tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655889105820772060.post2735512977867875767..comments2023-10-17T16:44:08.588+03:00Comments on Fake Plastic Souks: Kaudulla National Park, HabaranaAlexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141884153180374138noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655889105820772060.post-8536098893724108462013-10-21T17:59:17.823+03:002013-10-21T17:59:17.823+03:00These stories about Pinnewala is exactly why we av...These stories about Pinnewala is exactly why we avoided it last month when we were in Sri Lanka for the first time. In fact we tried to avoid any such tourist attraction brought forward by driver/guides which surely involved some commission.<br /><br />We unfortunately spent more time in the mountains so didn't have an opportunity to see elephants so we've kept that for the next time we visi and Kaudulla sounds like a nice place for it instead of the more popular Yala park.Faisal Khatibhttp://www.faisalkhatib.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655889105820772060.post-14164194713556848032013-10-21T14:05:32.406+03:002013-10-21T14:05:32.406+03:00We struck lucky with Elephants, two working ones, ...We struck lucky with Elephants, two working ones, with mahouts, were having an afternoon bathe in a stream, we joined in, unfortunately watching children, locals, were reacting as dogs are reacted to in Arabia!<br /><br />We happily spent a couple of hours scrubbing with water and coconut shell, they seemed to enjoy.<br /><br />Later we had an ox-cart ride, now we were treated to the screams from the children, as if we were first ugly caucasians to appear in that remote location.<br /><br />Our driver seemed to have a good network of commission earning opportunities available, away from the Government view!Rupert Neil Bumfreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04460239805603476978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7655889105820772060.post-23562295147078364302013-10-21T14:02:41.698+03:002013-10-21T14:02:41.698+03:00I believe the rationale for Pinnewala is that it i...I believe the rationale for Pinnewala is that it is a place of retreat for elephants who been in work and were abandoned or mistreated. I don't know if that helps lessen the unpleasant feeling you got. I just saw the bathing and that didn't seem quite so exploitative.<br /><br />I really wouldn't bother going back just to see the Temple of the Tooth. The idea behind it is compelling - that possession of the tooth was the determinant of Sinhala kingship - but it is a fairly mundane Buddhist temple and you won't see the tooth... (it's the GBS Giants' causeway thing: worth seeing, not worth going to see). The temple in Annaradhapura at the Bo tree supposedly brought to Sri Lanka from the Buddha's own tree is more distinctive and much more ancient. As the capital 2,500years ago the ruins of Annaradhapura do require some imagination to interpret though not the colossal "ponds" - huge beautifully constructed stone pools which would be impressive for any era. The successor capital of Polonnuruwa (a mere 1,500 years old) gave me a real Indiana Jones feel as the structures are much more vertically intact - though being a pleasantly cool evening with long shadows and few other visitors (civil war time) rather than a hot day with crowds probably helped that effect. Kandy, the more recent capital, is by far the least impressive of the three.Rootlessnoreply@blogger.com