We arrived late, after our flight was delayed, into Colombo airport , Sri Lanka. Happily, our 4 checked bags made it to our destination intact and after clearing immigration, customs and our Corona Virus temperature check ( 6 soldiers sitting behind a thermal camera) , we connected with our chauffeur for the week , Sanath.
We have never booked a guided tour before , always making our own hotel and travel arrangements ( not always successfully ) , but this tour company came highly recommended by a good friend as her cousin works for them.
Sanath took us to a wholesale vegetable market en route to the hotel , at first we thought this was a very odd choice , until we started walking around. The sight and colors of the masses of vegetables and fruit were pleasing. The kids had their hands shaken , cheeks pinched , shown tricks, and lifted onto trucks and tractors by the market vendors.
Our first hotel was Habarana Village by Cinnamon , which was a 4 hour drive from the airport (yuk) and on the way our guide explained a lot about life in Sri Lanka. His driving was fast and on windy roads , honking and swerving all the way , but I must add that this is the way everyone seems to drive. By the time we arrived it was almost dusk and the hotel bed beckoned. We first. had the most delicious buffet dinner including Sri Lankan curries and exotic fruits. There was even a separate walk in refrigerated dessert room!
We set out early the next morning after another fantastic breakfast buffet. We tried hoppers which are bowl shaped thin crepes which the lady serving them added sweet chili and honey mixture to. Very tasty.
After breakfast , we drove to Sigiriya , and spotted a wild elephant by the roadside ( yay, we finally found one ) ! Everyone was more than thrilled. (This site was unable to upload our video but it’s on our Facebook page of the same name)
Sigiriya is a large flat rock 200 meters high , which had the most incredible 5th century sumptuous winter palace built on it also shaping the rock into a lion , now in ruins, leaving only the brick foundations and the lions paws. UNESCO have been excavating and exposing the gardens since 1982 and there is a museum and exhibition of artifacts found on show. A locally born guide named Lal, came up with us and was very kind and supportive , he was contracted by the tour company on our behalf. He told us of crocodiles that are still in the moats !
The Sri Lankan’s call this rock formation the ‘8th wonder of the world’ and I agree!
There are 1202 steps up to the top of the plateau and we made it , just. Monkeys grabbed at us , I had to take a ridiculous amount of breaks , we drank liters of water but I was determined to make it all the way. We watched many not make it turning back , one lady was even having a panic attack , it felt like such an accomplishment to reach the top. The children were little superstars , not complaining about the heat or the steps. There were a few monks climbing up also because there are multiple caves in the rock which have been used by Buddhists for centuries.
The 360 degree view from the top was breathtaking with a welcome cooling breeze and for anyone suffering from vertigo , the height, dizzyingly high. It took us about 75 minutes to climb up and about 45 to come down.
There are fantastic colorful fresco paintings on the rocks , preserved and protected. Legend is the king was supposed to have 500 concubines and died by suicide during a battle with his jealous brother. No one used the palace after that and it fell into disrepair, abandoned.
I could not have climbed up all of those steps without Justin and our kids ( and even strangers as they saw me on my hands and knees for the last 100 steps or so ) cheering me on and the sheer determination not to miss out on this adventure. I am very grateful to them all. My legs the next morning , however , were like lead and very painful but so very worth it!
Sigiriya is worth the climb.
If you’d like more information about Sigiriya – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigiriya
~Arlene
Seven Months in Siam 