Flame of the forest would come in to flower around mid
Flame of the forest would come in to flower around mid-April & the flowering season could stretch till early June. Its name itself describes this tree very well. This does look like the flame in the forest & stands out in the wet evergreen vegetation.
Depending on soil conditions, the flowers can vary in colour from pale scarlet and almost orange to deep russets and vermilion. Beneath the trees become thickly carpeted with fine red petals for weeks. The trees take about 10 years to mature into attractive flowering specimens.
In a few weeks, one could spot this beautiful tree in Sri Lanka very easily as this a common tree in the wet zone. Imagine having a king[Bright orange] coconut under the red carpet.
The Heritage Hotel in Anuradhapura
This modern hotel in Anuradhapura offers affordable accommodation from which to visit the ancient Sri Lankan city and the neighbouring Willpattu Wildlife Park.
The hotel is relatively new having only opened in 2009. It is actually located within the heart of Anuradhapura. All the hotel rooms (of which there are fifty) are comfortably furnished and there is a very nice pool to relax by.
The Good Karma Hospital
The Good Karma Hospital is now in Series 2. The story is an uplifting drama that’s captured the hearts of the nation as well as providing us with some tropical sunshine! It is the story of Ruby Walker, a junior doctor who is looking to begin a new chapter of her life following a heartbreaking end to her relationship. The UK resident heads over to a new Indian community, where she does her best to blend in. It stars Amanda Redman, Neil Morrissey, Amrita Acharia and James Floyd.
It is actually set in the southern Indian state of Kerala, however due to the monsoons in that area, the producers decided to film in Sri Sri Lanka instead, in particular Unawatuna (in the Galle area) known for its coral reef and palm-lined coast. This has a similar landscape to Kerala in terms of its tropical forests, coastline and tea plantations.
Behind Unawatuna beach there is a teacher training college which forms the set of the hospital which features in the series.
The filming locations of The Good Karma Hospital have been slightly extended for Series Two. Two episodes have been filmed at a tea plantation in Wilehena – an hour’s drive east of Unawatuna. It is here that Dr Ruby Walker will get in touch with her roots at an outreach clinic.
Koggala Lake, a half hour from Unawatuna will also feature when the characters pitch up in an Keralan house boat.
Koggala was significantly affected by the 2004 India ocean tsunami where the waters measured 31ft high.
