Train Journey to the glamourous Ella..

(Through Colombo - Badulla Podi Menike Train - On Observation Saloon ...)

We started our journey around 6 AM in the podi menike train from Colombo Fort. It was during Mid- October 2012.

Right up to the hill country the view through the observation saloon was quite monotonous. However, passing through numerous tunnels and tea estates was pretty interesting. We passed around 30 odd tunnels during the entire journey.

Misty Heavens

Then we reached the stretch from Idalgashinna to Haputhale, which is known to be the most glamorous stretch during this train journey. It had rained a while before we reached that stretch. Hence, the entire area was covered with the mist. 

 It was such a breathtaking view to see the mist flirting around all the mountain tops. It was indeed a mini Heaven, a misty heaven!

Ella 

It was around 3.10 PM when we finally reached Ella. It had been raining for a while in Ella and the entire area was covered in a thick mist. We took a trishaw to get to our hotel (Ella Holiday Inn) which was located close by to the station (300m).

On the next day we were on tight schedule with an ambitious plan to visit a lot of places in Ella.

Places to visit in this lovely area, and how we got around..

The most breathtaking view that you will not miss while in Ella is the "Ella Gap". We were luckily to get a good view of Ella Gap at Ambiente Hotel ( which is about 2.5 KM away from the Ella Station, situated up in the hill in Kithalella Road). We had no clue of the exact distance hence climbed up in the Kithalella Road through the Tea Estate. But it was all worthwhile, because we were treated with this amazing view of the mountain ranges from far away and the Ella Gap ( the V shaped Valley view).

Ravana Ella 
Ravana Ella is the most famous waterfall in Ella. We took the Badulla - Wellawaya Bus which passes through Ella Junction to get to Ravana Falls (which was about 7- 8 KM from Ella Junction).

Ravana Temple 
Our next stop after visiting Ravana Falls was the Ravana Temple which is located between the Ella Junction and Ravana Falls. We took the same Badulla - Wellawaya Bus heading towards Ella Junction and got off from the small road leading to the temple. Although we thought the temple must be located quite close by, we actually had to walk about 2- 2.5 KM. But it was worthwhile, because we managed to see an old Raja Maha Vihara built by King Walagamba. The following collection of photos were captured at the Ravana Temple:

Demodara
In our short journey we still wanted to witness some of the railway architectural beauties. The Nine Arch Bridge was one of them, which we were lucky to pass through on our way to the Demodara Railway Station. This was experienced during a separate, short train journey from Ella to Demodara. The moment we got down at the Demodara Railway Station, I was hasty to witness how the train travels in a loop (the famous 'Demodara Railway Loop'). Soon I learnt that the loop cannot be viewed as a loop per se, because the train in fact travels around a small mountain. However, I managed to capture the train coming from around the mountain and disappearing beneath me into a tunnel.

All in all I believe it was amazing that we managed to visit quite a bunch of places, all in just One Day ! The next day ofcourse we headed back home on the Badulla -> Colombo observation saloon, leaving the glamourous Ella, enriched with delightful memories.

Mirage..

Mirage...

Relieving.. comforting and inviting
Yet it is too good to be true
And I question myself..
Am I seeing things..
Am I following a fake..
Should I quite this path?


I keep wondering over and over
Is reality playing tricks with me
Yet it is too tempting
so confused what to do
I don't know how much further
I should follow to know the truth

Yet I walk along in the path I see
Hoping for the best
Trying to save my faith
Until the last mile
But what if its all just..
Just another mirage??

By,
Indee.

Good training on bargaining :D

'Looka... Looka..' they scream at the shopping markets in Beijing. Moment you turn your eyes at the goods, someone runs over to you, to drag you inside the shop. Then begins the great bargaining time! 'Sir.. Lady.. I will give this to you for 880 Yuan', which is obviously a ridiculously high price. Then if the customer is smart, they will go for the lowest possible price and at the end of a heated bargaining you can even get the good for 80 Yuan !! Imagine the price gap there ! I was quite surprised on the very first day that I experienced this bargaining at Silk Market in Beijing.

Now this is what you call Extreme Bargaining !

Together forever.. locked on to each other..

While walking along the Great Wall in China, we noticed a chain of padlocks.. Later on we got to know, this symbolizes a situation where lovers lock two padlocks together on the chain and throw the keys over the mighty Great Wall, where no one in the Universe would dare to find the keys to the padlocks !
Hence the couple would be together forever !!

In Memory Of My Dear Nanny..

You were there by my side
Since I was just 11 months old
You were truly part of our family
And I don’t know what else to call you

It was amazing to see
That bossy little spirit
And the strength you had within
For a woman of your age

But there came a time
To face a bitter truth
A truth that would tear apart most
Cancer they call it and a killer it is

It was surprising to see
The courage and strength you had
To face this bitter truth
Fighting one battle after another

You had your spirits up
Until the very last battle
But then it was time
For you to leave us behind

The courage you’ve shown us
And memories of you
Will always be in our hearts
Rest in peace my dear nanny.

By Sachitha

My pillars of strength...

Whenever I was struggling to rise
You always reached out for me
Whenever I was in a troubled-mind
You helped me find the answers
Whatever the mistakes that I do
You would advise me kindly

You are truly my pillars of strength
Who would stand by me always
At my success and my failures
Guiding me with all your kindness
Protecting me from the darkness
Always wishing the best for me

We may have our differences
But no matter what they are
You'll always be my loving parents
The best that I could have wished for
So may your blessings be with me
As I worship you for all your goodness..

To my parents with love..
Sachitha.

You My Friend...

I was walking on my own
all alone
thought it would be easy
but it wasn't
deep down I was looking for
a hand to hold on to
someone to talk to..

May be I was not
the best friend you knew
but you my friend
mean a lot to me..
forgive me if I didn't
make you feel that way..

Its amazing how you
add so many
colors to my life
just like on a rainbow
teaching me a lesson each day..
showing me a path I never saw..

More than anything
being there with me
to share my sorrow and joy
and honestly, truly
I would never know
how I could ever survive
without all that

For that I'm grateful
even though I never
uttered so in words
your friendship is a gem
and I will always admire
the beauty it adds
through each facet of it

Dedicated to all my good friends
-by Sachitha

Second Chances...

To give or not to give
a second chance
is the question
Sometimes sweet memories
get stirred up
with dark clouds
and we try to push away
from everything

Yet the memories of the past
never die
no matter how rusted
it all looks
we'd always wish to see
the shine that it used to have

This is when we are left
with the choice to give
a second chance
to somebody, some day
and even be willing
to hide the darkest memories
with the longingness
to feel the joy
of a past sweet memory

Yet the fear of betrayal
clouds our mind
from time to time
but the hope of light
stirs up strongly
wanting to feel the warmth
of pleasant memories,
a new beginning...

-By Sachitha.

Serene ocean waters at Unawatuna

The incomprehensible art.. - abstract art

Abstract art @ Raffles..


Near the National Art Museam - Rochor

I can't remember how long I actually tried to understand these abstract art in Singapore(and ultimately failed to understand :D) , which were so prevalent around the country..

That Million Dollar Gift In You...

   Don't we all have that million dollar gift in us, that most of us take for granted? A gift that we ignore so much and not care about the massive value of it.
   Yes, its our 'Smile'... It's that million dollar gift that costs us nothing, but just lights up our face and brightens up everyone around us. I sometimes wonder why people really hesitate to use this gift. Well, smiling too much might drive into misunderstandings at times, but really.. a little smile, making a tiny curve on the lips is definitely not going to be a crime I'd rather say.
   Sometimes I don't think we really need a reason to smile to another human being at the beginning of a day. Everyone is rushing around in streets and at offices at the beginning of each day and I'm sure most of us look forward to see pleasant and cheerful faces, just to brighten up our morning and soak ourselves in a cheerful spirit throughout the day.
Everyone is looking for a great start for their day or may be just to forget about all the frustrations they have and just move on. A good smile from someone may mean a million dollars to a person.. You may never know! I mean after all, it really doesn't cost a cent to use this fantastic gift that we are all gifted with. Not to mention the remarkable health and personal benefits that smiling can bestow upon you in return. So start using that million dollar gift in you.. It's never too late :)

Ready to take off ...

This amazing insect was found on a small branch of green leaves, camaflaged to a great extent, that it was almost so hard to spot it until it flew away from the branch.
And displayed above is a picture of the butterfly type insect trying to get ready to take off into the air..

Formula Plus - Motor Show 2007

There were over 30 pre-war (Vintage) cars and over 100 post war (Classics) on display, at the Formula Plus Motor Show held @BMICH Colombo.
Here are some photos of the exhibits:

Pretty interesting oldy with the rear side of the car resting on the ground, where it is suppose to raise itself up as the car starts..








US oldies....

Poetry

Is there any hope?

Have you ever felt
how a never healing wound
would feel like...
In a country faced with war
the affected feel the same...

It's frustrating and dissapointing
Yet, they seek a light of hope
which unfortunately is like
seeking water in a desert.
Then it feels like
the wound never heals.

It started like a smoke
soon this power thirst
flickered into a fire called "War"
This three letter word
carries definitions so many..

Yet, in the eyes of the affected
it's merely a nightmare,
massacre, destruction, bloodshed
a devastating truth
you wish you never had to face.

It's a known truth,
no one wins from a war
but this truth is unseen
by many who are
blinded with terrorism, power hunger
racism and extremism.

Helping hands lended towards peace
but how many of them are genuine?
Even the word 'Peace'
is gaining distorting definitions
each day now

Where is all this heading ?
where are we heading ?
Shouldn't everyone
rather see the "truth"
But when will this happen
Do we have any hope left . . ?

by
Sachitha Indeewari

Photography

Tree house@ Amaya Lakes Hotel. (2007/04)A photo taken at Amaya Lakes Hotel, Dambulla. The photo suprisingly looks a lot like a painting with the lighting and shades falling upon the tree trunk perfectly, in quite an artistic manner.

Photography

Sun rise in Mahiyanganaya.. (1998/05 Taken during a family trip to Mahiyanganaya)
This is definitely one of the beautiful sceneries I've experienced. Capturing the sun rise at dawn through the old tree branches and watching the mighty sun rise up in the clear sky was so beautiful..

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