Morning school visit in Polonnaruwa
Began day with a visit to the temple behind the Orchid Guest House in Polonnaruwa, then visited a school with kindergarten-aged children. We held hands, made a circle, played a game, and sang a song. Nice moment.
Bus from Polonnaruwa to Anuradhapura
Content bus ride with wind flowing through my hair to Anuradhapura.
Stayed at Kondamalle Hotel, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Ate a bunch of the short eats made of bread packed with spice, egg and fish. Spoke for a bit with some ambitious students who said they were town planners. I told them that if I was planning a town, I’d have efficient mass transit to my city, an area to park cars and scooters – the city would be walking and bicycle only. Maybe an underground train system. Inevitably cities will operate like the Saigon madhouse as population increases.
Peaceful visit to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura
Walked to Sri Maha Bodhiya tree. Happy to find no ticket booth for this sacred site and that area of the city. As I began the long walk home, I took a detour to some ruins and met a group of Sri Lankans around my age – they were coconut salesmen and gave me some free coconuts. Nice chat and we enjoyed a pleasant moment as one guy sang a Reggae song he wrote.
Not every moment of traveling and being a tourist target is easy. I try and say no as politely as possible and I dislike the stigma that just because I’m a tourist, I’m loaded with monopoly-like quantities of currency. Part of the wonderful journey.
