To Kandy via a spice and herb garden

Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Today we travel on to Kandy. Stopped off, just before the crowds started to appear, at the Dambulla Rock cave temple. Steep climb to the 5 caves containing dozens of Buddhas and wall fresco's. Large party of monks visiting broke into impromptu chanting as they entered the caves made for an eerie experience
Tour of a spice and herb plantation/farm. Did you know the nutmeg and mace are from the same nut ? Nutmeg is what's in the centre with a thin thickness of mace coating it, then all encased in yet another couple of outer layers. Informative talk about the oils, spices, herbs and their various life preserving properties finishing off with a head and shoulders massage - very relaxing but leaves your hair a tad greasy !!
The life enhancing properties convinced us to get the wallet out and buy many (most ?) of their products !!
Visit to a small temple of Nalande Gedige, a mix of Hindu and Buddist styles
Checked into a boutique  5 room hotel called Secret Kandy in the middle of town. This has been tastefully converted from a 150year old private house built during the British colonial days. It's going to noisy here so ear plugs are standing by (in fact the traffic noise did tail off early evening, the ear plugs did their job and we ended with the best nights sleep of the trip - just goes to show). A late afternoon walk to the upper lake - on route Edwina purchased a pair of Ray Bans (she'd lost her sunnies ?) for the equivalent of just under £3.00 which we think is a pretty good bargain - ha, ha. At the lake is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which looked a bit touristy so we gave looking round it a miss. Back at the Secret hotel for the best meal of the trip of Sri Lankan curries, dhal, chutneys, 2 rices and popadoms - with buffalo curd and honey for pud. Yummy scrummy !! The next mornings breakfast was the best yet as well !!

Comments

janet
2018-02-28

Hi both, hope your feeling well again Mike. Sounds like it. Loving the description and photos. xx

2025-02-10

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