Foto: The Temple of the Tooth (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
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. He walks over burning coals. Bizarre! Right afterwards, I head to the Temple of the Tooth. Three times a day, the casket said to hold Buddha’s tooth is presented to the public during a special ceremony. Because almost all tourists attend the 6:30 PM ceremony, the temple is crowded. I watch as the monks enter and open the door to the sacred room. Since the queue to pass close by this room is very long, I decide to walk along the line and watch the ceremony from a distance. That way, I can still catch a glimpse of the shrine. The impressive ceremony gives the entire spectacle a very special feel. It feels like a privilege to be here. Although it is debatable whether there really is a tooth in the casket — no one has ever seen it. I also visit the museum and the octagonal dome with a Buddha relic. When I want to exit the temple, I notice the queue has disappeared. I quickly join and walk right past the sacred chamber. I look inside and observe the richly decorated casket said to contain the tooth. Outside, it’s now completely dark.
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 rock temples of Dambulla
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, ...