This visit to Sri Lanka with my son Christopher was to primarily to take my father's ashes for burial in the family grave at the kanatta Cemetery in Colombo and also show Chris some of the various places in Sri Lanka where some of friends lived, who had invited us to stay with them.
Our first stop was in Colombo where we stayed at the home of Christopher Dias who was my cousin Indrani's brother-in-law and his wife.
As their house was in the heart of Colpetty, next morning we went for a walk and I managed to find the property where Rowlands Limited, once upon a time, had their new car shows room, second hand car yard and work shops, now unfortunately demolished and a vacant block of land.
Where Rowlands Limited used to be
We relaxed to rest of the day to overcome jet lag and my cousin Christopher Don Carolis arranged for a priest to conduct a graveside service for the internment of the ashes of Cecil Wilford Rowlands.
Chris relaxing on the balcony
The next day we took the urn containing the ashes to the cemetery and met the priest who was going to perform the burial ceremony. The pictures are shown below.
Cecil Ernest Rowlands (A.P.Rowlands brother)
Charlotte Caroline Rowlands (A.P,Rowlands mother)
Memorial Scroll on grave of A.P.Rowlands
Grave of Daphne Muriel Rowlands (C.W.Rowlands, sister)
Grave of William Oswald Rowlands (A.P.Rowlands, brother)
Grave of Muriel Rowlands (A.P.Rowlands, wife)
Grave of A.P.Rowlands
Grave of "Baby Rowlands" still born sister of C.W.Rowlands
The next day Christopher Dias insisted on taking us to his club, where we enjoyed a few drinks and visited the grounds.
We then spent a quite day visiting various places in Colombo and got ready to start our tour the next day. Christopher Dias' brother who lived in the property behind his house visited us and we had a few farewell drinks on the balcony.
Final pictures before we left for our tour
We said goodbye to our hosts and were picked up by the driver to start our tour of Sri lanka.
Chris having a drink for the first time from a King Coconut
Galle Cricket Grounds
Galle Fort Ramparts
The Light House Hotel that was built right on the foreshore.
A walk on the beach near the Light House Hotel
Light House Hotel Galle
A relaxing stay at the Light House Hotel and we headed off for the East Coast. We were to stay at the holiday resort that Vernon and Marlene Tissera had built as a retirement home / business in Pothuvil.
The cabana that we stay in.
That afternoon Vernon offered to take us to a jungle that had elephants and other wild life.
The next day Vernon took us into the town and after lunch to an area that bordered the Yala Wild Life Sanctuary. We mostly saw monkeys and birds.
Early next morning before we left, we took a walk along the beach at Arugum Bay and watched some surfers enjoy their surfing.
Sunrise at Arugum Bay
Vernon and Marlene Tissera's Bungalow at Pothuvil where we had our dinner and drinks.
We said goodbye to our hosts and headed up the mountains to Nuwara Eliya.
We stopped for lunch at the Ella Hotel.
The next stop was a quick visit to St Thomas' College, Guruthalwa to see the old school and meet the Principal.
Chris walking in front of the St Thomas' College Assembly Hall
We finally reached the Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya and booked in for a short stay.
Next day we visit Holy Trinity Church, that was the family church, but the priest was away and we walked inside the church and the gardens and arranged to return the next day.
Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya
Before visiting Holy Trinity Church, we asked the driver to take us to Moon Plains to visit the Koinonia Junior School that Ruth and Ed had funded for the children of the people who worked on the tea estates.
The Head Master then offered to take us in his Mercedes Four Wheel Drive, to a tea estate where one of the persons who had received a sewing machine that Ed sent from Australia, lived with his mother. This young man made all the uniforms for the Koinonia Junior School pupils. It was a pleasure to meet him and his mother who could not thank us enough for the gift.
After this we re-visited Holy Trinity Church and were allowed to examine the records of baptisms, marriages, deaths, etc.
Next day it was back on the road to Kandy.
We booked into the Mahaweli Reach Hotel and had a relaxing day, as we were to play golf at the Victoria Golf Club at Digana the next day.
Victoria Golf Club, Digana
Lunch and drinks with our driver, after a game of golf
Then it was back to the hotel for a much needed swim and dinner and get ready for the next days journey to Habarana.
We arrived later in the morning and booked in at the Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana.
Ed had arranged to meet with Roger Wanigasekera, an old friend who now lived in Habarana and after much difficulty, the driver eventually found his house.
As it early afternoon Roger offered to take us to a nearby wild life sanctuary to see some elephants.
When we returned for a few drinks, Roger informed us that his house was built next to the path that the elephants walked from on side of the sanctuary to the next and some nights he hears them walking past his house.
The next day we visited the ancient ruined city of Polonaruwa and Chris was fascinated with the stories that our driver told, of the king who built the city and the history behind it's building.
Ruins of the King's Palace
Cinnamon Lodge Reception and dining room
Next day we were picked up by Roger who was going to take us to Trincomalee.
Entrance to Trincomalee Fort
Lovers Leap Rock in the Fort
Our next stop was the Nilavelli Beach Resort.
Pigeon Island
Monkeys at the hotel
Our group at the Nilavelli Beach Resort
Our sleeping quarters at the Cinnamon Lodge
Next day it was back on the road to Colombo.
On the way, we stopped to climb the Sigiriya Rock.
The next stop was the Pinnawella Elephant Sanctuary.
Later that day we arrived at our Bed and Breakfast in Colombo.
We were not happy with the standard of the accommodation and decided to re-locate to the Galadari Hotel on the Galle Face Road.
Our stay at the Galadari Hotel was a very pleasant one, especially when my old friend Bandu Munasighe and some other mates visited for a few drinks and a talk.
Our friendly Tuk Tuk Driver
It was then back to Australia, after what was a very rewarding and pleasant visit.
No comments:
Post a Comment