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WHO COMES?
The Folly has a colourful history.. Playing
host to many celebrities..Whose pictures together
with family members line the walls , amongst them
are Vivian Leigh , Peter Finch , Sir Laurence
Olivier , David Lean , William Holden , Gregory
Peck , Win Min Than, Sir Alec Guinness , Zandra
Rhodes, Paula Yates , Andrew Logan , Mahatma
Ghandi , Nehru , Indira Ghandi..
Kelly Jones of The ‘Stereophonics’ who was inspired
to write the single ‘Madam Helga’…
Many of our celebrity guests come ‘incognito’
…escaping the ‘gold fish bowl’ that hounds
them , and we respect this. the folly is their home
in Sri Lanka ,as s it is to so many others…
We can store your valises, have your clothes
cleaned, and aired for your arrival . You need just
your passport . A couple of our guests find this
facility very pleasing…
MOTHER Esme
De Silva...Artist...Designer of the original house
in the 30's...
Esme whilst visiting her father's friends Herr and
Frau Arnold Busch , one of the Kaisers last Court
painters and nephew of Wilhelm Bush in Berlin.
Esme was inspired to paint under Arnold Busch's
tutelage , and went on to join the Slade School of
Art in London much against her parents wishes. At
the age of 19 she 'donned' the 'robe' to receive her
first class Diploma in Fine Arts..from the
University of London ..Signed by the late Sir Henry
Tonks amongst others.Esme was summoned back and
married..to
FATHER.. His Excellency Edmond
Frederick Lorenz De Silva
“Dashing Ed mond Frederick . Lorenz De
Silva' who wore many hats.Politician , Member of
Parliament..Barrister..60's Ambassador to Paris
France ..and Switzerland ...writer and Chancellor of
the University of Peradeniya in Kandy.Helga’s
parents she says grounded her and ”My brother and I
were very lucky ". A far cry from today when
children blame all ills on parents…
GRANDFATHER.. The
Hon George Edmond De Silva
Frederick was the son of George De Silva , whose
statue was erected by the people of Kandy , in
grateful remembrance of their Elected Member of The
Legislative Council , State Council , Minister of
Power , Health and Fisheries in the First War
Cabinet....and was credited to helping secure
Independence for Ceylon...together with his son
Frederick and wife Agnes Nell De Silva..
GRANDMOTHER Agnes Nell
...
Credited for fighting for women's
rights...COURTESY of 'George De Silva' by Jane
Russell
Agnes together with her stunning looks was also
credited for fighting for women’s rights..'Casting
Pearls' by Malathi De Alwis ad Kumar i Jayawardene
gives an interesting insight into the movement of
Universal Suffrage...'Agne's Nell's grandfather came
to Ceylon from Nell Straits in South Africa. having
taken part in a dual which at the time had been
outlawed..' Courtesy of: 'Frederick Nell and his
Heirs'.
'Agne's Nell ..loyal wife of George De Silva..made
East and West truly meet...A true Sion of the Nell
family..Her illustrious uncles..famed Charles
Ambrose Lorenz [born in Matara on the 8th day of
July 1829..The famed towering genius Andreas
Nell..The antiquarian and philanthropist..Agnes'es
father Paul Nell the inventor of the double action
tea roller in 1900 which was manufactured in Belfast
..
AUNT
Marcia de Silva de Vigier...Authoress,Helped
with 'MARG' magazine,India.
Agnes'es eldest daughter Marcia De Silva De
Vigier [elder sister to Helga's father Fred]
married the Irish poet LT-Commander Robert
Nicholl-Cadell R.N , who was reported missing on
Active Service 1942..Marcia then went on to marry
the scientist Phillip de Vigier...and wrote under
her name...Her books include 'The Life and Times of
The Lord Buddha'.'.Christine de Pisa...Autobiography
of a Medieval Woman 1363-1430'..'This Moste High
Prince John of Gaunt' amongst others....
AUNT
Minnette de Siva ...Credited as being one of the
first Women Architects of the East...
Agnes'es younger daughter Minnette de
Silva [younger sister to Fred, Helga's father] was
"One of the first Woman Architects of the East" and
was awarded the 'Gold Medal' on the 15th February
1996..in recognition of her contribution to
architecture...
A pupil of Le Corbusier who was involved in
Chandigarh the new capital of the Punjab in
India..Pictures of Le Corbusier and Minnette ..hang
on the walls together with her and Picasso.. A
newspaper cutting in her memoirs 'Life and Work of
An Asian Woman Architect' reads "Minnette has become
an Associate of the Royal Institute of British
Architects,and is the first Eastern woman to do
so.."
Another clipping at the Folly shows Minnette being
awarded 'The officer ship of Arts and Letters' by
the French government...The cutting reads "as the
French Ambassadress puts it at an award
ceremony..."Her buildings sing..and belong to a rare
few who do so"...."The Life and Work of An Asian
Woman Architect" by Minnette .. makes
for interesting reading....
WHO
is HELGA de Silva Blow Perera?
"COURTESY of 'Living in Sri Lanka' James
Fennell and Turtle Bunbury Thames and Hudson. "Helga
the owner decorated the house in a whimsical
tropical theme.." "emphasizes whimsy of life,
reflecting Helga's preference to juxtapose and mix
the pedigrees"..."she grew up in a world of colonial
tea pots, Hollywood gossip and Marxist revolutions"
Kelly
Jones, lead singer of the 'Strereophonics' was
inspired to write the single ' Madam Helga' whilst
staying there.
Helga was almost born in the house..
WHO was Jonathan Oliver
Tollemache Blow?
Helga married Jonathan Oliver
Tollemache Blow at the High Alter of St Pauls
Cathedral London at the age of 17. ...Jonathan was
the younger son of Detmar Blow descendant of the
16th century composer John Blow...who saved his neck
by composing the Coronation Anthem for King William
and Queen Mary and who lies buried in Westminster
Cathedral London... and Winifred Tollemache of
Helmingham Hall in Suffolk England...
Jonathan and Helga had three children ...eldest son
Detmar Blow the art gallery owner 35 Heddon street
off Piccadilly London
W.1...E :Detmar @blowdelabarra..
WHO is Detmar Blow? Son married to Isabella Blow the
late famed talent spotter
WHO is Amaury Blow? Son.. the designer of
buildings...
WHO is Selina Blow? Daughter.. The fashion
designer.. 1 Ellis Street off Sloane St .. London S.W 1.. Selina has two children..Augustus and
Violet..
Helga's marriage of 15 and a half years ended with
Jonathan's tragic death .....
WHO is Desmond Perera?
Helga 's husband and owner of 'Agarsland'
..One of the oldest tea estates in old Ceylon
...which is open to 'Helga's Folly' guests... [H.F.Travels...
interesting history here] Desmond transformed old
methods to modern efficiency creating one of the
finest tea estates in Sri Lanka..."Every one should
have a Desmond in their lives"..says Helga..
WHO
is brother Sir Desmond de
Silva Q.C.?
Described in the press as 'the Scarlet Pimpernel of
the Bar' and is credited to many high profile
cases.. many of the newspaper clippings hang on
the walls… Knighted [Knight Batchelor] by Queen
Elizabeth 11...when he was appointed by Kofi Annan
to bring war criminals to justice"..Desmond married
Her Royal Highness Princess Katerina of Yugoslavia
in 1992....They have a daughter Victoria..
HISTORY OF SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka’s
civilization goes back well over 2,500 years. The
majority of whom are Sinhalese & are descendants of
the Aryan tribes that first came from North India
around 500 BC and settled in the dry north-central
provinces.
3rd-12th
centaury. Anuradhapura & Polonnaruwa in particular
was noted for its ingenious construction of water
tanks (reservoirs) and irrigation channels and its
patronage of Buddhism, which was brought over from
India by Mihindu Thero in 307BC
KANDY. The last
bastion of the Sinhala Kings houses the tooth relic
of Lord Buddha in the Maligawa.(Temple of The
Tooth),which was brought over from India by Princess
Hemamala & Prince Dhantha in 4th
Century AD.
1505. Arrival of
Portuguese spice traders and colonizers who ruled
for 300 years.
1656. Arrival of
the Dutch & the start of the Dutch East India
Company in Ceylon.
1796 Arrival of
the English. Although the coastal belt, was taken,
Kandy remained the last bastion of the Sinhala kings
until 1815, when treacherous actions by the kings
ministers led to the fall of the Kandyan kingdom &
the signing of the Kandyan convention in 1815.
1948. Ceylon won
her independence peacefully from the English.
1972 Ceylon
changed her name to Sri Lanka.
Coffee came
around 1823, then, tea in 1860(after the coffee
blight in 1860). Rubber and coconut plantations,
worked by Tamil labourers from South India, sprang
up.
Ethnic
Conflict
With the signing
of a bilateral ceasefire agreement in February 2002,
the ethnic conflict in the northeastern areas which
were formerly out of bounds to tourists has been
re-opened.
FOOD
The staple food
is 'rice and curry’. Needs no explanation!
TAPWATER(here too same applies)
Should be
avoided. Bottled water is available in shops and
most hotels.
Arrack the
distilled essence of the fermenting sap of the
coconut flower is the local drink! You may see large
black pots high up in the coconut trees, being used
to collect the basic ingredient, 'toddy'. Drink
arrack neat, on the rocks, with coca cola, ginger
ale or served with gin,’ .For a luscious cocktail
try Helga’s Folly special’, which is fairly
intoxicating, but - oddly - does not take long to
sober up! The local beer is excellent,& Helga’s
Folly has an interesting wine list .
HOLIDAYS 72 DAYS IN ALL.
All-important
Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and national
festivals are all celebrated.
Every full moon (Poya
day) is a Buddhist holiday. Public places of
entertainment and most shops are closed. You will be
unable to get alcohol as all bars are closed.
FESTVALS
January
Duruthu Perahera
Held on Poya day
(Full moon day) in January at the Kelaniya Temple in
Colombo and second in importance to the huge Kandy
Perahera in July/August, this festival celebrates a
visit to Sri Lanka by Buddha.
February
National Day
4th February sees
Sri Lanka celebrate independence and features
parades, dancers, and national games all over the
country.
Navaam
On the February
Poya Day the Navaam perahera involving about 50
elephants is held around Viharamahadevi Park and
Beira Lake in Colombo.
April
Madin
Sinhala and Tamil New year falls in mid April is
celebrated by the Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil
Hindus. Most shops and markets are closed for almost
a week.
May
Vesak
Commemorating the
birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha this 2-day
festival (Poya Day and the day following) sees
villages decorated with huge pandols and panels
showing the life of Buddha. Paper lanterns and oil
lamps are lit around the island and puppet shows and
open-air theatres take place. The Adam's Peak
pilgrimages ends at this time.
June
Poson Poya
This full moon
day celebrates of the arrival of Buddhism to Sri
Lanka by Asoka's son, Mahinda. Anuradhapura and
Mihintale, where Mahinda met and converted the
Sinhalese king Tissa. Thousands of white clad
pilgrims climb the stairs to the summit of Mihintale
to celebrate the occasion.
JULY/AUGUST
(Depending on the
Esala moon).Esala Perahera in Kandy. The most
important festival of the year, extending over 10
days, climaxing on the Esala full moon. This is the
most spectacular pageant in Sri Lanka when elephants
extravagantly dressed, temple chieftains, Kandyan
dancers, fire walkers & spinning plates- honors the
Sacred Tooth Relic of the Golden Temple ( Maligawa
in Kandy,which is around the Kandy lake.). The
biggest parades are during the final 3 days.
Helga’s Folly is
a short stroll away from the parades,& overlooks the
lake, Maligawa & city of Kandy.A very busy time for
us.
Hindu Vel
Held in Colombo,
the gilded chariot of Skanda, the God of war,
complete with his 'vel' (trident) is ceremoniously
hauled from a temple in Sea St., Pettah to another
at Bambalapitiya.
Kataragama – Down
south.
Hindu devotees
put themselves through a whole rangeof ritual
masochism. Some thrust skewers through their tongues
and cheeks, others tow heavy carts or suspend
weights from hooks piercing their skin. The grand
finale is the fire walking ceremonies, as the
devotees prance barefoot across beds of red-hot
embers.
October/November
Deepavali
In late
October/November the Hindu festival of lights takes
place. Thousands of flickering oil lamps celebrate
the triumph of good over evil and the return of Rama,
after his period of exile, and welcomes Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth.
December
Adam's Peak
Pilgrimage season
to climb Adam's Peak starts during this period.
CHILDREN
Srilankan people
love them,& responsible babysitting services is
available at the Folly.
HEALTH-Pre DEPARTURE
Check polio,
tetanus, typhoid , Hepatitus A, anti-malaria
medication with your local GP or International
Medical Centre. Malaria is in very small jungle
areas only, and haphazard in its presence.
Citronella oil is the best repellant and Helga’s
Folly provides this to all her guests.
TO BRING
Antibiotics,
diarrhea “blockers”, antiseptic cream or insect
sting relief, lip balm, sunscreen, Tampax
(unavailable).
Narcotics – Drugs
are illegal in Sri Lanka.
HOSPITALS
There are good
private hospitals around most of the country. Major
towns have well stocked pharmacies with qualified
English speaking staff. Doctors’ prescriptions are
not always needed.
There are also
many good herbal medicines, & auyvedic doctors
around.
TIPPING is
always’ welcome! Most hotels & restaurants add a
service charge to the bill, however if you feel that
you would like to pay any extra that is up to you,&
will be most welcome!
Touts,& guides
may be a nuisance but if accepting a service’
remember’ that they have to make a living,& will
receive a commission from the shop/restaurant/hotel
to which they lead you to.
Helga’s Folly
does NOT give commissions; hence you may find
‘difficulties’ getting here!
PHOTOGRAPHS & CUSTOMS
Do not pose in
front of or beside a religious statue, it is
disrespectful.
Do not photograph
(or attempt to shake hands with) a Buddhist Monk (in
orange robes) or a Muslim family (especially the
women).’Our’ way is ‘hands together as if in
prayer’.
GIFTS
(Giving or
receiving - When gifts are received it is very
impolite to open them at the time.
Blowing your nose
in public is considered rude.
WHAT TO BRING & WEAR
Cotton clothes.
Swimming gear. Sweater or shawl for the mountains.
Pair of walking shoes & some socks (useful for
visiting temples). Cotton clothing can be bought
cheaply in the island. Something special to wear in
the evenings, or have something fun made up here.
RELIGIOUS SITES
Women should
cover their shoulders and legs. All visitors to
Buddhist & Hindu temples should remove shoes & hats.
You may be asked to make a donation- if you chose
to. Put it into the donation box.
VISA/TRAVEL
It is recommended
that you safely carry your passport at all times and
ensure that it is valid for 6-months beyond the date
of travel. A visa valid for 30 days is issued on
arrival at no cost for travelers from Europe, USA,
Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. These can
be extended for a fee in Colombo at the Visa Council
next to Majestic City (photographs sometimes
required).
INSURANCE
A policy to cover
theft, loss and medical issues is a good idea. You
may also wish to check out cover for activities such
as diving, white water rafting, cycling or any
activities that you may choose to do.
DRIVING LICENSE
International
driving license is valid for only 3 months and must
be obtained in your home country. To extend it to
Sri Lankan travel, you must attend the RAC office in
Central Colombo. You will require 2 photographs.
JUST IN CASE!
It is a good idea
to photocopy all relevant documents - passport,
travel, insurance policy etc., and leave one copy at
home. Carry another copy with you separate from the
originals.
SHOPS IN KANDY
ANTIQUES
Waruna Jayasinghe,
761 Peradeniya Road, Kandy. Tel: 081 4 470925
BOOKSHOPS
Vijitha Yapa,
Kotugodalla Veediya, Kandy
Lake House
Bookshop, Kotugodalla Veediya, Kandy.
M.D. Gunasena,
Yatinuwara Veediya, Kandy.
There are stores
in Colombo where you can buy ‘ready to wear’
designer clothes at a fraction of their price in
Europe.
OdelsUnlimited, 5
Alexandra Place, Colombo 7
Barefoot, 704
Galle road, Colombo 3
Paradise Road
Gallery, 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 3
Cotton
Collections, 26 Flower Road Colombo 7.
Arena, 338 Darley
Road, Colombo 10
Sri Lanka is the
home to many beautiful gems, sapphires, rubies,
aquamarine, moonstone, garnets and topaz.Diamonds
are usually imported. There is a Gem testing center
in Galle (310 Galle Road, Kollupitya).
Although the
tourist rate is probably higher than the local rate,
compared to ‘costume jewellery’in Europe it is still
very cheap.
Telephone Country
code is 94, outgoing International code :00.
Fax: Available in
most hotel receptions
Internet: There
is a growing number of internet cafés and hotels
with Internet facilities.
Post: Airmail to
Europe takes about 7 days
Electricity :
230-240 V AC, 50Hz. A voltage stabilizer is
obtainable from a good electrical store.
The local
currency is Sri Lankan Rupees. Currency can be
exchanged in Sri Lanka only so you would be best to
bring sterling, US dollars or euros. Travelers
cheques are received but the commission can be
higher.
The banks are
open Mon - Fri 8am - 3pm and closed at the weekends
and Poya Days. The main banks are Bank of Ceylon,
HSBC, Peoples, Hatton national and Commercial.
Credit cards (Mastercard,
Visa ) are commonly accepted in hotels and
restaurants and many shops, but do check first. Cash
points are in most major towns but careful as they
attract a lot of beggars.
GUIDES
Guides are best
hired at the sightseeing destination. They are very
knowledgeable on their given subject. Most English
speaking drivers will have a general knowledge as
you travel about. |
