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

(Jump to Sunday the 26th.) Last night the window was open to the ocean breezes and I slept soundly. I like beach-front property, I guess. Breakfast here was quick (by their standards) and we took the 3-wheel that was waiting. He brought is to:

Swami Rock and Thirukoneswarm Kovil

Kanniyai Hot Wells

For an interesting overview of these places, visit Trincomalee in Legend and History. They were interesting. We were gone over two hours and about 25 kilometers.

Upon returning, we walked up our beach to a river. It blocked our further progress, so we turned around. It's very hard to distinguish distance when walking on a long beach, but the GPS comes in handy at these times. All meals end up being at the hotel as it's convenient and reasonably priced. I took another nap. Quite the life, eh?

Labels: GPS, Sri Lanka 2004

Posted by: Dennis S Hurd / 1:03 PM 0 comments

After a jam and toast breakfast, we forked over the $40 for room and food. By 8:45 we were in a government bus on the way to Trincomalee. It was a fast ride on good road (but the seats were not quite big enough for my ample butt). We disembarked at 10:15 and had a 3-wheel driver take us to a close place to stay. We had thought of staying near town but the Chinese Guest House near the bus station was really disgusting.

Four kilometers north of town we found the French Garden Rest House. It's $US 8.00 per night and directly on the beach! I had two beers for lunch and needed a long nap. Tomorrow we'll go downtown and maybe out to a point of land where there's a famous Hindu Temple.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, temple

When we got up this morning, we had iddlie and dosa right outside of the Room #1 at the Lake View Inn. After, we paid $US 10 for the room, and yesterday's lunch and tea. We took our bags and walked to the busses across the lagoon. It wasn't until we asked around that we discovered that no long distance busses leave from there. Instead, we had to take a bus up to a junction near the police station.

It was only at this time that we discovered we'd have to change our tentative plans. Although the road looks fine on the map, no busses run up the coast to Tricomalee. We learned that we would have to backtrack through Polonnawara and Harbarana Junction. Finally a suitable bus arrived for us to jump on. Express defined the bus in name only. I don't think I've ever been in such an enclosed space with so many people. The bus was going to Colombo, but we paid only to Harbarana Junction. There was a government Rest House there, where we ate lunch. We decided that it was worth $US22 to spend the night there. We will be able to take a Trinco bus from here in the morning. There's not much of a town at Harbarana Junction. However, I did manage to buy a set of nail clippers that work well.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004

This was our last breakfast near the canal. We checked out of the hotel although my Mastercard didn't work. I think the receptionist did something wrong when trying to verify it. We then talked to the local bus station (up and around the corner) and grabbed a local bus to Kaduwalla's larger bus stand. We have decided to stray from the triangle and go to the eastern town of Batticaloa. This area was strictly off the visitor's path during the war years.

It was a long-distance bus, so we ended up sitting around for 45 mintues before it started to move. On the trip, I used my GPS, so I know we traveled 90 kilometers. Yet lest you think it was an hour's journey; I have to inform that it was more than two and a half. The road, you see, hasn't been maintained since the ethnic troubles started in the early 80's.

Upon arrival, a 3-wheel took us to the Lake View Inn. It was a short walk across a bridge which we'll walk for tomorrow's bus. We walked around town and saw that the Dutch Fort although unknown by name to the locals . . . is where many government offices still function. A second walk confirmed that this is definitely a stray puppy city. I shaved off my hair and I sort of miss my tail. As my sandals lost a strap, I thew them away for a pair of new Battas.

Labels: GPS, Sri Lanka 2004

We were up at 7:00 and ate breakfast in the room. We also had a pot of tea at the restaurant near the road. After asking, we found a 3-wheel driver for the day. First, we went directly out to Medrigiriya. It was 32 K and consisted primarily of a ruins and a circular section of pillars which used to have a roof. It was interesting to see but more so, when you consider they were placed in those positions 1200 or 1300 years ago. What workmanship!

What will any of us do that will remain intact and remembered so many years from now?

We went back at noon and had a leisurely lunch at the hotel. At 3:00 pm we did the official ancient Polonnaruwa tour. The site covered acres and acres and I was amazed by a big dagaba as well as the famous carved image of the reclining Buddha. Rain teased us at 5:15 when we finished.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004

We ate breakfast at 7:30 am and directly walked to the Rock Temple again. After paying this time, the hike up the hill paid off at the entrance to the caves. It was far too special a place not to have religious significance.

After we walked back to the hotel and too a 3-wheel to catch a bus to Polonnarawa. It was only an hour and a half; however, the bus was full and we had to stand more than half the trip.

We waited for a long time for lunch at our new place, the Gagaba Hotel. Yet finally there is a TV in the lounge! We napped. We're right next to the outlet for a huge irrigation-project lake. The area is still in a serious drought and the water level is very low.

Avoiding a 3-wheel, we took local busses to see New Town (a flop) and Kaduwalla city. We bought breakfast rolls from a bakery and ate dinner at a place close to the canal. The owners are a talkative couple and the lady even brought out pictures of her nursing-school daughter.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, temple

Jay slept under mosquito net; but I didn't want any claustrophobia-inducing covering over my head! We got up and had a nice breakfast in the hotel. We wanted to travel so the hotel called for a tuk-tuk.

A boy in a 3-wheel arrived promptly and we were on the road to Sigiriya by 7:50 am. It was 19 kilometres away. Phew, what a climb! It's a serious hike and not for those who are afraid of heights. It took around 1.5 hours to climb, view, and descend. What an amazing place to put a king's palace! On the way up, it's possible to view the famous Sigiriya Girls in the frescos.

Then, as my cultural triangle ticket book had ones --- we went to Ritigala. It's an ancient Buddhist monastery located partway up the highest mountain in the district. The road there was much further than expected. The way was partly bad tar and, the rest, washboard dirt! We gave RS 300 for a guide who walked with us up a fantastic ancient sidewalk. The stones were so precise that it puts to shame most modern construction. Coming back we ate and the 18-year old 3-wheel driver was surprised that we offered him a free, late lunch too. We made it back to the hotel a total of 105 K later and at around 3:45 pm.

This has been a very memorable day!

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004