Habarana Lodge Hotel Sigiriya

... site a 1600 ans... Certaines traces indiquent que le lieu est habite depuis 6000 ans! A l'origine, le site etait un temple boudhiste, puis celui-ci a ete transfere sur la colline voisine, pour batir le palais du roi a la place. Pour acceder au sommet du rocher, 1600 marches a gravir par 28 degres, l'ai fait sans probleme, ai mis 45 mn en prenant des photos, mais bon ca allait je suis pas aussi pourri que certains l'imaginent.... Au 2/3 de la montee, se trouve la ...

... an outer moat and city, an inner moat and ramparts, a lake, entrances, a mirror wall and paintings, a Lion Platform, a palace on the summit and so on.

Nestled within a forest, this was a lovely place to visit. It’s quite remarkable what one king could transform so much out of rock! Initially, you pass over the inner moat, which is kept beautifully, with lovely clean waters. Then a short walk takes you to the royal gardens, where you can see straight ...

... The view of the surrounding scenery was stunning. As it was a clear day we could see to the hills and over to Dambulla too. Plus there were many large Buddha statues visible from the top. A little way down there are some really well preserved paintings; frescoes decorating the side of the rock. Strangely we were shown several have mistakes including a woman with 6fingers and one with 3 nipples!

... the observation that if you start at the head of the Buddha and keep your eyes on it's eyes and walk towards the feet it looks like the Buddha is opening it's eyes which is pretty cool. We hired a guide for this one (though we didn't have much of a choice) and he was quite informative. Apparently President Obama was in town and took the same tour last year! One of the trinkets people sell you are these pieces of bamboo paper that monks can write on and ...

... homework again) but instead there were only 3 guest houses smack dab in the middle of a jungle. I had shown up with barely any money thinking I would get more in Sigiriya. The entrance fee was 25 bucks so I had to catch a bus (the next day) at 5 a.m. to the nearest town to get money. DOE! The guest house owners told me not to wander in the jungle at night because wild elephants had killed some tourist a month before ...

My birthday fell the following day and I can confirm that there is no better way to assuage a premature mid-life crisis than cruising through a Sri Lankan landscape on the back of a bike with people who know that life is for a livin! That, and climbing Sigariya, a flat-topped rock formation also known as the citadel city of the Sinhalese playboy king (Mr Kasyapa). Sigariya features 1000 year old graffiti, the first landscaped gardens in ...

... and like a Scottish Heavy) and sat about chatting in the bar. Now......the restaurant and bar were open sided - and Max got attacked by the mossies (by the end of Na Mala Max was bitten over 80 times) - and bats fly overhead (and dive bomb the pool!). We headed to bed. Chris and I set up the mossie nets over our twin beds and lay down to read tomorrows itinerary.....while she read I lay on my pillow listening to her Franglish......a cockroach ran from under my ...

... air-con!! With our sun burn the air con was heaven! Before yet another early night we visited the lake again to take in the scene for a final time. Polonnaruwa had been an incredible place to visit. One of the most relaxing towns I've ever visited with the bonus of world class ruins that deserve more recognition and tourists. I was ready to move on the next day but certain it was a place I'd happily return to in the future on another trip.

... Nalanda Gedige and went on to the Dambulla Rock Temple. Just like Aluvihara, Dambulla Temple is also built in caves, but is bigger and sits on a top of a hill which is accessible by climbing a very long stairway. The temple and caves are absolutely amazing, the site dates back to the 10th-12th century and the caves' walls and ceiling are covered with very old paintings. We finally arrived at our hotel which was close to Sigiriya site, and since we ...

... who were still there for an hour. That's much more my level. Thursday- Anne took exercises today which was hilarious cause wasn't sure exactly what she was doing and the kids sort of stood there with perplexed looks on their faces. A special mention to Jasmine today as well who made her fist cup of Sri Lankan Tea, (with a little help from Paroty who had just returned from her sickbed) which in all honesty tasted not too bad! Ronali ...