Maha Nuwara

I saw Superman Returns at Majestic city’s theatre in Colombo. It was mediocre bar the special effects. Kevin Spacey is usually a joy to watch but I could see him cringing as he delivered his dialogue. The curtains came down to signal the 15 minute interlude. I felt like I was at the theatre. The movie finished late and the shopping centre closed at 11pm.

Today I felt sad. A seriously ill child came in and there were no ITU beds. Paediatric intensive care facilities in the U.K are more robust compared to SL. I realise just how valuable the NHS is and the high standard of facilities compared to the ‘developing’ world.

We left at 5:30a.m for the capital of the hill country, Maha Nuwara (Kandy). There were 4 stops on the way, one for breakfast. Yummy fish buns, chicken in breadcrumbs and cheese toast washed down with orange juice. The last 3 stops were at the Gadaladeniya, Lankatilake and Embekka Devale Temples. We wandered the ancient temples with moonstone entrances, carved wooden pillars and rock face inscriptions. The workmanship and detail was astounding especially at Embekka Devale. The carvings are said to be one of the finest in the region. It is mandatory to remove your shoes before entering any temple and although Lankatilake forbids taking pictures, the other temples allow photos. Monks opened the shrines so we could view the Buddhas.

Lunch was a seafood affair at the Hilltop Hotel, known for its scenery. We drove north of Kandy Lake to Sri Dalada Maligawa (the Temple of the Tooth). The temple was created in 1807 and houses the most sacred Buddhist relic in SL, the tooth of the Buddha. On our way back, we browsed the museum showcasing gifts offered from various nations to honour the Temple and the tooth. Another museum pays homage to Maligawa Tusker, the elephant that carried the casket containing the tooth during the Parahera (parade or procession). Rain halted our visit to Peradeniya Botanical Gardens so we drove back to Colombo, stopping to admire the view over Kandy town.

I spent the weekend buying souvenirs, visiting the few sites I haven’t seen in Colombo and tonight we party! Surely it can only get better…..