Thusi Max

@ Stonehenge - September 2013

2014-05-11T08:34:00.003-07:00

@ Basingstoke April 2013

2013-05-19T05:40:00.001-07:00

Making of Rainforest Ecolodge

2012-08-05T02:22:00.000-07:00

I was seconded to the Ecolodge project from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce as the accountant to the project. Hemantha Rathnayake was the CEO of the project and Dhammika, Saliya, Laksman, Aruni & Azam was rest of the team. Project was headed by Mr. Prema Cooray as the chairman of the project and there were several leading companies as the share holders to the project.

This was first eco tourism model project in Sri Lanka and the location was Enselwatte estate of Diniyaya own by Mathurata plantation. The site is 506 hectares with 480 hectares of sub-montane and montane rainforest and the balance acreage being VP tea cultivation. It is 213km from Colombo, which takes 6 hours approximately on the Colombo-Deniyaya road.

The location was realy facinating and it was boardering the sigharaja forest. Most of the time it was covered by mist even in the noon.

Hemantha & Dhammika with other project members

Entrance to the location

The Site

This was really interesting, entertaining and extremely busy period of time. We all were busy with tight schedule since it was the start of the project. Hemantha was working hard to get the project going along with the set targets, Dhammika was working at the site with the site team as the site coordinator, Saliya was with the tourism cluster, Aruni was coordinating with the USAID, Laksman was looking after energy and I was setting up finance assistance to the project. It was really nice team and we enjoyed the time at Ecolodge office.

At Dhammika's Birth Day - Waters edge

Hemantha & Myself visited the site at every month with project consultants for review meetings. There were two bungalows, one was the office and Dhammika’s place and the other one was the visitors bungalow. Saliya also joined us several times and Laksman was unlucky since he never visited the site during his stay in the project.

Visitors Bungalow

Dhammika's Bungalow

A project meeting at site

Unfortunately the completion of the project was not successful due to various external political influences. Several time we had to stop and start constructions due to various issues and by the time we all resign the project it was not even part completed although at was almost 4 years after initiation. People who influenced to stop the project did not know the true facts and importance of the project but they were misled by several political fronts. As at now the project completed but not in full scale or with the original plan. But it is happy to know at least the Rainforest ecolodge is now in operation.

http://www.rainforest-ecolodge.org/chalets.html

Bahirawa Pooja before the ground breaking

A chat before ground breaking

Ground breaking by Hemantha

There is a piece of paper underneath the foundation stone with the names of project team

Constructions commence

Steel structure of main building

A chalet

Memories of interesting moments during the time at ecolodge

Audleys Wood Hotel

2012-05-27T06:42:00.002-07:00

This was the private house for Thomas Pain & built in 1880.

Walking around London 2 – Finding Sherlock Holmes

2012-05-05T08:48:00.001-07:00

Though we have heard about the 221b Bakers street, Westminster is the place, we were not sure the famous house is still there. And it was my main desire to visit there since I have promised to my wife, I’ll be visiting there and take some pictures & some souvenirs.

We got in to tube train from London to Bakers street. It was quite short trip. Ah.. It was Sherlock Holmes everywhere in the station. Portraits of Holmes and pictures of famous stories were the decorations. Even the wall tiles were designed with portraits of Sherlock Holmes.

We thought it will be easy to finding it, but we were wrong. We walked up & down of the baker’s street but we couldn’t locate the place.

Interestingly most of the Hotels, pubs were named after Sherlock Holmes.

We almost abandoned the search. We decided to have two pints at one of the Sherlock Holmes pub.

Then we decided to ask the whereabouts & we realized we are not good detectives even we couldnot find a famous place like 221b, Bakers Street.

Finally we reached to the place and it was a well prominent one. So my will became reality.

The 221b is three storied house and the ground floor is the Museum. I walked through each floor and it was stunning. Layout of the house is exactly as per the stories describes. Living room where Mr. Holmes & Dr.Watson discussed the crimes was there as it is.

In the first floor it is the study room which Holmes and Watson shared and the adjoining is the bedroom of Mr. Holmes. Doctor Watson’s bedroom was on the second floor next to Mrs. Hudson's room.

At the end of a very triumphant visit we start our journey back to London. And then we came across the surprise finding, The Beetle Shop. Dave was more than happy since the Beetles are the most favorite band of his son Steve. So now he is going to visit the same place again.

I was an enormously happy and my gracious thanks to Dave accompanying me all along the visit of London. Without him I could not make it.

Walking Around the London

2012-04-12T01:39:00.004-07:00

My friend was very kind for me to join with me for site seeing. We started our journey from Basingstoke in the afternoon. Weather was bit rainy and we expected some rain. But unfortunately we had no umbrella but if it rains our plan was to get in to good pub and have couple of beers and spend the rest of the day. So we had plan B to spend time in London and my friend liked the plan B as always.

Train to Waterloo took almost one hour and by the time getting down in London we almost thought we will do our plan B. we were searching for a “Good English Pub” as Dave always look for.

Waterloo Station

Anyway we tried at least get in to London Eye since it is nearby Waterloo Station. This was Dave's first visit to London after 20 years. He has spent most of his years traveling around the world to undertake several assignments including Sri Lanka as my boss.

Dave at London Eye

View of River Themes,
Westminister Bridge &
Big Ben from top of Eye

London Eye is situated on in the west bank of River Themes. It was very fascinating scenery at the top of the eye and it has 360 degree view of the London city. When the cubicle is at top of the wheel it was bit scary and my friend was very excited than me. The most interestingly it started to snowing for few seconds but it was not a big one. And sadly it started to rain again we thought we will have to shift in to plan B.

Dave is loking for two pints of Tetleys

We decide to walk to the other side of the river themes by Hagerford Bridge and in to the London city. Rain became heavy and we rushed in to a pub.The pub was called “The Princess of Wales” and in mentioned that it was opened by the princess. So we had our lunch and few pints in a royal pub.

Afterward we started our journey around London and by halfway through my friend was very tired. But good beer kept us alive. We had few Beer breaks to keep ourselves walking.

The next stop was the Buckingham palace and by that time we already walked few dozens of miles. I did not feel tired because I was excited but sadly Dave almost lost his feet. Interestingly we saw the Royal Guard shift change. Dave was trying to get a photo of the guard change and almost hit by a Royal Horse if he stood in the same place for another second. He had to jump out of the way and I could not believe is that was he. I believe the athletic skills excelled by young Dave saved himself.

We walked through Princess Diana Memorial walk to the front of the palace and it was very fascinating and beautiful walk along the small river to the palace.

The Buckingham Palace

By that time we were short of some good pints of beer and our body was asking for it.

We are yet to start our interesting part of the journey, finding the Sherlock Holmes in Bakers Street. We became two detectives finding the famous detective Sherlock Holmes.

(Finding Sherlock Holmes will continue in next episode of Walking around London)

Sherlock Holmes, 221b Baker street, London

2012-04-11T23:33:00.002-07:00

The epic Sherlock Holmes house is situated in Baker street bearing the number 221b in city of Westminister. As per Sir Auther Connan Doyle's famous Sherlock Holmes novels, the detective Sherlok Holmes and Doctor Watson lived at 221b Baker Street from about 1881-1904.

In the first floor it is the study room which Holmes and Watson shared and the adjoining is the bedroom of Mr. Holmes. Doctor Watsons bedroom was on the second floor next to Mrs. Hudson's room.

The opening of the Sherlock Holmes museum to the public on 27 March 1990 and from then thousands of people all over the world visits and write to Sherlock Holmes.

Mr Holmes Bedroom

England in March 2012

2012-03-16T23:14:00.018-07:00

London Eye: A 360 degree view to the London city from 135 meters up in the sky. this is the tallest ferries wheel in europe.
The London Eye is located in the Lndon Brough of Lmbeth at the western end of Jubilee gardens, on the south bank of the River Thames between Wstminister bridge and Hngerford Bridge.
Westminister Bridge & Big Ben at far site from the top of London eye

Hagerford Bridge

Jubilee Gardens

Mazda Service/Repair Manuals - Free Download

2010-08-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Download it from hrere

http://jdmfsm.info/Auto/Japan/Mazda/

My Mazda 323

2010-06-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

MALTA-3

2010-04-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

MALTA-2

2010-04-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Tarxien Temples

Upper/Lower Barakka Gardens

MALTA - Blue Grotto

2010-04-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

Avatar 2009 DVDSCR XVID

2010-03-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.torrentz.com/b457a8cf200aaf15a8842ff9ee078acc233027f9

Edge of Darkness.2010

2010-03-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/2159386/36504876/
Cover

Screen Shots

Toyota Corolla AE100

2010-03-28T05:29:00.000-07:00