Cards from Sri Lanka

Tabu, a friend of mine visited Sri Lanka and was kind enough to mail me some picture postcards from different cities across Sri Lanka. The cards illustrate various aspects of the country, the picture-perfect beaches, the rich Buddhist heritage, the diverse land and sea creatures found there etc.

Seeing these wild animals in-person (safaris) takes a lot of effort and time. As Tabu rightly notes, "in the world of instant coffee & internet, Miss Patience has sort of gone into hiding". 

Thanks Tabu.

Degaldoruwa Cave Temple: Sri Lanka

Degaldoruwa cave temple also known as Degaldoruwa raja maha viharaya was built by King Rajadi Rajasinha and his elder brother King  Sri Rajasinha during the 18th Century (around 1771). 

To give you a sense of time, this is around 5 years before the US Declaration of Independence. Comparatively, Ajanta caves in India date back at-least 1500+ years earlier.

It is interesting to note that the Rajasinha lineage is related to the Madurai Royal Family!

The temple is situated at, a village near Kandy Town. The temple had been built at a place where two rocks were touching each other from above and below.  Pictures related to Buddhism are painted on the walls. The style of painting used is called as Kandyan era paintings. The paintings at the temple were the work of only four painters!! 

The details of the constructions can be inferred from the copper plate grant which is called Degaldoruwa Thamba Sannasa.

Paintings on wall and the rock can be seen in the below picture. The green highlighted area is the one that appears on the stamp.

Portion of the painting that appears on the Sri Lankan stamp

Rupavahini: Sri Lankan Television

Rupavahini is the National Television Channel of Sri Lanka. Japanese people presented this Television Channel to the Sri Lankan people on Valentines Day in the year 1982. Since then, it has served the purpose of education, information and entertainment.  Currently they are transmitting analog signals and it will become digital by the year 2015.

To commemorate the launching of National Television Channel, Sri Lankan post issued a 2.50 Srilankan Rupee stamp.

                                    

When I showed the Rupavahini stamp to my parents, they recalled their childhood days.  Even though India's National channel, Doordarshan  was launched way back in 1959, the southern most part of India could not watch Doordarshan due to coverage issues.  So, they used to have a thirteen feet long antenna on the terrace hoisted up on a tall tower (This type of antenna is called a "Yagi antenna"). If they wanted to watch Doordarshan, they had to turn the antenna towards Chennai and towards the South to watch Rupavahini. The Tamil film and songs, advertisement and lottery programs were their favorite especially in Black and White TV. One of the serials my Dad remembers from that time is "Remington Steele", whose hero (Pierce Brosnan) later acted as James Bond.

23rd May: World Turtle Day

World Turtle Day is celebrated on 23rd May every year. 

Turtles are ancient creatures and they remain unchanged for millions of years. Ancient turtles like Dino Turtle are twice as big as today's biggest turtle Leatherback. To give you a sense of perspective, an adult Leatherback is as big as a double bed.

Below you can see a stamp issued by Malaysia in 1979 depicting the Leatherback (scientific name: Dermochelys Coriacae)

Six out of seven sea turtle species are in danger.  To bring attention and increase knowledge and respect for turtles, World Turtle Day has been celebrated from 2000 onwards.  Various volunteer organizations are working to protect this species from becoming extinct.

Greenpeace is working to establish a global network to form protected ocean sanctuaries on the open seas, areas beyond any one country's jurisdiction. These protecting areas will keep them safe. Give your support to this network to achieve protected ocean sanctuaries.

In Chennai, India a voluntary organization called "Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network" is working to save sea turtles, especially Olive Ridley.  They conduct free walks during the hatching season (December to April) when they ensure the safe passage of baby turtles back to the sea.

Below is a miniature sheet issued by Sri Lanka depicting two animals. One of them is a Hawksbill Turtle.

We always confuse Tortoises and turtles.  Most people use the term “turtle” to reference any reptile with a shell on its back, but there are several differences between these two unique creatures.  Tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises.

Tortoises have more rounded and domed shells whereas turtles have thinner, more water-dynamic shells and are streamlined to aid in swimming.

One major key difference is that tortoises spend most of their time on land and turtles are adapted for a life spent in water.

Tortoises have club-like forelegs and 'elephantine' hind legs. Because tortoises are often larger and heavier, their elephantine hind legs help them move around and carry the extra weight!  Turtles will have more flipper-like legs, or webbed feet to make it easier to cruise through the water.