I feel a little lazy putting a photo here which was taken on September 18, 2004. It is to prove a point though. I want to mention how interesting it is to me to have images on the Flickr website. After returning from a two-month trip to Sri Lanka in 2004, I hadn't even heard of Flickr. In fact, I originally uploaded this image to a service called Webshots. (For all I know, it may still exist there today as well.) After joining Flickr the following year, I went back through and uploaded 320 photos from that trip.
The power of Flickr, to me, is that it then became available for others to view. I just discovered that the images has been viewed over 4000 times. Of my 6,667 images presently on my Flickr account, this photo takes the cake. I used to think that getting my name in a local newspaper was fame. Now, I know that people from all over have the opportunity to look at something I photographed.
Visiting Sigiriya Rock was amazing. I was a bit heavier in 2004 and it seemed like quite a climb too. I do realize I've talked about this subject before, and even wrote blog entries at the time of the visit. To read more about this topic, load this special page (which will have this entry as the top one and a Duran Duran video.)
Showing posts with label Sigiriya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sigiriya. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Climbing Sigiriya (Over 4,000 Times)
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Save a Prayer
It seems as if I've been recently doing a fair amount of blogging about Sri Lanka. This might be because that's again the location of this year's big vacation in the fall. If you'd like to review the two most recent trips since I started blogging you can check: Sri Lanka 2004 or Sri Lanka 2006.
Over the past few weeks I've also blogged about my first visit in 1986, and even in exploring the possibilities of buying retirement vacation property there for our rainy winter months.
There was one thing I'd forgotten though and that was the musical group, Duran Duran, got there before I ever set foot in Sri Lanka. They filmed 'Save a Prayer' entirely on the island in 1982. As well as beach scenes, there are glimpses of the fortress area atop Sigiriya Rock and ancient ruins in Polonnaruwa. The song is haunting but easily identifiable as music from the 1980's. Nobody else ever quite managed to sound like Duran Duran.
Over the past few weeks I've also blogged about my first visit in 1986, and even in exploring the possibilities of buying retirement vacation property there for our rainy winter months.
There was one thing I'd forgotten though and that was the musical group, Duran Duran, got there before I ever set foot in Sri Lanka. They filmed 'Save a Prayer' entirely on the island in 1982. As well as beach scenes, there are glimpses of the fortress area atop Sigiriya Rock and ancient ruins in Polonnaruwa. The song is haunting but easily identifiable as music from the 1980's. Nobody else ever quite managed to sound like Duran Duran.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
King Kasyapa (477 – 495 AD)
Many Europeans travel to Sri Lanka primarily for the tropical beaches, but I more enjoy the hill country and inland locations. One of the premier inland tourist destinations is the ancient fort of Sigiriya. The Wikipedia entry for Sigiriya does a good job of explaining it.
I wanted to see a satellite view. First, I zoomed to the location in Google Earth and saved in Google Maps for easy navigation. You can see the result here. Unfortunately, it hardly does it justice. I'd rather see the photos taken in 2004. Below is one photo of about twenty I have on Flickr.
Yesterday, I Facebooked a newly-discovered link for Sri Pada or Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka. Although we saw a great deal of the island on trips in 2004 and 2006, it is one famous site we missed. Should we travel there this autumn, it will be on the itinerary.
I wanted to see a satellite view. First, I zoomed to the location in Google Earth and saved in Google Maps for easy navigation. You can see the result here. Unfortunately, it hardly does it justice. I'd rather see the photos taken in 2004. Below is one photo of about twenty I have on Flickr.
Yesterday, I Facebooked a newly-discovered link for Sri Pada or Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka. Although we saw a great deal of the island on trips in 2004 and 2006, it is one famous site we missed. Should we travel there this autumn, it will be on the itinerary.
Friday, February 11, 2005
GPS Waypoints in Sri Lanka
Some Sri Lankans must still be sorting out their lives after the tsunami. None of Jay's relatives were affected by the devastation. All that news coverage has made our trip there seem like an eternity ago.I carried my trusty Garmin eTrex Legend when travelling around Sri Lanka last autumn. Blog entries and large-format photos are available in my eJournal and images from September and October of 2004. (Check the label tags near the bottom of the left column to see travel entries from various trips to Sri Lanka.)
VIEW BLOGGED TRIP TEXT & PICS: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09.
Having a GPS was a fantastic way to measure distances when going by tuk-tuk and it provided access to interesting facts such as a trip's average speed. Furthermore, having the device during a walk meant we'd always be able to find our way back to our hotel.
I had been meaning to post some waypoints of Sri Lankan landmarks and towns. After all, it is data that others could find useful. If only the town's name is listed then the location is generally within sight of the municipal clock tower.
GPS WGS-84 Degree Decimals
ANARADHAPURA ISURUMUNIYAIf you are interested in receiving a .gpx or .loc file of this data, please request by email.
N8.334644 - E80.390191
ANARADHAPURA MILANO REST
N8.325069 - E80.416882
ANARADHAPURA MIRISAWETIYA
N8.344647 - E80.389109
ANARADHAPURA OLD BUS STAND
N8.322793 - E80.402801
ANARADHAPURA SACRED BO TREE
N8.344879 - E80.397189
ARUGAM BAY ALOHA CABANAS
N6.845226 - E81.831648
BATTICALOA
N7.714217 - E81.697649
CHILAW
N7.578397 - E79.794457
COLOMBO CLOCKTOWER
N6.936882 - E79.849199
COLOMBO FORT
N6.933611 - E79.850277
COLOMBO PETTA BUS
N6.937658 - E79.855347
DAMBULLA
N7.874215 - E80.651047
DAMBULLA ROCK TEMPLE
N7.856444 - E80.648583
HABARANA JUNCTION
N8.039939 - E80.755352
JA ELA
N7.081045 - E79.890935
JAFFNA BUS STAND
N9.666846 - E80.011721
JAFFNA KOVIL
N9.674477 - E80.029744
JAFFNA NAGADEEPA
N9.612507 - E79.774415
JAFFNA TELLIPPALAI
N9.775081 - E80.030137
JAFFNA YARRA CITY VILLAS
N9.665941 - E80.010728
KADURUWELA
N7.932015 - E81.031836
KANDY TEMPLE OF TOOTH (BY LAKE)
N7.292992 - E80.641127
MAHIYANGANA
N7.339841 - E80.992902
MAHIYANGANA SORABORAWEVA VILLAGE INN
N7.346142 - E80.996470
MAHIYANGANA VEDDHA VILLAGE
N7.417270 - E81.104253
MANNAR
N8.977004 - E79.913796
MEDIRGIRYA
N8.156171 - E80.996157
MIHINTALE
N8.351206 - E80.517786
MINUWANGODA
N7.168577 - E79.947159
MINUWANGODA JAY'S HOUSE
N7.179281 - E79.936866
MINUWANGODA YATIYANA JUNCTION
N7.172511 - E79.936551
MONARAGALA
N6.872113 - E81.352144
MONARAGALA VICTORY INN
N6.868328 - E81.347858
NEGOMBO
N7.208611 - E79.835833
NITTAMBUWA
N7.142252 - E80.096333
NUGEGODA
N6.873509 - E79.891061
NUGEGODA LAL'S HOME
N6.872903 - E79.901716
POLONNRUWA
N7.940648 - E80.998765
PUTTALAM
N8.028525 - E79.833726
RATNAPURA
N6.682679 - E80.402363
RATNAPURA OLD REST HOUSE
N6.682878 - E80.404378
RITIGALA
N8.118091 - E80.660367
RUWANVALI
N8.350087 - E80.396894
SIGIRIYA (ON TOP OF THE ROCK)
N7.957361 - E80.760218
SIGIRIYA LION'S PAW
N7.957883 - E80.760130
TANTIRMLAI
N8.572301 - E80.255381
TRINCOMALEE
N8.577417 - E81.234517
TRINCOMALEE FRENCH BEACH REST
N8.610594 - E81.219089
TRINCOMALEE HOT WATER SPRINGS
N8.604507 - E81.171240
TRINCOMALEE SWAMI ROCK
N8.582705 - E81.245586
VAVUNIYA
N8.753517 - E80.498074
VAVUNIYA VANNI INN
N8.751021 - E80.498543
VEYANGODA
N7.154103 - E80.057723
Friday, January 28, 2005
Amazing Race 6 - Sri Lanka
I've seen a few visitors come because the words, Amazing Race and Sri Lanka occurred on a previous, weekly page here. The most recent episode of Race 6 did take place in Sri Lanka. In fact, contestants visited Kandy and Sigiriya Rock. A two month trip of blog entries to Lanka are here for the months of September and October 2004. Also, below you can find some photos I put on Webshots.
[EDITORS NOTE: THESE LINKS ARE NO LONGER VALID. I SWITCHED PHOTO SHARING SITES TO FLICKR IN 2005]
My Photos: Images of Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle - Sigiriya
My Photos: Images of Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle - Kandy
Friday, November 12, 2004
Photo Frenzy
I was free yesterday. I completed typing in another two weeks of text from the 2-month vacation in Sri Lanka.
October 2004
THEN, LOOK AT EVEN MORE AT WEBSHOTS.
In the September 19th entry, I mentioned climbing up Sigiriya in the Cultural Triangle. In order for you to be able to see more, I uploaded sixty photos to the Webshots Community pages. At this point, I'm just starting, but take a peek at my photos in the Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle [Expired Web Service] folders.
October 2004
THEN, LOOK AT EVEN MORE AT WEBSHOTS.
In the September 19th entry, I mentioned climbing up Sigiriya in the Cultural Triangle. In order for you to be able to see more, I uploaded sixty photos to the Webshots Community pages. At this point, I'm just starting, but take a peek at my photos in the Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle [Expired Web Service] folders.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Reaching New Heights
Jay slept under mosquito net; but I didn't want any claustrophobia-inducing covering over my head! We got up and had a nice breakfast in the hotel. We wanted to travel so the hotel called for a tuk-tuk.
A boy in a 3-wheel arrived promptly and we were on the road to Sigiriya by 7:50 am. It was 19 kilometres away. Phew, what a climb! It's a serious hike and not for those who are afraid of heights. It took around 1.5 hours to climb, view, and descend. What an amazing place to put a king's palace! On the way up, it's possible to view the famous Sigiriya Girls in the frescos.
Then, as my cultural triangle ticket book had ones --- we went to Ritigala. It's an ancient Buddhist monastery located partway up the highest mountain in the district. The road there was much further than expected. The way was partly bad tar and, the rest, washboard dirt! We gave RS 300 for a guide who walked with us up a fantastic ancient sidewalk. The stones were so precise that it puts to shame most modern construction. Coming back we ate and the 18-year old 3-wheel driver was surprised that we offered him a free, late lunch too. We made it back to the hotel a total of 105 K later and at around 3:45 pm.
This has been a very memorable day!
A boy in a 3-wheel arrived promptly and we were on the road to Sigiriya by 7:50 am. It was 19 kilometres away. Phew, what a climb! It's a serious hike and not for those who are afraid of heights. It took around 1.5 hours to climb, view, and descend. What an amazing place to put a king's palace! On the way up, it's possible to view the famous Sigiriya Girls in the frescos.
Then, as my cultural triangle ticket book had ones --- we went to Ritigala. It's an ancient Buddhist monastery located partway up the highest mountain in the district. The road there was much further than expected. The way was partly bad tar and, the rest, washboard dirt! We gave RS 300 for a guide who walked with us up a fantastic ancient sidewalk. The stones were so precise that it puts to shame most modern construction. Coming back we ate and the 18-year old 3-wheel driver was surprised that we offered him a free, late lunch too. We made it back to the hotel a total of 105 K later and at around 3:45 pm.
This has been a very memorable day!