Ayurvedic in Sri Lanka

WEDNESDAY

Waking up, we are off to Kandy today.  The rain is coming down in torents and rivers are running down the streets.  But, the rain is warm and can stop as fast as it can come!  

Kandy is a large city of about 2 million people..  quite a site to see while driving through it.  

On our way there, we had a stop at a Spice Garden in Matale which is one of my favorite spots of the holiday at this point.  We were under the assumption we would be introduced to many spices and perhaps educated as to how we use them in a culinary fashion.

However, we were greeted by an Aruvedic herbalist / practitioner who was our guide.  He took us (amongst a rainforest-like setting) and showed us how cinnamon grows, turmeric, black and red peppercorns.  So many plants in near proximity!  They are grown in this area because it is the very centre of Sri Lanka and the perfect environment for them to grow.  He educated us as to how each one is used medicinally and the aryuvedic method.

Then we went into a thatched roof hut to have a demonstration on how each of these items can be used.  We were busy listening to our host when several 'therapists' arrived in the area to give us a massage with the turmeric massage cream.  What a treat that was !   We were first treated to a facial massage with a wonderful moisturizing cream after which any aches and pains we may have mentioned were addressed with massage.   What fun!

Once we finished with this talk and massage, it was into the shop to buy all the goodies and creams and potions and spices that we wanted to take back home.  

Upon arriving in Kandy, we pulled into the Temple of the Tooth Relic.  It is an important shrine for Buddhists as it holds the tooth relic of Lord Buddha.  It is famous for its carvings and the beautiful art that is unique to Sri Lanka.  The most important part of the Dalada Maligawa is the octagon (Pathirppuwa).  This temple is the most sacred temple in the whole of Sri Lanka.  Thousands of people line up each day to get a glimpse of its majesty.  

After visiting this Temple, we walked to a nearby mall and enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the modern mall.  When the time came to catch our bus, the rain was coming down so hard we could not have made it without getting soaked.  We were going to go to a street market close by but it was getting flooded as it was below ground.  So when the rain let up a bit, we ran for our bus...

After this, we were back on the bus to make our way to our hotel in Kandy which was atop a mountain and meant that our driver Yappa had to maneuver steep, very windy and switchback roads all the way up.  I definitely had my eyes closed most of the way up the hill.  We all gasped when , on a tight turn, we were greeted by a city bus making its way down the hill.  This became a slow, timely maneuvering process in order for each to get by and for us NOT to go over the edge !  I seriously considered asking for a hotel car to take me back down this curvy mountain road the next morning but after being convinced that most of the trip down we would be on the mountain side of the narrow road, I took the bus ... and it was just fine !

There was a beautiful violinist to entertain us in the evening while we enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail and dinner.  

Tomorrow brings another adventure and bus ride !