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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rochel1977" data-source="post: 18691044" data-attributes="member: 371"><img src="https://ianlockwood.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/home-garden_collage-4_14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> A typical home garden scene in rural Sri Lanka. This is the Kudawa home of Chandra, Sinharaja’s first female nature guide. It is overshadowed by the forests of Sinharaja (and Moulawella peak). The food image shows the scrumptious traditional lunch prepared by Martin’s daughter in Kudawa. In order to get the data gathered all groups had to do a fair amount of walking in sunny, humid conditions. There were significant physical demands as streams were forged, jungles traversed and mountains climbed in search of data. Leeches were discouraged with the famous Sinharaja leech socks and various liquid deterrents. Students and their teachers suffered little more than a few small itchy bites. The afternoon showers helped moderate the climate and on Thursday afternoon there was time to cool off in the stream near Martin’s. On the final morning we took a fast-paced trek up to Moulawella  Peak (fondly renamed “cell phone mountain” by Ravin for its clear G3 reception). Here, on a clear, rain-washed morning we appreciated the landscape taking note of vast areas of protected rainforest as well as the patchwork of tea gardens, pine plantations and other landscapes to the north and west. We returned to Colombo on May 2nd with ample field data and experiences not to be forgotten. The class is now working to process and analyze the data, while using the school’s GIS software to provide original maps of the study site. <img src="https://ianlockwood.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/palm_collage-4_14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Katu Kitul Palm (Oncosperma fasciculatum), a favorite highland palm for elephants who can get to them. Photographed on the steep slopes of Moulawella peak. <img src="https://ianlockwood.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/biodiversity_collage-4_14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Selected biodiversity from a short trip to Sinharaja: Clockwise from upper left: Yellow-Fronted Barbet (Megalaima rubricapillus), fungi in secondary forest, Orange-Billed Babbler (Turdoides rufescens), large land snail, Sri Lanka Green Pit Viper (Trimeresurus trigonacephalus). <img src="https://ianlockwood.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/moulawella_looking_south_pan4a5_14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Looking south from Moulawella on a clear morning on our last day. This is a composite of four images taken with a Nikon D-800, thus producing a very, very large image. It has been reduced for this format but clicking on the image should give a better sense for the vast protected area in Sinharaja’s heart. <img src="https://ianlockwood.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/osc_group_at_moulawella2alr4_14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> OSC Class of 2015 DP Geography group on Moulawella peak with their teacher and guides (Ponaiya & Gunaratna). It was a remarkably clear day with uninterrupted views of Sri Pada. Picture courtesy of Uthpala De Silva. <img src="https://ianlockwood.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/sri_pada_from_moulawella_pan3alr5_14.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Looking north from Moulawella’s 760 meter peak to the Central Highlands. Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak (2,243 meters) is a point on the distant, blue ridge to the right of the center. This image has also been cropped and reduced but it was clear to Horton Plains and beyond. </blockquote>

Verification: Hathara warak wissa keeyada? (Hathara wadi karanna 20)

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