a few people from Sri Lanka

[Olivier]

We are just back from one week spent in the central part of Sri Lanka, mostly in the "cultural triangle" and the tea production are.
The country is very beautiful and offers nice and diverse landscapes, but as often, it is the connections we made with people that we enjoyed most.
I am not too naive and know some elements of the tumultuous recent history, but we have met only peaceful and charming people there. Some make a living from tourism, some don't and all were wonderfully nice and welcoming.
Here are a few portraits I made along the trip. I have very little info about them actually.

all pictures made with my X-T1 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D of Nikkor 105mm 2.5 AIS or the excellent Fuji 18-55mm kit lens.

1. Temple worker
The men helped me find my way and we chatted for a few minutes. He works in a troglodyte Buddhist temple in Badulla.  I was captivated by his amazing hair dancing in the wind. He let me make a picture before we parted.

[Olivier]

S. was our host in Sigiriya, near the Lion Rock.
He is 41 and a proud grandfather of a beautiful little girl.
He started his career as a tuk-tuk driver and roamed the country in his little vehicle before he decided to settle and build a charming little guesthouse, with only 5 rooms. He doesn't want more as he feels that this would disconnect him from his visitors, and he really likes to spend time with people and make their stay really special.
He organized with his friend a special event for us the evening of the world cup final. While it was less than comfortable and easy to follow the game, we had lots of fun with other people, it turned out to be much better than what we could have seen in a regular hotel bar.
He really bonded with my son and even let him drive his tuk-tuk the last day of our stay. Unforgettable!

2. the special host

[Olivier]

3. At the food market
The man unloads truck of fruits. He was resting and let me take one photo.

[Olivier]

4. Another temple worker
He works at Buddha's tooth temple, and plays tambourine and a kind of clarinet-sounding instrument during ceremonies.

[Olivier]

5 and 6. Public bathers

[Olivier]

7. The passing Lady
We stopped on the road to see the landscape and this woman just came walking on the other side of the road. I found her very elegant and showed me camera to her. She stopped, smiled and adjusted her sari.

[Olivier]

8. Tea plucker near Nuwara Eliya.
These Indian woman have a quite hard life, working all day in tea plantations, plucking the young leaves and carrying heavy bags.

[Olivier]

9. Tea plantation worker

[Olivier]

10. She sells coconuts near the train station in Ella

[Olivier]

11. The tea master
He was our guide when we visited a tea factory.
He was able to share his passion for the process and the product and to build a fascinating story. The visit was supposed to last 30 minutes but nobody complained when it finished more than an hour after the beginning.

[Olivier]

Let us finish with one of my favorite tourist, my daughter, in the train from Ella to Kandy. This was a marvelous and slow journey through the tea fields.

12. Julie in the Blue Train.

[Lars Hansen]

Olivier - a really interesting and enjoyable series! Wonderful portraits and stories. Thanks for sharing. 

[Bent Hjarbo]

I agree completely with Lars.
Not just the pictures, but also the story behind.
A very good pictural story.

[armando_m]

Thank you for sharing the short stories of your portrait subjects

[John Geerts]

Wonderful and intriguing portraits and their background.