Arrived in Kandy Sri Lanka past midnight so I simply returned to the same exact spot in the park at the end of Bogambara Lake as the last time I slept under the stars in Kandy.
Step-by-step guide on how to sleep in the park in Kandy Sri Lanka (without sleeping bag)
- Check for large reptiles – It wasn’t until the morning after that I noticed massive monitor lizards crawling around Bogambara Lake.
- Put on long pants
- Tuck pants into socks – This will prevent unwanted visitors from crawling in your pants leg.
- Put on rain jacket with shirt tucked in
- Remove any hard objects from backpack, now pillow, and wrap t-shirt around backpack for a pillowcase
Cheapest Private Room in Kandy Sri Lanka
I wake each day homeless. Today I walked 8km with a full backpack inquiring room prices aiming for 1,000 rupees or less. Finally discovered the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) for 770 Rupees – cheapest place yet in Sri Lanka. No fan, shared bathroom, 10:30 PM curfew. Found some Wifi over at Pizza Hut with no password.
Visiting the Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha Statue
Walked up the hill to the big Buddha overlooking Kandy Sri Lanka. Set my shoes on the ground outside shoe check-in. Upon return, the shoe check-in guy had picked them up. I simply reached over the counter and grabbed them – no tip.
Had an ice cream and éclair. Sri Lankan pastry shops around every corner – difficult to overcome temptation. Met a few Sri Lankan guys around my age. Nice chat until they asked me to buy them beer. I showed them my empty pockets, turning them out for effect. The passport belt has come in handy numerous times to conceal my currency. I was a little more aggressive with the tuk tuk drivers today. When they stop me and ask if I want a taxi, I pester them with questions – “Where are you going? Where are you from? Would you like a massage for 200 rupees?”
