Relaxed in my comfortable room at Emerald Homestay before heading out for a bike ride to see what I could see. Disclaimer, please google Anuradhapura Ruins for the details. All I know is this city was Sri Lanka’s first Capitol.
First, I put google maps in “walking mode” and ended up on some dirt roads. No worries. I’m out for a leisurely ride and it’s nice to not have any traffic.
I’ve decided I would just ride my bike around and not pay the $35 ish dollar to gain admission to all the sites. I’m not really that into them. I believe there are seven stupas of significance. I’m headed over to the “Royal Pleasure Gardens” instead.
These guys pointed the croc out to me on my way back. They asked for a photo. I assumed they meant of the three of them on THEIR phone. Nope. They wanted me to take a picture of them on MY phone. Ha ha, whatever!
Looks amazing. Just them a man comes along on his motorbike and as I’m walking away, “Hello! Where are you from?” I answer and continue up on. I’m thinking it will be a nice bike ride around the lake, but the man has stopped and is clearly pretending to be on his phone. My gut said I shouldn’t go up there again and besides, that whole fence issue left me I sure whether I should be up there anyways.
I’m annoyed now as I am getting tired of the attention from the men. I try to be nice, but it’s just getting old and I’m only a week into my trip. Sigh.
I reach an area in the garden where the path is just a mud pit. Time to turn back. It’s not all that exciting so far anyways, but it was nice to be in the shade.
Yes, I am happy there is Pizza Huts here even if the menu is not quite what I am used to. Spent the rest of the afternoon reading blogs (thanks people) and route planning and figuring out my timing. Not as much time as I’d like so instead of heading to the little town not far away, that had a nice hill to climb for sunset views, I’m going to push to Habarana.
Today's ride: 12 miles (19 km) Total: 949 miles (1,527 km)
