White water rafting down the River Kwai
Adams Peak, Kitugala
01.05.2007 - 03.05.2007
34 °C
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Little Europe
& Sri lanka
& Tom's Planed India Excursion
on NrtnMonkey's travel map.
Day 5 in Sri Lanka and as it was a festival day, to celebrate the birth and the enlightenment of the Buddha. We made our way north to make the pilgrimage to Adams peak in the centre of the island.
Adams Peak
Sun rise, Adams Peak
Myself and Paul blazed it up in 2 hours and I felt a little sold short until we climbed back down. The views in the day time were awesome, giant Buddha's, temples and waterfalls scattered the landscape.
Adams peak
Giant Buddha, Adams Peak
After 9hours traveling, climbing a mountain and sleeping only 2hours in the last 36 the idea of rest would be appealing but due to our time restrictions we decided to try white water rafting in Kitugala. To be honest either of us had the energy for it but I was enticed by the thought of rafting the 'River Kwai', as it was here that the film 1957 classic, 'Bridge on the River Kwai' was filmed.
Rafting, Kitugala
The rafting itself was ace. We were dressed like crash test dummies and thrown in a boat down class 3 rapids. I had to be rescued as I almost fell out! Our guide was a bit of a legend and back flipped off the raft, I won’t talk about our own attempts.
Me on the condemned bridge over the river, Kitugala
I left Paul in Kitugala to head back to India. My journey back to Colombo airport was something out of an episode of Mission Impossible. After 9 hours on the road the airport shuttle bus court fire and we had to be dropped off 1km from the airport. I made a mad dash with all the other passengers though a huge storm which started around the same time as the fire.
All in all I loved Sri Lanka. It has such a chilled out vibe and although people are just getting back to normal after the 2004 Tsunami all the locals friendly and backdrop is awesome.
Posted by NrtnMonkey 05.05.2007 10:18 Archived in Sri Lanka Tagged backpacking
Hi pugsley as you have a new haircut you are no longer uncle fester! and you looked like lurch on that surf board! how are you doin numb nuts? glad your'e having a good time. Mum likes the photo's and bobo bear says hello. Take care.
06.05.2007 by russ mayes