De Story | Sigiriya | Sri Lanka

11/9/12

the national flower of sri lanka

water lily

where we can see almost at everywhere

nevertheless, the visit to the old kingdom _ SIGIRIYA

we saw them too

purple in colour 

blooming in the middle of lake

the colour is so bright and attractive that we can never ignore it..

Our journey reach the older old kingdom of SRI LANKA

the UNESCO site which cost us USD 30 for the entrance fee

the lion's rock

SIGIRIYA

it is a town with a large rock where ancient fortress and palace can be found

 

i would say that this was the Asia Machu piccu

rock mountain with ancient civilization

walking into the rock mountain,

the site planning of this kingdom is so amazing that

it even considered the used of the spaces for every different season

along the way, u can see steps leading us to the upper lever of the fortress

numbers of steps with vegetation around the site lead us to the lion rock

if u pay some attention to the master plan,

they did create fountain, pond and reservoir to actually cold down the area

however, most of the pond are dried up due to the drought season

the first entrance before we actually climb up to the lion rock

we can actually see how the ancient people define the meaning of 

a ENTRANCE

a GATEWAY

a THRESHOLD

where the rock a leaning to each other forming a triangular opening,

with the act of the natural lighting,

it become so holy and welcoming 

especially for us to ends our curiosity 

then u will find that there is some small little details on the rock where 

no people actually know the real meaning

but what we can do is by assuming

the dimension of the hole on the rock is sufficient enough for me 

to actually step on it and climb up to higher level.

standing on the higher level of the rock, 

i actually looking down to the entrance

and i assume that this location could be a guard house

or guard area where the guard stand here for security purposes during that era.

talking about GUARD,

along the way to the peak of the mountain, 

we actually spot the LIVING GUARDIAN of the  old kingdom,

winking on us and speak some sort of welcoming language to us i presume?

the way to the higher level of the lion's rock

with the walkway that build after century,

i was wandering, how the ancient people actually climb up to the peak?

so dangerous! so steep！

the declaration of the kingdom by having such a 

huge rock standing tall and up to sky !

finally!we reached the first station of the kingdom!

the frescoes area where the painting are painted on the wall/ ceiling

look at the details!

we could notice the frescoes are all about their

culture and living style 

most of it are painted as for the women living tere

MIRROR wall!according to our tour guide, its a wall built during that time

where the sunlight can actually reflected into the interior part,

the wall is shiny and smooth enough to reflect the light like a mirror,

previously, there are marks and signature recorded on the wall by the visitors

however, when the time we visited, it is prohibited by doing it and there is a walkway

to actually prevent us from touching it or even get close to it!

(p/s: i was actually touching the wall secretly and found out that 

the surface really well finished in texture :P)

the pathway up to the lion gate!

at the higher area which i actually glazing to the way i came along to the peak of the lion rocks

it is so windy at the higher level

perhaps due to its height which is around 3500m above sea level 

here, the LION GATE

with the so called lion paw in front of the entrance!
the most significant area of this kingdom!

and it symbolise the LIOn so much with the paw( foot)

look! what i found at that area,

the monkeys are so adorable and cute :P

their eye are so big!> <

               seem like he is trying to tell us that we should steal or take away his fruit!
they are so innocent hahah

yet naughty!hohoo

finally we reached the peak! :D

the palace of the kingdom!
we can actually forsee the whole site !
the overall view of sigiriya!

now that we know  how the king actually fight with the enemy

hmmm...

the marks! our prove to be here^^

JUMP is a must! 

but unfortunately, the palace become a ruins where there only 

the foundation left

is a empty piece of land there now...

anyway...still curious what the palace actually look like

and how the king travel here everytime? is so high~~

theres the overall view of the peak

a  HUGE swimming pool can be actually found at the ending part of the peak!

is like a huge Jacuzzi! seem like the king really enjoy alot!

the foundation that left....

sigiriya...before it was a kingdom or palace

is actually occupied by gang of monk

which make this place as a monastery

and here the space for the monk to actually mediate down there

a nature way to do meditation!

walking down and go back to the FLAT LAND

we do passed by some place and here we met something interesting which

is naturally occurred!

dont u feel it look like some kind of animal?

........

it is a cobra! 

and this is how it name as cobra rock since it look like a cobra

so literal hmmm~

LAST but not least!!
thats me :D
dada! successfully conquer the 3500m high old kingdom!：）

hope you all enjoy reading my blog :)

stay tune for my next update of Geoffrey Bawa hotel design :)