June 18,

We ate a simple breakfast of yogurt and cookies with coffee, hot chocolate, and chocolate milk. We got around and decided to go to the Islands and some famous temples. We left around 0945, but first had to get some gas. CB, the car only is supposed to have 95 octane, of course the most expensive. It was 11,350 Rupees ($37.19) to fill up. We drove out to a land bridge. We crossed it to Naduturitti Island, and drove the coastal road across this island to another smaller land bridge. Along these land bridges, there are like set “corrals” for fishing and each “corral” has one fisherman's hut. There are small motor boats to get back and forth. It was picturesque, but it would be day in, day out hard work.

The second land bridge got us to the last Island that CB, can go to without a ferry, Kurikadduwan. We take the road to the other side and arrive at a parking area where we leave CB and catch a ferry from the Kurikattuwan Jetty. First, we did stop a little restaurant and bought two different fried crusty, savory type-doughnuts (that we have had before. We basically bought them so we could use the bathroom.) It cost 240 Rupees (79 cents). We walked the jetty, lined up in a departure building, and then 15 minutes prior to leaving, everyone is let out and has to grab a lifejacket from a pile on the ground. We all then load into the hull of a smallish boat. Only 100 passengers are allowed. Amazingly, we left on time!! It was pretty packed, and very hot! It lasted only 20 minutes or so, thankfully. The water was pretty smooth, but we had an occasional splash in from a window near us. It was a welcomed cool down.

We landed on Nainativu Island. We unloaded leaving lifejackets on board the boat. The staff collects our money -Then we walk down this jetty and immediately we are at our first temple, Nagadeepa Temple. It is an ancient Buddhist temple. It is believed Buddha, from India, saw that an uncle and his nephew were about to battle here on this island. Buddha somehow arrived here by air and hovering in mid-air above the battlefield, pacified the two kinsmen through his miraculous powers, and converted them to a large congregation of Buddhism…This is taken from a placard outside the temple. The story goes into more depth, but I simplified it. We paid 2,000 Rupees ($6.55) for us both to enter.

So, this temple has a lot going on. There are supposed to be other special items here, but there are not anymore placards describing them. We just meandered about, took photos, and appreciated the workmanship. There was actually a man restoring some wall painting. There are many Buddha statues in sitting poses, and a large reclining one. Also there is a silver plated/colored stupa; a chartreus-colored tree (maybe the one Buddha supposedly hovered over??); and an enclosed room housing a replica throne with gems that the uncle and nephew were fighting over. 

Anyway, we left and now walked to the Hindu temple. It's called Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman kovil. Because of the holyday coming up (June 21 and/or 22, not sure, as we have heard both dates), this side entrance is all different. (The main entrance is from another jetty area.) About a block away we enter into a long awning covering the street, lined with little shops selling flowers, incense, and food offerings as well as souvenirs, knickknacks and food to eat. It is a hub of activity – four to five days prior to the holyday! As we reach the actual temple grounds, every thing opens up and you see the highly decorated Hindu temple complex with its grand side entrance. We sat under a tree in some shade right inside the entrance and ate our savory doughnuts, taking in the sights. It is a big open courtyard of dirt, with more awnings set up off to a side. You can see the main gate with its towering gate in the distance. Then there is a towering, gilded chariot-type religious piece on display under it's own protective awning. It must be at least three stories tall! Now there is the temple itself, all festive and painted in oranges, reds and yellows with decorations of every other color.

We finished and started wondering about, when a bustling started going on. A procession started with drummers and reed instruments. People started crowding and bowing, or raising up burning pots of flaming incense. Then out came an uplifted, huge calf idol being carried on many men's shoulders. It was placed on a platform. Two more of these huge calf idols came out and were positioned next to this. The three calf idols each had their own parasol to “protect them”. Now all these men went under this big platform, raised it, and continued the procession. So all three calf idols were being paraded with the worshippers going before them. There were cameramen – as well as onlookers, like us – documenting the whole worship service(?) This was so unexpected. We did not stay and left as they were slowly parading about. We don't know what it all represented or if it was related to the up coming holyday. These as always are Questions!! In too many ways I kept being reminded of the golden calf event in the Bible. 

From here we walked back out where we came in (you have to, to get your shoes). Then we skirted around to the main gate and entrance. These gates are so tall, and highly decorated with images of all their gods. Sometimes the paintings is cartoonish, but I did not get that feeling… it was more a realistic painted gate. A life-sized elephant stands in profile on either side. Now we walk down this jetty, as the boat leaves from this one not the same one we came in on. While waiting we bought a small bag of popcorn. We line up and catch the next boat back to our car. The ride was no different. On land, we pay for the ride(170 Rupees going- more because the collector did not have the right change, and 160 Rupees coming back. Total USD $1.08!)

We get to CB and load up. As we left we paid the parking attendant 100 Rupees (33 cents). We did find and attempted a car ferry to do more island hopping but this did not work out. There were too many cars in front of us – as the ferry only did two cars at a time – on a schedule. So we went back to Jaffna. Before we left the islands, we did see Flamingos! 

Upon arriving in Jaffna, Jeff dropped me off at the big Cargills for ice (roads are way busier and no parking). Back at our place, we unloaded then walked to K.K.T. BBQ for some flame-grilled – over charcoal – chicken. Also bought water and mango and bananas at a couple of other stands. We took it all back to our place and had supper. (It was 1,940 Rupees, $6.36) So good, but we discovered we only got half of our chicken!😢  Oh well, we will go back tomorrow, because it was so good, not because we wanted rectification. It was a spectacular day!