Baddegama and Colombo adventures

fabulous--keep 'em coming.

loved the trip commentary!
Hey-- Sounds like a really fun trip, and the tuk tuk driver was certainly a bargain. Yes, February 16 is Mohammed's birthday, so it's celebrated throughout the Muslim world. Interesting commentary on how the religions get on--maybe send it to the Israeli and Palestinian leaders! Welcome back--it's cold and nasty, but the sky gets lighter each day. Look forward to seeing you! Bisous Shirley

hindu ceremonies
the hindu temples i have been to all take coconuts as offerings and then they disappear and when you are in the inner santums the priests offer you something to drink i was afraid to drink it but felt i must so i let it drizzle down my neck i later confessed to a hindu friend and she said she never drank it because it was probably dirty but she let it run into her hands and then wiped her hands in her hair i felt better after learning this they also give out ladak or sugar crystals blessed by the dieties at pilgrimage sites betty

To the adventurous lady!
Hilary, I love reading about your adventures and looking at your pictures. We look forward to seeing you soon in California. Hugs.

the Winter family in Pilagoda Valley Estate Baddegama,
so delighted to read the article of my grandmother's home in Baddegama. she was Hilda Winter married to Van der poorten. I am very much in touch with the families who lived there. if you look up roots web under winter family you would read so much. Also there was a web page done all about the Pilagoda Valley Estate under the title " the Falcon" my my late Aunty. My father spent many many joyous days there i was told. its a pity most of these properties were taken over by the Bandaranayake regime. Uncle George Winter first introduced sugar cane and the first sugar factory in Sri lanka was in Pilagoda Valley, he also introduced citronella oil and cinnamon to Sri lanka