SRI LANKA

Over the summer I traveled to Sri Lanka and was able to experience a culture like no other.

Whilst there I was inspired by the traditions that live on in there communities but also how there faiths have slowly evolved with society.

We spent a day at the Cave Temples of Dambulla. 

150 statues of Lord Buddha fill these 5 caves and each has been identically hand built and painted. 

The colours today are still bright and vivid.

I found the respect for each statue from those visiting and those worshiping inspirational. The statues are a symbols of a faith that brings together a great number of people and shows the power of faith and religion. Walking into a cool dark cave and seeing a statue of Lord Buddha built over 2200 years ago dominate such a small space became an emotional experience. This feeling I think is hard to capture but leaves a person with more than just a memory, this is something I am interested in investigating over the next year. Provoking a feeling, even if you are unaware you are even doing this.

We then travelled to Kandy to see the Temple of the Tooth. Within the inner chambers they conduct worship 3 times a day. The temple of the tooth holds the sacred tooth relic which is worshiped in the Buddhist faith, they believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.Hundred of people cram in to get a glimpse of the relic and pray to Lord Buddha and give an offering.

We travelled by train to the Tea Country where the climate changed dramatically, we were no longer in hot dry heat but very cool wet conditions. 

We were sat in the observation carriage, but every Sunday they have a party in the gaps between the carriages, this is where people get to meet each other and celebrate the end of the weekend. This happy, praising mentaility is one I wish we had in England. People sulk about the end of there weekend, when we should celebrate what has happened over the weekend and be thankful for everything we have been able to achieve and enjoy.