Category: Sri Lanka

No real theme or narrative today, so just some nice photos.

So let’s start with Buddha – no, we didn’t detour to Las Vegas, but this one wouldn’t look out of place there.

Actually the four cave temples at Dambulla.

Luckily only about 800 steps rather than the 1200, but you do have to be fit and determined to make these pilgrimages.

Then off to Kandy, a couple of hours away.  Stopped for lunch with a very nice view.

Then on to Kandy and start with a walk round the lake.  

.. to prove we were there.

And off to see the temple where the Buddha’s tooth is currently held.  Too much to go into here, so do look up if interested.  It’s a public holiday weekend in Sri Lanka, so it was packed with locals.

Including this lovely large family who we took a shine to and they excitedly allowed us to take their photo.

Visitors take offerings to Buddha, so some very colourful market stalls nearby.

Then on to a terrific dance show.

Including fire- walking..

Then a rather wonderful sunset over Kandy.

Little bit of a break tomorrow – if things go to plan, most of the day by the pool.

We’re going on an elephant hunt.  Do you think we’ll find any?

THEY’RE BEHIND YOU!!!!

So they are.  Into one of the National Parks where they roam free (and part of the entrance fee is used to compensate farmers when the elephants find their crops).

And we saw hundreds, so here are a few of the many photos today that followed the elephant theme.

This one is well known to the drivers – he is a bit mischievous and chases jeeps which wouldn’t be fun.  He stared at us briefly but turned his attention elsewhere.

Here we are with Sam, our guide.

And here’s our jeep and driver.

First of all it was dark when we checked in, so here is where we are staying – spacious ground floor and have used the pool.

So today is an early start to see Sigiriya – again worth checking out as it has an amazing history.  Anyway, only 1200 steps to the remains of the King’s Palace at the top.  It isn’t great for photos, but we were very very pleased it was cloudy.

Couple of bits we especially liked.  If you look at the bottom of this Boulder it is actually on pillars – ready to be levered off and rolled down the hill if attacked, although it was never used.

The right hand side is the foundations of the King’s court – amazingly it was sliced off the cliff on the left and then built on.

This is taken from about 3/4 of the way up and you can see the final climb to the top.

Proof that one of us made it, and note two final steps added to the 1200.

And finally the view from the top of the Water Gardens and a Buddha (white near the top and

modern).

Sam knew we had a busy day in store, so collected us at 7.30.  Not before we got the chance to actually see where we were staying.  It wasn’t in the jungle but felt like it to us.  Obviously you can’t see that it was already very warm, and the wildlife noisy.

And so to a quick 3-4 hours in Anuradhapura.  Now this is a blog, so you will have to do your own research (just like Eileen did and I didn’t!) to find some of it is over 2000 years old, it holds the record for the longest unbroken status as a capital city, and it’s stupa was third in size of buildings behind the Great Pyramids etc etc and I’d never heard of it.

Stupa

Moonstone

Another stupa

And then off in the car for a couple of hours.  Stopped off for a fabulous Sri Lankan curry (although neither of us chose the “Dynamite” option).  Anyway, we’ve had some great views at lunch in the past, so here’s today – a Monitor Lizrd which was huge but reasonably friendly.

And rather than a visitor’s book, they invite you to feedback Onthe wall, so we did.

Then off for another 3 hours at Pollonnaruva.

Ruins had been forgotten about and covered up by the jungle for 600years.  I some ways it felt like Pompeii – different continent, 1000s of yeRs apart and so on, but it worked for me!

And don’t forget Buddha.  Think we took our shoes off 6 or 7 times during the day – it’s everywhere, and S today is a Public Holiday the locals were out I force at the temples.

And finally, we found a friend.  They’re everywhere.

So let’s start with the luxury.  We all know that there is a determined effort to spend Jo’s inheritance.

So limousine (not pictured as it was dark, but you know what I mean).

Then the lounge at Heathrow

Then lots of space 

… and legroom!

It was a 10 hour night flight and we didn’t do too badly.  Then met our guide for the fortnight – Sam.

Then the unalienness started.  We had no real idea what to expect – apart from a 4 hour drive to Arunadhapura – more details tomorrow.  Actually the drive was really good – saw lots of small towns and villages, and even nodded off a couple of times.

But here is a scene through the windscreen – driving on the left and extremely good roads, grey sky and raining!  Could be at home.

Couple of clues for us though:

1.  It’s very hot – 30+ and this was a sharp shower

2.  Most of the trees by the roadside are coconut.

Anyway, just arrived at our fabulous guest house for the night, but it’s dark so no piccies  – we’re 5.5 hours ahead by the way.  And just had a superb home-cooked Sri Lankan curry so all good.