A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

(Jump to Sunday the 19th.) We got up before expected. The lady who was running the place had said we could have breakfast around 8:00 am. As she wasn't there, we walked back to down and ate at the Devon. We had a traditional, string hopper breakfast for the equivalent of $US 1. Then we walked back to the temple to purchase my Cultural Triangle ticket for SR 3315. It will allow me to visit the cultural sites and historical capitals of Sri Lanka without paying admission at each one. We walked to find a 3-wheel driver. He took us up to the enormous Buddah on the mountaintop. He waited for us, took us back to our guesthouse so we could get our bags, and then took us to the intercity bus station area. We left Kandy at 10:00 and got to Dambula (WGS84: N07`52.453 E080`39.063) at a bit before noon.

A 3-wheel driver brought us to the SunRay Inn on the main road. After lunch and beer in their restaurant, we walked up the road and were surprised that we were near the Cave or Rock Temple of Dambulla (WGS84: N07`51.387 E080`38.915). We hiked up the hill without buying a ticket! It was difficult to see that one was needed. I did take some good pictures though. We can go up later. After napping, we bought dinner from a bakery again. It's getting dark and there are some bats flying by. This might be the first time we need to break open the mosquito spray . . .

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, temple

We did manage to get rolling at 8:00. We retraced some of the route to our previous trip to the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage. We stopped at a temple before heading into Kandy. We parked right at the Temple of the Tooth (WGS84: N07`17.580 E080`38.468). I had to rent a sarong as I only had on shorts and it's impolite to enter with legs showing. This particular temple is highly revered. The tooth relic of Buddha is there. This is also a tourist city for both locals and foreigners. We walked to a downtown restaurant for lunch.

Jay and I will not be returning with the others. We will begin a trip from here and although we have maps we do not know exactly where we'll head next. It's wonderful to be able to travel this way, letting circumstances dictate the path of our journey.

The whole gang helped to get us a room. We drove to the other side of the lake looking for a guest house or hotel for our first night. One from our list was very far up the hillside, and unfortunately, full. When driving back down, a 3-wheel driver was very happy to show us one. We had a choice and went for an ordinary but nice basic room for SR 700.

The family left to return home.

Our arrangement was like a bed and breakfast. We walked downtown to a bakery and brought short eats for dinner in the evening. There was no TV, so we went to bed rather early.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, temple

We returned to Minuwangoda this morning. Bobbie, Lal's youngest sister came too. We travelled again by van and happened, by chance, to see another of Lal's sisters and friend and dropped them off in Borella. There were 17 children in his family! Lal is lavish and bought string hoppers for dinner; I think he ordered 400!

The GPS worked well as a means of measurement on the highway. It was exactly 42K from house to house. The fast speed we managed on the major highway was about 50 KPH. I had copied over some old analog tapes of pervious visits to Sri Lanka on my new digital camcorder. It was fun for everyone to watch how different we looked in 1991. Jay's dad likes to tip one back and was waiting for Lal and I to arrive!

We were again promptly in bed at 10:00 so we'll be able to get an early start on our departure to Kandy tomorrow morning.

Labels: GPS, Sri Lanka 2004

Today, the major event was visiting a monk. This particular monk had helped the family a lot during the sickness of Jay's mother. Actually, the one year memorial of her death will occur next month. Buddhist monks here live by donations. As is customary we brought a new towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, milk powder, and a pen. The "audience" lasted a half hour and were were served tea and food. The van had been late in picking us up (10:50 am rather than the scheduled 10:30 am). So were weren't very hungry. Yet, there was a pet rooster which seems to thoroughly enjoy the cheese sandwich we threw.

In the evening, after an afternoon nap, we checked email at a close Internet Cafe. There are advantages of living in the city!

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, temple

Considering the end of the last entry, I was NOT totally out of sorts today.

At 9:30 a van came and took us to the zoo. Colombo has an excellent zoo considered on the best in Asia. I took lots of pictures including those of the capybara --- the wild, pony-sized, South American hamster. I mentioned those one on my blog, I think. They also have an elephant show and although the beast have to do some embarrassing tricks, I suppose they're happier than some other beast of burden. It's an amazing zoo really. The tropical setting seems like a perfect environment. The penguins did have to have air conditioning though. We waited to watch a sea lion show too. We go home at 6:00 pm on the dot.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004

It's a bit hotter there as there's no jungle like there is near Jay's house. There was a big shower last night, although I think it make things more humid than cool. Today was shopping day. The sisters, Jay and I travelled to Fashion House, Majestic City Mall, Fashion Bug, and French Corner. Now being fashionable seems to be very important. I got two pairs of shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Oh, and I got a bottle of Black Knight cologne, a travel-sized bottle of shampoo, and baby powder to cut down on the sheen of my face in this weather.

Lal ordered from Pizza Hut and there was one seafood pizza just for me. I'm treated so royally! After, he and I drank an entire bottle of Arak and by all indications, three of those double-sized beers.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004

This morning Jay's younger sister, Jay and I travelled to Nugegoda (WGS84: N06`52.411 E079`53.464). That's where his elder sister and brother-in-law live. We left the house at 9:30. At the Minuwangoda bus station we boarded an a/c Colombo bus. It was cool and comfortable. After a long ride, we disembarked at a junction and caught a local bus. We bought two folding umbrellas, and then we took a three-wheeler directly to their house (WGS84: N06`52.374 E079`54.103). We arrived at 12:05 pm but the journey was really only 38K.

We had a big meal which was preceded by a some VSOA for Lal and me. VSOA is Very Special Old Arak and it's distilled alcohol made from coconut toddy.

At 3:15 pm, a van came to take us (and one of Lal's sister and neice) to the Galle Face Road. That is Colombo's waterfront area. It was host to an annual Kite Festival. Hundreds of kites and thousands of people were there. It was beautiful weather and most everybody even managed to wade into the surf. We came back after 7:00 pm, ate hoppers and chipathi, and went to bed before 10:00 pm.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004