There’s some damn good fiction coming out of Sri Lanka these days, but it’s not all that easy to find. Bookstores exist in Colombo, but they’re not exactly on tourist routes. We at WoWasis found really great stores — including the Odel shop — in the shopping gallery at the airport, near the exit gates […]
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WoWasis book review: ‘Blue Stories for Adults’ erotica from Sri Lanka
In her introduction to Blue Stories for Adults (2010, ISBN 978-955-8897-20-1) editor (and contributing author) Ameena Hussein writes that one of the aims of the book is to challenge stereotypes of Sri Lankan sexuality. She also mentions that it does not “claim to be the representative literature of Sri Lankan erotica… but it is a […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis book review: ‘The Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka’ by UNESCO
Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle embraces an area encompassing the ancient sites of Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, and Segiriya, and the city of Kandy. This area is perhaps the area most visited on the island, and is well worth the trip. Each of the ancient sites have book kiosks in the museums, and there are a number […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis visits Buduruwagala, home of Sri Lanka’s massive carved Buddha statues
Buduruwagala is easy to miss, sitting 4 km off the main road, roughly 5 km south of the town of Wellawaya, on the A2 road, off the turn-off to Tissa. But you shouldn’t miss it. There are several massive statues carved into the rock, some of which have fine detail, including a Buddha statue that, […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis visits Sri Lanka’s mountain tea houses
Tea is an essential part of Sri Lankan culture, and is their second leading export commodity, behind textiles. Sri Lanka’s hill country is liberally dotted with terraced tea plantations, and many of them have wonderful tea houses right at the road side where you can relax, drink their teas, and enjoy the mountain atmosphere. And […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis visits the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens in Kandy, Sri Lanka
Kandy is a rambling old town that requires no more than a day to see just about everything. At night, the best spot we’ve found is the Pub Royale, located in the Queen’s Hotel building, where — on a good night — a magnificent 4 piece accordion band plays Besame Mucho and other hits from […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis visits Galle, colonial city of southwestern Sri Lanka
Built by the Dutch in 1663, the colonial city of Galle is a pleasure to walk through, keeping within the confines of the fort area. Our journey took us there on a Sunday, which happened to also be Mohammad’s birthday, so all museums were closed. Everything else was open, including boutiques, antiquities shops, restaurants, and […]
Read the rest of this entry »Than Phuying and Khun Ying: what do those titles mean in Thailand?
Western readers of Bangkok newspapers often are challenged by the titles of Thai individuals — particularly women — that they see in the papers. Two of the most common are Than Puying and Khun Ying. What do they mean? These are honorific titles based on The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, established in […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis book review: Bangkok forensic science maven Porntip Rojanasunan’s new book ‘The Dead DO Talk’
The Director of Thailand’s General Institute of Forensic Science is the famous Dr. Porntip Rojanasunan, who co-founded the agency in 2002. With her jet-set hair, stylish wardrobe, and enthusiasm for forensic science, she’s one of the most photographed women in Thailand. She’s also well-loved and humble, and was voted by Reader’s Digest readers in 2010 […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis visits Sri Lanka’s magnificent Aluvihara rock monastery
In the ancient cities area of Sri Lanka, on the road from Dambulla to Kandy, 3 km north of Matale, is Aluvihara, an undervisted and non-commercial shrine that we here at WoWasis feel is well worth a stop, We loved the Dambulla cave temples nearby, but the overt commercialism there we found to be disconcerting. […]
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