Tuesday, 17.09.2019

After breakfast, we continued to the rock monastery Mulkirigala Raja Maha Viharaya. About 500 worthwhile steps. A sweaty affair at nearly 30 degrees and a humidity of over 90%. Monks have been living here in caves under overhanging rocks since the 3rd century BC.

Happy to be back at the bus, we went straight to our next accommodation, the Oga Reach Hotel in Tissamaharama, right on the shore of a large reservoir with countless lotus plants, crocodiles, and noisy monkeys.

On the way there, we had the opportunity to taste local fruits, fresh from the farmer, such as vomit fruit (edible, but once is enough), wood apple, king coconut, papaya, passionfruit, soursop, cherimoya, mini bananas...

In the evening, we visited the Kataragama Temple, a Hindu temple, where we were allowed to observe the offering ceremony and even sacrificed fruits for a long and healthy life. Finally, a monk gave us a lucky bracelet.

Tomorrow we will have to get up early, at 5:30 am, to go on a jeep safari in Yala National Park.