An elephantine breakfast.

Day 3 (18/02) Dambulla to Kandy.

Usual early start today to get to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, en-route to Kandy. Drove through beautiful countryside to get there, then confronted by much-tourist-fleecing-in-the world. (Grossly overpriced goods all around. Nuf said.)
The orphanage takes young elephants from all sorts of dire circumstances, and saves them from misery or worse. They are then exploited to an extent, but with the greater good at heart.

Upsetting to see a youngster shackled fore & aft, and exhibiting some neurotic movement behaviour, but then Jimmy's parents came back to get him after viewing the elephants, a few of which were in similar restraints. (This comment tongue in cheek.)

Highlight was the herd charging, albeit gently, down a shopping street, scattering tourists including yours truly, on their way down to a river where they a) relieved themselves wholeheartedly, and cavorted in the waters, and b) showered themselves and any passing pachyderm or human by squirting diluted dung through their noses. Agh!
Bought some trinkets made of Elephant poo paper, for the grand sprogs. (NB: Elephant poo paper = paper made from elephant dung, not that used for wiping the source thereof.)

Thence to a spice garden. 5 mins walk around a tiered garden c/w some tired looking specimens, perhaps as spring hasn't trully sprung, yet. Led by the nose to the “pharmacy” where we were enticed to purchase a bottle of spice infused oil / syrup + magic powder which would miraculously cure, or at least alleviate, all the ailments normally associated with creeping age. 35 quid? No Ta.

Onward to the Gem Museum, to learn all about the history of sapphire mining in Sri Lanka. Really interesting . . . until . . . herded into the showroom. Looked at lots, bought zilch. Why don't these types of operations learn that captive (Scots) audiences tend to back off when, metaphorically, cornered.

Across the road to the wood carving institute (Saleroom). There are some remarkably beautiful timbers available from A L's forrests, notably a two tone timber (TTT :-) ), which makes a wonderful table top, and the price includes all taxes and packing & shipping anywhere in the world. Shame we don't need one right now.

Next was the Temple of Tooth, the most significant Buddhist Temple & Monastery in Sri Lanka. Most significant because it houses “The only known” relic of the Buddha – a tooth. This was spirited away from his cremation and held in veneration in India for many moons.
However, threatened with destruction buy rebellious Hindus who were upset by Siddartha's abandonment of Hinduism, wanted to destroy the physical presence as well as the “religion” of Buddhism. (Again NB: Buddhism is not a religion, it's a way of life. Ohmmm, Ohmmm.

Last, and approaching least, was a visit to a SL cultural show. Much banging of horizontal drums, blowing of a sort of trumpet, and a fair helping of dancing, acrobatics and finally, fire walking. Unfortunately we could not see the last item from our back seat in the gods, but there was a strange burning fragrance as we departed for our hotel. (****)

All in all, a busy day. Tomorrow we might get a train ride to Nuwara Eliya, as our intended train journey to Colombo is over booked.

C U L8R