Spice Garden.......

Anil drops us off again and we are escorted through a forest of different trees and given a very informative tour through what they do and when, to make all sorts of homeopathic remedies. Then we are given some treatments. I get one yellow leg, which I'm assured will help with the mozzy bites. Shaky gets an aloe Vera neck and back massage. Very pleasant. Then some sort of cream is massaged into my face. Ok so this is personal now. Dave is given a natural leg wax using the milk from a jack fruit. Now to the shop!! Wallet.... Check. Shakys a bit eager so he says he will have all sorts then signs for his card payment. A little too late to realise that the bag of goodies we have, that will more than likely be confiscated at customs.... Cost just £130!!!!!
Could have cut the air with a knife between me and shaky. you can imagine. Needless to say I'm in charge of the money now!!

Now onto a gem museum, which was basically an overpriced jewellers with a DVD on upstairs. Items bought.... None.

Now the gift and craft store. Lots of Buddhas in various materials, wood, brass, leather. Items bought..... None.

From here I think Anil had now realised that taking us anywhere else shopping was a waste of time so we headed for the Temple Of The Tooth (google it). He gave us a very informative talk about the history and culture and credit where it's due he knows his stuff. Then shoes and socks off to walk inside the actual temple. We left our shoes with a littke old man in a hut and ventured in. The worst thing about that was realising the floor of the temple was actually cleaner than my hallway. We walked around and observed the people praying and offering gifts to the Buddha before heading back outside and yes you guessed it, if I want my shoes back it's gonna cost me.

We were then treated to a traditional Sri Lankan cultural dance involving very bright colourful dancers and a rhythmic drum beat followed by the finale of walking over hot coals.

Absolutely pooped now and just want to get to the hotel. Anil says we're heading to the highest hotel in Kandy and he wasn't kidding. The road up was just wide enough to fit a Nissan Sunny on, which was rather fortunate and it twisted and turned up the mountain through a residential area. When we arrived we we're pleasantly surprised at how nice it was and got checked in in time for the evening meal. So up to the room to freshen up before dinner and a welcome sight of a shower. Stripped off in to the shower to find it only had 2 settings, boiling and cold. At this point we didn't really care anymore and just got showered anyway then went and enjoyed what was a lovely evening meal.

The Monkeys!!!!!!!!!!

We were told by Anil that we must keep our doors and windows locked at all time due to the monkeys that hung around the hotel. He told us that they come at midnight and will KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK on the door just like a human to get you to open it, then burst in pinch all your tea and overpriced spice oils that you've just bought and run off.
So there we are laid in bed flicking through the tv channels and there's a knock at the door..........we stay quiet hoping the monkeys will go away. But no, KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK they're still there. We check our watches it's only bloody 10 and they're early. We decide to pretend there's no one in and hope they go away. It worked silence, and then the phone rings, bloody crafty these monkeys. Fiona answers the phone to hear a rather confused receptionist asking us to open the door as there is a man with a cake??????
I man up and decide to brave the primate onslaught. I open the door slowly and to my surprise there is indeed a man with a cake looking a bit perplexed at my behaviour. I put the kettle down and invite him in with his cake, a gift from the hotel.

Panic over at least till midnight MWAH HA HA !!!!!!

What will tomorrow have in store, will let you know if we survive the night.