Sra Lanka – Ancient Cities
Today, a return to Sri Lanka, and a few of the photographs that I took at some of the ancient sites.
Dambula – Rock Temple – reclining Buddha. There are 5 caves in all, each one more splendid than the last (assuming, of course, that you visit them in the correct order!), containing some 150 Buddha images.
Dambula – Rock Temple -feet of reclining Buddha statue.
BELOW: A further selection of images from the caves at Dambulla.
Anuradhapura – Red brick Jetavanarama Dagoba.
Anuradhapura – moonstone. Moonstones were not merely designed to be decorative, the patterns and figures are all relevant to Buddhist cosmic symbology.
Anuradhapura. The Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba.
Anuradhapura. Elephant carvings at the Ruvanvelisaya Dagoba.
Buffaloes at Anuradhapura doing what they do best!
Great. This is in my bucket list
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Thanks for visiting. Yes, it is well worth the trip!
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Lovely photos Mick. It’s like you’re uncovering a hidden gem slowly…
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That’s a nice way of putting it, thank you!
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fascinating pictures.
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Thanks, Mukul. Have you been there? You’d love the wildlife!
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I wish to go , have some lovely friends, but….
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You’ll have to talk enthusiastically to them! (after you’ve been to Sikkim, of course!)
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they keep asking, but it seems the time has not yet arrived. am sure sooner than later.
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I hope so.
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me too. your pics will help in motivating me.
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You have such a lovely blog , so thoughtful and well written. It’s a pleasure to visit.
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Thank you! that is most kind!
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Beautiful photos Mick.
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Thanks, Colin.
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Heavens – it gave me the shivers! The pictures of the elephants are great and whilst I think the photography is superb, I find the pictures are creepy. Almost like being shut in the Tomb. I would be scared of not being able to get out.. at all! It seems very cramped and I would feel trapped…. but I can see the beauty in it…..especially, as I said before, the elephants.
I know its a place of spirituality but not sure I would get as much from here as I would from India….( I am still looking for your contention article. Have I missed something?)
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Contentious? Well, the bottled water one last week was a warm-up. Probably…
The caves are a bit bigger than the photographs suggest, although the smaller ones might seem claustrophobic to some, I suppose.
So, back to contentious. Any suggestions?
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oh yes I remember now and I mentioned you in one of my (school) newsletters. Telling my host families not to refill water bottles again as the plastic/chemicals leech out and poison the water. So that tip was nicely from one of your blogs. thank you
Re contentious – I am going to write about racism. Why it wont be stamped out and why its a waste of time trying… ( I have some good reasons as to my thoughts… which are not necessarily my beliefs)
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I shall look forward to that post with interest.
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ps – How about one on the Major. As they would say in Mitford Books – its the thin end of the wedge! ( feel free to write a disclaimer as its my thoughts and my thoughts alone)
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You have the better of me there, Madam. The Major?
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sorry. contentious! tut tut
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Lovely, thanks for sharing and giving us the virtual tour
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Thanks, Subhash. I’m glad you liked the pictures.
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Nice pics. Sure is a different culture over there.
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Thank you, Dave. Definitely very different.
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It always amazes me the amount of effort the faithful will go to for their shrines and places of worship. Lucky for us they didn’t have the boobtube or the Internet to distract them and make them lazy. And so we have these amazing places to visit.
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I have to agree with you. In several hundred years time, what 21st century monuments will people bother to visit?
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Trump Tower? π£
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Oh, ye gods! No!
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Amazing looking place, Mick, although obviously I’m upset at the number of cloned elephants killed in the making of it.
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It’s okay, Bun, they’re not dead. They’re just keeping very, very still.
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Phew!
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Great photos! But you know me, I liked the water buffaloes the best…
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They were posing!
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Amazing photos. Thanks for sharing them/
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You’re very welcome. I’m glad you like them.
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These photos are fascinating.
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Thanks, Jacqueline.
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You like Sri Lanka?
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I did like it, yes. Only the one visit, but what I saw I really enjoyed.
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I found it dreadfully hot!
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It was, down in Colombo. We spent most of the time a bit higher up.
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Had been to Sri Lanka last year but not to this place. Sri Lanka is a lovely place. I liked it a lot.
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Me, too. I’d like to go back again one day.
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Another one on my ‘places to visit’ list – these photos are excellent, Mick π
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Thanks, Helen.
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Wish I knew more about Buddhism.Did you feel any difference from the Tibetan buddhism ?
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Yes, quite a lot. The Buddhism in Sri Lanka is Theravadan, whilst Tibetan is a type of Mahayana – those are the two main schools. I don’t know if that is any help?
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Thank you.I have heard about these two branches but as a layman I could not make out any gross differences .What I liked most is the way they are encouraged to love all living beings including animals.
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It is one of Buddhism’s endearing features!
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Dambulla and Sigiriya are two of my most favourite destinations, two incredible places π
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They are, definitely! Thank you!
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you are welcome π
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