. , they will be ordained at age 20. - Kotadoowa Rajamaha Viharaya

cinnamon island

peeling the bark of the cinnamon tree, and preparing his days produce for trade - Madu Ganga, Balapitya

moonlit shore

the day after poya - the overcast sky had drawn a heavy curtain, but still the moon persisted, and revealed its magic, like a torch light from heaven

monsoons and school girls

...muddy streets, wet shoes, and bus stands with leaking roofs. School boys with smiling faces, eager for some undivided attention...

captive in dehiwela

Today there are more tigers in cages than in the wild. according to the Born Free Foundation (http://www.bornfree.org.uk) countless thousands of tigers and other big cats are kept in appalling conditions in zoos, circuses and private ownership.
In the age of the internet and wildlife television, do we still need these animals in captivity for the amusement of mankind?

(Picture taken at The National Zoological Gardens - Dehiwela)

hanging out

riding through paddy fields

a young man on his honda cd90 (1/135,000 motorbikes in the country) - Rambukkana.

broken lines

the receiving

little girls wait to receive holy communion, perhaps one of the most important days in their spiritual life as christians

maradana station

a quiet sunday morning, broken by the sound of diesel engines

9 a.m. colombo

Raiyah returns home, from her first railway journey to Kandy on the intercity express

yantadha dragon !

for the vehicle art enthusiasts...
- having seen a couple of posts on the subject, I pulled these out. enjoy...

pooja

the devil's handy work

Marsh Dodanwela at rehearsals - before the devil was born...

walking man

the hills have eyes

listen...

an open field, Madurankuli area - Puttlam

Kalpitiya

Fishing boats - Kalpitiya Lagoon

homage

Bikkhuni's - female monks, visit the Dalada maligawa (temple of the tooth relic) - Kandy

my friendly neighbour

Vahi Leeniya (Swallow)

Udawatte

Macaques - a rainy Udawatta Kalay morning - Kandy

the wash

a mahoot gets his elephant ready for the procession
- Kandy Perehera

the happy boat

the happy boat named joy - Kandy lake

Miss Fortune

A young Gypsy girl (Ahikuntaka) from a remote village in the Anuradhapura district. They are one among the isolated and vanishing tribes of Sri Lanka. She earns a living by reading your palm and foretelling your fortunes.

the Enlightened

the Buddha statue atop of the Kurunegala rock being renovated

No 6 Cross Street

..a tribute to the lovely people who live there...

Alu Viharaya

Old building on the historical site of the Alu Viharaya where it is beleived the Dhamma of the Buddha was first written on Ola leaves, in the 1st century BC

Fences

always at the centre of every conflict

Kovil

The ritual of invoking blessings and celebrating adolescence, in a Kovil in the hill country of Matale

The Arishta-crat

Long live the Vedha mahatthaya. This photo was taken minutes before the medicine shop was open. The Vedha mahatthya had gone to have a cup of tea to a shop nearby leaving his bicycle behind. I never met him. I'll catch him next time around.

Barber Saloon

A Barber Saloon frozen in time - A1 Highway Pilimathalawa, enroute to Kandy.

Bhoomi Thel

Kerosene is still widely used for fuel in Rural areas, to fire up surviving Grand Master hand tractors, water pumps for irrigating Paddy fields, and lighting up hurricane lamps, and is still used in small stoves for cooking.
This is a pump, from a small remote town off Puttlam, for those of you have forgotten the sweet smell of kerosene...

Waday waday isso waday...

Hi Aqif, this is not the Galle Face variety. This is his north western cousin from Puttlam. If you look closer, you'll see One shrimp instead of the 3 rows of dried shrimp that you find in the GF variety. Now The Puttlam variety uses fresh shrimp, and thus one fat fellow in the middle does the job of the 3 in Colombo. Took this picture about 2 weeks ago on visit to the area.

And Anushka, thanks for dropping in. Please do come by often, I might even have a piece of nando's with the fiery sauce. I beleive you are a budding film maker. Which is fanatastic.

So, keep it locked to Pol Sambol, more treats ahead.

Koss - no fruit yet

Good to hear from you guys. Well, I got an idea, I am going to make it my challenge to photograph what ever it is that you guys miss, and post it up for your viewing pleasure. Now, Aqif I'll try to find the pictures of the school girls in white uniform - I hope you understand that this sort of thing can get me into trouble. So anyway, watch out for the photo section, soon. And Zaqir here's the small leaf for you.

What do you miss the most?

You can call me Gamarala. I am 33, Sri Lankan, and live in Colombo with my Haaminay and 4 year old daughter.

33 years ago my extended family i.e. - uncles, aunts, cousins, all lived in Sri Lanka, except a few. Today, except a few, a lot of them live in other countries. And so do most of my friends, whom I grew up with.

This blog is not about me, my family or my friends. This is about POL SAMBOL and the likes, of everything which is uniquely Sri Lankan - the flavours, sights and sounds you'll never forget.

This Blog is for every Sri Lankan (or formerly Sri Lankan) who now lives elsewhere.

This is a place to share your memories of "what you miss the most".

If you have a moment to take a trip back into the old days, look at your life today, and share your thoughts, this space is yours.

Jaya Wewa !