Thala 2012

Roughly translated, Thala means ‘melody’. I was recently treated to a lovely night out at Colombo’s newest theatre- NelumPokunaMahindaRajapaksa Theatre to watch Thala 2012. It was a melodious night indeed, what ensued surpassed all my expectations.

The Channa-Upuli Performing Arts Foundation, a dance institute that has gained major momentum over the recent years, presented Thala 2012. I will be honest; being a dancer myself, I know shockingly little about the oriental dance tradition.
I began my dance career at the wee age of 3 with classical ballet and then proceeded to explore various sub-genres including contemporary, free-style, street jazz, tap and hip-hop. Somehow I never had the chance of learning oriental dance - which is a crying shame really! So when my friend asked me to join him for an evening of oriental dance, I was thrilled to say the least!

Upon entering the theatre I was almost SICK with anticipation. I had heard good reviews about the stage and how spectacular the set designs could get. We sat for a rather long time; I noticed the show was running half an hour behind schedule – typical Sri Lankan tardiness. Eventually, the lights were dimmed and the curtains drawn.

The first act was called ‘A Celestial Overture’, which began with beautiful maidens clothed in pure white, serenely swaying to the music whilst presenting incense sticks and lotus flowers as an offering to the Gods. A lone spotlight hits the stage as the centre opens up, and a richly adorned deity emerges from the bottom of the stage, sitting amidst the petals of a lotus flower. As the maidens worship this divine being, my attention suddenly swings up towards the ceiling. Eight godlike deities begin dancing, suspended midair. A chill creeps up my spine as I watch the entire stage transform into what seems like a scene out of the Mahavamsa. It is then that I realize, whilst every performance that I have been a part of has always had a certain ‘theme’, none really told a story quite like what was unfolding before my eyes.



I watched enthralled as each performance related the most beautiful story. My favourite act of the evening was definitely ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, where a pearl maiden retells the story of how Sri Lanka’s rich culture and civilization was first introduced to the island. The colourful performance included Queen Kuveni, (Sri Lanka’s first historically recorded queen) Kandyan dancers and Kathakali dancers. With the ever-present rhythmic drum beats and symphonic melodies spiraling into a crescendo the dancers stealthily moved across the stage in complete unison. Each story was not simply related through the dancers movements but also emoted through their eyes- be it anger, love, fear or sorrow they wished to portray, I was could truly empathize with each dancers emotional journey.




As a dancer, what impressed me the most was the intricate footwork punctuated with the tinkling bells of the dancers’ brass anklets throughout all the performances. I found myself perched on the edge of my seat watching in horror, as the many taut bodies balanced in backbreaking positions for what seemed like an eternity! With every melodious tune, every leap and graceful turn, I found myself enthralled with this form of dance and its deep-rooted traditions.
This evening was not simply an evening of dance but an educational and spiritual adventure.

The Universal Language

It’s 6pm on a tiring, balmy Wednesday. I have just finished work and frankly, I’m not in the best of moods. But then my sister tells me that I should join her on a work assignment. Being a full time journalist, my sister is constantly discovering new places to visit, stumbling across an array of delightful eateries and covering various events.
She mentioned something about a musical event- to be honest I was sold from the get-go!

At the entrance to the hall, I am informed that this show is strictly for invitees. True to form my sister has failed to tell me this, but I put my best journalistic face on and it does the trick!
The hall is jam-packed with people – mostly old I notice. Later I’m told that the show is in celebration of Sri Lankan folk music.


Lights dim, inaugural speeches are made and finally the show commences with the resonating wail of the conch shell. As the curtains swing open, the crowd murmurs in excited anticipation. I am left awe-stuck as I stare, open mouthed, at the hundreds of musicians assembled on stage perfectly poised and ready to burst into melodies from time immemorial.

The rhythmic drum beats, harmonious twang of sitars and symphonic melodies of violins cascading to a euphoric crescendo left me pleasantly speechless. Closing my eyes, I listened with bated breath to colourful tune after tune of traditional folk songs played to perfection, tunes that have been played over countless decades. I open my eyes once again and watch the audience- eyes transfixed on the stage, tapping to the cadenced beats, some even smiling.

Music is a form of therapy for me. A friend once asked me if I could imagine life without music. My answer is no. Without song, my life would lack vigour, movement, passion and spirit. With the escalating rhythm enveloping me, I felt myself letting go of all worldly troubles and sinking into the cathartic beats of the tabla.

Music speaks to ones soul- it crosses ages and cultures. It is the universal language. These folk songs were foreign to me. Most of them being songs you would listen to in a Hindu temple or a traditional Pooja – yet after awhile I found that these songs sounded strangely familiar. A sense of oneness floated around the hall that transcended ethnic backgrounds, a purified sense of belonging not only to Sri Lanka, but humanity.




Music is the universal language of mankind. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Outre-Mer

Mahoora Safari camping

Last weekend, a dozen of our colleagues at Walkers Tours were fortunate enough to experience ‘luxury camping’ slap-bang in the heart of Yala National Park. Now when we first heard about luxury camping, we were rather baffled as nothing seemed more contradictory. However Eco-team really does live up to their promise of offering ‘five star luxury under a million stars’. The meticulous efforts of the friendly staff members is what made luxury camping a truly sumptuous experience.

The journey to our campsite included an hour long drive, as well as an exhilarating off road jeep ride! We marveled over the amenities available in our make shift tents, which included a large bed, a fruit basket, a flushable toilet, wash basin and shower – how ingenious! These tents are handmade in Sri Lanka exclusively for the camp, making it an entirely local, authentic experience. What’s more incredulous is the fact that the entire campsite is set up a mere two days prior to arrival.

The thought of being surrounded by dense jungle is supremely thrilling. Being far away from any signs of civilization, we all seemed to escape from our daily hum-drum routines and plunge into the wilderness that surrounded us. We were delighted to discover that the campsite was situated right next to a fast flowing, shallow river, giving us the added advantage of cooling off when the heat would get the better of us all.

Although travel within the park is included in this package, one does not have to wander far- more often than not the wilderness is bound to find you! However, choosing to opt for a safari, we were lucky enough to spot 4 leopards, a number of elephants, deer, buffalo, crocodiles and a myriad of colourful indigenous birds.

Meals at Mahoora were most astounding, as we were presented with what seemed like an endless stream of delectable courses. Dinner comprised of a 7 course extravaganza – all in the midst of the thick forest! Speechless, we marveled over the array of soups, salads, barbeque platters, local cuisine and delicious dessert presented to us. The highlight of our stay was most definitely breakfast, with the dining table laboriously laid out in the middle of the flowing river! The whole spectacle left us all feeling like blue blooded royalty.

No other adventure tour operator does camping quite like Eco team, as they have proved themselves to be pioneers in the field. The attention to every detail and the immaculate service is a testament to the fact that Eco team provides an unparalleled indulgence.
The fine balance between luxury and a genuine camping experience is mastered so skillfully, that we all found ourselves immersed in the wilderness of the jungle and reluctant to leave!

Breakfast for champions!








Photo credit: Sandeep Jayawardhana