Bandarawela

The others have gone to a tea plantation then are lunching afterwards. Tea plantations I have seen and a day to myself sound like much more fun so I stay behind for the day and started slowly. 

Some time during my day of hanging out I remembered the disgusting chocolate I bought the other day. Full of palm oil and coated the roof of my mouth. I was happy to offload it. Palm Oil is widely used here and often mixed with cheap coconut oil. Gross

Wandering the streets I see a number of restaurants despite being told they were only in hotels. Most have ready made cabinet food, same old, same old. There was one that I would have liked to try but it was full and had no fans.

I pass a temple. Then a mosque. I hear church bells all within the space of a few metres. The mosque was the plainest mosque I have ever seen. All white, no tiling, quite boring. 

For my 120 rupees spent on last nights lottery I got 40 back which I reinvested together with another 80 = 120 rupees = .68 centsNZ. I guess that even if I win I wont get rich. There are all sorts of tickets available, drawn on different days, for different amounts. Many of the sellers have wee kiosks from where they sell. 

Today has been the first day that I actually feel like I am in a foreign country. I wander through town peeping in to the many shops, mainly small and mainly basic. Tuk tuks zoom here and there weaving their way through the traffic. People wander at a slow pace seemingly without a care in the world. 

I go into a department store where shopping baskets are offered beneath a sign. Red bag if you want someone to help you or black bag if you don’t want to be disturbed. I chose black and sure enough no one bothered me. It made me want to buy something simply because they didn’t hassle me. Why can’t we have that at home to save those stupid girls asking a dozen times “how’s it going”. 

I’m hungry and walk back to a restaurant I had seen early. It was very hot inside and they had no tables so I left. 

I am desperate for some proper street food, cooked fresh and not hanging out in a cabinet. Most of that is not fresh, I can tell by looking at it, and I really don’t want something that has bern explored by flies. 

It is hard to believe that is the best you can get.  I walk back to a shopping centre food hall where I had spied a menu including Lamprice which I have tried once and enjoyed. Curry, chutneys and rice wrapped in banana leaves. Even at 12:00 I am too early and it’s not available yet. 

Right next door is KFC. Against my principles but my other choice is Pizza and I know it wont be an Italian proper pizza so KFC won. I order spicy chicken wings and am asked if I want it spicy or not-spicy please. I ask for spicy and anticipate fire cracker hot. It comes and it is not. Maybe even milder than our wicked wings at home. Bumm. 

While I am eating I hear the call to prayer from across the road. The hairs on my arm stand upright as soon as it starts. So haunting. 

There are a few school children eating here too. Resplendent in their pure white uniforms that they appear to wear with pride. None of this sloppy stuff we see at home. How people keep those uniforms sparkling white and beautifully pressed I have no idea but it is so common in developing countries. 

The moment I finished my KFC the place with the Lamprice opened. Blast. I am tempted to go get some even tho I am full but then…..maybe not. Murphy’s law. 

I wandered around for a bit. Saw little that excited me but chatted to a few people then it got too hot and I headed home. Many locals are sheltering under umbrellas to keep the sun out. Maybe I will take mine next outing. I am struggling with the heat and waiting for the beach where I can be less covered, although that doesn’t necessarily mean cooler. 

Interesting that most of the middle aged men boast little round pot bellies, almost like soccer balls. But in general people are slim. Not sure how with the quantity of rice and coconut products they consume but it is nice to see. 

I’m now sitting in the garden at the hotel under the shade. I can hear the birds tweeting around me and there is a gentle breeze flowing. A pool right now would be perfect. 

I am disappointed that there wasn’t somewhere to sit and people watch in town but from what I have seen the people here are serene, gracious and mellow. There are no raised voices, few toots and so far no one has tried to run me over.  Everyone smiles or nods as I pass even though it looks like I am the only whiteface on the streets.

Back in my room I flop on my bed. Full stop. Zonked. 

I recover soon after and go for a massage. Despite the construction work going on next door and the fact it wasn’t far off NZ prices I am glad I did it. A lovely gentle oily massage finished off with gentle thumps with a heat pack. Divine. 

Hydration was necessary so I joined some of the others for a beer downstairs and once again came to rest. It is so tiring being on holiday but I have thoroughly enjoyed my nothing day and can easily say I wont be rushing back to Bandarawela any time soon. 

I am over meals but desperate for red meat so when I saw beef with prawns on the menu I quickly ordered it. Bumm no beef today, the cow has gone away. Pork chop was there too and pretty good for a pleasant change. 

Night from Bandarawela. I wont be back but thanks for having us.