The view of Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) at dusk

We are heading to climb Adams Peak next, as are the Australian couple, Mitch and Zoe. We've heard it going to be busy at its the last full moon in the climbing season. Many people of all religions climb to the peak (2243m) via a staircase of approximately 5,500 steps which is lit overnight.  There is an indentation in the rock at the peak, said to be Buddah's footprint ... or Shiva, Adam or St Thomas', depending on your religion. The busiest times are at weekends and full moon so we're on target for a busy climb. 

We chat to the owner of our homestay to see if knows anywhere to stay in Dalhousie, the village at the bottom of the peak. After a few phone calls and some map drawing we think we are heading to stay with a monk who is related to? knows? has met? the family we are staying with now! We get a photo of our host's small daughter and the monk to take with us. The Australian couple are coming with us and we're sharing a room overnight. The climb is best done at 2am apparently to catch sunrise so we only need to put our heads down for a couple of hours.

We take a train then a bus to Dalhousie which is a pretty little town. We follow our map, ask people and find the monk and our room which is behind a huge reclining Buddha statue in what appears to be a small monestary with only one monk. Anyway, it has two beds and looks comfortable enough so we are happy. We head into the town which is filling up. This is a pic of the top of the peak we are going to climb tomorrow as the sun is coming down.