Day 3: Sigiriya and Kandalama

Some weary eyes this morning as we left the resort at 6:45am to visit Sigiriya, the city created by King Kashyapa on top of a 200 metre high rock. The city and surrounds are immense and it is mind boggling to think how the city was built without the use of the metal walkways that now lead you to the peak. Once on top you are blown away by an amazing vista of the surrounding countryside and the ruins of a complete city including swimming pool and throne. After a short tour of the top we headed down, accompanied by a tiny dog who seemed to have adopted us. We named him Kumar and although some on the touring party wanted to keep him as our team mascot we had to let him go. Other wildlife we encountered were numerous monkeys cleaning themselves and generally being mischievous.

From Sigiriya we returned to Camellia resort for a late breakfast before heading out to Kandalama for a sumptuous lunch, relaxing swim and entertaining elephant ride. We were pulled over by the police in Dambulla, not because we were doing anything illegal, but because there was a bicycle race going through town and we were in the way.

As we approached Kandalama, the narrow roads proved too tricky for a tourist van which ran off into a ditch. Immediately, the boys rallied to help the stricken vehicle and all piled out of the coach to push the van out of the ditch.

On our arrival at Kandalama resort, we all either swam in one of the pools or enjoyed a leisurely stroll on the back of Monika the elephant. Lunch was a magnificent feast for both the eyes and the stomach. There was way too much choice and more than one young man left the table feeling a bit full.

The return to Camellia was not without incident as we had to wait for some obstinate monkeys to move off the road. We also traversed a flooded causeway, hoping the driver had not misjudged the depth, and saw a wild elephant on the side of the road who had decided to adorn his head with local vegetation.

What a day. Time to relax and prepare for what tomorrow has in store. The boys are doing Barker proud. Their behaviour in public has been good and they are helpful and polite, immersing themselves in all that the country has to offer. One English couple commented today that they had been sitting by the pool for 45 minutes and hadn't heard the boys swear!