Sigiriya Rock and Other Adventures

January 11

Sigiriya Rock and Other Adventures

John and Marie Checking Out When Seahawks Game Will Occur 

This is the morning of the Seattle Seahawks game against the Carolina Panthers. John and Marie have been talking about this game for several days and planning how they are going to get Internet to watch it at the hotel.  However, since the Saturday evening game in Seattle begins at 6:45 am Sunday Sri Lankan time there is a conflict between staying at the hotel to watch the game or going to see the UNESCO World Heritage Sigiriya Rock. Clearly John is clear about his football priorities.

Marie, Steve and I head out for Sigiriya Rock sometimes called the Lion Rock. This huge volcanic rock seems to mysteriously arise from the jungle.  Along the trail we are surrounded by landscaped royal gardens and ponds.

Summit View of Gardens and Pools 

Lizard in Garden

It is a steep climb up 1202 steps to the summit. It starts with rock white marble stairs and then becomes a modern spiral stairway. 

Along the way we view natural cave shelters and some brightly colored frescoes in remarkably good condition of buxom women painted high on the walls. 

As we climb, monkeys jump back and forth hoping for some food offerings. At this point I think they are rather cute and am empathic to this mother and her baby. (this feeling changes later)

Langurs

Part way up the pathway we reach a large platform that has 2 large rock lion paws. 

Add caption

This is the reason for the later naming of the rock as Lion Rock and the symbolism of Buddha whose truths were to be as powerful as a lions roar.  While our guide focuses on the King’s life, our guidebook reports there is abundant evidence that this place existed several centuries prior to the King as a Buddhist monastery and that the frescoes were Mahayana goddesses (Tara).

1202 Stairs Climbed 

At the summit we reach the so-called palace (or monastery residence) and another garden, which has a large Buddha and magnificent views of the surrounding area. 

There is a beautiful pond hewn out of rock that looks like a swimming pool.  Our guide tells us this was the residence of King Kassapa in the 5^th century where he lived in luxury with his 500 concubines after he murdered his father. Our delightful guide is earnest about teaching us insisting that we pay attention to his information. Later I ask him about how he became a guide and he tells me first one must be a “helper” for 5 years assisting tourists in climbing the stairs. After that some are chosen and tested before becoming qualified guides.  He has been guiding here for 16 years. He has an 11^th grade education and has two children 13 and 10. He hopes to be able to afford to send his son to college, which he says will cost 50,000 rupees. I wonder how much he is paid for guiding us by the tour company and I feel guilty for not letting the helpers help me and for not having money to tip them.

Marble Stairs 

Terrified 

We arrive at the bottom first to be entertained by a man with a flute, cobra and boa snake.  Marie and Steve encourage me to find out what it feels like to wear a snake. I am not sure about this event but rise to the challenge.  However, I don't think I'll do this again.

Steve is much more confident

We reach the bottom to be greeted by our guide and John waiting for us. John is ecstatic reporting a 31 to 17 win for the Seahawks.  John is now ready for the next adventure.

An Oxen and Boat Ride 

Riding a traditional oxen pulled carriage we arrive at a beautiful lake where a young man paddles us in his boat ride to view the birds and landscape.

 Learning about Preparing Local Food

Add caption

We pull into a primitive hut where there are rice fields as well as coconut and banana trees.  

Our guide  explains all the uses of coconut

We are met by a beautiful woman. 

Coconut Milk 

Cooking Lunch

Roof made out of Leaves 

Weaving Coconut Leaves

She demonstrates for us how to pound and sift rice, split coconuts for coconut water, make coconut milk, weave mats and make a traditional meal. 

She presents us with a delicious lunch served on palm leaves, which we eat with our right hand. I find that eating with my right hand improves the taste.

-