Monday December 29 . Wild Grasses Hotel to Uga Ulagalla
Northwards to the northern department of Sri Lanka and the site of the first Kingdom. We had a leisurely breakfast and then had the suitcases picked up at nine. We then drove for over an hour to the monasteries and temples at the first Kingdom, which was from the 5th to the eighth century AD. These were spread over a very large area which was very scenic. DJ had hurt himself two days earlier and was still limping, so we did most of the explorations by ourselves, following his directions. En route, we were stopped by the traffic police who accused DJ of having driven over a white line, but he was adamant that he had not. His practically new car, had video evidence of what had indeed happened and he would download this once he got to Colombo in a few days to challenge the corrupt police on their judgment and so avoid the Rs.5000 fine.
Sri Lankan justice in action
To get a larger photo, click on a thumbnail below
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| A money raising exercise. Nothing to do with road safety | The Policeman had never seen this before | It could reduce his income | Pembroke is keepng an eye on the technology |
The monasteries and temples at the first Kingdom
Sri Lanka's first kingdom, Anuradhapura, was a hub for grand monasteries and temples, notably the Mahavihara, the first major monastic complex, and the later, even larger Abhayagiri and Jetavana monasteries, featuring colossal stupas like Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayagiri Stupa, and Jetavanaramaya, alongside important sites like the Samadhi Statue, Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds), and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi, showcasing advanced architecture and significant Buddhist scholarship.
After visiting many temples, stupas, gold statues and moonstone statues, we left the main section of the ruins and drove to another temple outside the city limits. Here that was a beautifully carved gold statue of two lovers and we climbed up under rocks where we got a splendid view over the lake below its Stupas.
To get a larger photo, click on a thumbnail below
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To get a larger photo, click on a thumbnail below
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To get a larger photo, click on a thumbnail below
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We arrived at the new hotel at 3 pm and David was stunned to be asked to sign a waiver absolving the hotel if it caused our death by negligence. Surely Wild Frontiers will take up this issue with the hotel. Ironically there was a welcome ceremony after this contra temps including ringing several bells three times and then having our photo taken with them. We were then shown to villa 23 and this was a real palace consisting of large bathroom, dressing area, bedroom, entrance hall, living room and another bathroom. Also a tiny private pool. We settled in and then had a coffee and some bits for lunch. After this we walked back to reception which was a 15 minute walk.
Then we inquired about the dinner menus as we were just on bed and breakfast. David was very keen on having our second dinner, tomorrow night in the Paddy fields and I think I will agree. He had a long conversation with the wee receptionist who told him that it was" only" $110., to which he replied that he didn’t know about her, but $110 was a lot of money to him!. We then stopped at the main, superb swimming pool, easily the best of those encountered in Sri Lanka, for Chris to enjoy a swim. Them back to the chalet to enjoy a whiskey.
A buggy collected us from our room, as it was impossible to walk along the drives in the dark. We had a really pleasant supper in the upstairs restaurant here. The restaurant manager was really impressed by the boys and had to be forced away from our table! Once back in the chalet I had a swim in our outdoor pool which was fun.
Hotel Uga Ulagalla
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Tuesday December 30. Hotel Uga Ulagalla
We had a leisurely morning starting with a swim in our own outdoor pool and then a coffee before going up to breakfast about 9 am. This was very good, but far too much as usual. After this I went for a swim in a gorgeous large pool and we then walked back a different way to the chalet getting there after 11 am and I spent 90 minutes sending my photos to David’s email, and reading.
Having walked the delightful walk to reception which took about 15 minutes, we were picked up, by DJ at 1pm and driven to the Leopard Den which was 75 minutes away. Once we were transferred to a jeep, it took six but only had us in it. A problem getting into the Park as there was a power cut and they could not issue the entry tickets without a computer. So we had to wait 20 to 30 minutes before we could enter the park. Then we had a pleasant two hour Drive, spotting deer, several types of stalk, buffalo, two tortoises and various other birds before the driver suddenly set off at breakneck speed. DJ saying that were exciting things ahead. But eventually we learnt that this was just a sloth bear which we would not find particularly exciting at all: and moreover it had disappeared by the time we got there.
So there was now an extra 40 minutes or so to get back to the gate which we did not reach until gone six. We had arranged to be picked up from our chalet at 6:55 for their special dinner in the rice paddies. So DJ had to phone the hotel to postpone our booking to a 7.20 buggy from the hotel to our cabin and then, five minutes later from the chalet to the rice Paddy restaurant. To our annoyance, the buggy disappeared when we re-emerged five minutes later and we had to ring reception to get another one.
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Well we never did get to see the Sloth Bear. And in fact the Sloth Bear and the Sloth are very different and have nothing in common. The sloth bear is a type of bear (family Ursidae) from Asia, named for its resemblance and long claws, while a sloth is a slow-moving mammal from Central/South America (order Pilosa), and they are not related. Despite the name, sloth bears are agile, fast, and unique bears known for eating insects, unlike tree sloths which eat leaves
A sloth bear is called a sloth bear because early European zoologists, like George Shaw in 1791, mistakenly thought it was related to sloths due to its shaggy fur, long claws, and occasional habit of hanging upside down, even giving it the scientific name Bradypus ursinus (slow-footed bear) before realizing it was a true bear. The name stuck despite the bear being much more agile and unrelated to actual sloths, using its claws for digging insects rather than hanging
To get a larger photo, click on a thumbneil below
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Sloth Bear |
Sloth |
We eventually arrived for this "special " meal. It was at a very pleasant layout in the midst of the paddy fields with just 18 people on five tables. We were greeted by a lady whose English we did not understand very well, but she showed us the kitchen where they were doing the cooking. We were offered a very small cocktail and then followed the starter which was just three different types of crisps, home baked of course and a watery sauce. Then there was quite a long wait until the main course which was 18 bowls of different things, which hardly fitted on our small table. Personally I would’ve preferred three bowls arriving every 15 minutes or so, than being confronted by this huge array. But David tackled the many dishes. They were mainly too hot for me but they did produce some chicken that was not too spicy. The pudding was good, just bowls of Buffalo yogurt, fruit, and a rice cake, the meal was concluded with a pleasant ginger tea. Then back to the room, by which time it was 10.20, to pack ready for the morning. No time for a swim.
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