Sigiriya, looking for elephants and climbing a rock…

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today was a short ride with a TDA lunch at the hotel. The reason was to give us time in the afternoon to explore Sigiriya.

In the morning we crossed areas close to a national park. We were cautioned to ride in small groups in case of elephants. While rare, elephants are known to charge as this account https://tdaglobalcycling.com/2021/03/my-elephant-attack-ten-years-later/ from the founder of TDA from 15 years ago recalled.

I normally ride at my own pace with frequent stops for photos, but decided to follow the rules today and rode with another rider, Kathy, through the elephant zones.

Start of the day at bicycle parking to fill water and retrieve my bike.

We started along the lake.

Stupa

Another canal. It was close to the wildlife crossing so I waited for other riders

Road intersection

Fancy coke stop with a bakery

Watch for elephants

Bob at a coconut stop

Stupa, close to Sigiriya. As we got close we could see tourists on the road walking.

Closest we got to an elephant was this (sad) practice of tourists riding.

Sigiriya was a tourist center with lodging, cafes, signs, etc. In contrast to the east coast where we saw fewer tourists. Also on a Sunday, some local tourists.

Be careful

Lion Rock rises nearly 200m from the surrounding countryside. On top there was a temple which is now ruins. So my goal for the afternoon was to explore Lion Rock.

A long line snaking to the top.

Nice views on top

Ruins

Tourist souvenirs

Many buses visiting on tours.

Overall a nice afternoon walking and then climbing up the rock. Surrounding the area were more elaborate garden areas.

Polonnaruwa, big road and the smaller roads

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today was a nice ride with cooler temperatures and just a few drops of rain. We headed away from the coast but it was still relatively flat riding. We were on slightly larger roads to start and much quieter and smaller roads after that.

We followed this road from 11km to 45km. For a few kilometers some local cyclists rode along. They were curious about all the standard things: where I was going, where I was from, what about my bike. They had jerseys and helmets and rode faster as part of a Saturday morning ride.

I saw more monkeys today. Mostly along the road but they were also rather adept at scampering along the power lines.

Shrine

While the road was larger, it still wasn’t very busy outside the towns.

We came along a large reservoir with this statue and a view of some countryside

Ice cream truck along the reservoir.

A lot of these upside down dishes.

Doug’s cafe, also known as the lunch stop. This was off on the smaller roads. On the way a scooter rider pulled alongside and kept insisting “you can’t go this way”. I wasn’t quite sure what the reason was but smiled and let him know I would try anyway.

Some kilometers of a reasonable dirt road.

Stupa

Clothes dry beside the road and grain dries on the road.

We came to an area with interesting ruins. Walked through several different parts here

A large monitor lizard was scampering off the road

Afternoon coke stop

Followed this small path for a while. Barely big enough for a big red bus and a bicycle to pass. It followed a canal. The road was wet but there was almost no rain.

From here the last kilometers and then along another reservoir to the hotel. A nice and not very hot ride today.

Trincomalee, rest day and temple visit

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today was a rest day from riding. After a large breakfast buffet, I walked to town and then the Koneswaram Temple (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koneswaram_Temple) and took a tuk tuk back.

The dogs were also taking a rest day.

Let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile – Bob Marley

Devine Mercy Shrine

Little shops

Informal stands

The chicken came before the egg… but the egg came before the curry chicken.

Where should I bring this wood?

There was a fish market downtown

We see these big red buses on the road. They pass quickly and make lots of noise

Dried fish

A stupa as I got onto the peninsula

Fort Frederick

Many deer around the fort. A few black birds decided to tag along.

This brought me to the temple. There was an inner sanctum with more pilgrims visiting

Signs for the temple.

This brought me back along the small shops.

I walked over to the lookout

Time to take a tuk tuk back to the hotel.

Trincomalee, riding in the rain

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

One item eagerly awaited at the rider briefing is the weather report. As we’ve slowly turned the corner to follow the coast, our NNE winds were likely tailwinds! Hooray. There was of course also a chance of some showers.

A church by the sea. The route wasn’t as busy as other days as we crossed slightly remote areas.

More military bases.

A village along the coast.

We left the coast to go inland, passing a more extensive area where they were demining (clearing mines). This link https://www.halotrust.org/where-we-work/asia/sri-lanka/ says they’ve cleared 300,000+ mines so far…

Watch out!

Sections marked off.

Once we left the mine region we came across this area with some damaged but passable road.

Welcome coke stop. Today many were curious where we were going.

This project cost $150k. In my opinion, development projects from the World Bank, UN, USAID or direct government initiatives or the peace corps are worthwhile. On a per-capita GDP, Sri Lanka is slightly richer than the average in India (but perhaps on par with wealthier southern parts of India), similar to Indonesia and behind Thailand. So it doesn’t come across as Madagascar was (very poor) but still developing.

Mixture of shrines and mosques today.

Our lunch stop.

No photos after lunch because it started to rain. A drenching thunderstorm for a bit and then lighter before stopping. Still warm so other than coming in soaking wet it was a welcome change from a hot afternoon

We now have a rest day tomorrow. We’re slightly away from Trinco, so will have to see how to get there.

Mullaitivu, following the path of the civil war

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today was a longer day riding as we passed reminders of the civil war.

This first dozen kilometers were still busy as we left Jaffna. The bread trucks are converted tuk tuks and each plays a familiar tune. This morning one came by playing “it’s a small world after all”. Somehow it seemed fitting, though then the earworm tune was in my head for a while.

In 1983, an insurgency sprung up in the north with the Tamil Region fighting for independence from the Sinhalese dominated areas further south. This civil war lasted until 2009 when the rebels were defeated. Sadly with a loss of ~50,000 soldiers and ~100,000 civilians. The red areas were claimed by the insurgency. Today our route brought us through such regions and included war memorials for the victorious Sri Lankan army.

The area has some narrow regions with water on both sides which also played into the battles.

I leapfrogged this truck a few times. It was leading a large bus of people to visit religious sites. Each time they would pass, we would exchange waves.

Today continued with many greetings. See a group of schoolchildren dressed in white uniforms and a “Good Morning” gets a reflective chant in unison of “Good Morning” in return. Afternoons are more mixed as “Good Afternoon” might get “hi”, “bye bye” or once “good night”. But still waves and smiles traded through the day.

Yet another marked bike path. Only for ~200m. It looks like when they widened a new bridge they put in complete markings with a bike lane.

Around 55km was Elephant Pass, site of a significant battle. There is a narrowed spot causeway here that the Sri Lankan army put a military base. With this base they could control the route to northern part. The battle is described here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Elephant_Pass

Victory monument at Elephant Pass.

This was one of two heavily armored bulldozers that tried to break through to the Sri Lankan base and go after outnumbered soldiers there…

There is a monument to a soldier who used grenades to disable the bulldozer, at loss of his life – but protecting the camp.

Monument

Inscription at the monument

Our lunch stop was just across the way. I like the fruit salad though it looks like the staff was having fun. It wasn’t as hot, so I decided to continue riding the afternoon.

Lord Shiva

In the afternoon this truck came the other way along with a dozen or so people walking with similar flags

Other riders were able to figure out the flag.

A few sites like this one where land mines are still being cleared. We were cautioned to be careful not to stray too far from the road for a pee stop …

The road became quieter which led it being used to dry grains. Here they were scooping it up again.

Packed back into bags.

About 13km from the hotel was another victory monument . Last few kilometers and then into our hotel.

Jaffna, mangrove route to a larger town

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today our first cycling was mostly along mangrove area. Swampy without many people and mostly straight roads. A slight headwind made for slightly tougher morning. Given the 130km full distance, I decided to stop at lunch.

We start the day off with breakfast

Swampy areas near the hotel. A big contrast in hotels – last night was a more secluded and quite nice hotel along the mangroves. Bird watchers would love it. Today a nice hotel near the middle of Jaffna with shops and other places nearby

Looking back at Mannar. Mosque on the left

Start of a long flat, straight road, initially concrete.

Church along the way

Temple along the way

I missed the listed coke stop at 46km but this was a nice alternative another 6km later

The road was quiet enough one could herd your cows along it. At other spots it became one lane because the other was taken by drying grains

Lunch stop. If there had been 35km left, I think I would have just gone for it, but heat and some headwinds had me be cautious this afternoon

The next photos in Jaffna – an elaborate library

The food court

Entrance to the old Dutch fort

Roundabout statue. Apparently Jaffna has a little less than 100,000 residents. We seem to be in the middle and close to many shops.

Mannar, long straight riding

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

There is a piece of Sri Lanka closest to India. We cycled out that peninsula to Mannar. The roads were smooth, flat and not very busy. The posted distance was 130km but I decided to catch a van when it passed me at 97km.

It was nice to get going after a rest day.

We had a riders meeting, breakfast and then I was one of the first to set off. I like these nice temperatures earlier in the day.

Good example of a quiet road, complete with resting dogs and also a stupa. I saw symbols of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam today. The far north was location of Tamil insurgency in the civil war. I didn’t see many war signs but there were multiple military sites.

Coming into our first coke stop. A little earlier parts of the road were used to dry grains.

A small Hindu shrine.

Corn drying. Traffic…

Lunch. Felt strong and I was still one of the early ones at lunch.

Fellow riders note a contrast with India in that “there are lines on the roads”. Here there was even a short stretch of designated bikeways. For the record, I’ve seen lines in larger roads and city roads in places like Bangalore – though also expect TDA has tried to pick smaller rural roads.

Train station – shortly after this I took the van. We are in a rural location without much else around. Apparently this area is best known as place for birders to spot birds.

Anuradhapura, rest day and tourist time

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today was a chance to explore Anuradhapura. I marked three places on my map, set out a walk to visit them and took a tuk tuk back.

  • The Sri Maha Bodhi Tree was grown from a cutting and is over 2000 years old
  • The Jetavanarama Dagoba was built ~2300 years ago and was once the third tallest monument in the world, the top two were Egyptian pyramids
  • The Abhayagiri Dagoba was another massive ancient monument and surrounded by a large monastery

I started with a pleasant walk along the lake.

A small shrine, some monkeys. As I got closer to the ficus tree I saw more and more pilgrims, mostly dressed in white.

A place to drop off shoes. I had remembered to wear long pants and take off my hat. If done again I would wear a lighter shade than dark red.

The tree is surrounded by the raised platform. Pilgrims went up to see the tree, while others rested and visited. There is a much better description of the tree here here than I can provide.

Originally 120m+ high and built 2300 years ago by King Mahasena the Jetavanarama Dagoba is a massive structure that I wandered one lap clockwise. It is described better here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jetavanaramaya

After that a little further walking, a water and a mango juice…

Brought me to the Abhayagiri Dagoba. Another massive temple to walk and described better here

I got a good sense of everything with these large monuments, ancient sites and still cultural destinations for pilgrims. I walked a bit over 7 miles.

From here a tuk tuk ride to the railway station which was close to downtown. I found a restaurant for fried rice.

Stopped at the big, for Sri Lanka, grocery.

Took a second tuk tuk back to the hotel. Now a chance to relax. I dropped off some laundry so will also pick that up later.

The next four days are posted. Longer days of riding. Most likely I’ll look at riding to lunch and skipping afternoons.

Anuradhapura, riding into a rest day

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today was a good riding day with a warm afternoon, so I rode to lunch and then took the van.

In Nikaweratiya was this monument to King Mahesan. Interesting to see how early and extensive some of these canals were built.

Time to celebrate Matt’s birthday

The day started well in moderate temperatures. Mostly quiet roads that went through back areas. Still friendly and curious locals. A lot of waves and traded smiles. Unlike some other places I’ve cycled (e.g. Cambodia and Ethiopia) where I got the impression of kids asking for things “you you you…” my sense in Sri Lanka is a genuine friendliness and curiosity. It is clear one of the first English phrases learned is “what is your name”…puts me to shame knowing a lot less Sinhalese.

A motor scooter stopped by and told me this hut was elevated due to elephants.

Even in rural places we come past stupas.

Yvonne at the start of the elephant crossing areas.

This was around 37km, and next 30km started going slower with a coke stop or two. I got to lunch at 67km but figured it would be good to take the van in the afternoon.

We’re now in a nice hotel with tomorrow a chance to explore much more of the sights. Anuradhapura is the first capitol of Sri Lanka and a UNESCO heritage site.

Nikaweratiya, country lanes

Mike Vermeulen's web Posted on by

Today was a good day riding. Shorter, less hilly and not quite as hot as yesterday. We were on mostly small back lanes – some unpaved but nothing too bad. The friendliness of the people continues to impress me.

There is a rhythm to the ride. In Africa it was governed by the sun, here it is hotel timings that appear to be the constraint. We start at 6:45am to drop off our bags so they get loaded in the truck. At 7am is a breakfast buffet style. In between, need to make sure to stock up on water.

After not quite finishing yesterday I was motivated to get out on the early side and keep riding before it got too hot. A random road intersection shows how dogs are accustomed to hanging out in the middle of the road. One or two barking today but better than yesterday.

Stupas along the way.

Coke stop. Shortly after this were some archaeological ruins though I decided to keep going and not stop.

Lunch stop. Felt better than yesterday and kept going.

I stopped and was greeted by a whole entourage of kids. People continue to be very friendly. Many smiles traded, waves, hellos exchanged as well as a sequence of good mornings. There seems to be genuine curiosity about us cyclists that have landed in their midst. Something I really enjoy about cycle travels.

More scenes along the way. Without much difficulty was finishing early today.

Shrine with golden lions and a golden Buddha.

One last coke stop.

At the hotel to pick up my bag and relax for the afternoon. Nice day of riding.