Sharon Inn, March 3-4, 2010

Our hotel, pretty much center of the first photograph - skinny and tall - taken from the side of the tooth temple

The Temple of the Tooth/Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, SriLanka

The gold roof covers the Tooth Relic of Buddha. In particular, its his left incisor. It is said that who possesses this tooth has legitimacy to control Sri Lanka. You can see why its a valuable relic. Very few people actually get to see the tooth itself. The first picture is a shot from the balcony of our hotel, Sharon Inn (a great place and a definite place to stay if you are in Kandy - the kitchen was excellent!!!!).

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy, March 4, 2010

While the rest of you were enjoying the Philadelphia Flower Show, we were down in Kandy, Sri Lanka visiting a botanical garden that would rival Longwood Gardens.























Fifth photograph are not dead leaves on a tree but fruit bats hanging by the hundreds.

The seventh photograph is of the giant Java Fig Tree covering 1600 sq meters.

The globe blossom you see below is the Venezuela Rose Tree and further below is the canon ball tree

Caravela Beach and Ramada Resort, Goa (Feb 26-March1, 2010)

Photo 1 - view from balcony, rest, photos of pool and beach

Shots of Goa

The first image is of the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi. Once every 10 years, his body is paraded in the streets during a festival. People normally kiss the hand or the feet of the saint. Once a woman kissed the foot and bit off his big toe. Since then, the body has been entombed in a silver and crystal casket and this casket is now paraded in the streets of goa. BTW the toe was recovered!! and All Is Well!

Sharang enjoying Goa

For those of you who don't know, Sharang is our nephew. Blake treated Sharang to a great weekend in Goa where Sharang had many firsts - jet skiing, parasailing, golfing, Ayurvedic massage, swimming in the ocean and first time seeing a woman in bikini.

Goan Cathedrals, Chapels, and Roadside Shrines

25% of the Goan population is Christians. In photograph #2 is where St Francis of Assisi is entombed. Last photograph shows a roadside shrine - a typical scene in India- only this time its a cross with flower garlands instead of a Hindu deity with a garland - a real blend of religion and culture.