Day 2 – Negombo to Anuradhupara
After a breakfast of coffee, chicken curry and milk rice (sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and served in chunks), we loaded up to head to Anuradhupara, one of the ancient cities.
On route we stopped at The Murugan Temple, a huge shrine to the Hindu god Skanda (big gold dude). He’s one of the sons of Shiva (blue dude) the god of war who’s mother is Pravati (many hands lady), who was kind of in an arranged marriage by the gods above (and at this point I lost track of everything, but there’s an elephant dude in there as well). Anyways, not to disrespect some else’s belief, we took a wander round, not being allowed to take photos and whilst there, there were people stopping by and going into full prayed at the entrance.
They’re quite old and they’ve built an aircraft hanger over the statues to preserve them.
Interesting twisted vines on the trees outside that were told are 100s of years old and opposite a large coconut plantation. We saw the toddy tappers rope bridges but they weren’t working today (toddy is fermented coconut milk, slightly boozy but naturally made).
We continued past cashew fruits (never knew where cashew nuts came from), singing bridges, cows under palm trees, mopeds with a family of 3 or 4 onboard. Noted the roads were clean, well maintained and had NO POTHOLES. Shame everyone drives 3-4 abreast on a two way single road.
Stopped at a paddy field and had an introduction to rice farming. We must have looked like a circus had arrived. Imagine what we would think to a bus of foreigners stopping to admire the wheat field on a Sussex road somewhere.
Saw rice farmers drying their crop on the road. Actually on the road, not just the roadside.
Stopped at Margosa Lake Restaurant for a huge lunch including fish dishes and kikiri fruit curry. No idea what it is, but went for seconds.
Lunch was 1500slr each for a buffet and soft drinks, with pretty gardens to wander around.
It was a long drive with averaging 30mph.
Dropped bags at our hotel in Anuradhupara and headed off in the afternoon heat for a walk up to a Buddhist site.
Firstly Kaludiya Pond, very tranquil where story says some Buddhist monks were travelling to meet the king of Sri Lanka and chat belief systems with him, when they bumped into him hunting. Chat ensued and beliefs were believed and king said I’ll give you some space here to build cave dwellings, hence a monastery of sorts was developed here. Many monkeys, but not agressive.
Then over to the Mihinthali Buddhist complex. This is up a billion steps.
Ok, I exaggerate, probably more like 250 shallow east steps. Now they’re doing building work at the top but there’s no road access, so followers/believers/guilt ridden tourists, can grab a bag of shingle and lug it up.
At the top it s a shoes off site. You can leave them on the side of the steps or hand them to the shoe-walla who looks after them for a tip (100slr for 3-4 pairs).
Holey Moses! The stone floor was hot and I’m not used to barefoot. I was dancing like a cat on a hot tin roof. Turns out that you could keep your socks on, instead of playing the floor is lava!
A big Buddha, a big stupa and a viewing platform. I got up the big stupa but that’s far enough, barefoot.
Learnt something new. Buddhism has its own flag! Kind of like an LGBTQ+ rainbow representing everyone and everything.
Quick stop at the worlds oldest hospital 887AD (ruins obviously, but some archeological interest).
Back to hotel for string hoppers, roti (not like Indian chapatti but like Scottish drop scones with sugar), obligatory curries and curd with sweet syrup.
Tomorrow we’re cycling around Anuradhupara, on bicycles. Scary.
Travel Dude 