Diyawanna Jogging Track

Jogging Track behind the Parliament is something that was constructed a long time back. But just like the Urban Waterland Park at Nawala I could never visit until now.

Panoramic view from the Jogging Track

Urban Walterland Park

The Urban Waterland Park better known as the Weli Park at Nawala was opened some time ago but I have never been there until 23rd May 2015. It’s much smaller in size compared to Broad Walk but much different to that.

Jogging Track

I had no idea they have put an Armored Personal Carrier (BMP T-86) in the park. It is an old scary looking rusted machine but still the main frame is in good shape.

Armored Personal Carrier (BMP T-86) - Front View

Armored Personal Carrier (BMP T-86) - Back View

Armored Personal Carrier (BMP T-86) - Back Entrance

Arcade - Independence Square

Like the Race Course complex Colombo has a lot of old buildings that needs renovation. The government recently renovated the building complex near the Independence Square and its called Arcade. For a government project it is very impressive. The shops and restaurants target the high-end consumer but the place is for everyone to visit.

High-end shops

Water Fountain and Pond underneath

Corridors

The Lion Statues

Floating Market - Colombo

When you imagine Pettah what comes to your mind is a crowded stinky and not so nice place. Well things have been changing a little bit in the past few years. If you go to the Front Street in Pettah what is used to be some years ago and what its now is much different.

The Floating Market is a man made shopping complex on the edge of the dirty part of the Beira Lake. The water is still green and it smells a bit here and there. But compared to what things used to be at least now things looks nice.

Floating Market – View 1

Floating shops

Floating Market – View 2

Ape Gama

Due to CHOGM there have been many changes around Colombo. Near the Parliament Grounds the place we used to call "Janakala Kendraya" has been changed and now it's called "Ape Gama" meaning "Our Village" It has made up to be an old traditional Sri Lankan village. They charge Rs. 100/- per person at the entrance but whether there is anything really interesting to see is a question?

A woman making "Halapa"

A farmer

Viharamahadevi Park

Viharamahadevi Park which was known as the Victoria Park many decades ago is located in the middle of Colombo. The park didn't go through any major changes until the last six months. Now the park looks modern. However if you go during the weekend the Ghosts who roam around the park (just like Galle Face green) makes you think you have entered Arab – yikes!

Town Hall

New Lights

Walking Path

Highline

Highline Park is an old elevated railroad converted to a beautiful park on the lower west side of Manhattan. It’s one of a kind concept and I haven’t seen anything like this anywhere else.

Remains of the railroad

View from the Observation point

Street Art

Wild fruits

Highline

Los Angeles

Known as the “The City of Angels” is a place you would fall in love with immediately after you see it with your own eyes. As a big city it offers you anything you need – Entertainment, Nightlife, Culture, Food, Lovely Beaches, Mountain Ranges of Natural Beauty and lots more… Though I had to end my visit on 24th November and head back to New York I would definitely come back to LA for a much longer visit.

Panoramic view of Los Angeles City from Griffith Observatory

A Quadcoptor with Surveillance Cameras

Santa Monica Beach is another Iconic landmark as it’s the final stop of the Interstate Highway which connected East and the West Coast of the United State. The Santa Monica Pier also appear on many movies and it has the Bubba Gump restaurant which featured on the movie Forest Gump.

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier – Amusement Park

A memorial on the beach

Enjoying the Sunshine

Panoramic view from Santa Monica Pier

Hollywood

A tour in Los Angeles wouldn’t be complete without visiting the certain places. The entire world knows what Hollywood is and I made few visits on 23rd and 24th November 2013 to cover some places.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

A shop in Hollywood Boulevard

The iconic Hollywood sign

Madame Tussauds – Hollywood

Los Angeles being big on its entertainment, it’s not too easy to spot a star on the road! But if you walk in to Madame Tussauds you can see plenty of them. Located on the Hollywood Boulevard I visited the famous wax museum on Saturday, 23rd November 2013. The figures are impressive but some aren’t what you would expect them to be.

Marilyn Monroe

Rihanna

Marlene Dietrich

Universal Studio

Unlike Disneyland, Universal Studio in Hollywood is something you can cover within a day time if you plan it properly. You can really feel the effects in their simulations and specially made 3D or 4D movie parts. Though I went on Saturday, 23rd November 2013 it wasn’t busy around the time park opened.

Seaworld effects of plane crash

Universal Studio – Globe Theatre

Disneyland

Disneyland California is divided into two parks; the adventure park and the theme park. They are something you can’t cover in one day for sure. We started the tour Friday, 22nd November 2013 early morning from downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim where Disneyland is located. The rides in Disneyland are very unique and could be enjoyed by anyone (though I initially thought its target audience is kids).

Antique cars still running for transportation services

Skull inside Adventureland

Pirates of the Caribbean

Mini kingdom

Santa on his new ride

Disney Princess on the Parade

Submarine yard

Iron Man costumes on display

Top of the Rock

Rockefeller Center is one of the main tourist attractions of NYC because its observation deck called Top of the Rock. You can get the best view of Central Park from this observation deck by day time and by the night you can see lights of New York City.

Rockefeller Center

View of Empire State Building

View of Queens and Brooklyn

Inside Rockefeller Center observation deck

Vintage photo shoot at DBU

I was having an idea of doing a small scale photo shoot for some time. I didn’t really have an idea of what to do or how to do. One day I saw some really nice pictures of Layani and I asked her whether she is ok for a photo shoot. So it started, we decided on a theme and it was Vintage. Having thought of conducting the photo shoot at either Dutch Hospital or Independent Square I went to visit those two places only to find out that we need permission from Ministry of Defense to do such a thing (Seriously are those places a target for any terrorist organization??)

The Dutch Burgher Union (DBU) of Sri Lanka is an old colonial type building located in Colombo and I happened to go there to get a Lamprais. After a chat and some email conversations they agree to let us conduct the photo shoot at the DBU. For some reason I decided to complicate the simple photo shoot by adding a Vintage car, some makeup artists, and some more photographers.

The photo shoot took place on Saturday, 29th September 2012 and it was a massive success. I never thought it would be this great but it really was :)

Layani – 1

Layani – 2

Layani – 3

The crew (Me, Dinuka, Dasun, Layani, Thilina)