Sri lanka - Part four

The title of this blog should have been "Escape from the cyclone Ditwah" That is what we felt like after landing in Mumbai. The previous night itself looked very ominous as I looked out of my hotel window.

Not being able to view the Lotus tower at close quarters and heading straight to the airport was a blessing in disguise, as it helped in reachiing the airport well in time to catch our flight.

We took a halt on the beach road near Galle Face Hotel. The palm leaves will give you a general idea of the wind speed.

Not far from the Taj Samudra Hotel I got to see some birds who were busy fishing in the sluice spillover point. Managed to capture a painted stork in flight as I was clicking the Lotus tower.

Got another one with the painted stork in the forefront.

You can see the other birds in the video. Notice the silver feet of this crane?

When some time was alloted for shopping, we headed for the grocery stores. Wifey was tempted with some fresh vegetables and took the help of a regular lady in the store to select the right vegetables

while I was tempted by the coconuts. The colour and texture and size said that they were good ones, but the addition of weights to the luggage dissuaded me.

Two days before our departure, we visited a nonprofit Sea Turtle conservation centre. Got to see an Albino turtle for the first time.

We don't realise the extent of damage that we cause with the plastic that we create and carelessly discard.  The video speaks for itself and the guide over there was knowledgeable and had a good voice. 
By The way I hope the authorities keep clearing the donation box more frequently, or make it deeper than an arm's length because when I put in my hand to drop my note, I could feel and touch the other notes inside. (why to tempt anti social elements)

Things you see while cycling

I prefer to move around on a bicycle as it gives you the liberty to stop and observe things. Like I halted at this bridge to take in the nature and the activities around it.

That is when I saw this great Egret trying his hand at fishing. He did try a couple of times and the success rate was something like one in five.

There is this big park with a water body and an excellent cycling/jogging track around it. (Volkening Lake) Suits me fine as one lap around the lake adds a km to my daily target of pedalling.

You get to see many activities over here, like this man trying his hand at fishing.

He must be good at it as I did see his catch on my third lap.

You keep meeting joggers and fast walkers who are regulars over here.

I saw these young cycle enthusiasts who were trying to help each other in fixing a stuck bike

There is some exercise equipment fixed over there and at times one gets to see it in use.

It may be someone performing solo or maybe a group of students from the school nearby.

There are some who like to paint and the pretty flowers get transferred to their canvas

The thrill of maneuvering a sailboat with a remote is something different. I stopped to capture a bunch of enthusiasts having a gala time.

Spoke to one of them and he confirmed that there are no motors on them to propel them forward. It was just wind power and how you flip the sails that gives it direction. I was really fascinated by their skill, and their dedication to meet on a daily basis to enjoy the sport.
I had enough footage to make it into a ten minute video.
If you are lucky you get to see a variety of birds, like this blue heron was flying very close for a good shot

or this black bird in the bulrushes daring me to come any more close to him (probably he has a nest somewhere close by)

While pedalling alongside the main road, I observed these postal delivery vans zipping past, the only vehicles I noticed in the US with right hand drive.

They were perhaps so designed so as to allow the driver to get in and out without the fear of the oncoming traffic (where there are no road dividers) It also gives access to the postmen to reach the roadside postbox without alighting.

All that is mentioned above is capsuled into a short video so that you can see some of the action.
Then there are things that make you think from the design point of view, like why do some benches have only one armrest ?

Catch and release

Fish A to Fish B : “I am off to Norway”

B: "Why do you want to go all the way to Norway?”

A: “Because it is illegal to catch and release a fish in Norway”

B: “Who would want to do such a thing?”

A: “In which water world are you living in? The humans have developed a sport where they do fishing just for the fun of it and then release the fish back into the water”

B: “Oh at least we will be alive after they have had their fun”

A: “Don’t be stupid. Do you know the trauma and agony that a fish undergoes once that hook gets into our mouth? Last week my friend (let us call him Nemo) got hooked by a guy who thought he would have some fun by engaging in this ‘catch and release’ sport. 

The minute Nemo got hooked, he started wriggling and pulling against the fishing line, by which the hook got embedded deep into his jaw. This guy (let us call him Mr X) found it difficult to haul up Nemo and asked two passers-by for help. One of the guys helped Mr X to haul up Nemo with the net.

Mr X was very happy with his catch and kept saying “he is a big one”

He then proceeded to remove the hook from Nemo’s mouth. Not an easy task but he had a curved artery forceps by which he did it, not realising how it tore a part of Nemo’s jaws.

Mr X wanted a picture to be clicked (with his phone camera) holding his trophy.

He later insisted that the passer-by should also hold the fish and have a picture clicked.

All this while, time was ticking away and Nemo was gasping for breath.

Meanwhile the passer-by said “so you will be having fish on your table tonight” to which Mr X replied “No no back in the water, I just fish for fun”

Saying that he released Nemo back into the water.

The passer-by did not say anything but he had a last look at all the tell-tale signs, the artery forceps, the fishing rod, the net.

Later the passer-by told his friend “I don’t understand this concept of ‘fishing for fun’ He looked at the water and said “hope the fish was not injured”

Fish B: “Yes I hope Nemo did not suffer much”

Fish A: “Oh no. On the contrary Nemo had to nurse a badly bruised jaw and his immune system too came down with Mr X holding that cloth against its scales. I used to meet Nemo daily but have not seen him for some days, hope he is safe somewhere”

Fish B : “That is not good news. May be, we should seriously think of making it to Norway”

Fish A : “I too think so. Meanwhile if the humans had a look at this picture (click here), they would understand what Nemo had to undergo.”