Sri Lanka 2012

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The start of a traditional Sri Lankan Hindhu wedding.  Recieving blessing from two beautifull girls in traditional clothing.  A little baby girl at the wedding.  The Bride in het beautifull traditional dress.  The Bride and Groom on the special honeymoon throne. 
The girls are talking about the bride and groom.  One of the older family members. She keeps a good eye on the little ones.  The bride enjoying this beautifull day.  Sister and nephew from my good friend Sankar.  The Goldy Sand beach hotel in Negombo at night. 
This is the elephant transit home in Udawalawe NP. Here orphan elephants are preparted to live in the wild once again.  This is Indy, the adoption elephant from Marjolein. He is almost two years.  The young elephant are fed with milk. This is the only contact the have with humans. You are not allowed to pet them or even come near to them. They have to go back living in the wild, so they are not allowed to get used to people.  A beautifull bouquet of flowers in the entrance hall of the new Udawalawe Safari hotel. We where the first quests ever, it just opened a few weeks earlier.  The serene beaches from Tangalle. 
The sea is really rough near Tangalle, you can only swim here if you are an experienced swimmer. Else you will end up 15.000 miles south in Antartica.  Near Tangalle beach.  Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) in the Tangalle lagoon.  Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) in the Tangalle lagoon.  Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) flying away in the Tangalle lagoon. 
A fisher in the sea near Tangalle. He catches quite a lot, we where suprised.  Sunset near Tangalle.  The is the harbour from Merissa in the early morning. Here we set sail to see the big Blue Whales.  A blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the biggest animal which have ever lives on the planet earth. This is the back.  The Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) is is famous for its acrobatic displays. 
A blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), arives at the surface and blows the water out of his blowhole so he can breathe. So actualy, this is the head.  A blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) making a dive, here you can see the very small vin which you can us to identify that this is actually a blue whale.  One of the bars in Tamarind Hill Hotel in Galle.  An other bar in Tamarind Hill Hotel in Galle.  A Yello Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) in a river near Galle. 
A Monitor Lizard (Varanus Indicus) in a tree near Galle.  A other Monitor Lizard (Varanus Indicus) near Galle.  A White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) fishing in a river near Galle.  Two Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (Merops philippinus) near Galle.  A water buffel near Galle. 
A water buffel with a crow near Galle.  This is the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) fishing in a river near Galle.  Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) in a river near Galle.  The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) flying away near Galle.  The is the Dutch protestant church in Galle Fort. 
Interior of the Dutch protestant church in Galle Fort. The church is more then 300 years old.  The Shrine of the Tooth from Lord Buddha in the Temple of the Tooth.  The beautifull Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.  Buddhist flags inside the Temple of the Tooth.  This is the swimmingpool of the Kings. The Sighalese Kings went here from a swim with the girls from their harem. 
The pond near the Temple of the Tooth is full with carpers.  This is the pond near the Temple of the Tooth, the small island justed to be the harem for the Singhales kings.  Kandy at night.  Two endemic endangered Ceylon Rufous Babbler (Turdoides rufescens) near Habarana.  Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) near Habarana. 
One of the great tanks near Habarana. At night wild elephants come here to drink.  Toque Macaque (Macaca sinica) near Habarana.  Little Cormorants (Phalacrocorax niger) near Habarana.  Two Common Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) on a trunk near Habarana.  Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) near Habarana. 
Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura subspecies R.m. dandolena) near Habarana.  Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura subspecies R.m. dandolena) near Habarana.  Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura subspecies R.m. dandolena) near Habarana.  Toque Macaque (Macaca sinica) near Ritigala.  A baby Toque Macaque (Macaca sinica) near Ritigala. 
A wild Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Kaudula NP near Habarana.  A Heron (species not found) in Kaudula NP near Habarana.  A Grey-headed Fish-eagle (Icthyophaga icthyaetus) in Kaudula NP near Habarana.  A small herd of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Kaudula NP near Habarana.  A herd of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Kaudula NP near Habarana. 
The lake in Kaudula NP near Habarana.  A Black-backed Jackal (Canis aureus) in Kaudula NP near Habarana.  A small chameleon near Habarana.  Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) in Wilpattu NP.  A herd of Spotted Deers (Cervus axis) in Wilpattu NP. 
A large Crocodil in Wilpattu NP.  A Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) in Wilpattu NP.  Two Green Bee-eaters (Merops orientalis) in Wilpattu NP.  Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) in Wilpattu NP.  Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) in Wilpattu NP. 
Crested Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela spilogaster) in Wilpattu NP.  A view at one of the lakes in Wilpattu NP.  A beautifull butterfly in Wilpattu NP.  A herd of Spotted Deers (Cervus axis) in Wilpattu NP.  Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) in Wilpattu NP. 
Young White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) in Wilpattu NP.  Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) in Wilpattu NP.  Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) in Wilpattu NP.  A small lizard in the sand in Wilpattu NP.  A big water turtle in Wilpattu NP. 
This elephant decided that we had to leave.  So he ran and made a lot of noise to chase us away.  The master of the jungle, the Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Wilpattu NP.  Sitting under a tree, the Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Wilpattu NP.  Now he starts walking towards the Jeep, Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Wilpattu NP. 
A close up from a leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Wilpattu NP.  This male Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is smelling tracks from other Leopards in Wilpattu NP.  A Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) in Wilpattu NP.  A leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is relaxing in Wilpattu NP.