Naturalist Guide

A photo of the naturalist who would lead us on a nature walk this morning through the rural Hiriwadunna Village. He pointed out different plants and fields on the trail. The Hiriwadunna villagers grow their own rice and the rest of their food. For what they can’t produce themselves, they barter.

Ox Carts

Ox carts could take you along the trail and to parts of the village. However, we did not take one. Rather, we walked.

Ox Cart

An ox cart with two differently colored oxen.

The Trail

Still a distance to go on the trail along the lake.

Catamarans

Farther along the trail, we took catamarans across the water to visit a house.

Coconuts

Coconuts grow here and these men were getting the coconuts ready for us to drink the coconut milk.

Home-hosted Lunch

At the home, we had a feast for lunch: rice, pumpkin, eggplant, beans, chips, curry, and “dynamite”––what we could call very hot salsa. Our tour guide, Shyam, is describing the menu. All the food was home–grown.

The Meal

Plates were woven and covered with lotus leaves. This is what your plate would look like if you tried everything.

Lake Crossing

After our lunch, we went back on the catamarans, which let us off closer down the trail near its entrance. Life vests were required just in case.

I have put my photos of the Hiriwadunna Village trip on a slideshow. Go to  http://www.peggysphotos.com/hiriwadunna–village/    (Slide Shows, Asia–2, Sri Lanka, “Hiriwadunna Village”).

Ancient Polonnaruwa

In the afternoon, we visited Ancient Polonnaruwa, which was first established by Chola invaders from India. In 1077 AD, King Vijayabahu I ousted the Cholas for it to become the second Sinhalese capital of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. It is so extensive that to see it all you have to travel from place to place by bus, car, or bicycle. You will see various ruins when traveling through the site.

Ancient Polonnaruwa–Royal Palace

Council Chamber

The Council Chamber or Audience Hall where the king and his advisors would meet. The friezes along the bottom of the chamber are of dwarfs, lions, and elephants.

Council Chamber

The steps leading up to the platform of the Council Chamber.

Moonstone

In front of the steps is a moonstone (Sandakada pahana). Moonstones are unique features of the ancient Sinhalese architecture of Sri Lanka. The outside band is of lotus leaves, then a band of elephants, and next a band of elephants, lions, and horses. The semicircular slabs represent Samsara, in the Buddhist religion, the cycles of birth, misery, death, and rebirth.

A Temple

We went into a very dark temple that had several Buddha statues.

Nissanka Lata Mandapaya

This was one of a number of pavilions. The pillars here represent a lotus on a stalk.

A Temple

One of the many temples at Polonnaruwa with a Buddha statue in its middle.

The Vatadage

The Vatadage was a relic house built by King Parakraruwa I. Its center was a dagoba (a shrine). A Buddha figure is on its platform.

The Sathmahal Prasada

The Sathmahal Prasada was a seven–storied stepped pyramid. Its function is not known.

The Gal Viharaya Rock Temple

The Gal Viharaya Rock Temple

A Reclining Buddha at the The Gal Viharaya Rock Temple. The statue is 46 feet (14 m) long.

Toque Macaques

There are numerous toque macaques at Polonnaruwa. Much fun waiting for them to stop moving for enough time so that photos can be taken of them.

I have put my photos of Polonnaruwa on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/polonnaruwa/    (Slide Shows, Asia–2, Sri Lanka, “Polonnaruwa”).

Buddha Statue

After leaving Polonnaruwa, we stopped to take photos of this very tall Buddha statue. Shyam told us that the different hand gestures (mudras) of the statues convey a different spiritual meaning. I think the statue’s hand on the left side of the photo is a gesture of reassurance, blessing, and protection. The hand on the right side of the photo, I think, represents a never–ending flow of energy.

Buddha Statue

A close–up of the Buddha head and hands.

Buddha Statue

A close–up of the feet. Sometimes, the position of the feet also has a spiritual meaning––unknown here.

Frieze

One of the friezes along the steps.

Elephant Sculpture

An elephant sculpture in a pond in front of the statue.

Bird Statues

Two statues of birds were also in the pond.

Watch and Protect Your Mind

This sign was near the Buddha statue: Watch and Protect Your Mind. This Is How Your Mind Works. “Due to the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, you will automatically experience either a happy feeling or an unhappy feeling. With feelings as condition craving arises. With craving as condition pursuit and search arises. Depending on pursuit there is Gain/Profits. Due to profits Decision Making take place considering pros and cons. Depending on decisions, desire and lust arises. Due to desire and lust, feeling of possessiveness arises. Due to feeling of possessiveness, finally the need arises. Having owned it, stinginess sets in. Due to stinginess, the requirement of protecting and securing arises. Various unwholesome phenomena originate. Taking up of clubs and weapons, conflicts, disputes, quarrels, insulting speech, slander and falsehoods.”

On the Road

On the way to our hotel, we saw this elephant in an elephant preserve bordering the road.

Elephant Almost on the Road

A different elephant on the side of the road.

Elephant Crossing the Road

The elephant started crossing the road. It did make it to the other side. Elephants, of course, have the right of way.

Back at Our Hotel

A very nice greeting back in my room at our hotel.