Here is the interesting story of the day...
We went to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peridineya, a few kilometers outside of Kandy.
In some ways this whole country feels like a giant botanical garden to me; beautiful flowers, palm trees and verdant vegetation is abundant.
The botanical garden was truly special. It contains over 4000 species of plants from all over the world.
The first area we visited was a spice garden; you all know how much I love the spices. City person that I used to be, I am ignorant about how spices grow.
We went to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peridineya, a few kilometers outside of Kandy.
In some ways this whole country feels like a giant botanical garden to me; beautiful flowers, palm trees and verdant vegetation is abundant.
The botanical garden was truly special. It contains over 4000 species of plants from all over the world.
The first area we visited was a spice garden; you all know how much I love the spices. City person that I used to be, I am ignorant about how spices grow.
It was interesting to see nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla in their natural state. I don't think I understood that spices grow on trees...that's what you get for living in the city or suburbs most of your life.
The next stop was the orchid house. Many gorgeous varieties of Sri Lankan orchids were on display. Kandy is the largest orchid region in Sri Lanka and has 110 different species which grow here.
Surprisingly the most delightful item for the senses was not visual however. One orchid in particular, while visually beautiful, was a spectacular olfactory experience.
The next stop was the orchid house. Many gorgeous varieties of Sri Lankan orchids were on display. Kandy is the largest orchid region in Sri Lanka and has 110 different species which grow here.
Surprisingly the most delightful item for the senses was not visual however. One orchid in particular, while visually beautiful, was a spectacular olfactory experience.
There is no way that I can describe the scent of that flower. It was enchanting; genuinely intoxicating. I could have stood there "huffing" all day. Ahh the life of bees...
Our meandering brought us next to an area called "The Great Circle"; in Sri Lanka they do not use puffery it was indeed great.
There were many different varieties of trees that I had never seen before. Each with its own strong prana and individual character. (Yes I hugged many of them).
Our meandering brought us next to an area called "The Great Circle"; in Sri Lanka they do not use puffery it was indeed great.
There were many different varieties of trees that I had never seen before. Each with its own strong prana and individual character. (Yes I hugged many of them).
One of the trees had grown in such a way that two of its branches were encircling another tree as if in an embrace. Another example of the way in which Sri Lanka's deep peace permeates everything.
The tree that was being "hugged" was massive. I'm not good at determining diameter or height. I can say that the tree was native to Queensland Australia, was planted in 1865 and had a perfectly round trunk with smooth bark.
The tree that was being "hugged" was massive. I'm not good at determining diameter or height. I can say that the tree was native to Queensland Australia, was planted in 1865 and had a perfectly round trunk with smooth bark.
There were trees with rough bark, craggily bark and smooth bark. Some trucks were gnarled, others smooth and one type of ficus had a trunk the was wavy.
As we started walking back toward the direction of the main entrance in the distance I saw a large tree with something shimmering in it's branches.
At first it looked like leaves glistening in the wind. I stared for a moment and realized that what was moving was too big to be leaves.
As we started walking back toward the direction of the main entrance in the distance I saw a large tree with something shimmering in it's branches.
At first it looked like leaves glistening in the wind. I stared for a moment and realized that what was moving was too big to be leaves.
I walked closer to get a better look and saw with a start that the tree was filled with Firefox bats! I looked around and realized that ALL of the trees were filled with Firefox bats!
According to the park worker there were upwards of 13,000 bats in fact.
Occasionally one would swoop down from a branch and fly to a different tree. I am not exaggerating when I say the wingspan of these beings was a solid 3 feet at least.
This assemblage was one of the freakiest things I have ever seen. I could not get over it. I just kept staring at all these trees filled with bats...in the afternoon.
We continued walking down the path to find tree after tree after tree filled with bats hanging upside down, chirping and screeching. Each one was in constant motion; folding and unfolding their wings or wrapping themselves up.
That is a site I am not going to forget for a long time.
According to the park worker there were upwards of 13,000 bats in fact.
Occasionally one would swoop down from a branch and fly to a different tree. I am not exaggerating when I say the wingspan of these beings was a solid 3 feet at least.
This assemblage was one of the freakiest things I have ever seen. I could not get over it. I just kept staring at all these trees filled with bats...in the afternoon.
We continued walking down the path to find tree after tree after tree filled with bats hanging upside down, chirping and screeching. Each one was in constant motion; folding and unfolding their wings or wrapping themselves up.
That is a site I am not going to forget for a long time.
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