Sri Lanka

2.30 AM! Alarm. “Cmon mate, it’s time to go”

The air was fresh and chilly but at the same time very humid. Our rise to one of the most spiritual place in the world was about to start.
When we arrived the day before at the foot of the mountain, we thought we were prepared. We actually had read a little about this climb but we suddenly realised that there were many people way more prepared than us. They wisely planned the rise, they collected plenty of information and they were sharing experiences and talking about which side of the mountain they should approach. We suddenly realised that probably we hadn’t prepared enough and that probably we underestimated the “climb”. Then,  when a girl asked us: “We actually found a nice guide, if you want we can suggest you his name.” I looked at my friend and we both asked for beers! It was late for planning anything, we were confident, now was the time to relax.
So, next morning we started our climb and we kept in mind what we heard from someone the previous day: «It’s incredible because the dogs followed us to the top of the mountain!” Actually, just outside the hostel we saw some dogs on the road and we thought “well, we don’t have a guide but with some dogs we could be safe enough…” I took a piece of biscuit and I threw it to the dogs.

As though they had never seen food in their entire lives, they started to run for it and so they became our official guides. Every twnety minutes or so we just gave them a piece of food and they remained our best friends.They accompanied us to the top and someof them even came back down with us! The climb was cool and wet. The last flight of stairs was as steep as a black ski track; it was definitely a matter of belief. A faith to discover a place devoted to four religions. Finally a place in the world where religions  merge and are no longer divided.
The reward ar the top was great. Fresh, pure air was filling our lungs. I was finally feeling myself purified.
A few hours later, at the end of the morning we  arrived back to the hostel downstream, exhausted. A local stared us and asked: “Did you guys see any leopards?» Only then we discovered that the hill in this quiet season is full of leopard. The man started to tell us story about a German tourist devoured by few leopards. That kind of story that is definitely better to hear after the climb! It turns out we had unconsciously risked our lives….

 

The southeast coat of the island is the best place to surf.

Not only are there good waves in Arugam Bay but there is also the easy and mellow point break of Whisky Point, the shallow point of Peanut Farm and the mystic rights near the Okanda Hindu temple. A few months later I was drinking a delicious pint of Guinness in Ireland and I started talking with a guy.

It came out that he was the guy who named the spot Whisky Point. During the war Arugam Bay in the code was called W.  This guy found this spot just close to Arugam and a few locals asked him to name it. He took the codename W, for Arugam Bay, and took it to mean whiskey.

 

 

 

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