Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

On 27^th January2012, I start for Mumbai in Golden Temple train at 11.30 pm. And reach Mumbai by 5.30 am on 28^th January and reach at Mama’s place by 6 am. Then, go off to bed till 9 am and then get ready.

There is a difference in Mama and Mami’s attitude. They urged me to go and hang around in Mumbai with my Brother, Siddharth in Dadar area for camera inquiry. Then on the way back, I bought a pair of chappals from the shops nearby. Then after I am back at home, I help Mami with that night’s dinner party preparations. Then we all attend the party and find a good friends in Rohini and Neha Didi.

On 29^th January, I go out again to buy nice juttis for the marriage function that I have to attend soon after the trip. Then I come back home and spend some quality time with Rohini, Neha Didi, Mami and Mum.

Then in the evening, Neha Didi, Rohini and myself head to the Chatrapati Shivaji museum along with Neha Didi’s husband, Ashish Jija and son, Vedant, whom we picked up from her place.

At the museum, we see the exihibits of the Indian Naval Force. Being an architect what I liked the most is the neat detailing of each and every Naval vessel, yatch, a cargo ship and an oil tanker ship.

After that, we take a quick trip in the Taj Hotel, and also see the place which got burnt in 26/11 terrorist attacks. And then take some photographs of the Old Taj and Gateway of India. Then we tour around the Taj and make our way towards Bade Miyaan, the famous non veg joint in the Colaba area.

Here, Rohini and myself have a sumptuous and the most lavish non veg dinner, we have ever had.

Then we headed to Neha Didi’s place, and started to enjoy their company. For the first time, I found myself talking technically about different camera companies to Ashish Jija. I love to do the photography.

On 29^th Jan at 12 midnight, I start for Sri Lanka from Bombay. When I reach the airport, I am busy completing all the formalities for immigration and checking in. As soon as the formalities get over, I grab a cup of coffee.

And there in the same Café Lounge, my favourite Bollywood Actor, Vivek Oberoi, is having a conversation with his friend. Wow!!!! I am flabbergasted by his presence. And turn around a couple of times and I got noticed by him.

The most amazing thing is he is a very down to earth person and talked to his friend just as any normal human being. Somehow I couldn’t find the courage. Now as he is leaving for his flight, I walk towards him and he beams the prettiest and an honest wide grin to me that any man has ever given me till date. Then I greet him and ask him for a photo with me. Wow!!! The readiness with which he agreed was out of the world. Then starts the jugglery, finding camera in my bag. He is so patient and understanding and I get nervous. Then comes the moment I await, it is time to take the photograph. His friend takes the photo and I came to know that Vivek Oberoi is heading for Sri Lanka too.

I headed towards the plane and grabbed my seat feeling good and smiling myself. The reason for narrating this incidence is that, that I felt confident and proud to be standing up for myself with the perfect etiquette.

On 30^th January, I arrive in Columbo at about 5.30 am and leave for the crooked house at about 7 am. And we reach the crooked house at about 9.30.

The house is no less than a five star hotel. The feeling that one gets in this house that it is a home than a guest house that one comes back to.

The basic concept followed while designing the house comes from Buddhist Architecture. There is a moonstone at the entrance of the house which is seen in each and every Buddhist building. The house has spaces which has multipurpose use with the amalgamation of the crooked walls. The house is designed to have courtyards in the living room, the dining area and even the bathroom spaces.

The room that I ought to stay in, is equally impressive with a nice huge balcony on the first floor and a spacious study area. The bathroom is a nicely designed with a proportionate courtyard that defines the bath space.

The most important thing is it feels aptly spacious and yet a very homely feeling inviting the guests to make it a home rather than a guest house.

After the breakfast, we leave for Anuradhpura, North of Columbo, the historical capital of Sri Lanka. On the way, we have the sweetest coconut milk out of a fully ripe, King coconut.

 The moment the journey starts, I start to feel very peaceful from within as if I am in unison with my outside and the innermost soulful voice and a complete sense of tranquility emerging from within, as if the inner critic is dying down and the ego is moving far away from me. Going deep within me and listening to the innermost soulful voice becomes very easy. As if the whole Mother Nature is fondling and loving me with so many surprises waiting to be seen and appreciated by me.

I reach Anuradhpura  early evening , have an early dinner and dozed off to sleep.

From 31^st January, starts the experience with the local people. And I am happy to find out that, the people are friendly, modest, fun loving, straightforward and practical because there is a lot of greenery and flora and fauna around them.

Mainly the Buddhist Architecture and the largest pagoda in Sri Lanka are witnessed by me.

 The more I saw Buddhist Architecture, the more I found myself closer to my inner beautiful self. And not only was surprised but also accepted the situations as they are and in fact accepting the situation as it is, facing it and working accordingly is the shortest and the easiest way to tackle a situation.

After breakfast, I head towards the largest Daagaba in Sri Lanka. This largest dagaba is in the form of rice heap and also see the statue of The Sleeping Buddha. The shelter in which  The Sleeping Buddha is there outside the shelter there are four statues of Buddha wearing the Greek type robes.

After that I see the king’s palace which has the bronze tile roofing. And then I go to the place where the Mahabodhi tree is. This is the oldest tree on the face of the Earth. Then I see the various places which are The statue of meditating Buddha, and a couple of Daagabas.

Then in the afternoon, I visited Mihintale. There are five things to see in Mihintale. Out of them three are the daagabas out of which one is the oldest in the world built in 1^st century B.C. One is the beautiful and enormous statue of Lord Buddha, and the last one is climbing the topmost cliff and to look around the cliff. 

Well one more memorable experience is that that despite of the hot afternoon scorching heat, I managed to reach the topmost cliff before I could even realize that I have climbed it and that too barefoot. And when I looked around I found so much of love poured by Mother Nature into my own self and so much intimidated to be near to my own inner beautiful self.

After climbing up the cliff, I am beautifully rewarded with so much of greenery all aroud and the purest air flowing through my hair made me feel so much light from within that no words can describe. I am in complete unison with myself.

After climbing down from that cliff, I climbed upto the Lord Buddha’s statue. Wow, it is the purest white statue that I have ever seen.  The perfect unison of all the moods and complete confident and relaxed composure attained by Lord Buddha during his Nirvana is a mesmerizing statue to look at and also worship.

Then I visited the Daagaba on the opposite cliff to Lord Buddha. Here there are monks rehearsing their prayers and some tourists too. The vibes that one gets standing besides the Daagaba is that the silence started to dance within making the whole mind, body and soul relaxed and in complete tranquil composure.  There is a temple which I visited.

After that we started our climb downwards. Almost two-thirds downhill, there is the the oldest daagaba, which was built in 1^st century B.C.

Then, I visited, the Mahabodhi Tree, the world’s oldest tree on the face of the Earth.

After that, I called it a day and went back to our Teesawewa Hotel where after having dinner dozed off to sleep.

What I really liked about the whole experience of the day, is that each and every step that I put ahead is a well thought step with confidence. This is because I have helped myself and have learnt to love, fondle, forgive and appreciate myself.  I came near to God without doing anything and it felt like I have just moved 1 step ahead and God has helped me by coming 100 steps to make me love myself and accept myself the way I am. At each and every step, I was there for myself and my family and embraced perfection with perfect effort and vision.

On 1^st of February, I start early at about 7 am to visit Black Water Pond, artist Lakki Senanyke’s place and Sigirya.

Well his home is another homely place, nestled in the heart of Nature with contoured site. His home is on the stilts. And it is completely open except for the store room. There is a large open patio facing the large water body. As such there is no privacy in his home. His more is more like a studio with his computer by his bedside.

The positive point with this site is that it is a contoured site and the artist has made a brilliant use of the contoured land by creating small water bodies and placing appropriate lighting and sculptures to enliven the whole property.  

Though he is an artist, he has found out many sustainable and practical solutions for drip irrigation, pigs eating away the veggies and dealing with schools of fish.

Drip Irrigation: Dig a hole to lay a plastic bottle pipelined in the ground about a feet deep and prick holes at various intervals in the pipe and the drip irrigation is rolling. Well the positive point with this technique is that, that there is no wastage of water by evaporation, neither the water clogs at one point. Water is fresh, cool and without contamination.

Regarding the pigs eating away the veggies, well grow some of the veggies for them too and when they mature and get rolly polly hunt them and eat them away, it is like a cakewalk to solve the problem.

And about breeding of the fish, take a two feet diameter pipe, fill in the water and ample amount of fish food and trap them. When they are fully grown just to collect the fish and have a feast!!!!

What I realized is that this man who was worked with Mater Architects for years indeed has worked out a more practical, economical and sustainable techniques to make Architecture palatable to common ma with average income.

Then we went to see the Kandlama hotel to appreciate the Architectural practice put into reality with the amalgamation of Modern and Buddhist Architecture by the famous Architect Geoffrey Bawa.

It is a five star hotel built in such a way that the rocks and the hotel create a fantabulous Architectural masterpiece. The hotel has a fantabulous play of spaces, furniture, decorum, double heights, sculptures and the play of light and shadow.

This hotel is between the Dambulla and Sigirya Lakes. The phenomenal eye catching space is the main entrance lobby and the car porch, which is overlooking the Dambulla lake.  It is very well designed and sculpted out of a rock, such that there is a fantastic scale, proportion, play of colour and light and shadow. It is said that no camera can capture this magnificently royal entrance and yet simple and very elegant even with a wide angle lens.

Secondly the amalgamation of the rock with the main passage linking the entrance lobby to an open hall which leads to different café areas, is out of the world and simply classic. The rocks in this hotel are addressed as a lively element criss crossing the building at various levels and nicely merging away with the building superbly merging away with the outside environment.  As if the rocked cliff and the hotel are married together to create a fantabulous Materpiece of Architecture.

Addressing the Buddhist Architecture, there are terraces at each and every floor.  Ahd on the seventh floor, the floor of the swimming pool is made of rock.

The other most eye catching feature of the hotel is the main staircase facing the Sigirya Lake.  The staircase is indeed addressed as the most decorative element of the hotel, which happens to be open and there are large sculptures of the owl and the elephant made by the artist Lakki Senanyke.

The complete hotel’s façade is covered with greenery, which is adjacent to the ornamental staircase.

Hence Geoffrey Bawa looked at the hotel in totality and that’s why, he would select the best artists for making sculptures and paintings and even furniture for the hotel. All the sculptures are made by Lakki Sananyke and the paintings by Eena D’Silva.

There is a natural rhythm and pattern followed by Geoffrey Bawa and even addressing the Buddhist, Sustainable, Green and Contemporary Architecture. 

All in all I had a fantastic experience while visiting this hotel and even having lunch buffet in one of the restaurants!!!!

Then I start for the Sigirya where there are Cave paintings, the mirror wall and lots more.

The striking feature of the Sigirya Gardens are, the terraced garden formed out of the natural hill at the base of the rock. What is noteworthy here are the stone retaining walls on raised terrace, each rising above the other.

I enter the Sigirya Palace through a crystal clear moat. This palace is a piece of Buddhist Architecture. The first three levels of the fort are quiet a walk. On the first and the second level there are water tanks on either side of the walkway.

After the third level, start the boulder gardens. There are five levels after which there is a long man made pathway crossing the width of the mountain to the point where there are cave paintings.

As I walk along the width of the rock, I can see the beauty that Nature has bestowed upon the Sigirya premises and its surroundings.

Then heading to top of the rock, I come across the mirror wall. This wall was painted to the perfection of a mirror that it reflected the façade of the rock when the Sun beamed on the rock.

Still above, I come across the Lion throne. Uptill here there are steps made out of the rock. And from here I have to climb up through a metal staircase right upto the topmost point where the Sigirya palace’s ruins are.

After I climbed up so high, the view all around the palace and its surrounding is mesmerizing and worth the climb.  All around wherever the eye reached, there is greenery, small water bodies and utmost peace, the freshest air that one could breath. Then moving around the surprising thing that I notice is that the water reservoir has the fresh waters even at this time.

Then descend down. The way going back to the base of the rock is totally different from the way upwards. Climbing down the rock is much easier than the upwards climb. And after 2 hours 10 minutes we are at the base of the rock and Mr. Vimal comes to pick me up from there.

Then I head towards the black water pond site. Well this is another fascinating historical site to visit built using Buddhist style of Architecture.

The structures near the black water pond are a perfect example of hierarchy of spaces. Standing at the entrance of the place, there is a long passage, on the either sides of the passage there are raised platforms where Champa trees are planted. Then the passage spills into a large square courtyard and then again comes the passage. And then starts the terrace levels. As one ascends to the higher terraces, there are ruins of the building. There is an incomplete dagabba.

The most striking feature is the large black water pond. It is black due to the granite as the pond floor. The water here is crystal clear.

The other striking feature is that there is boulder beneath which a post and lintel structure is standing.

Standing on the larges boulder, one can see the stark and pristine waters of the pond surrounded by all beautiful flora and fauna. One gets completely unite with the inner self and the Nature outside. The inside is outside and outside is inside. All is one, The Almighty God.

What I liked about the day that despite of being utterly tired and desperately, the surrounding in Sri Lanka took away all the tiredness, tensions and fears and filled me with zest and zeal.

No kind of pollution around, the fresh breeze passing through oneself and invigorating the most beautiful heaven in front of one’s eyes without doing much labour to attain heaven.  My inner soulful voice tells me that I am giving you this start and pristine landscape so that I am able to love, fondle and caress myself the way I always want to.

Well happily back at the crooked house, have a nice sumptuous dinner and then after showering doze off happy and content from within.

On 2^nd February, immediately after the breakfast, I visit Geoffrey Bawa’s office which is now turned into a boutique and a cafeteria. The typical characteristics of the Architect’s building are that he starts building the building from the borderlines of the plot and then incorporating them in the main building. There are courtyards carved out of the building so that one can enjoy them right from the living room and the dining room. Thus the outside is inside and the inside is outside. And thus it is a happy marriage of the outside courtyard with the inner spaces. He uses a lot of antiques artifacts, hardware for doors and windows and even door and windows are antique and makes his own furniture for most of the hotels.

Then just go around the studio house and Barefoot, from where I buy 2 softies. And then we have lunch at a local café. After we collect my brother’s parcel, we go to see the Dutch Hospital.

What I liked about this building, is the grand scale and yet very pleasant environment. From there I bought gifts for friends. I liked the detailed thought given behind each and every minutest detail. The explicit use of Dutch windows using typical Dutch hardware is very well done along with the outdoor built in dining furniture, the wooden furniture kept under the roof of the Dutch Hospital. It used to be a hospital in the olden days and now the building is used for different boutiques and cafeteria.

I liked the gutter detail which is worked out to perfection at the corners of a large rectangular courtyard. Also the amazing part is the clarity and the cleanliness of the thought put in building the minutest detail.

Then, I go to see the Odel Mall. Wow!!! This is a place to hang around with friends which is a must see mall. I buy a pair of earrings from here.

After going to the Studio house, I go in Lakshala, a government emporium displaying the traditional art and craft work of Sri Lanka.

At home, dinner is readily served and within no time I am in a dream world.

On 3^rd February, after a heavy breakfast, we start of for Galle’. I take the southern expressway to go there and reach there within 2 hours.

Here I visit a number of churches and roam about in the shopping area of Galle’. And then I sit by the sea side. Every time I am by the seaside, I think of Raag Shri, A Raga based on the moods of sea.

Taking photos of the sea at action is what I learned. And they came out to be much more beautiful then I ever thought.   There is a log on the seashore placed in an artistic manner. I get a couple of photographs taken at this site.

I step into the sea for a while and as if all the tensions, tiredness and fears are away from me and making me fresh from head to toe. Everytime the sea washes away all my tiredness, I often wonder where does the sea take out his frustration?

Well that was all. Now I head towards the Light House Hotel, again designed by Architect Geoffery Bawa. The shocking thing is this hotel is very differently designed then the Kundalama Hotel.

He has used sloping roof on a 3-storey hotel building and the design is yet so simple and elegant. The view of the sea from the hotel is phenomenal.

This is the hotel where the architect has placed the rocks available on the site as they are and used them as an architectural element.

The best part of the hotel is the grand staircase sculpture with rocks and the water pool on the ground floor. The sculpture is about the army of the king going to fight the opponent and the king is leading the pact by plying a flute. The whole staircase is made in wrought iron with the King at the topmost end of the railing playing a flute.

Again, the concept of hierarchy of terraces that are facing the sea with huge pavilions for outside meals. The placement of swimming pools are done in such a fashion that they become the integral part of the landscape.

Again here different kinds of furniture is made for different spaces in the hotel. The black granite pond is breathtaking.  

Then we set off for Mirissa Hills and reach there by afternoon. Here we are homestaying on a cinnamon plantation owned by the U.S. based advertising giant Miles Young. We take a quick tour of the house.

We enjoyed the evening by just sitting together and chatting away while watching a beautiful sunset and after sometimes it started to rain.

The eye catching feature is the huge wrought iron – the enchanted jungle. This sculpture is again done by Laki Senanyke. It acts as a partition between the dining area and the T. V. area.

My brother and myself have a room in the museum which is about 300m downhill. Our parents stayed in that house.

Then we had our dinner and back into the room. Had a shower and went off to bed. As tomorrow, we had to go for blue whale and dolphin watching and for that reach at 6:30 am at the harbor.

On 4^th February, we get ready quickly, pack our breakfast and off to the harbor.

The main person running the cruise is Mr. Raja and he has given his whole life behind the conservation of these blue whales. That is why, he started the cruise so that he can educate as many people as possible for the blue whale conservation.

First of all, we are all given avomine, anti seasickness tablet and then ginger biscuits and coffee. And then we start off for whale watching.

On the way, Raja educates us about the blue whales. They have grey and blue spots on their body so that’s how they get the name. They are the largest mammal species on the face of this earth. They can stay above water for 2-6 minutes and belowthe water for 10-15 minutes. They feed on the small fish. One never approaches the blue whale from head or tail otherwise they dive in. Always approach them from the sides. They play with the motion of the boats. When we are 300m away from them, the speed of the boat should be 4 nauticles/hour. When we are 100m away, the speed should be 2 nauticles/hours. Half of our journey we saw a lot of dolphins playing with the motion of our boat. Then we headed further towards the blue whale breeding place which took 2 hours to reach there. There is a huge canyon 2 meters deep which is a permenant place for blue whale breeding. Saw about 5-7 blue whale diving in and out. It is a life time experience.

Though blue whales are the largest mammals on earth but the beauty with which they glide into water is so elegant to watch!

There are only 10,000 blue whales alive on this planet.

As we head backwards, another school of happy dolphins greet us. This is what they want and help in saving their home.

Then we had a hot breakfast and after sometime we were on Mirrissa harbor.

Raja fondly teaches practically marine biological Science students by taking them on the tour. This is one the ways to help blue whale conservation.

At about 1 pm we were back on Mirissa Hills. I had some snacks and then went off to sleep.

When I woke up, went to parents room, enjoyed the evening with the family. Had dinner and then dozed off to sleep.

On 5^th February, parents shift their luggage to the museum.

We began early at about 9 am and head towards SOS Village in Galle. Again here the architect is Anjalendran. The purpose of this village is that each family takes care of  10 children on their own expense. Girls can stay as long as they get good jobs and the boys can stay with them until they are 18 years of age. The village has school, conference rooms, auditorium for such children alongwith huge playgrounds and an administration block.

A very simple and down to earth style is what vernacular architecture is all about. There are open courtyards and the artifacts are displayed giving the building its own identity. The connectivity between the house clusters and various building for extracircular activities is so very well designed as a whole ecological balance and the perfection of each and every detail.

The ridges of the manglore tiles having macket sculptures at the eaves end also. The way the eaves are designed, the hirerchy of spaces and the perfect segregation of public and private places- when all these details are perfected at the minutest level that makes a perfect architectural masterpiece.

Even the designing of each home is to perfection. The colour scheme, different proportions of the heights used- all this makes it a perfectly balanced environment friendly home. To prevent global warming phenomenon, we have to understand that mankind and Mother Nature have to go hand in hand for the progress of the both. There ought to be mutual understanding of them like a heaven where everything is in place and everyone is happy and building is a strong connection between them.

At about 12:30pm we went to see the famous sculptor, Ralph Close, German. It is very surprising that he is living in Sri Lanka for past 30 years. He lives 6 months in Sri Lanka and 6 months home.

He fondly explained some of his sculptures like the Japanese Samurai, the Tsunami, the negative and positive space of a man and find first position.

All of them were really good and I really appreciated the simplicity of this man and the level of perfection he has attained.

Lastly, we went to Virgin White tea estate. It is said that in ancient times white tea was measured in terms of gold. It used to be cut with gold scissors, collected in gold bowls by virgins only. The only orgaon that touched white tea was the Chinese emperor’s lips.

Well we were first made to taste 2 types of tea; one white and other cinnamon tea.

After that we saw the process of whole tea leaf cutting to packaging. White tea is untouched by hand. People grow cinnamon trees too and take away the good cinnamon to make cinnamon oil. The cinnamon tea is made by heating tea leaves on cinnamon firewood.

Lastly, we were made to taste all types of tea.

Then back to Mirissa Hills. Ha a peaceful dinner after a long eventful day and then called it a day.

On 6^th February, after breakfast, we left for Lunuganga, the garden house of Geoffery Bawa. On the way, we saw the fishing being done by the seashore.

In Lunuganga, the landscape features are used fantastically. Geoffery has used his property in such a way that it blends with the surroundings and to see the salt water lake, Lunuganga. He has different places allocated for different timings of the day. There are different types of bells to be rung for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There are various steps to reach the various levels in a complete manner that each and every minute detail has been detailed out to perfection.

In Lunuganga, there used to be a pen house right next to Geoffery Bawa’s residence.

The Lunuganga homestay hotel grow their own rice paddy! Amazing, eh!

The whole property is built around the Lunuganga lake.

The most interesting feature of Lunuganga is that there is a mound on which Geoffery Bawa’s house is on. There is a continuous mound opposite the house. The mystery of this mound is that there are two mounds created in such a fashion to act as a single mound and between these two mounds there is a road under passing and connected with a small bridge. Now he makes this possible by raising the opposite mound and  between the mound there is a bridge connected under which runs a road.

Then we have a lavish lunch overlooking Lunuganga.

Lunuganga has been inspired from Bevis Bawa’s Brief which is conceptualized on the English Garden theme.  Lunuganga is completely opposite to the English Garden theme. Goeffery Bawa designed and made Lunganga for 40 years of his life. That a dedication, buddy!

Next we go to see Bevis Brief. This property is based on the English Garden theme.

There are many levels in this garden too. There is a tennis court at a lower level to ensure privacy. And there is a barbeque corner at the same level. There are open lawns at the topmost and the lower levels.

There are many stone sculptures from different parts of the world where Bevis has extensively travelled.

The open bathroom is a unique design. There is an open bath tub and Bevis’ head is there on top of it and the water pours into the bathtub from the mouth of the sculpture!!

The toilet place is also designed wonderfully. There is a three fourth circle arch entrance which is made up of bricks and stones.

Then we have a cup of tea at the garden of Bevis Brief.

The caretaker gave us a quick review of history of both the brothers; Bevis Bawa and Geoffery Bawa. Then we set off to Saffron Villa, Hikkaduwa. When we reached there, we went off in the sea.

The house is a very modest one with just two rooms with attached toilet. My parents shared one room and my brother and myself the other. There is a large verandah outside my parents’ room. And nearby the sea there is a  formal dining area alongwith some armchairs to relax.

The verandah has a good statue of Lord Buddha’s face.

 The most touching experience in Sri Lanka is that people are really very friendly and down to earth and of very good hospitable nature.

The experience of standing in the sea is worth an experience in itself. The sea beach is ultra clean with the sea roaring in full throttle. Then we had dinner in Spaghetti and Co. and then we went off to bed after playing cards.

Spaghetti and Co. is an Italian restaurant. The décor of the restaurant is so tropical and yet very homely colours and furniture used. We had the most delicious Italian pizza there.

On 7^th February, after breakfast, we relaxed the whole day. In the afternoon, I went to the nearby market. And then, after coming back, relaxed till the evening. In the evening went into the sea. Due to the full moon, the sea is in a very ferocious mood. Witnessed the most beautiful sunset. Then we went off to dine at Spaghetti and Co. Then we played cards and went off to bed early.

On 8^th February, after breakfast, Mum and myself went to the local market in Hikkaduwa. We had snacks there at a pastry shop and on the way back bought a cake for everyone. Then we relaxed the whole afternoon.

At about 6:00 pm we witnessed a spectacular sunset. A sunset which could only be a wholesome experience and no camera in the world could capture its beauty. Lastly we went off for dinner at Spaghetti and Co., played cards and then dozed off to sleep.

On 9^th February, we make our way back to Columbo. On the way we had breakfast at Parera and Sons. We took the highway parallel to the sea which takes longer time to reach back. At about 6:30 pm we reached Columbo.

In Battarmulla, nearby my brother’s place, we shopped in the food city, a supermarket. We had homemade dinner after a long time. Then we packed our bags and went off to bed.

On 10^th February, we went off to see Geoffery Bawa’s residence. It is a masterpiece. Initially Geoffery Bawa made the home in the 11 number house and slowly and steadily as and when he got the funds he extended his house to the present scale. There are two Rollce Royce cars one that Geoffery Bawa drove and other that Bevis Bawa drove.

Here the principle is the same bringing the outside in and inside out. The scale and the proportions of various spaces. The most important factor is to play with the scale and the proportion to create various spaces and incorporating all the existing trees in the design. All the hardware used is old fashioned along with the table fans and the furniture. The house is not a very grand place but a small comfortable and cozy place to live in according to Geoffery Bawa.

The colour of the walls, floor and ceilings are all white but the scale is very artistically played with to reveal that it is a luxury to live in a place like this for a great architect Geoffery Bawa. There are waterbodies and small courtyards out of which old trees have grown out of and creating a very different aura of the house as a whole.

Then we went off to pick up my brother from college and had brunch at Sandwich Factory.

Then we started shopping. Firstly we went to Kandyg’s at Havelock and Galle road. Then we went off to the 33^rd lane to gift shopping. Then we had a light lunch at huge bakery outlet. Then we did some more shopping and at about 5 pm returned to my brother’s place. Here we did the final packing and then at 7 pm set off for the Columbo airport. At 11:45 pm we borded the plane and landed in Mumbai at about 2:20 am in the morning.