Reserved for Clergy

I went to Galle by bus yesterday and met friends for afternoon tea at the amazing Amangala Hotel.

In front of me, from my seat behind the driver, there was a magnificent poster of Lakshmi, the Hindu money goddess. Then on my right, this sign, which means if a Buddhist monk steps aboard, you should give up your seat for him.

Above the vast windscreen were flashing lit-up gods, and then a buddha too, in the middle, which pulsated to the bila music which blasted out on volume ten.

When we passed a particular temple, the conductor jumped off to put some money there and say a quick prayer before the bus went off once more on its journey south.