Sri Lankan Male: Of Poets & Athletes

The photography presented at DesignLDG is nothing less than poetic. In the image presented here, the photographer draws on the words of an ancient Persian poet:

I searched for God among the Christians and on the Cross and therein I found Him not.

I went into the ancient temples of idolatry; no trace of Him was there.

I entered the mountain cave of Hira and then went as far as Qandhar but God I found not.

With set purpose I fared to the summit of Mount Caucasus and found there only 'anqa's habitation.

Then I directed my search to the Kaaba, the resort of old and young; God was not there even.

Turning to philosophy I inquired about him from ibn Sina but found Him not within his range.

I fared then to the scene of the Prophet's experience of a great divine manifestation only a "two bow-lengths' distance from him" but God was not there even in that exalted court.

Becoming Lord Hanuman
Finally, I looked into my own heart and there I saw Him; He was nowhere else.

Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, known as Jelaluddin Rumi,
Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and mystic, 1207–1273.

Those words say a lot and speak so poetically. I hesitate to comment on them, but while maybe not an especially profound notion--God resides within the heart--the way it is expressed here is so artistic. The accompanying photos of Laurent G are similarly inspiring.

Vanity

What about when the focus is not on God within us, but on just ourselves in that narcissistic sense?

The inventions of the camera phone and Facebook have made it possible to peer voyeuristically at these myopic expressions of vanity.

It also means that the media do not determine who gets exposed. So today like never before, the beauty of the south Asian male is here for all to admire.

This Indian-Malaysian youth (above) has a lot to show off on his Facebook pages, as does this bodybuilder Facebook friend (below) from Bangladesh.

Closer to home, a friend from India tries to capture his best form.
The moment is fleeting but the image lives on.

Poetry in Motion

An apt description often applied to sports photography. The Sri Lankan Air Force features some of its athletes on its website.

Cycling is, in my opinion, the perfect sport for Sri Lanka.

It is suitable to the tropical climate.

It is not necessarily an expensive sport; you don't have to have the most sophisticated cycle to get fit and have fun.

Many roads run through hills and along coasts with light traffic and small shops spaced strategically enough to get food or drink when needed.

Best of all, one can take in Sri Lanka's beautiful lush scenery, enjoy the fresh air and wave at smiling pedestrians.

(Ok, there are also the swerving buses and tuk-tuks belting out black smoke, but it is all part of an authentic Sri Lankan experience.)

If you are a younger Sri Lankan male, then few sports would better match your naturally slender, toned physique than cycling or swimming. Agility and poise, ease of movement and speed--these are the Sri Lankan cyclist's forte.

Tourists can do it too. In my more adventurous days I rode my cycle right up to the check-in counter at Dubai's Terminal 2, presented it in a cycle bag, rolled it out of the arrivals lounge at Colombo airport, hopped on and rode the 10 km to Ja'ela where I was staying.

My riding in-country was between Ja'ela and Colombo, about 20 km.

Climate was great, people met along the way as well, but road conditions in the urban and suburban areas were just short of perilous.

That said, it is the best way to experience Sri Lanka once away from the main routes.

<< An experienced cyclists relates his journeys.

On the return, I cycled through the rain back to Colombo airport, arrived at a sunny Dubai, cycled over Dubai's slick thoroughfares and bridges to the main bus terminal and packed the cycle into the belly of an intercity bus for the final leg to Abu Dhabi.

That was a do-it-myself adventure which required little more than a light but sturdy cycle and a bag to carry it in. It helps to have a bike without too many gears or other fancy features. The worse hassle one may face is at the airport. So bicycle and carrying bag or case may need to meet airline specifications.

Sri Lankans seem to cycle out of necessity or in competition, like these Air Force men--read about it here. They don't, however, seem to cycle enough for just fitness or recreation.

All lined up and ready to go.

Caveat: There are tour companies ready to arrange the perfect cycling trip, but the $500 to $1000+ packages they offer beg the question. The spirit of cycling is to see and experience a place in a more authentic manner. It ought not be part of a package and it ought not cost big bucks!

More from the Air Force

Bodybuilding takes center stage.

The Sri Lanka Air Force Bodybuilding Pool Gold Medal Winners

(From left) S. D. D. Jayasinghe, Light Fly Weight; R. L. C. Fonseka, Welter Weight; K. S. Nandan, Fly Weight; D. C. D. Dissanayake, Light Heavyweight; W. M. Suneth (centre), Light Weight and Overall Champion; S. L. Sisira Kumara, Middle Weight; W. N. S. Livera, Bantam Weight; W. D. R. S. Silva, Light Weight (bronze medal); W. S. S. Priyakostha, Junior Mr. Sri Lanka (under 21 years). Pic: Sri Lanka Air Force

The Sri Lanka Air Force Bodybuilding Pool is hardly two months old and it is already flying high – making a clean sweep (almost) of golds at its debut public appearance, and generally wowing the local bodybuilding scene with an awesome display of collective muscle.

The airmen stole the show at the recent 55th National Bodybuilding Championships, held at the Trinity College Hall, Kandy, bagging eight out of nine gold medals, as well as picking up a silver and a bronze.

Thanks to a group of enthusiastic, sporty-minded officers, inspired by Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilake, a famed sportsman himself, the SLAF is making a bodybuilding comeback after a break of more than 20 years.
Read more...

Relish the poses.

Celebrate the wins!

More Bodybuilders at Sri Lankan Male

Photos appearing in this SLM post are from the links indicated and may have been digitally altered. Others are SLM original images with no restrictions placed on their use. A courtesy link or reference to the Sri Lankan Male blog is requested, however, when posting or publishing these images elsewhere.

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Labels: bodybuilders, cycling, poetry, sports