Anuradhapura and Wilpattu

From James Hunt to James May

A travelling day as we headed to Anuradhapura. The journey took longer than expected as the car is still playing up and after 75km loses power. This meant Pinto goes from over taking everything to travelling at 25mph. A bit frustrating but gives us time to enjoy the countryside.

Anuradhapura and Stops on the Way

We had a stop at another Hindu Temple which again was colourful, a local chap starting talking to us so our guide convinced him to explains the various things in the main building.

We also stopped at a Catholic church and shrine, the Madhu Church. It was interesting to see the different faiths there Hindus and Muslims as well as Catholics. The church was impressive and busy but hard to imagine that before the civil war up to million people would visit here for the holy festivals

Our hotel is impressive and after the last couple better than expected. We were due to visit the city in the afternoon but we said to Pinto, he should try to get the car sorted and we were happy to relax by the pool. Our room is cabin up a tree, bizarrely though the shower is actually 2 showers one with hot water and the other cold and you have to try to mix the jets to get a normal temperature.

Karen found a restaurant recommended on trip adviser and blogs. As we got there it was a small guest house and the food option was curry and rice vegetarian or with chicken! However the food was good and the setting very peaceful.

Wilpattu

The next day started well with a replacement car. We then visited an archaeological site. It included a big lake which we walked round looking at the parts which have been excavated. We sat down for a bit but moved when the macaque monkeys starting getting too close. We then watched from a distance as they jumped from the tree into the lake, it seemed some were hesitant so other shook the branches to force them off.

After this we went to see a rock carving called stargate which over 2700 years old and is similar to carvings in other parts of world. People believe the carvings depicts the 7 seas and shows the Sri Lankans were travellers all this time ago. A better explanation is that all the carvings were created by by aliens and they provide a portal to the universe. The true meaning isn't known.

The main stop of the day was Wilpattu National Park for a jeep safari. This was great fun, driving round the park in the back of an open jeep. This wasn't too busy but definitely the most touristy place since the train at Ella. Our favourite spottings were a serpent eagle, a leopard and a monitor lizard. We were amazed how fast the lizard could move from a standing start.

Treetop Living

Our hotel is the second with no WiFi in the room delaying the posting. It is another tree house room, although not as nice as yesterday's, it's definitely more wild. I can sit on the toilet and look out over the trees until Karen suggested shutting the curtains!

This is the very start of their peak season and in both hotels we seemed to be the only guests.

We can hear monkeys on the roof and have been told elephants sometimes walk through the resort. Must be where they all are as we didn't see any in the national park. The monkeys or some animals were very active and noisy on the roof during the night!

The restaurant at the hotel has three open sides and as well as sharing the area with plenty of insects, 2 bats flew in and out a several times.

Tomorrow is our last full day in Sri Lanka after that we headed to Singapore tomorrow to meet James and El.