Hi Stefan,

Thanks very much for your book which arrived today. Congratulations on a world class publication, which must have taken many hours in the making.The colours are so vivid, and the detail so exquisite, you must be very proud of the end product…..

Michael

My family and I really enjoyed your experiences manifested in those beautiful pictures in your book , I also admire your passion for wildlife and photography , the way humans behave It may be all we leave for future generations

Luis.(27.6.08)

Really enjoyed the virtual safari of Sri Lanka from my loungeroom. Aside from the great photo’s I really respect the effort and enormous patience it takes to work with nature and capture it in all’s its glory like you have. Best of luck,

Hamish (26.6.08)

What a tremendous Site, a breath of fresh air, puts one right in the heart of ”wild’ Sri Lanka. May we be rewarded with more of your superb shots as time goes on. This Site is a must for all .

Victor (6.6.08)

Simply Fabulous. Excellent work Stefan. Who did this website for you? Please forward to all Zoologists and Wildlifers. Henry Sathananthan (Monash)(4.5.08)

Ado machang

fantastic production & very well done. I would like to order 3 books but I could not? please help I need them autographed. what is the cost ? how do I pay you?
pv (11.5.08).

Stefan,

Machang this is really great stuff and I will do my best to promote this thru my friends and family.

Pls contact me when you can so I can talk with you about this.

Have a great day

Roshan (9.5.08)

Hi Steve, looks fantastic - congratulations. We have been in NZ and didn’t get your letter till today. Hope you are well and look forward to seing you when you get back

All the best , Warren & Trish(2.5.08)

Stef-

Tried to order the book online but kept rejecting due to wrong address!!! Superb effort. Well done. One comment though. The title of the book suggests a more holistic approach to SL. But the book deals mostly with wild life
Best Wishes PL(1.5.08)

hi uncle stef.
your website is so cool. I really like the photos.
love
anoo (24th.4.08)

wow!!!! congratulations - very proud of you.

SDe S. (23.4.08)

Machang, Had a few minutes to go through the slides. The site looks really great. Must spend some more time on the site tomorrow.

Weli ( 19.4.08)

Hi Steff,

I am looking forward to purchase your book, have you got any pictures of the ‘Blue Magpie’ which is sighted at Sinharaja, closer to Aigburth.

Lanil(24.4.08)

Stefan,

Excellent. You are not just simply a pretty face!

David(25.4.08)

Hi Steff,

Firstly, let me say that it is really great to hear from you. I was pleasantly surprised to learn of this valuable publication and am confirming immediately a copy. I would also be most grateful if you could please advise me of the most convenient way of ordering this publication. Maybe, I could place the order on the web. Either way, I am definitely confirming a copy which should be personally autographed by you.

Would also love to meet with you on your next visit to SL.

Please keep up the truly amazing work and I for one am truly proud of you (There is no doubt that there are countless others).

Looking forward with impatience to get my hands on this great book.

Cheers Mate

Vinod(22.4.08)

Aybowan Stefan,

Vert informative site ! My kids liked the pictures very much .Looking forward to see you at Kuda Oya for a nice
rice & fish curry ” GAME” style .

Fritz.(22.508)

Watching over Kandy the Bahirawa Temple Buddha statue shines in the late afternoon sun during the Vesak weekend. Donated by the late President Premadasa.

Mobile family vesak lantern shop. A craftsman makes lanterns for display and sale as his young ’shop assistants’ charm all passers by with bright smiles.

colourful flutter of flags. A colombo shop celebrates and hawks Vesak Decorations

Different lanterns of different colours. Craftsmen out do themselves to get that competitive edge as far as sales are concerned.

Vesak is a most significant religious day for Buddhist in Sri Lanka as they mark the birth, incarnation and passing of Lord Buddha. A time of great colour and bustle in the country. Many free food stalls called ‘Dansalas” are erected and to my surprise I noted a ‘Nescafe’ Dansala in the suburb of Nugegoda, in Colombo. Other colourful structures telling a story are erected with glittering lights and the story is boomed out via loudspeakers to all and sundry. These well lit structures are called ‘Pandols” and it is an honour for the locals to collect money and erect one in their community.

Generally, a fun time for the majority of the population.

karukupane beach-about 5Kms of beach-Chilaw.

ready to go prawning at dusk-karukupane beach

5-kgs of fresh Seer Fish(Spanish Mackeral) fresh off the boats at karukupane village. Not so sure about the hands on the wieghing scale …adding to the weight perhaps? Amrick is in the background, arms folded, keeping an eye of the weight( just like his Dad!!)

Two nights at Chilaw at a friend’s magnificent private property on the Karukupane Pennisula was a most relaxing time. My close friend Asok celebated his 50th birthday on this trip. A constant Sou-Western wind did nothing to reduce the heat of the day and many a dip in the swimming pool was more of a necessity than a luxury. The kids practically lived in the pool all day. The highlight of the trip was Enakshi’s and Amrick’s kayaking adventure. ( Eric’s daughter and Ashok’s son respectively). Both being young and fit took off across the Chilaw lagoon and ‘went missing’ for about an hour to the great distress of the parents. Retrospectively considered, many a funny comment was made by all parents and a sleepy Weli ( who was prodded awake by his wife) who wanted to know what more could he do as all the others were busy organising search parties and hire boats to look for the two adventurers. Eric of course was “Batman of the day” as he attempted to paddle across the lagoon on a Boogie Board ….his wife soon put a stop to such superhuman behaviour. The two adventurers returned oblivious to the ruckus they had caused…no doubt they are still being warned about such reckless behaviour!!

Hot string hoppers, Thosai, Chinese Rolls, Cutlets, Hoppers and a variety of tasty food await the hungry fishermen who have returned from sea at this bazzar at Karukupane village. Outside the ‘eatery’ fresh fruit and vegetables are for sale. I delighted in some fresh string hoppers and a chilli sambol purchased from the woman in the bottom left hand cornerof the above photo.

A few visits to Anaivilundawa over the two days provided some great photos and observations. Purple Herons, Swamp Hens, Egrets, Ibis,Pheasant Tailed Jacanas,Blue Faced Mulkoha, Indian Pond Herons, Open-bill Storks, Barbets, White-throated Kingfishers, Flameback Woodpecker, Cormorants, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Serpent Eagle, Whistling Teal, Stork-bill Kingfisher, Cotton pygmy-geese,Little Grebes, White-breasted Waterhens and Munias were observed. What was intereseting to note was that the Purple Swam Hens, Pheasant Tailed Jacanas and Purple herons had many chicks with them. Obviously the breeding season for these types of birds. The indian Pond Herons, Little Grebes and Egrets were also in breeding plumage.

Giant Bo Tree by one of the lagoons at Anaivilundawa Bird Sanctuary.

Though many birds were sighted not all were photographed. Ashok and Amrick proved to be excellent ’spotters’ and showed a keen eye for birds.

Purple Swamphen and chicks

Purple Heron. Beautiful slender neck.

Serpent Eagle.

A great three days were spent at Karukupane’. Mahes brought a great chef to do the cooking. Bar.B. Q. seafood with gin and tonics or a few chilled beers made for good conversation and relaxation. We are of course very thankful for the generous hospitality of our friends for allowing us to spend the three days at their residence.

Cattle Egret in the very attractive organge beeding plumage-Galigamuwa,on the road to Kandy

Indian Pond-heron in breeding plumage-Galigamuwa

Rajah; According to the locals the largest Asian Tusker alive. About 65 years old, unable to work anymore as his magnificent tusks drag the ground. He can be seen at Mollagoda on the road to Kandy. A truly magnificent pair of tusks.

A leisurely drive to Kandy on a warm Sunday afternoon was a pleasant trip. The ususal traffic congestion evidenced on the Colombo-Kandy Road was at a minimal and my wife and I enjoyed the drive, stopping often to photograph things of interest to us. The obligatory stop at the Ambepussa Resthouse for a superb cup of “Ceylon Tea” was a refreshing break. An abundance of Cattle Egrets and Indian Pond Herons, beautifully adorned in their breeding plumage dogged farmers who were preparing the paddy fields. The ploughing of the fields no doubt turning up plenty of tit bits for the birds. We stayed at the Thilanka Hotel for the third year in succession. My wife booked in for the Aruvedic Massage and spa treatment (also for the third year in succession) and we enjoyed that part of the stay at the hotel. A nice hotel and well situated within walking distance to Kandy Town. Kandy was pleasantly cooler and surprisingly less congested as it was on out past trips. The famous historic Temple of the Tooth and the Kandy Lake at dusk was a most pleasant sight as usual. The Lake seemed(to me) to have more varieties of ‘animal life’ than usual too. Cormorants, Egrets, Fox bats, Water Monitors, Ducks, Trerrapins andHerons habited the Lake shores in reasonable numbers.

Temple of the Tootha & Kandy Lake at dusk

Kandy continues to have a charm about the place. One needs to rise above the obvious congestion and traffic chaos to grasp the charm of the place. A great many antique shops and a great variety of fruit stalls in the colourful Kandy markets and street bazzars provide for the traveller with an eye for the unusual. The gleaming white statue of Lord Buddha atop the hill at the Bahirawa Temple glowed in the late afternoon sun adding to the ambience of Kandy. A short trip to Peradeniya Botanical Gardens after many years was very pleasing indeed. Marvellous collections of botanical specimens for any enthusiasts are displayed with pride.

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

The return to Colombo was equally interesting. We were able to purchase some very fine Pineapples, Avocados and Mangos from the roadside stalls for very reasonable prices. A short stop at St Judes Church at Indigolla completed the spiritual duties.All in all a very pleasant trip to Kandy. Till next time!

The trip to Sri Lanka in January 2008 took in Kitulgala, Horton Plains National Park, Yala National Park, Bundala Bird Sanctuary and Kuda Oya. Ali joined us from New Zealand, Weli was ‘chief guide’ for the trip and Eric linked up with us at Kuda Oya. Kitulgala was the first stop in an attempt to photograph the Palm Civet Cat. We learned on arrival that the adult Civet had been killed by the resident dogs however, a juvenile still frequented our friend’s residence and garden. A bait of ripe bananas did not bring any success, but the bait was gone by 5 am the next morning. Bad luck. A ferry ride across the Kelaniya River for a hike into the thick forests the next morning was an experience. Many leeches latched on to us at various parts of the body. Ali learned that ‘leech protective socks’ meant nothing as the leeches climbed the socks and latched on to his stomach. Had the pleasure of seeing a Spur Fowl, lousy photo opportunity, but a good sighting. Egrets, Watermonitor, Black-hooded Oriole, Taylor Birds, Red Vented Bul Buls and Sun birds were observed.

A large troop of Toque monkeys observed on the Ginigathena road to Horton Plains. Some good shots obtained. Ali realised a little later that he had dropped a 17-55mm Cannon lens. The standing joke for the rest of the day was that surprised pedestrians would be shocked to see the Toques looking at them through a camera lens…talk about role reversals!! Heavy persistent rain followed us all the way to Horton Plains. One main road being closed due to the rains.

A one hour walk in Horton Plains NP did not reveal much in terms of wildlife. Cameras had to be protected from the persistent rain. Great atmosphere with thick fog and rain. More in line with the English Moors than tropical Sri Lanka. Got some great shots of Sambhur; one with a magnificent set of antlers. Missed out on seeing any Purple Faced Leaf Eating monkeys, a pity as I was keen to photograph them. We stayed at Anderson Lodge within the Park. Due to the rain we cut short the stay and headed down to Tissa to take a trip into Yala NP. Good shots of Toques on the Beragala-Welawaya road, turning off at Haputale’. We had the best feed of hot hoppers ( a flour based, roasted, pancake type food very popular in Sri Lanka) and plain tea with jaggery ( cane syrup hardened,a substitute for sugar) at a roadside Kade’ (cafe’) on the same road. Super food and hot off the stove!

Tissa Rest-house as always was a pleasure to stay in. A boat-ride to Bird Island rewarded us with some good shots of Ibis chicks, Cormorants and Egrets. Yala had just been reopened after a short closure due to some conflict at an Army camp on its coastal border. I was glad to see about 10 vehicles full of tourists in the park. Restricted access within the NP meant favourite leopard haunts were out of bounds, temporarily. Got some wonderful Grey Heron shots and Crocodile.

Bundala Bird Sanctuary was magnificent. A well maintained and well set up park for bird watching and bird enthusiasts. No migrant Flamingos were evident however great sightings and photos of Brahminy Kite, Peacock, Painted Stork, juvenile White-bellied Fish Eagle, Cormorants, Spoonbills, White-breasted waterhen, Rose Ringed Parakeets, Sun Birds, Prinias, Grey Langurs and Brahminy Starlings

Kuda Oya was superb as usual for birds. Coppersmith Barbets, Sun Birds, Jerdons Leaf Birds, Green Imperial Pigeon. Malabar Pied Hornbills, Munias, Small Minivets, Ashy Prinia, Grey Breasted Prinia, Common Kingfisher, Stork Bill Kingfisher, White throated Kingfisher, Taylor Birds and Pompadour Pigeon were some of the birds observed. Ali, Eric and I were treated to a ‘feast’ of Coppersmith Barbets for a good hour. Great stuff! The usual trip to Balaharuwa Reservoir was uneventful as the tank was at full flood. Debara Ara Wewa was at flood too. However the green luscious cultivations were magnificent.

Ali took approximately 700 shots, I took about 820. Eric a couple of hundred and Weli about 100. Not a bad “catch” for this trip.