Last Stops at Jaffna, then Mannar

Last Stops in Jaffna

Today we headed to Mannar, but had two stops in Jaffna before we left the city.

Firstly a Hindu temple in the city centre, where as well as having legs and women's shoulders covered men could only go in without tops on, luckily for you all there was a strict no photo rule. The temple was very bright and vibrant with a very loud ceremony taking place with drums, bells and trumpets playing alongside cheerful chanting.

Hit the Far North

We then headed to Pedro Point with is the northernmost tip of Sri Lanka. This was off the beaten track with no signs of other tourists or hotels etc just lots of locals going about their daily business. When we sat down just near the point it seemed that everyone going past either waved or said hellos from bikes, tuktuks or cars! We felt like celebrities or fairground oddities.

Coming away we had to switch sides of the road as at times our half of the road was covered in rice, placed there to dry out. As well as the usual cows, goats and dogs on the road today, we had to stop for a snake, several donkeys and then a mongoose. Other issues were the car stopping firing again so we've had to stop to let it get going and as this is our guides first time in this part of the country he is using google maps and getting some bizarre instructions so we've had quite a few u-turns as well.

Cultural Differences

We finished the day with a trip from our hotel in Mannar to a viewpoint which also turned out to be a walkable distance to Adam's Bridge, although getting directions from a Navy Guard with an assault rifle was different.

Adam's Bridge is a natural series of sand banks that apparently once joined Sri Lanka and India. The distance between the 2 here is 20km across the Palk Strait. I had read about this and was keen to highlight my knowledge to Pinto, so I asked about Rama rescuing his wife Sita from Ravana and using is army of giant apes to build the bridge. I didn't realise Ravana is a Sri Lankan hero for Hindus, google and wiki have the Indian version of the story. The Sri Lankans believe that Sita was with Ravana by choice. I think it is definitely looking up the full story if you have time although spoiler alert magic potions for immortality don't always work.

Aftr the Bridge we visited a lighthouse and pier, where another sailor armed with an assault rival explained I could take pictures to the right of the pier were the lighthouse was but not to the left where the Navy's gunships were anchored.

Current Thoughts

Another good day today, we choose the North of Sri Lanka for this trip to avoid the rainy season in the south and we are definitely enjoying seeing the less visited part of the country. It is amazingly beautiful with really friendly people, even if some are well armed. Our guide is now accustomed to calling me, Boss and Karen, Momma. One of us likes this practice.