Rashmi Sirisena and Matt Howden takea Selfie at Dove Lake in Cradle BNational Park, Tasmania
Category Archives: tourism
Sunset on Lake Petén Itzá, Guatemala
The Central American country of Guatemala boasts some very large lakes. Lake Izabal is the country’s largest, and Lake Atitlán is probably the most renowned (some have called it the world’s most beautiful lake). The lake in our image, Petén Itzá, is also well worth a look – and lots of people feel it’s definitely worth a visit, as many journey here to take in the stunning scenery. Petén Itzá is popular with the local wildlife as well – crocodiles, spider monkeys, jaguars and brockets thrive here, and the northeastern shore of the lake hosts a butterfly reserve.
Besides all of the lakeside splendour, the area is rich in archaeological sites. It’s said at least 27 Maya archaeological sites are located in the lake’s vicinity, including Tayasal, once a large city.
Filed under ancient civilisations, landscape wondrous, tourism, travelogue
The Old and Sturdy Dutch Fort in Galle
“Everyman” writing for The World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka, with this title “The Old Dutch Town of Galle”
Cricket in the 1980s –Pix by Nihal FernandoVolleyball, it is claimed, is our national sport. However there is no doubt that Cricket is the most popular sport in Sri Lanka. That popular West Indies calypso ‘Cricket, lovely cricket.’,’ will always be ringing in our ears. From the villages where youngsters from around 16 to 26 or maybe even older, use ‘polpithi’ bats, to the towns where more sophisticated young men use willow bats, it is cricket, cricket and more cricket. Little wonder then that we have been correctly described as ‘ a cricket crazy nation.’ And when it comes to grounds for international matches the Galle International Stadium is the most favored by our cricketers, our coaches and our spectators. The reason is that as at today (03. 05 .21), 34 Test Matches [have been] played on these grounds of which Sri Lanka won 19 and lost only eight. In addition to this, in a press release datelined June 8, 2020, Yash Mittal an avid lover of cricket has listed five of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. And yes – you have guessed it – the Galle cricket grounds, cradled between the Galle Fort and the Indian Ocean, heads the list!
Filed under accountability, architects & architecture, cricket for amity, economic processes, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, photography, rehabilitation, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, tourism, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes
Upcountry Clubs of Yesteryear — Nostalgic Histories
Sugi De Silva promoting Tours of Sri Lanka’s Upcountry Clubs of Yesteryear
Our search for the legacy of Sports and Clubs in Sri Lanka took us to Nuwara Eliya. Featuring one of the oldest and picturesque sporting venues in Sri Lanka – Radella Club (1856). Legacy Tour on Quadrangle is dedicated to Sporting institutions and legendary individuals who promoted Sports in Sri Lanka commencing from the Colonial era. During the 19th century under the patronage of British Administrators and by Planters and Military officials, various Sports Clubs were established exclusively for them to patronize recreational activities and social gatherings. By the middle of the 20th century, most of these Clubs were opened to Ceylonese or natives to patronize. Then Ceylon’s now Sri Lanka’s Sports and Sporting culture were built on these ‘Exclusive Clubs’ and these are the homes to some of the greatest and were Ceylon’s pride. The rich heritage along with the ‘Legendary Sporting Icons’ of yesteryear who made a mark through these hallowed sports clubs in various sports helped in popularising Sports in Sri Lanka. The journey has been long, challenging and we hope you will enjoy the stories we share from our tour to these Sports Clubs and Pubs.
Filed under architects & architecture, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, cricket for amity, cultural transmission, economic processes, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, performance, population, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, tolerance, tourism, travelogue, Uncategorized, unusual people, world events & processes
Leopards For Sri Lanka
Chathuranga Dharmarathne, in Sunday Observer, 21 June 2021 where the title reads “Toursim, Economy and Sri Lankan Leopards”
Ecotourism, usually a form of nature-based tourism, is often known to be one of the fastest developing segments of the tourism market globally. In the last couple of decades, the authorities have begun to view ecotourism as a kind of economic key for supporting nature conservation although in general, this type of tourism is focused on nature. To be considered ecotourism, it must be environmentally conscious.
Deadly Covid Abyss looms in Si Lanka: Two Grounded Essays by Peiris versus Peiris
The recent article presented by medical specialists Malik Peiris and Kamini Mendis has led to informed ethnographic set of comments by Gerald Peiris of Kandy**.…a nd drawn a Response from Dr Malik Peiris that is exrtemely disconcerting. The situation in Sri Lanka is DIRE … and going to plunge to further depths.
Hurdles: Entering Sri Lanka TODAY –Guidelines
The procedure for entry into Sri Lanka has been reviewed and new guidelines have been applied with effect from 12 May 2021.
Accordingly, all persons arriving in Sri Lanka (Sri Lankans, Dual Citizens, Tourists, Foreign national arriving in Sri Lanka for work including members of diplomatic Missions) irrespective of their vaccination status (whether they have received the recommended doses of a Covid vaccine or not), should be mandatorily quarantined at a Quarantine Hotel/Quarantine Centre/Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel for 14 days.
Harry Solomons, FOG and Cricketing Philanthrophy Down South
Harry Solomons, FOG and Cricketing Philanthrophy Down South
Magnifique! Greater Flamingoes in Mannar
Unknown Author, Courtesy of Dushy Perera (a periodic migrant to Mannar)
We had eagerly awaited this moment. It was a little after sunrise on the Thirukketheecharam Temple road and the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. We hurriedly got off our vehicles and started walking towards the mud flats and to our unbelief they were there. Our cameras clicked from a distance not knowing how long we would continue to see them. But they didn’t disappoint us and we moved closer and closer to them. There were nearly 200 of them.
Charlie Chaplin in Bali
Tony Donaldson’s Treasure Trove
Here are two photos of Charlie Chaplin in Bali from my collection.
In one photograph, we see Chaplin in a comical moment as if he is conducting a gamelan orchestra in a Balinese village, possibly Ubud. He could also be dancing in front of the gamelan — for the way his arms and hands are positioned suggest this We can’t say for sure. The gamelan players are clearly enjoying this moment with Chaplin, with lots of fun and laughter. A gamelan orchestra is led by the kendang (drum) player – the nearest thing to a kind of conductor in a gamelan.
