Polonnanuwa

On the weekend my friends and colleagues Dr. Rana and Dr. Khaleda went to Plonnanuwa, north and inland from Batticaloa. It's got thousand-year-old antiquities and lots of historical importance but while Khaleda went to study all that stuff I, at least, concentrated on having a luxurious massage (though I didn't like the way the maseuse was poking my feet and it was hard to get him to stop), steam bath, and curiously cool herbal sauna. (I don't think it was properly turned on.)

Merlin Sri Lanka's Maternal Child Health specialist Dr. Khaleda Islam. Hotel Sudu Araliya, Polonnanuwa, Sri Lanka.

Khaleda. Hotel Sudu Araliya, Polonnanuwa, Sri Lanka.

We stayed at the Hotel Sudu Araliya which is very tastefully arranged.

Lotus. Hotel Sudu Araliya, Polonnanuwa, Sri Lanka.

Rear terrace giving onto rear lawn. Hotel Sudu Araliya, Polonnanuwa, Sri Lanka.

Entrance moat. Hotel Sudu Araliya, Polonnanuwa, Sri Lanka.



On the way back from Pollonnanuwa we saw lots more wild and not so wild life. Sri Lanka has a lot more cattle than Liberia, Afghanistan or Eritrea.

Interested cattle. Near Polonnanuwa, Sri Lanka.

The best moment of the ride home was like the ride there - we saw another elephant! Having had enough lush grass for the moment this one ambled around and then contentedly flung dirt on his back and scratched one rear leg with the other. As you do, on a Sunday afternoon.

Jumbo's brother 'Jumbo'. Near Polonnanuwa, Sri Lanka.



Seeing Jumbo reminded me to read 'Akimbo and the Elephants'. Alexander McCall Smith is very clever at making good protagonistis out of characters who are good people. Few other authors can make impeccable stories about impeccable people.