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07.22.2005 -- KANDY - SRI LANKA --
Sri Lanka: Ancient Ruins, Modern Pollution, and Spicy Food...
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We arrived in Sri lanka a couple days ago and know that we are going to have to return here. It is a bit different than anything we have experienced so far. At the same time, it is much more than we expected. The people are friendly, the history and culture rich and the sites spectacular While the people are friendly, it might be financially motivated by the expectation that westerners will spend money with them at a higher margin. However, we have had excellent interactions with people - regardless of their motive. Also, we have been doing as the locals do including intercity bus and train (second class).
We went to an ancient city yesterday - build in the 5th century - the palace was built on the top of a huge rock - 186 meters above the plain. That guy had a pretty nice pad. Too bad he abandoned it just 10 year later... so the monks took it over. The place was called Sigiriya or Lion Rock. We went with a Swiss couple - Marco and Andrea. We shared a car/driver with them to defray costs. We have been incredibly fortunate. the other travelers that we have had the pleasure to have met have all been wonderful ... Marco and Andrea included. We swapped emails and hope they are able to visit Denver at some point... and they have invited us to their home as well.
The town we are in currently is called Kandy - pronounced like the sweet stuff. It is very hilly here and the homes have great views (those on the tops of the hills)... we have been invited to have a drink with a family tonight at one of those homes. More on that later.
Something that is not so good here is the air pollution. Imagine 20,000 lawn mowers going all at the same time and within a 100 meters.
Oh... we should mention something about the animals here. There are still wild elephants in Sri Lanka. We visited an elephant orphanage yesterday ... they have 63 elephants on the property can you imagine feeding 63 elephants every day?
We also saw several monkeys at Sigiriya yesterday. and today, we got a couple photos of a water monitor - a big lizard that swims. Including the tail, it must have been 6 foot long.
we also need to mention that eating here is done with your fingers. Not a hot-dog mind you... but fried rice. You eat with your finders. they pile a bunch of rice on a banana leaf, surround it with various curry dishes and you're good to go - no silverware or chopsticks. And don't eat with your left hand. It is the hand you use in the toilet to wipe with...
If they say the food is not spicy, count on some heat regardless. Moderate heat is the standard here. You get spicy regardless. They like it hot.
Have to go... Maggie is getting hungry!
-- Todd & Maggie
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