Pluckers

This was quite a sight today. Came across it while out walking. Only women pick the tea leaves here in Sri Lanka. The reason -- I'm told -- is because of their greater dexterity. The men, meanwhile, do the 'heavier' work ... weeding, pruning and other maintenance.

I also figured out today, why the tea plantations don't look quite so manicured compared to those I have seen in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. The reason, simply, is that here in Sri Lanka, all the tea is hand picked. In Malaysia, harvesting is largely automated.