Sri Lanka - Dalhousie (Adam's Peak)15 Feb 2006
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Adam's Peak
It's Green and it's a House.
Up early again to get to the train station only to find when I get there that the railway workers had all gone on strike. Back to Kandy and jumped on a bus to Hatton where I should be able to get a bus to Dalhousie, a small town at the base of the mighty "Adam's Peak". No buses are apparent so take expensive taxi ride (think I should learn to be more patient). The journey was slightly unnerving because of the two full cans of petrol swaying round in the front and only prevented from falling over by the driver's left foot. I refuse an offer of a cigarette and I'm relieved that the driver doesn't light up either. The rather battered taxi also appears to have an 8-track player and a broken speedometer. On the way we go through several police roadblocks (used due to the terrorist activities of the LTTE or "Tamil Tigers"). Rather oddly, they all seem to be sponsored by various companies. I also notice that horn etiquette is rather different in Sri Lanka than in India - drivers using the horn to warn oncoming traffic when going round blind corners and using 2 beeps to indicate to the car in front that you are coming past and then again to thank the driver who returns a 1 beep "don't mention it"! In India it just seems to be a constant blare of horns saying get out of my way. In Dalhousie (one of many towns with Scottish names in the area) I'm staying at "The Green House" a simple (cheap!) but friendly place recommended by several people - particularly as it's right at the start of the walk up Adam's Peak! The peak is just over a 1000m climb up 5000+ steps and is a place of pilgriamage for many Sri Lankans with it having significance for several religions. Hopefully it won't be too busy the following morning when I shall attempt to walk up it at 3 in the morning in the hope of seeing an impressive sunrise. At the guesthouse I meet several travellers including Andrew an ex-teacher and another 'proper' backpacker used to paying 39p for a nights sleep and dinner. There's also a Scottish guy called Jim who actually did the climb the night before but stayed for another day. He apparently got confused when he woke up in the night and set off at 10 and waited for 5 hours at the top in the cold for a sunrise that never came because of the cloud. I shall hope for better fortune the next day. |
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