Date : 15 Sept 08 to 24 Sept 08

Sri Lanka is one of the few Countries that have written history dating over 1500 years.

Sri Lankan Culture is fascinating. The Yaksha and Naga tribes Civilized before 300 B.C. using agriculture and irrigation, Nourished from the Buddhism in early 2nd Century B.C. and also influenced by Indian invasions and going through Portuguese, Dutch and British rule, Sri Lankan Culture is diverse like it's Natural Heritage

 

Mythology on Sri Lanka

Legends say that Mount Meru and the wind god Vayu were good friends. However, the Sage Narada approached Vayu and incited him to humble the mountain. Vayu blew with full force for one full year, but Meru was shielded by Garuda with his wings (he was flying high). However, after a year Garuda took respite for some time. Thus the apex of the mountain was broken and it fell into the sea and created the island of Sri Lanka.

Day 1 - Airport => Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage => Kandy

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawela orphanage is situated northwest of the town Kegalla, halfways between the present capitol Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife department. This 24 acres large elephant orphanage is a also breeding pace for elephants, twenty elephants were born since 1984, and it has the greatest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. The Pinnawala elephant orphanage is the Transit Home where these baby elephants once cared for are released to the wilds when they reach a certain age.

This bull elephant have 2 huge long tusk which almost meet. This is suppose to be an asuspicious sign for an elephant. Sri Lankan elephant are easier to train than Indian elephant

 

Kandy

The city of Kandy is located some 500m above sea level. Kandy is the last dynasty of the independent kingdom of Sri Lanka. Being the capital of the last dynasty, Kandy had become final resting place to the relic of the tooth of the Buddha which symbolises a 4th-century tradition that used to be linked to royalty since the protector of the relic was seen fit to rule the land. 

 

Along the way to Kandy, we came across a flat rock some 798m high. The British call this "The Bible Rock" because they felt it look like an open bible but the local call it "Bataliga - The Sweet Potato".

 

Day 2 - Kandy City

Temple of the Tooth

This is the outer perimeter of the "Temple of the Tooth". It is also called Dalada Maligavavwa or the Tooth Palace. Yes, indeed it was the palace to the kings as it was believed that whoever had the tooth relic is fit to rule the land.

Kandy - Temple of the Tooth

The original temple of the tooth is a 2 storey wooden structure sitting on beautifully carved stone column. Stone columns were being used because Sri Lanka is a very forested area and to prevent termites from destorying the foundation. The first storey is where the original relic is kept and the 2nd storey is a prayer hall

 

Offering were often made to the tooth. Can the clever readers guess what is one of the offering made to the tooth?

This is the more recent pairs of stone carving of a elephant with its mahout. The original was destoryed by the LTTE bombing in 1998.  

 

The original damaged carving

Beautiful painting on the ceiling of the tooth temple

 

Day 3 - Kandy Lake

Beside the Tooth palace is a large lake. This lake was used for drinking and defence purpose. In the middle of this lake is a litle island garden used for recreation purpose by the king

Be an island unto yourself.

 

Sri Lanka's so unsafe lar. I wouldn't wanna go there even if i had the money.

Originally posted by TalkToTheScreen:

Sri Lanka's so unsafe lar. I wouldn't wanna go there even if i had the money.

 that's where the beauty is.

A look of the tooth temple from the mountain top across the lake. Can you see the golden roof on the top of the building? It was a recent addition to the building and is made from gold and gold leaves. Instead of making it grand and beautiful, it really becomes an eye-sore and could be a disaster in the future should the new structure be unable to take its weight. 

Royal Botanical Garden - Peradeniya - Sri Lanka

Our next destination is Kandy was the Royal Botanical Garden - Peradeniya - Sri Lanka. This is the world first Botanical Garden in Asia that has alot of rare and exotic plants from all over the world

Double Coconut. Coco De Mer Lodoicea Maldivicia (Palmae)

This strange Coco De Mer (Sea Palm) has many curious characteristics. It is a very rare plant found only in the Seyshelles and is one of the endangered plant protected by laws. It's seed is the largest and heaviest in the vegetable kingdom. The seed was first found in the Indian Ocean in 1500 AD but the palm was only discoverd in the Seyshelles in 1743 AD. The male and female plant constitute the plant, the coconut (weigh 10-20kg). This palm was introduced to the Botanical Garden in 1850

Gaint Java Willow Tree (Java Fig).

This is a large handsome tree indigenous to Malaysia.Indonesia and was introduced to the Botanical Garden in 1861. The specimen shown here is more than 100 years old and had spread over an area of 2500 square metre

Tembusu - Fabraea Fragrans

A symmetrical Ornamental tree indigenous to the Malaya where it is extensively used for ornament and avenubs. This tree here is trimmed once a year to maintain the conical shape.

Cannon Ball Tree 

Large fruit that has the size and shape of a cannonball. A definite eye catcher, the cannonball fruits grow en masse from stalks surrounding the trunk of the large tree. This tree is common even in Singapore. The flower gives off a very sweet fragrance, however there's something about it that not many may know.

Can you find the "stupa" in this flower?

Day 3 - Kandy => Sigiriya

Aluvihara Rock Temple

On our way to Sigiriya, we stopped at this place call Aluvihara Rock Temple.There are several caves at this site having inscriptions on the cave rocks dating 2nd BC. Today, these cave are sheltering temples dating from early 19th century. There are several beautifully painted drawings in the caves. Unfortunately, picture taking wasn't allowed. 

they're still fighting, the sinhalese and SL tamils, arent they?

But how could I resist taking photos? This cave temple has a diorama depicting the various punishments inflected in hell. Doesn't this remind you of Hwa Par Villa in Pasir Panjang?

Originally posted by SBS7484P:

they're still fighting, the sinhalese and SL tamils, arent they?

fighting is in further North where we can see artillies and amour vehicles moving northward. Colombo is also very tense where there are soldiers everywhere. Even AA guns can be seen on tall buildings

 

COOL TREES!!!!
and omg...i wanna go see cave rocks! and the 'writings/drawings' on them =P haha

when did u go...??

and back when u could sit on the boat thingies in hawparvilla, i'd close my eyes when i was in there ><

Dambulla Cave Temple.

Although this picture looks great, the centre of attraction is not this but the caves on the mountain top. Dambulla is a huge granite hummock surrounding the countryside. This place was inhabited by monks for at least 2000 years and was known in ancient time as Jambukola. The caves are beautifully painted dating to 18th century.

I think this movie i seen before, it was a tamil movie. Excellent show shot at sri lanka and about the conflict going on. its a movie by the controversial indian director veteran maniratnam 

Kannathil Muthamittal ( A peck on the cheek) 2002

 

This is an incredible movie that begins slowly. It leads you along in thinking of it as a typical maudlin family drama. Then, in the second half, there is a plot twist that utterly transforms this into a profound tale of global scope.
 Especially beginning with the second half, you will find this movie an amazing experience.Excellent work! Though the war sequences reminded me of Saving Private Ryan, such a work was never attempted on Indian Screen...and also take note of the powerful music throughout the film, its got an amazing soundtrack (see sample link).

Sample: http://www.4shared.com/file/47917762/2ab422ef/Mother-Daughter_Meet.html

IMDB Link:.

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0312859

 

Kannathil Muthamittal ( A peck on the cheek) 2002

 

Directed by Mani Ratnam

Music by A. R. Rahman

Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran
Produced by Mani Ratnam, G. Srinivasan
Written by Mani Ratnam, Sujatha

Starring

R. Madhavan
Simran Bagga
J.D. Chakravarthy
Nandita Das
P. S. Keerthana
Prakash Raj
Distributed by Madras Talkies


Main

Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek, கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால்) (2002) is an award-winning Tamil feature film directed by Mani Ratnam. It was one of the most successful movies by director Maniratnam.The film was released in March 2002 in India and worldwide. It stars P. S. Keerthana, Madhavan, Simran, Nandita Das and Prakash Raj. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman. The film's title is a famous phrase from a poem written by Subramanya Bharathy, which literally means a peck on the cheek. Mani Ratnam presents a glimpse of the Island of Sri Lanka at civil war, through the eyes of a child of Sri Lankan Tamil parentage, who desires to meet her biological mother. It is one of the best Indian films of 2002. The film premiered at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, and was selected as India's official entry to the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. It also received a strong reception when screened at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2003.



Plot

Thiruchelvan (Madhavan), an engineer and writer by occupation, and Indra (Simran), a TV Newsreader, live in Chennai, Tamil Nadu with their three children, the eldest of whom is Amudha (P. S. Keerthana). Amudha is surrounded by love, a secure family and many friends. On her ninth birthday, Amudha learns from her father that she is an adopted child. Her parents came across her as a baby at a Red Cross camp in Rameshwaram. She further learns that her biological mother was displaced by the war in Sri Lanka just before giving birth, and the current whereabouts of her mother Shyama (Nandita Das) and her father Dileepan (J.D Chakravarthy) are unknown. Amudha intent on finding her biological parents, eventually convinces her adopted parents to take her on a search mission. Amudha and her parents arrive in a war-torn Sri Lanka. Dr. Wikramesinghe, (Prakash Raj), a friendly host, guides their quest to the North East, where they witness the brutal conditions and harsh realities of an ongoing civil strife on the island.

 

Critical reception

Kannathil Muthamittal met with acclaim upon release, with Ratnam and P. S. Keerthana's performance as the young Amudha particularly gaining praise. Channel 4 Films described the film as "stunning...thought provoking,"[2] and Time Out Chicago declared, "Ratnam has a ravishing eye."[2] The Chicago Reader observed "[Ratnam's] passionate conviction fortifies the tragic and inspirational aspects of the story"[2] and the Chicago Tribune wrote "Realistic, intelligently written and often quite moving.

Awards

The film has won the following awards[1] since its release:

2003 Jerusalem Film Festival (Jerusalem)Won - In Spirit for Freedom Award - Best Feature - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
2003 Los Angeles Indian Film Festival (USA)
Won - Audience Award - Best Feature Film - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
2003 National Film Awards (India)
Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Audiography - A.S. Laxmi Narayanan.
Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Editing - A. Sreekar Prasad
Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Child Artist - P. S. Keerthana
Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Direction - A. R. Rahman
Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Lyricist - Vairamuthu
Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Regional Film (Tamil) - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
2002 Filmfare Awards South (India)
Won - Filmfare Best Actress Award (Tamil) - Simran Bagga
Won - Filmfare Best Director Award (Tamil) - Mani Ratnam
Won - Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award (Tamil)- Ravi.K Chandran
Won - Filmfare Best Lyricist Award (Tamil) - Vairamutthu
2004 RiverRun International Film Festival (USA)
Won - Audience Award - Best Feature - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
2004 Film Fest New Haven (USA)
Won - Special Award - Achievement Award - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
Won - Jury Award - Features (International) - First Place Winner - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
Won - Audience Award - Feature (International) - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
2004 Westchester Film Festival (USA)
Won - Best International Film - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam
2003 Zimbabwe International Film Festival (Zimbabwe)
Won - Best Picture - Kannathil Muthamittal - Mani Ratnam

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack by A. R. Rahman
Released February 4, 2002
Genre Soundtrack
Length 32:14
Label TIPS
Producer A. R. Rahman

The film soundtrack features score and 6 songs composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu.The soundtrack was released in 2002 along with the release of the film to acclaim, and quickly became popular. The score and soundtrack of the film fetched A. R. Rahman his fourth National Film Award for Best Music Direction and another National Film Award for Best Lyrics for lyricist Vairamuthu. The background score was of high calibre resembling new age and celtic like tunes came as a brilliant piece of piece of work by AR Rahman.

 

 

 

Originally these were rock caves being converted to temple by walls on these caves