Travel Notes of the Three Kingdoms
Sri Lanka Chapter 3
From Ragama to Kandy
RAGAMA
Draw a 38th line
On June 26, 2018, we traveled from Anuradhapura to the small town of Ragama. We searched for that house for a long time and asked many questions before we found it. Because it is not a famous tourist spot, not many outsiders come here, so it can be regarded as a temporary residence for my golden dream. Ms. Liu and I were placing our luggage and preparing to go to Africa at any time. However, we encountered a problem. The family only had one large bed room, which stumped the two of us.
If at this time you start to imagine the plot in some TV series, it is similar to the friendship between the hero and the heroine for many years, respecting each other as guests, and finally one day they have to be trapped in a room, sleeping on the same bed, and then accidentally roll over in sleep, We hugged each other again. I remembered that after I found out, I panicked, and then I got better... Then you can stop imagining, TV dramas are just TV dramas, this will never happen to us. As a love partner, Ms. Liu treats me Not very attractive indeed.
I remember that when I returned home from college in Nanjing, Ms. Liu picked me up several times. Because the train arrived at around 4 a.m. every time, Ms. Liu needed to find a hotel at the train station to spend the night and arrive at the station early the next morning. wait for me. We didn't have much money at that time, so we lived in an underground hotel. The room was small and dark, costing about tens of dollars for a room with two beds.
In fact, no matter how unbearable it is, there is no need to torment yourself like this. You can spend more money to find a better place to live, but I really felt very satisfied at the time. This kind of friendship that can share hardships has been revealed a long time ago. Every time I think about this memory of living together in an underground hotel, I feel it is very precious. There are some things that cannot be exchanged for money.
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Things on the train
Miss Liu sleeping
We decided to draw a line on the bed, separated by a book, and no one could cross it, and they had to wear clothes to sleep. After setting the rules, we took a shower and prepared to go out to eat and buy some dry food and water. Every time Ms. Liu goes to a new place, she especially likes to go to the supermarket. She feels that the colorful snacks in the supermarket with strange words written on them are really healing. Besides, buying water is always the best excuse to go to the supermarket. First, due to water quality, Sri Lanka almost drinks bottled water.
Ragama is a relatively small place, and you can hardly walk for a long time. The route is easy to remember, but there are not many things to eat. These days, it is almost either fried noodles or curry rice. I feel that our whole body is going to taste like curry. . We walked for a long time and finally found a place selling fried chicken. Although it was still chicken, at least it wasn't curry-flavored, which was just a change of taste. We carried the fried chicken back to our residence. Ms. Liu rummaged through her suitcase and found out the turkey noodles she had brought. Then she handed me a bag and said, "Just eat it with the noodles!" At this time I It was really hard to suppress the joy in my heart, so I quickly boiled the water and soaked it. At this time, the turkey noodles paired with the chicken legs were absolutely "really delicious".
B&B water heater
While we were eating, we discussed our future plans.
Miss Liu said: "Should I go to Uganda? I'm ready to go!"
I said, "I'll probably find out today or tomorrow!" In fact, I thought to myself that the chances of going there were not very high.
I continued: "If we can't go to Africa, let's go to Kandy! I heard it's beautiful there!"
Miss Liu didn't know where Kandy was, so she started Baidu. After searching for a while, Miss Liu put down her phone and said, "Okay, if we don't go to Africa, we will go to Kandy."
In fact, the entire itinerary is basically my decision. Although Ms. Liu will check it, she will basically not raise any objections, because everything is novel to her and worth exploring.
Turkey noodles and a corner of B&B
On the first night in Ragama, we carried it across the 38th Parallel and woke up the next morning to do whatever we were supposed to do. We planned to boil water to make some tea. No one from this family has been here for an unknown period of time. There were ants all around the sugar bowl. Ms. Liu complained while putting the sugar in the sugar bowl into the water glass. I have to admit that sometimes She is also really informal. At this time, I received the final result of the gold trading transaction on my WhatsApp. Because there were still some tricks in it, the final transaction failed.
At this time, I breathed a sigh of relief and felt like a huge stone had dropped from my heart. It seemed that I had never expected this business to be completed, and just wanted to be a free backpacker from the bottom of my heart. When Miss Liu heard the news, she slowly put down her tea cup and said: "I knew this business wouldn't work, so hurry up and eat turkey noodles!" During that time in Sri Lanka, Miss Liu's turkey I consumed almost all the noodles, because they were too spicy, so she didn't eat much of them herself. These packs of turkey noodles slapped me in the face so many times, and I was the one who said they were worthless, and I was the one who ate them.
From golden dream to Kandy dream
First time in Kandy
Kandy Railway Station
On June 28, we decided to leave immediately for Kandy from Ragama. Kandy is located in the inland area of Sri Lanka, with many mountains and greenery everywhere. From Ragama to Kandy, there are lush trees all the way. Although there are not many people and we have seats, I still want to sit there. From the car door, enjoy the scenery along the way. I am used to taking high-speed trains in China, and it is really therapeutic to experience this old-fashioned slow train.
Kandy Post Office
When we arrived in Kandy, there were dark clouds in the sky. We took a tuk-tuk to the "Elephant Hotel" we had booked. Probably because it was being renovated, the price of the hotel was not very expensive. We booked a mixed room for 12 people. I had a bunk bed room, but because I arrived late, I could only choose the upper bunk room. After putting down our luggage, we went out for a walk. Kandy is still a pretty decent city, and the buildings in the city are relatively neat. We went out to find a place to have a meal and the post office.
To
You from afar
The story behind the letter
Ever since we parted ways with Dave in New Zealand, we have been in the habit of communicating, but most of the time I sent them from my side, and he only responded to my letters on Facebook. Every time I visit a new place, I write a letter and send it to Dave with a local souvenir attached. I look forward to Dave being able to see a more colorful side of the world through my eyes in Canada. Since he went back to start his carpentry business, he rarely made such long trips. On the one hand, he was happy because he could finally do what he loved, and on the other hand, he couldn't continue like me. It’s a bit of a shame to do backpacking.
He actually traveled to Japan at the beginning of 2020 because Japan was still trapped for a while due to the new coronavirus. He went to Japan mainly for surfing. As before, he always chooses the best places for surfing as his travel destination. This Unexpectedly, the skills I learned at Mont Manganui in New Zealand turned into a lifelong hobby. When I see Dave surfing, I always feel that the same person he once was is back. The one who was a runner in the blueberry orchard, the one who looked out from the cliff on Cape Kidnapper, and the one who jumped off the waterfall. He is still the same in my memories. That boy, he always reminds me of New Zealand’s bright sunny summer days, the gentle sea breeze and the waves hitting the shore again and again.
After I finished this trip, I actually went to the small town of Montreal, Canada, to spend three months with him. After I came back from Canada, we were both busy with our own work, and our interactions with each other were gradually reduced. Some things were indeed true. It’s better to keep it in the memories. I’m very grateful that everything that happened before made me stronger and braver.
Dave from New Zealand five years ago
Dave from Canada two years ago
Package reply sent to Dave
That British guy
a little cold
Elephant hotel bed
After finding the post office, we confirmed that we could send things, but we needed to go there the next day. We returned to the hotel and figured out where to go next. In fact, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I came to Kandy. I just thought it was more beautiful and came here. This kind of purposeless trip almost ran through my whole journey. Some people say that I have no plan. In fact, I like this kind of spontaneity.
Back at the hostel, I found one of the hostel owners, Suranga, and wanted to ask for some advice. He gave us some recommendations, but he mainly recommended us his tuk-tuk service. It cost about 5,000 rupees and could be used in one day. Take a ride on his tuk-tuk and visit different places. Ms. Liu instinctively thought that he was just trying to make money, and there must be various additional fees. Because he was very enthusiastic when giving me suggestions, which made me a little embarrassed to refuse. It took a lot of effort to convince Ms. Liu to follow Suranga. After all, it was me who took the initiative to take the tuk-tuk this time. Besides, the fact that she could spend money in exchange for not having to walk still had a certain appeal to her.
The night we came to Kandy, we met Jack, a British guy, and his Japanese friend ikoomi. I remember Jack as being about 19 years old. He had various colorful tattoos on his body and wore two very large earrings. We just had sex with him. My Japanese friends completed a working holiday trip in Australia. They worked as seasonal workers in a mussel processing factory in Tasmania for several months, and then traveled to Sri Lanka.
Jack is actually a bit cold and arrogant. It seems that no one can be friends with him except ikoomi. Jack has actually been to many countries before this. He sat on the ground and talked about his previous travel experiences. , showing off various trophies that make him proud to others. Miss Liu didn't like him very much and wanted us to keep a distance from him, but by chance, we met him again during our subsequent trip and we even walked together for a while.
British guy Jack
The wonderful story of tuk-tuk
Don't kill me, I have no money
Y/N
The next day, we got up early in the morning and started a tuk-tuk trip with the hotel owner . This is the part that Ms. Liu still remembers. The reason why she never forgets it is not because of how enjoyable it was, but because she... , I couldn’t help but laugh as I wrote this, leaving some suspense and reading on.
Small museums along the way
Buddha story
The first stop was a small hill. Saranga and another tour guide took us up the mountain. There were many different Buddha statues along the way up the mountain. The tour guide told us the story of Sakyamuni's enlightenment based on the Buddha statues along the way.
Climbing to the top of the mountain, there is a white temple that is being repaired nearby. There are many ancient murals inside. It is a pity that the stories about the temple and the Buddha statues that I heard at that time have been forgotten. I wish I could change my mind every time I travel. Be more knowledgeable, but after all, it is just a good wish.
Tea garden anecdotes
After leaving this hilly area, we came to a large tea garden. Saranga first took us to visit the tea garden, and then took us to a tea processing factory, where there are various tea making techniques.
Of course, after visiting and tasting tea, it is inevitable to buy some tea to go back to. The tea processing factory is crowded with Chinese tourists, and most of them are carrying several large boxes of tea to take back. Every time you can witness the strong purchasing power of the Chinese people in places like this.
The salesperson kept explaining to us in broken Chinese what gold tea is, what silver tea is, what black tea is, and what green tea is. I was confused and thought that the sales here are really good at selling tea.
As for me, I finally bought three small boxes of tea, keeping two boxes for myself, and planning to send the other box to Dave. The rhythm of guiding consumption began with the tea garden.
Processed tea with tea ingredients
I bought three boxes of tea and took N photos
At noon, we went to a local farmhouse for self-service. Generally speaking, 200 rupees per person was not a big deal. The store owner was quite conscientious, and the little girl happily took a photo with us.
A photo with the girl from the farmhouse
Love Herbal Garden
The only photo of the herbal garden—medicinal pineapple
The fun really started in the afternoon. Ms. Liu will definitely hold me and talk about this for several years.
Our first stop in the afternoon was the herbal garden. It sounded harmless to humans and animals. An "expert" lying on a rocking chair in the herbal garden saw us coming and quickly got up to introduce us to various herbal medicines in the garden. Some of them were common but not very common. I don’t know if they have medicinal uses, but some of them are plants unique to Sri Lanka. I listened and translated for Ms. Liu. Next, the "expert" showed us a magical ointment, which can be applied on the arm. After a few seconds, the hair will be removed by wiping it with paper. Ms. Liu and I were stunned.
Seeing us like this, after introducing the plants in the herbal garden, the "experts" led us into a small room filled with bottles and jars of herbal products. They enthusiastically promoted these Sri Lankan "miraculous medicines" to me, which I had heard about for a long time. Sri Lanka’s herbal medicines are very famous and bear the name of Buddha, so naturally we were convinced. Because my mother has a hemangioma, I hope that there will be suitable medicine that can help cure the hemangioma. The "expert" recommended a large bottle of medicine that I didn't know what it was, saying that it would be very helpful. The bottle costs 4,000 rupees. I heard it was helpful and bought a bottle without thinking. Ms. Liu was fascinated by the aloe vera cream recommended by the "expert". She applied a little on her hands and looked in the mirror and felt very good. The "expert" said that after using it for a long time, she would become "just like a queen." , Miss Liu covered her mouth and laughed when she heard "just like a queen", and immediately bought a set of money. I remember that it cost about 8,000 rupees to buy a set. At that time, it seemed that the rupees were not enough, and the "experts" said that if we don't have enough, we can use RMB to make up for it. I was shocked at the time. The RMB is so strong and is used in Sri Lanka. Ms. Liu probably didn't expect that in addition to making tuk-tuks, she would have to spend extra money, so Didn't prepare much cash either.
We were stabbed by one person like this. I did it for medical treatment, and Ms. Liu did it for beauty. These two mentalities are probably common among people in the world. Let me spoil the final fate of the large bottle of unknown Chinese herbal medicine and the out-of-print aloe vera cream in advance. In the end, Ms. Liu went all the way to help me bring my human flesh back to China. My mother saw that this thing has no shelf life. Is there any estimate? What are the ingredients and the brand? They said I was going to poison her, so she didn’t drink it and threw it away. As for Miss Liu's aloe vera cream, it didn't take long to dry up. Many years later, when Miss Liu thinks about the dried aloe vera cream and what the experts said was "just like a queen", she can grit her teeth and scold me, and then laugh out loud. laugh.
Jialan Buddha Statue
Miss Liu spreads her wings
After leaving the herbal garden, we came to the Jialan Buddha Statue, which is a famous local giant Buddha. When we get to the giant Buddha, we must take off our shoes and cannot wear sleeveless clothes. The administrator there also gave me a particularly feminine purple silk The scarf is draped over the body. I checked some guides on the Internet today, and it was said that the White Buddha only looks more impressive from a distance, but in reality it is not worth seeing. In fact, it is not as unbearable as imagined.
The Big Buddha is still very majestic when viewed up close. With the sunshine at that time, it really feels like the Buddha's light is shining all over the place. There is also a watchtower near the Big Buddha, where you can see the panoramic view of Kandy. Miss Liu and I climbed up to overlook Kandy. The feeling is still very good.
View of Kandy from the watchtower
beautiful aquamarine
The next stop was a gem museum, and it was another place that made Ms. Liu shed tears. Girls are full of yearning for beautiful things. No matter how tough Ms. Liu is, she can’t control her money when she sees these bling bling things. bag. Ceylon is rich in gemstone resources and is one of the five largest gemstone producers in the world. It is known as the "Gemstone Island". Historically, Sri Lanka’s gem and jade practitioners often accounted for 1/3 of the country’s population, and the southern 2/3 of the island was rich in cyan or colorless sapphires.
We first visited and learned about the process of mining and polishing gemstones. Of course, this was all foreplay. In the end, Ms. Liu and I were taken to the store upstairs, where the counter was filled with colorful gemstones. When I saw it, I really wanted to buy one for my mother, and then I called my mother. My mother said: "No, don't waste money. That's it, hang up!" I just guessed. Seeing this result, she gave up the idea. At this time, Ms. Liu was already trying to wear them one by one. Looking at herself in the mirror wearing colorful gems, she felt that she wanted them all, but she was short of money. In order not to be spoiled later, I can only choose one with a moderate price.
The salesman looked at Miss Liu and seemed to have found a gem. He said in broken Chinese: "This is aquamarine, very beautiful, very beautiful!" You can imagine the scene, Miss Liu was overjoyed again, and after some bargaining, she lowered the price from 20,000 rupees to 15,000 rupees. Miss Liu counted the money in her wallet, gritted her teeth and said, "I want it!" The salesperson took out the POS machine with a smile and gave it to Miss Liu to swipe. The moment she swiped the card, she was doomed to be in dire straits. Finally, Aquamarine gave her a necklace. Miss Liu put it on excitedly and said, "Let's go!"
Many years later, Miss Liu looked at the rusty chain and lamented that there was nothing wrong with the gems. Why was the chain so inferior?
Holland Inn
The last stop was a relatively famous Dutch hotel in Sri Lanka. I don’t know whether it is really famous or not, at least that’s what Saranga said. There is an old-fashioned and weird atmosphere here which is quite unique. There are various black and white photos from the last century hung up, and as you go deeper, there are bats hiding in the darkness.
If we live there, we probably can’t afford it, but it’s okay to walk around and look around. We ordered the cheapest soda pop, which can be considered as a contribution to the place. After a day of heavy bleeding, we didn’t dare to buy anything else. We had to use this place as our photo shooting location.
Weird Dutch hotel
Lonely catwalk tourist
In the next article, I will talk about how we met some Israeli girls and went to Lion Rock together, and how we were forced to go with Jack and ikoomi to a small town near Galle Fort and take a bus to Galle Fort. , crazy photos will bring a perfect ending to the memories of Sri Lanka!
