We've had a big day out today! We started off at a gem shop where we watched a video about mining gemstones in Sri Lanka. I couldn't get over the primitive conditions as the men dug the mine shaft, lined it with ferns and supported it with timber. When they brought the gravel to the surface they panned it for the stones. It looked much like panning for gold that we see from the olden days! From there we went to a wood carving factory - many beautiful timbers and...

We left Passikudah this morning and travelled back along the road to Habarana and Sigiriya before heading south towards Kandy. We were lucky enough to see a wild male peacock displaying his magnificent tail to three or four hens nearby. As we neared Kandy we began to come through areas advertising spice gardens and stopped at one near Matale. We were shown the various spices that grow in Sri Lanka, some on trees, some on vines and some that's rooting are used l...

We move on again tomorrow and have enjoyed a relaxing time here. Yesterday morning we took a tuk tuk into the local town - it may have been Barricaloa but I'm not really sure. We looked at the local market and shops. The market had the usual fruit and vegetable stalls. It seems that women only sell vegetables and men sell all other things. We also saw the meat and fish sellers, the chicken would have been fresh as they were in cages outside the shop. As usual the...

Yesterday morning we headed out to Lion Rock, we were delivered into the hands of a local guide to take us to the top and explain the various areas in the ancient fortress/palace. In many ways it was like going to Angkor Wat but on a smaller scale and without the buildings. There was a large moat around the area and remnants of various pools and water features. Unfortunately it was quite warm and humid which was felt with every step. I had heard that it was 200 s...

This morning we were taken out to go on a trip to a local village in the forest. We started out by being driven in a tuk tuk to a local lake. All of the lakes in Sri Lanka are man-made, collecting water in the monsoon season and preserving it for the dry times. We got into a double canoe with a platform between them and were rowed across the lake. Along the way we were shown many different types of birds - eagles, stork, kingfisher and many more. Our boatman made...