World Bamboo Day - September 18

World Bamboo Day was declared by the Thai Royal Forest Department on 18 September in Bangkok, during the 8^th World Bamboo Congress in 2009. This declaration is an effort to increase the awareness of bamboo globally. 

Actually I never of this before. Just saw in the news flash as there was a activities to cerebrate this day in Sri Lanka. I'm not sure whether its officially accepted by the UN which normally do for other "days". However this is for the conservation and awareness of Bamboo therefore its good to have a "day" celebrate! 

Back in Sri Lanka we do have several varieties of bamboo and we do use them for various purposes. But unlike in east Asian countries like Taiwan, China, Japan etc we do not eat them. In Taiwan Bamboo shoots are well famous as a food.

http://worldbambooday.org

Taiwan Birdathon

"Yunlin and Chiayi counties, along with Greater Tainan, are to hold a marathon-style bird-watching race for the first time in November to raise environmental awareness and promote ecotourism on the island"

This is interesting, though I have herd of this before in central Taiwan’s Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area earlier this year. It seems this time they have focused the southern and the coastal birds especially the migrant endangered black-faced spoonbill. 

This is a different idea, However, I have my doubts that this will be a good way of promoting so called ecotourism  and raise environmental awareness. We'll see who's the winner and the count this time as the last event it was around 150 species for this 30 hour challenge. 

For more information checkout ... http://en.taiwanbirdathon.org/

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is the sixth most visited city in the world and following are some of the photos taken in a short trip to the city center on the way to Taiwan from Sri Lanka.

City Panorama of the KL, Malaysia

The Petronas Twin Towers -  tallest twin buildings in the world 

Malaysian ringgit

Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur's oldest Hindu temple

The Kuala Lumpur Tower - the 7th tallest telecommunication tower in the world

Colonial remaining s of the city

Telecom Museum

St. Andrew's Church

Jamek Mosque

KL's central market

Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur's  Chinatown

Oil palm plantation

Taiwan's Yin-Yang Sea...

Yin-yang Sea is a kind of a special place where you can find in Jinguashi (金瓜石) coastal area. It is located in the Rueifang Township in Taipei County, this area is famous for its gold mines.

Yin – yang (陰陽) is a concept comes in Chinese philosophy which literally meaning "dark and light", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn in relation to each other. I guess this name for this particular place matches well.

As you travel along the coastal highway No 02 you will see a strange scene in the sea - a bay where the color of the sea is a mix of yellow and blue a two contrasting color sea. This is called the Yin-yang Sea. It was initially believed that the sea color was the result of pollution from Taiwan Metal Mining Corp’s smelting activities but, over 10 years after the company stopped its activities, Yin-yang Sea still exists The geology here contains large amount of pyrite which has formed Fe3+ the course for the yellow / orange color and it does not dissolve easily in water.

The No.2 Provincial Route is the main connection between Taipei, Keelong and Ylan, Where you can reach the place. The nearby is the Golden Waterfall and the Jiufen old mining town. I have seen the runoff mixing with sea in Sri Lanka as well but it’s not like this and it does not occur for such a long period like this. Taiwan got many unique things to see, I believe that’s one of the reason for the saying “Taiwan touch your heart”

Yin Yang  Sea, Keelung, Taiwan

Do you feel a similarity with above and below images...? (Ok, I mean literally...)

Yin Yang of Fire and Water

The Golden Waterfall in Taiwan

Gold Waterfall or golden waterfall is located near Zihciang Bridge and Changren Mining Area, Rueifang District, Keelung, Northern Taiwan. Water of this particular waterfall comes from the upstream of the Jingua Stone area which flows through the copper and iron ores of the area, which brings the pigments to form the golden waterfall. Its much beautiful in the evenings where the sun sets to the waterfall. The contrasting colors of yellow/orange with the vegetation patches of green gives a spectacular view. No wonder this area is one of the most popular spot for wedding photography in Northern Taiwan.

Near by the Golden Waterfall, you can also see the Yin-Yang Sea (two colored sea) where the sediment runoff from the old mining sites with a yellow/orange color meets with the blue sea water, and the place called “Thirteen Level”, Ruins of a copper smelter built along the hillside where this area once the prime site of gold, copper and iron mining in Taiwan. 

Gold Waterfall, Keelung, Taiwan

Tri lingual dictionary for Sri Lanka...

The government of Sri Lanka has released a long awaited language tool for the Sri Lankans a Tri lingual dictionary. The official languages of the country are Sinhala, Tamil and English. But unfortunately there only few people who can handle all three of them well. Unfortunately I'm not among them, my Tamil knowledge is minimal should be shamed of myself. Hope this tool will develop more in the future and the people will use this tool effectively for the betterment of the country.

http://www.trilingualdictionary.lk/

Sunsets to CCU...

Sunsets to CCU...

The Sunsets very nice at the Chinese Culture University which is overlooking the Taipei basin.... A different experience than from Sri Lanka where we hardly get the chance to see the sun sets this close from the mountain like in Yangmingshan. 

Dragon Boat Festival 2012

Last weekend we visited one of the famous Dragon Boat Festival in Taiwan. This comes in every year 5th day of the 5th Month according to the Lunar calendar, so it falls onto 23rd June 2012 for this year. On this particular day the dragon boat races are held on the rivers and lakes in Taiwan. However, in addition to the boat races there are many other traditions, rituals and special food for this particular festival.  

International Dragon Boat Championship held in Tainan, Taiwan 2012. 

Suhua Highway - Taiwan's most scenic roadway

Some considered as the most scenic highway in Taiwan. Suhua Highway is a 118 kilometer section of the Provincial Highway No. 9 in Taiwan, starting at Su-ao Township, Yilan and ending at Hualien City, Hualien. With a portion built alongside very steep cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean, it is a dangerous yet scenic drive. Famous tourist stops include the Chingshui Cliffs and Tarako national park (close to Hualien end) is along the highway. This road connects the northern part of Taiwan with the eastern part. 

Chingshui Cliffs

World Turtle Day - May 23

The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive

Sri Lanka and Taiwan has some turtle species where Sri Lanka being a tropical island comes in first. Where Sri Lanka having the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) come ashore to nest on the beaches of Sri Lanka. All 5 species are listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as either critically endangered or endangered.

Above five species are considered as protected species of sea turtles in Taiwan. Among these species, the green turtle is the most abundant and the only one that is still nesting on Taiwan islands these days. 

The world Biodiversity day celebrated recently with the theme of protecting marine Biodiversity, Turtles play a significant role in the marine biodiversity. 

The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB)

The United Nations proclaimed May 22 The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The theme for year 2012 is the Marine Biodiversity.

Lets join hands to protect our Biodiversity!

World Environmental Day - WED 2012

Started back in 1972, World Environmental Day (WED) is one of the most celebrated and now even become more concerned activities of UN. The 2012 theme for World Environment Day is Green Economy: Does it include you?

The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

To make a better planet for coming generations of all living being lets hold our hands together. Start acting Now...

Wish you all a Happy Vesak Day!

Earth Day 2012 - April 22nd

For mother Earth...

Sri Lanka's preparations for the Earth Day...




Taiwan's Preparations for the earth Day...

Sinhala & Tamil New Year in Taiwan…

EARTH HOUR (60+)

Started In 2007, WWF-Australia inspired Sydney-siders to show their support for climate change action in the first ever Earth Hour event. It showed that everyone, from children to CEOs and politicians, has the power to change the world they live in. 

The initiative invite people to ‘switch off’ their lights for one hour to take a stand against climate change, Earth Hour quickly became an annual global event. It’s scheduled on the last Saturday of every March – closely coinciding with the equinox to ensure most cities are in darkness as it rolled out around the Earth.

I'm IN, Are you ?

World Water Day

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The them for 2012 is  “Water and Food Security”