April 25

Yesterday was another chill day, as in trying to stay chilled! When we got up we planned on going out to get “Hoppers”!!! We set out at 0915, and went to No Name Restaurant – really that is its name. We ordered x2: String Hoppers – rice noodles in a formed circle (there were at least – 15 of them – we did not count or eat them all!); Dhal Curry – lentils in curry sauce; Coconut Sambol – fresh shaved coconut with ground chilli powder, green onion, and curry leaves; Fried Eggs – x2 /order, with a gooey yolk; Fruit – watermelon, mango, and pineapple; and Tea!! It was feast and each order was only 1350 Rs ($4.50). Crazy amount of food for that price!! It was so good! When we finished we decided no lunch… Because just after we had placed our order, our contact lady/housekeeper/sitter of the place – don't know her title, but her name is Gita called and offered to bring us supper. We accepted and she said, “How about some Sri Lankan food… String Hoppers.” 🤣😂🤣  I am not kidding! So we went back to our place via the bottle store, we bought some white wine.

We just had siesta time most of the afternoon, and a load of laundry – to make sure it will be dry by Friday. Around seven, Gita brought over the supper she prepared for us. She told us it was not spicy, since she did not know if we ate spicy. The meal included the String Hopper Noodles – but I think there were like 30 🤯; Chicken Curry; Coconut Sambal; Potato Curry – it had two hard-boiled eggs (we have not had potato curry here, and it was really good, lightly curry seasoned); X2 small containers of yogurt; and a small watermelon. We offered to pay her, but she declined as it was a gift from her. She left us to enjoy and we did just that with our white wine. That meal was so nice, and unexpected! We did have leftovers, of course, as it was just too much food! So… yesterday will always be “Our Hopper Day.”

Today, we were able to WhatsApp Jeff's sister and her husband. Always so good to see your loved ones and connect. Then we had some left over string hopper noodles with the yogurt, some chilli jam and coconut Sambal for breakfast. Very nice way to start the day, but I think we are done with String Hoppers for a few days – as we still had left over hoppers. (We had them “hop” away to the trash bin – Ha-Ha!!)   

Anyway, we decided to go out, as there is one place left we wanted to see here in Kandy. It is the Sri Dalada Maligawa, aka, The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It is an easy 3/4 mile walk around the other side of the lake from our place. We arrived around 1045, paying our foreigner entrance fee (and leaving our shoes at a foreigner shoe stand), which includes the temple and a couple of museums. This temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, “houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha” – left canine tooth, stated in the temple complex somewhere, as my memory serves. The temple is in the old Royal Palace complex and was built by one of the last kings of Sri Lanka. Also this temple is of great significance and importance to Buddhists(most important in Sri Lanka), and actually is a pilgrimage site for them.

The building has a gold roof and it was busy! As we entered we were corralled in a line, many were pushing to get in with their flower offerings. We got closer, and we understood their urgency. The room that has the shrine, that encapsulates and holds the relic tooth of Buddha, was open for all see – the shrine, not the tooth. We were surprised, as the room is only open a couple of times daily (we thought times to be 0530ish and evening). No pictures were allowed. The shrine holder was like two feet tall, all gilded in gold trim and a shimmering chiffon-type covering. The outside of the temple has many carved and painted wood beam supports, beautiful craftsmanship. There are many natural, as in not carved, elephant husks decorating the entrances also. It was a lot to take in quickly, due to the opening of the tooth shrine display. I understood the pushing and guards motioning people to keep moving. 

We left and went to the first museum, Sri Dalada Museum. It is surrounding the temple and connected to it, so we just flowed into it. The museum showcased items of Sri Lankan history (jewelry, coins, and many paper scripts all in Sinhala, including some from then, Prince Charles) and many items donated to the temple itself, a lot from Burma (Myanmar) – which were some of the most impressive ones, Thailand, China, etc. We weren't allowed to take pictures here either.

Next we went to The Museum of World Buddhism. It showcased different Buddhist temples and artifacts in different Buddhist countries, like: Burma, China, Korea, Vietnam, Loas, Cambodia, and Japan – plus others. No pictures were allowed inside here either. But we were fascinated by all the differences in stupas. Burma's really was spectacular, but we won't be going there anytime soon, as they need a stable government for safety!!

After here we went up the Elephant Stables – the Royal Tuskers, as they are known. We saw one “tusker” being bathed and seeming to enjoy every minute of it's 'massage therapy' session. Another elephant was out and being fed. It was great to see them up close. These creatures seem to be gentle but they are large and muscled. Unfortunately, the elephants were chained where they were at. That was difficult to see.

From here we went back through the complex to get to the entrance we came in to collect our shoes. The old Royal Palace is closed and has been closed for sometime for extensive renovation. Took some outside pics and left the complex in search of lunch. As we exited there was a great water fountain working erected in 1875 by 'The Coffee Planters of Ceylon' – it was commemorated at a visit by whoever was the the Prince of Wales at the time. Anyway, we found Dhawalagiri Restaurant, a more local place. We ordered and enjoyed Vegetable Lemon Rice and Vegetable Kottu. Then we found a Sri Lankan coffee roaster and bought me some coffee. I'll try it tomorrow, looking forward to that.

Back at our place, we cooled off and relaxed. I started this blog and Jeff read. We had light supper of Manioc chips with cream style corn and the watermelon from last night. It wasn't too bad. Then after, without any sunset action, I finished this blog as Jeff planned and read. Then we packed. Tomorrow we leave Kandy on the 9:18- “ish” train.