Sunday was given to The Museum of The Tooth, wherein we didn’t find the sacred tooth, allegedly left as one of the eight parts of Buddha post-cremation. We’d allegedly seen another, his (tuft of) hair, in that temple in Colombo. The tooth is allegedly inside a cask which, Russian doll-like, is inside several casks, but even the outer cask was locked away when we visited. That didn’t seem to deter the queues & offerings of so many worshippers. I felt like an intruder, a common feeling on my visits to religious places.
For lunch we had a dhosa & another one at another place for dinner. Think Crepe Suzette, but not the yucchy sweet coz it’s savoury, sometimes with a curry filling, accompanied by pickles, dhal & other ‘dips’. Fine fare & silly cheap, maybe £2 or £3 per meal. We also went looking for another of Bryony’s recommended eating holes, The Imperial Hotel. The telephone number wasn’t valid & the hotel seems to have disappeared! We did find one all shut down & sad, so maybe that used to be it. Hence a second Dhosa. Had to work for that, didn’t I!
Kandy Lake is full of fish & maintains a large supply of ducks, egrets, cormorants & we even caught site of a baby kingfisher? Life is sweet for the fish catchers. End of.
The previous day, Saturday, we took the plunge & booked a three day/two night tour with a car & driver. And on Monday we were off with a charming young man called Anura to discover ‘The Golden (cultural) Triangle’.
First stop was Akurana, with amazing yellow Buddha & followers.
On, then, to a batik factory, which claimed to be the oldest in Sri Lanka. It employs 35 women to make untrendy clothes & cloths. Our driver told us every batik factory is the oldest.
Next stop a spice & herb farm. Kaff & I were sceptical, having been around one in India, but this was actually better organised. We bought three different curry powder mixes. Keen, heh? And learnt a bit about Ayuverdic herbal treatments. Kaff followed this up with an Ayuverdic massage at the hotel we were staying at – more about this anon.
The most important visit on Monday was to Sigiriya. A most venerable, UNESCO recognised, massive rock of granite. I mean 200 metres high. Which we climbed by a rock-hugging staircase.
On top of this big chunk of rock is the former fortress of King Kashyapa, who decided to relocate his throne here in the 5th century. Impregnable. Have no idea how he managed lifting the building materials up.
Our, previously mentioned, hotel for the night, the Girithale, is a surprise as it spectacularly overlooks a series of lakes & mountains, has a great swimming pool & is well chilled. As included in package, our expectations now exceeded, this = happiness. But a band – hand drum, guitar, accordian, no vocals – has just started playing. Muzak. Retracing thoughts. We’ve come a long way to hear Hotel California. But I am splitting my sides. Hope the band don’t notice. Nor the monkeys, who we’re told will run off with anything left outside, especially if one of their tunes is resurrected. Take the last train to Clarksville …..
Chris & Kath's Travel Time 
This is a very good thing you are doing Oemrys , Im loving hearing all about it when its fresh.xxx
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