Lanka, Lanka - my love. Part III

Did you notice the fact that my story in two parts was telling only about 5 days of my trip to Sri Lanka? When I realized it I was also surprised that we had been having so many adventures for 5 days… and I didn’t wrote about every detail.

As I wrote in the second part, we got out of the bus in Dambulla, and – sick and tired – started looking for an accommodation recommended by Lonely Planet. It was the worst place where we had ever slept during our trip, but after 1 km walk with sick stomachs we weren’t fussy at all.

In this guest house there wasn’t even cold water to buy, so later we looked for a shop to get it. To our surprise just a few meters far there was another hotel, better one. We didn’t change hotels, but bought a trip to Huluru Eco Park, where we might see elephants, a thousand wild gorgeous elephants. So like I say: everything has its goal.

The next day, at first, we went to Golden Temple of Dambulla, which is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area, but major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings related to Buddha. There total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses, but there are also two statues of Hindu gods: Vishnu and Ganesh.

Dambulla Cave Temple

Later we visited a center of Dambulla to see how locals work and live there and in the end, we were driven to Huluru Eco Park, where we could admire lots of elephant families, bigger and small ones. There were also different species, like lizards, parrots and the other wild birds, so as a huge fan of nature I was delighted!

I miss you like crazy, my boy

That night we slept in Polonnaruwa, where we got – of course – by a bus, our favorite way of transportation in Sri Lanka. A town is surrounded by tanks, which were built in a period of reign of Parakramabahu I, the greatest king of Sri Lanka, who was so adamant that no drop of water falling from the heavens was to be wasted, and each was to be used toward the development of the land. For me, as a hydro engineer, he was the master of creativity and forecasting. Irrigation systems which were constructed during Parakramabahu's reign, to this day supply the water necessary for paddy cultivation during the scorching dry season in the east of the country. By the way, Polonnaruwa is another ancient city on a UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

The next day, when we went for breakfast we were surprised by an unusual view: preparations to the wedding party. Lucky us! We could learn how this ceremony looks like. Then we visited the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, where we were wandering among ruins with 2 hour break for heavy rain. However, waiting near restroom for so long was not enough, because we returned to the hotel completely wet.

Polonnaruwa

The eighth day we travelled to Trincomaley, of course by bus, which we changed into another amazing bus, heading to Uppuveli. There, close to the beach, we spent next 4,5 days swimming, walking, relaxing, reading, eating, drinking Elephant Ginger Beer (yummy!), snorkeling in Pigeon Island National Park, where I tried to touch every colorful fish near me, but I remained unsuccessful in that case, and… flirting with our Lankan friends.

Relaxing after snorkeling in Pigeon Island National Park

That’s why when we had to start packing, leave the hotel and start our way back home, which we missed a bit, we were sad and our hearts were crying. And really I dream about going there again.