Blogs from Yala NP, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

On arriving in Tissa we decided to explore the town in search of transport for the following day’s safari and were advised to take the scenic route which took us around Tissa Wewa a large lake near our guest house. What a surprise was in store for us as immediately we happened upon a small troupe of monkeys just hanging around and then a little further around the lake an excited couple of young lads on a motorbike pointed to a crocodile lazing in the sun. Easy to be excited to see one when you have the luxury of a motorbike, but I wasn’t too sure we could out run one if necessary. Then further on still we saw hundreds of fruit bats in two large trees waiting for dusk and tea time. What a wonderful ... read more

Shades of pink and orange reined the skyline and a green basin of water surrounded by wattle & daub huts and colourful fishing boats like a necklace—this little fishing village had a befitting label—Dhuuwa—an isolated point like an Island. The basin, which is a natural harbour, is a rare site in Sri Lanka enjoyed by these villagers who dwell here to pursue a livelihood in deep sea fishing. Many generations have made this their home for at least six months of the year. When the waves caught up with the rock formation; on occasion was splashed with cosmic orientations painted in white froth, fine as in beer making a Mandala impression on the pastel blue sky. Coral red crabs bask in the Sun upon these rocks but they are not troubled by the waves. Inquisitively they ... read more

At sharp 7am on the 7th day of the week and the 7th day of the month of May 2011 I crossed a river to the Kabilitha Devale. Whether by coincidence—I am not sure! But sounds uncanny! I only realised it later in the day when I had a quiet moment to contemplate on the distressing journey of the last two days. We were to embark on this trip on the 30th and despite all my efforts to make it happen on that day, disappointment awaited us when I was informed that the water levels of the various places we had to cross was over six feet. There was no way that our Jeeps would take that level of water and current without getting washed down that river. Manju called and asked me to cancel the ... read more

We travelled along a river bank all the way up to Kabilitha and it took us two days. There was a track made through the dense forest by previous pilgrimages. There is a myth that Kabilitha was first recognised by the Vaddhas. They are the aborigines of Sri Lanka and long before any foreigners visited this country it was the Vaddhas that inhabited this land. The Vaddhas just as the aborigines of Australia, although primitive to our way of life are first consciousness beings. They are able to communicate, know and be on a level that is incomprehensible to most of us. This I am sure is because they are connected to the cosmic laws and nature. It appears that the Vaddhas during ancient times treated Kabilitha as a spiritual courthouse to settle their differences. It ... read more

South Coast - Yala and Tangalle We reluctantly left the relaxing and self-indulgent Norwood bungalow at eleven for the drive to the south coast and Yala National Park. With a few brief stops in Nuwara Eliya, Ella and other villages, it would take us eight hours to complete the 230km trip. At first our route took us through rolling tea country, the steep-sloped plantations perched often precariously above the Nanu Oya river far below, but on the higher slopes around 2,000m, terraced vegetable gardens predominated, punctuated by farmers' cottages. As we began to descend towards the plains, deep and heavily-wooded valleys plunged away at the edges of the narrow pot-holed road until eventually we hit flat land again for the first time in six days, and were able to occasionally reach 70kph. At dusk we turned ... read more