Rock Temples and Rocky Roads

John blogs ... a very long day

Gaudy entrance to Dambulla Caves complex

8.30 Breakfast of fruit, toast and jam

10.00 Dambulla Cave Temples, 150 Buddha statues, monkeys and bare feet

11.30 Start our long journey to Bandarawela via …

1.30 Queens Hotel, Kandy for club sandwich and beer

2.30 Leave for Labookellie Tea Factory for chocolate cake and BOK broken Orange Piko

4.30 at Labookellie

Inside the Dambulla Caves

5.00 leave for Bandarawela via astonishingly bad roads due to major road improvements and landslips because of exceptionally heavy rain. Then it rained more, the fog rolled in, darkness descended and our tortuous journey felt endless.

7.30 Arrive at Bandarewela Hotel, transfered to Tennis Club for fellowship, ate at Sunil’s home for Sri Lankan dinner. Very tasty. A very welcoming and young club – president Rajiv is a smiling fellow at 24 years, but full of enthusiasm, charm and experience. Age range in the Club is 24 years to 60 years and they’ve major projects of which they’re very proud, and rightly so. A big tick Bandarawela!

10.15 Driven to Air Force bungalow with clean sheets, cool tiled floors, hot shower, separate beds for the team and all the cares of the world have instantly vanished. I think we’ve arrived in Heaven!





John with Bandarewela President Rajib