Foto: The Buddha statues in the rock temples (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Sri_Lanka - It rained well into the night, but when I step out of my cottage, it’s dry. Today I’m traveling from Sirigiya to the highlands of Kandy. After an hour’s drive, I arrive in Dambulla. In Dambulla lie five Buddhist cave temples. Right at the entrance, I see a fifty-meter-high golden Buddha statue. It’s impossible to miss. The statue stands on the roof of a museum. All in all, it’s a rather kitschy display. Via a concrete staircase beside the enormous statue, I climb up to the rock temples. As I enter the first cave, I see a fourteen-meter-long reclining Buddha. Impressive! All the caves are carved out of rock. In the second temple, there are numerous Buddha statues gathered together. The rock temple is fifty meters wide and over twenty meters deep. I'm struck by its size. The other three caves also contain dozens of Buddha images.
Colossal Buddha statues in Polonnaruwa
Sri_Lanka - Today is Puja in Sri Lanka due to the full moon. Ajbriy already told me this often means rain. I wonder if the two are connected. As I leave my cottage, I notice he was right. Large raindrops are falling from the sky. Judging by the clouds, it doesn’t ...
Safari in Yala National Park
Sri_Lanka - At half past four, the phone rings. It’s time to get up for the game drive in Yala National Park. When I peek outside through the curtains, it’s still dark. I hear a light rain on the roof. Did I make the right decision to postpone the safari to this ...
The fortified town of Galle
Sri_Lanka - Around three o'clock, I enter the fort of Galle, a defensive fort built by the Dutch. My hotel is located in the alleys within the fort. Ajbriy takes an extra loop to point out what there is to see. I estimate I can easily explore this on foot. The fort ...
The Jami UlAflar Mosque in Colombo
Sri_Lanka - Afterward, I head to the fort — the diplomatic district where many government buildings are located. I get out here and walk into the adjacent Patteh district, the commercial area. Immediately, I see countless little shops. I arrive at the Jami Ul-Alfar ...
The Lion Rock of Sigiriya
Sri_Lanka - The day begins with a gentle bit of sunshine, which is perfect because today I'm visiting the ancient palace of Sigiriya. The remains of this palace are located at the top of Lion Rock, a steep 200-meter-high rocky outcrop. At the entrance, the guide ...
The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy
Sri_Lanka - Around half past four, I arrive at the Red Cross building. A traditional dance performance is being held here. The show, with traditional costumes, is actually performed solely for tourists. At the end of the colorful performance, a fire dancer appears. ...