Freiluftsaison

At the Mainaue in Mainz Kastel and at the swimming pool.

Eltville

Osthafen

Industrial loveliness at Frankfurt Osthafen, drawing together with Jörg, Katja & Clara despite the rain.

Last days in Sri Lanka

Last days spent in Colombo and Jaffna, in good company.

Pettah & Galle Road

Drawing the busy market bazaar of Pettah is not easy, as every inch of space is used by vendors and pedestrian. To say i found a spot between a distribution box and a shop window..that´s already stretching it quite a bit.

Further down south is Galle Road, the main artery of Colombo, changing a lot between the city center and  what used to be the suburbs..

Hill Country

Kandy was best enjoyed from further away, at night when the city lights were reflected in its artificial lake. Instead of visiting the crowded Temple of the Tooth, i looked at the tombstones of the British Garrison Cemetery an learned about strange ways to die in old Ceylon (being trampled to death by an elephant, having one´s house collapse on oneself, falling on a pike while trying to get off a horse).

The badly lit cave temples of Dambulla and the surrounding countryside, then on to the impressive ancient rock palace of Sigiriya. While painting this view, a gardener sat by my side to see what i was up to. Along came a sinhalese, then a muslim school group. When my view was completely blocked by giggling girls in ponytails i decided my painting was finished.

And finally making my way to the hill country with its lush green tea plantations and the town of Nuwara Eliya.

At an altitude of 2000 m, it has a mild climate that appealed to british settlers. Their specific architecture is the trademark of Nuwara Eliya, and only the colourful trucks and Sri Lankans trying to sell fake North Face clothing remind you you´re not in England.

Colombo Fort

කොටුව (කොළඹ)
கோட்டை (கொழும்பு)

Colombo Fort is the oldest part of the srilankan capital and its traditional commercial center.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam bombed the Central Bank of Ceylon in january of 1996, making it one of the deadliest attack during Sri Lankas 30 years of civil war. This event led the government to restrict access to certain parts of the fort, making it a heavily fortified area, leading to its decline as the city center. Only very recently,  the Fort was made accesible again for all, 5 years after the end of the war.

 

Cinnamon Gardens

කුරුඳු වත්ත
 கறுவாத் தோட்டம்

Some not so posh parts of the otherwhise very posh Colombo neighbourhood of Cinnamon Gardens. Hindu temple on Torrington and the grand Devatagaha Mosque close to Victoria Park.

Trinco

திருகோணமலை/ ත්‍රිකුණාමලය

Down the southern coast

Travelling down the coast from Colombo is quicker than elsewhere in the country, thanks to the openi ng of a new Expressway. The diasadvantage of this accesibility is the amount of tourists flooding the beaches, it is difficult, but still possible to find some nice and calm spots.

 

 

At a buddhist temple in Mirissa, flower offerings are laid out befora a buddha statue. The head monk gives me a key so i can enter the lavishly decorated vihara, a good, cool spot to esccape the midday heat.

 

Fisherboats at the beach in Mirissa, and a view of the sea whilst consuming fish for dinner.