Author: tylerbwalks

A major Buddhist pilgrimage is the 3,200 foot hike up Adams Peak. I started at 1:30 a.m., waiting until the pouring rain stopped. Because it was the weekend, there was a two hour wait standing in the crowd near the top, where it was packed with mostly local people, who have no personal space and jostle and push. There was a lovely sunrise, and I could only take a few photos. Mostly because police are there to forbid photos of the Buddha and the golden foot image that people worship.

I got back to my hotel at 11:00 am, whipped from the steep steps downhill. But I got a foot massage, recovered quickly and was happy to have done it. It gets really hot when the sun rises, so most people go at night, Bus loads of pilgrims arrive and depart all night, coming from Colombo, the capital.

No, I didn’t take a photo of every Buddha statue, but here are just a sample of what I saw. The beauty is astounding.

I’ve been headed up to the hill country for a few days now. It’s where the tea is grown. In 1846 James Taylor, from Scotland, brought coffee and tea plants here for commercial farming. The coffee plants died of disease but the tea plants flourished, and there are large tea plantations in the higher elevations, where it is wet and cool.

India flying squirrels or fruit bats, in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka adventures.

Rice is drying on a bamboo mat along the road. See the big, black snake!

My cycle goal is to go to the Ancient Cities. They are in the middle of the country, so only a day or two apart on a bicycle. There are direct highways between them, designated as A highways. As you might guess, these carry a lot of traffic. So I try to stick to the less busy, and less direct B roads. These usually have a shoulder good for cycling or walking. Then there the very back roads with just local traffic, usually only one and a half lanes wide and very windy. With the occasional big local bus, a garbage truck and many scooters it can still be interesting! But these roads give me a chance to look at the beautiful countryside. Plus there are often small shops and Hole-in-the-Wall simple cafes with tea and spicy pastries. And locals who just stare at me, an old white person on a bicycle!

As I cycle through Sri Lanka, there are posted signs about wild elephants and I have seen droppings, unmistakably elephant-size, and footprints on a sandy road. But today a man assured me they only come out to attack people at night. This one is opposite my small homestay for the night. Which is a room in a home with home-cooked meals. It’s lovely and the hostess is so welcoming.

The next day I was invited to a dance program of my hostess’s 11-year old daughter. First, I was asked to welcome the local government leaders, then seated in the front row. A Buddha monk gave a 15- minute speech about Buddha or something along that line. I include the video, just so you can listen to his voice.

Then the Manager of the local government gave a 20-minute speech. Of which this was a fraction.

Then another dance.

After the dancers, they were all given gifts as were the government people. I was asked to help give gifts, too. The children kneel on the cement floor and touch the floor in front of your feet. Amazing! Oh and when the Buddhist monk entered and sat down I was honored, along with the government officials, to go bow before him. I didn’t manage the full knees on the cement but bowed low as I could. Because I was honored just to be there.

After all the dancing and three government officials gave speeches there was a town hall-type meeting. The government people sat behind a desk at the front and people asked questions. It seemed like it was going on for a time, so my hostess suggested I needn’t stay and I left. What a wonderful cultural experience!

While enjoying tea at a street side bakery, a troop of monkeys passed overhead. The plethora of street dogs keep them off the ground, mostly.

Cycling onto Mihnitale, about 12 miles from Anuradhapura, I came across this shrine tucked into a nearby neighborhood .