Snow flakes tree at Yala

 

  It's not easy to end the journey of Yala. Because there are so many things to see. But looks like forests were reduced because of human actions. 

    But still, it's a shade for many animals. Especially elephants, tigers, and bears. We traveled more hours in the forest to see a tiger. We were not that much lucky. They hiding somewhere in the deep forest. 

    "Look at there. It's thunpath rana.." 

    our driver said near buthawa tank. Two elephants and a calf ate grass at the end of the tank. When people saw these three they called it as 'thunpath rana"

    "Do you know Who's thunpath rana exactly?" 

    Driver asked again when we looked at elephants. 

    "As my knowledge, It should be two 'cows' and a calf,'' 

    I answered. 

    "Exactly.. some people think It's a bull, cow, and calf as a family. But it's wrong. calf, Calf mother and another female family member.." 

    The driver explained further.. 

    We left from the buthawa tank and go towards. A couple of foxes cross the road slowly in front of us. They looking for something like food or someone to cheat. 

    "This place called pattiyawala.." 

    Our guide said near the small tank. It's full of aquatic birds. Different types of herons tried to catch a fish. All of them were migratory birds. So they must be shared their travel story with each other. 

    After a few minutes, we said goodbye to migratory birds and left. 

    We arrived 'Uraneeya kalapuwa' after fifteen minutes later. On the way, I saw a tree looks like covered up by snow. 

    ''That's a tree called 'kukul katu tree'.'' our guide explained. It's a thorn tree (katu). It's covered with small white color nuts. I saw those nuts as snow flakes. 

    ''Look at the kalapuwa... There is a number of elks''. 

    Guide finger point far away corner at the kalapuwa. We saw a few animals resting there and we thought it's bulls. But guide words explained that we were wrong. I never thought elks live there. 

 ''Looks like three elks sat there.'' 

    We enjoyed the view with pleasure. 

    We lost our faith to see t bear and tiger. But able to see a different kind of animals. We must protect the Yala not only for the animals but for our future generation too. When you visit there keep that in your mind. 
    Goodbye Yala. Hope to come again. 

    

 

    

King of the bird - Peacock

   

I was startled by the sound of a cat screaming. It couldn't be cat definitely. Then suddenly I realized it was a peacock. How dare I forget about them when I was in Yala. This is a paradise for them. 

    When our vehicle went forward we saw a peacock cross the road. They didn't hesitate about people or vehicles. 

   

One peacock danced in front of the lady peacock to win her heart. Ladies are not beautiful as males. Because males had colorful feathers and tails which we called 'pil' in Sinhala. Lady peacocks are brown color and less colorful. 

    Peacock is a common bird around south Asian countries. And people believe the peacock is the king of birds. As SriLankan belief, It's the vehicle of 'lord Kataragama' too. 

    However, he is a beautiful bird for us. But for the villagers, it's an annoying bird. Because it's destroy the cultivation. 

    As Indian cultural stories. 

     The peafowl is native to India and significant in its culture. In Hinduism, the Indian peacock is the mount of the god of war, Lord Kartikeya, and the warrior goddess Kaumari, and is also depicted around the goddess Santoshi

    Peacok had 10 - 25 life span. There are many many stories about peacok.I remembered them when we drive through the yala. 

Pics by - Dinesh perera (DP photography)

 
   

Changeable hawk at Yala.

 It's not easy to open my eyes early in the morning. But an alarm rang inside my head and said it's time to go to 'Yala.' Our jeep arrived at the hotel premises at 5.30 a.m. Because early is the best time for the safari. After we entered the jeep It runs fast along the road. We could see the sun rising while experiencing a slight breeze. It was an amazing feeling. 

    Within ten to fifteen minutes we arrived at the Yala park entrance gate. We should buy tickets before entering in. 

   

Yala national park is a huge area of forest, grassland, and lagoons bordering. It's a home to wildlife such as elephants, leopards, bears, and many birds. It's established as a national park in 1900.  Yala is divided into five blocks. We entered the Yala block one. We weren't able to block two or more. Because for that you need special permission and guides. 

    The journey started in Yala block one. Our jeep slowly runs towards brown sand roads middle of the forest. Forest is full of wild animals. Especially different kinds of birds. 

    ''Look at that tree.." My husband said and I looked at where his finger points. 

    The hawk was sitting on top of a leafless tree. He turned his neck 360 and search all around. Small two birds sat on another branch near him. 

    ''It's called 'Konda ukussa (Changeable hawk-eagle).'. Our jeep driver explained. That name really suits him. Because he had some feathers on his head like hair. His scientific name was 'Nisaetus cirrhatus'. 

    This bird had brown and white mixed feathers. He is still a young boy or girl. I can't say about it exactly. Later on, I tried to find more information about the changeable hawk. As my research, they are more prevalent in the Asian Region. The female bird is larger than the male. And they may be found anywhere from sea level to 2200 m. But mainly live below 1500m. 

    We wait and watched the hawk and two tiny birds few minutes. 

    ''There must be a nest of that tiny birds. that's why they wait there.' Our driver explained. 

    What a brae birds. They are ready to fight with the giant bird to protect they are house.  

    Jeep ran forward again. Nearly coma wewa jeep stopped middle of the road. another changeable hawk stands on the small stream. We didn't disturb him or her. We silently watched what is going to do. 

   

''wow.." I murmured when I see what it do. Hawk slowly walks into the stream and checks his around. then he started to bathe. He plays with water happily. It must be a good day for it. Hawk enjoyed the water and come out a few minutes later then it fluttered its wings and fly away from us. 

    As an owner of the forest, they can do anything. They can go anywhere. So we go further. 

Words by Pawani 
pics by  Dinesh (DP photography)

Shade of wild animals - Sithulpawwa

 

After lockdown for more than months, we were able to travel again. Our travel destination became 'Yala' situated at Hambantota district. New highways helped us to enter Hambantota district within 4 hours. 

    We came to our hotel and rested an hour before starting the journey.  When we decided to visit 'yala' we couldn't miss Sithulpawwa raja maha viharaya. 

    After 3 pm we entered the road which goes to sithulpawwa. It's in the middle of the forest. We met deers who walking here and there to find grass. 
    Peacock tried to take the attention of a lady peacock. He spread his feathers and dance to impress her. We had time to watch his dance. But sadly, the lady didn't care about his dance. 

    Suddenly a big elephant appeared in front of our vehicle and we slow down. Because this is their area. their home. not ours. We were only visitors to the forest. A few minutes later he decided to let us go and he turn into the forest. 

        We were able to enter Sithulpawwa car park after more than 30 minutes.  There were wild pigs more than vehicles. They walk all over the park without caring for people. Not only pigs there were elephants who asked for food from pilgrims. We saw elephants stay near the monks. It looks like monks and elephants communicated with each other. What a combination. 

    'Sithulpawwa raja maha viharaya' is an ancient Buddhist monastery. It's completed around the 2nd century BC. Stupa builds on top of the rock. It's really beautiful and a soothing scene. 
    We stepped on stone stairs. Stairs finished near the 'Ran thelabu tree' covered by a gold fence. It's an important and rare tree. 

    We saw a big area from there. Without noise feeling wind is amazing. We worshiped to the stupa and go down to the rock. There were many things to visit. 

 We can see another rock with Stupa. It's called small sithulpawwa. We stayed near the 'wewa' which covered the rock. 

    We need to stay there much longer but time is against us. Because after 6 pm you couldn't enter the road back to the hotel. Because as you know it's middle of the 'yala' and night is for the animals, not humans. 

    If you travel there remember to kind animals and don't feed them. It could be the fun and same time it could be dangerous for both you and the animals. Always keep clean there. 

Talking steps by pawani 

Pics by Dinesh perera

Ran thelabu tree

Us

Rock from down

Ruins 

Kadathatha

Asking for food

Peacock dance