Odyssey Into The Wild

Saturday, 17 May 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

‘Odyssey Into The Wild,’ penned and illustrated by Bamunu Arachchige Mahipala, an avid nature lover and Chairman of BAM Holdings was

launched amidst a distinguished gathering at Cinnamon Grand. The event, which took place on 8 May, featured a safari theme that enchanted all who graced the occasion. Decked in elements that conveyed the very essence of nature which was portrayed in the breathtaking photographs of ‘Odyssey into the Wild’, the event managed to capture the audience and take them step by step on a journey unravelling the odyssey taken by Mahipala to give a taste of what one could learn through the book. Comprising of 208 pages, the book is segmented into 20 chapters that include vivid narrations of Mahipala’s encounters with the wild, the paths taken, best times to visit, other necessary tips for those who wish to visit, and last but not least spectacular photographs depicting hard to capture moments of wild beasts. His journeys to various national parks in Sri Lanka such as Yala, Wilpattu and Uda Walawe and the various journeys beyond the borders of the country such as to national parks in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Madagascar, Canada, the United States, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, India, Rwanda and Nepal and to the South and North Poles are depicted in thrilling details and photographs taking the readers on the very same journeys from the comfort of their chairs. The penetrating stare of a tiger in India, the ramblings of a polar bear in the North Pole, the love and dedication of the Emperor Penguins in the South Pole, the majesty of the lions in Africa, birds captured in mid flight, the killer whales in the deep blue ocean and many more enthralling photographs decorate each page while imparting the importance of protecting these habitats to capture such treasured moments for the future generations as well. “The message that I’m trying to convey through Odyssey into the Wild apart from the content retained within the book is that we should realise that we all live on planet Earth,” said Mahipala, imparting his thoughts on the book. “We should not think that Earth belongs only to humans. There are animals and plants that share the same sphere and it is important that we share and have a balance. There is plenty of land in the world and it depends on how you use it.” ‘Odyssey Into The Wild’ priced at $ 59.99 or Rs. 7,800 will be available at amazon.com and leading book stores in the country. Further, a photo exhibition featuring the arresting pictures included in the book will be opened to the public from 29 May to 1 June at the National Art Gallery, Nelum Pokuna Mawatha. An auction will also take place at the exhibition where visitors can bid to take some of these precious memories home. All the proceeds from the sale of the book and the exhibition will be put forth to build a new operating theatre complex for the Homagama Base Hospital and to purchase equipment for the hospital under the Bamunu Arachchi Foundation (www.bamfd.org) headed by Mahipala. The hospital was founded by B. A. Semaneris Appuhamy, father of B.A. Mahipala, back in 1948. For further information regarding the book please visit www.odysseyintothewild.com. Stand a chance to receive a complimentary copy of the book signed by the author, a Wildlife Photo and branded Odyssey Into The Wild Caps at the raffle draw that will be held at the photo exhibition by sharing and liking the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/odysseyintothewild.