A day in London (Martin Shaw was very good in “A man for all seasons”), then the overnight flight to Colombo, followed by a five hour driver to Habarana.   Interestingly this was exactly the route in reverse from when tourists were evacuated because of the tsunami; a day in Anuradhapura , a five hour drive to Colombo, with an overnight flight to Heathrow. 

Buddha statue of Avukana is off the tourist route.  Here he is seen blessing his imaginary flock. The 13 metre high statue is said to have been hewn from the rock in the 5th century.

Celestial nymphs are about half way up the Sigiriya rock face which are reached by a spiral staircase; here in this niche are a series of paintings of beautiful women believed to represent apsaras which date from the fifth century and of which only 22 remain today.

Dambulla caves where the crowds of last year were certainly not visible this year.   I like the sign which said “Please do not sit on the benches, it is a good quality to respect all religions irrespective of the religion.”

Elephant rugs made from coconut, were available from a good community village enterprise where cinnamon was also grown and processed and demonstrated to potential customers who arrived by river boat.

Fireeating concluded the Kandy Cultural Show which this year took place in the Kandy Cultural Theatre which concluded with the fire walking aneating inside the building rather than outside as last year.   The show however appeared identical.

 

Gal Vihara is part of the Polonnaruwa where the highlight of Buddhist art which is a rock shrine with four Buddha statues 

Historic Galle which in 1987 UNESCO declared a World Heritage Sight, known for its narrow alleyways, crooked houses with verandas, small inner courtyards, ornate lanterns and unpronounceable street names.  The guidebook says that every visitor’s album has a photograph of the lighthouse so here it is.

 

Ironically on the day the hotel was reached in mid afternoon at Nuwara Eliha, there was little else to do than walk round the town.   Not even a swim because there was no pool!

 

 

Junction Peradeniyas is where the train was caught to Nuwara Eliya.   When it arrived, it became so full that I am sure sardines in a tin have more room.   The station is reminiscent of British Rail in the fifties. 

 

 

Kalutara is where the Aikten Spence Golden Sands resort is situated.   The room from the hotel gave a superb view of ‘paradise’.  

 

 Leopard(s) were visible at dusk on the evening jeep safari at Yala National Park. Along with deer, buffaloes and elephants plus a wide variety of birds.

 

 

Mackwoods tea plantation was an interesting stop on the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. The chocolate cake was extra and the tea tasted good.

 

 Nine twenty four on the 26th December saw the nation stop for two minutes to remember victims of the tsunami.  The road from Colombo to Galle revealed a little of the catastrophe that occurred.

 Orchids at the botanical gardens in Kandy.  This year the guide took us on a short walk through the gardens revealing far more than the previous year when we were left to explore on our own.

 

Pachyderms at the government run Pinnewala Elephant orphanage set up to save abandoned or orphaned wild elephants which now number about 65.   Bathing time at the river is fascinating

 

Quirky, The Hill Club hotel was a relic of the era when Britain ruled Sri Lanka  Overdressed, overpriced, and quite definitely over rated is the best description of this hotel.

 Ranweli spice gardens was one of the numerous shopping stops.   Here we were treated to a curry cooking demonstration.   I am not sure the herbal cough mixture I bought contributed to the cure of the cough!

 ea turtle hatcheries are in evidence along the coast. The Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery was completely destroyed in the tsunami but has been rebuilt and the 200 rupee tickets ensure us that future turtle eggs will be saved.

 Tree (Sri Maha Bodhi) is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world guarded for over 2000 years and grown from a cutting by the founder of Sri Lankan Buddhism.

 Udawalawe National Park featured on the drive from Yala to Colombo.   Home to 500 elephants  there is an elephant transit post where elephants are returned to the wild.

Vatagage is a circular relic house consisting of a smalltral dagoba (Buddhist monument composed of a solid hemisphere containing relics of the Buddha) flanked by Buddha images and encircled by columns.

 Waterfalls ( Rawan Ella) is where the water comes tumbling down the mountain side in what is claimed to be wildest looking fall in Sri Lanka, although according to Lonely Planet some travelers aren’t impressed. 

 

Xmas Eve. At the Lodge Habarana during dinner Santa arrived by elephant to distribute presents to the children.

 

Yala National Park is where the guide commented when the sea was visible that the tsunami came in 5 kilometres here.  The animals seemed to sense the danger and moved out of the way

Zero time to escape the tsunami but on the trip from Kalutaa to Galle, the evidence was all around; the Red Cross water tanks were still being filled, woodsheds and canvas tents for homes, destroyed buildings and boats and here in this silk shop the water level marked in the entrance is showing 10feet high. Quite unbelievable.