Once I leave the air conditioned airplane, the heat kicks me in the face like a sledgehammer BOOF! My eyebrows are overflowing and 2 lakes start to develop in my armpits. Outside the airport I find a bus ready to go with the same number I got from asking on a forum: E03. I ask the driver if this will take me to the Kunagola bus stand for free where I can transfer to Anuradhapura. He wobbles his head and says "yes yes okay". TIP: this actually means "I have no idea what you are talking about, just get in my bus and give me money". Sooo arriving at the wrong bus stop in Colombo, I accept my fate and after asking 4 people hop on bus 87. Speaking English with my fellow passengers during the 7 hour drive proves surprisingly difficult. Every time I ask where we are, they wobble, smile and give me spicy nuts. The bus driver must have had some spicy nuts as well because he drives like a maniac! I see him driving mostly on the right side of the road (this is not normal here!) overtaking all the time. Because of his high speed, there is a pleasant breeze and I actually sleep for 30 minutes. Until the driver has to do an emergency brake, smashing everybody head to the seat in front of them. There will be 3 more emergency brakes and a LOT of honking. Although I thought nobody understood me, when we arrive at Anuradhapura (A'pura), the whole bus turns to me and gestures to exit here. I tuktuk to the hotel and fall into a deep sleep until 6:30.
Why do I have to wake up on my normal hour while on holiday? Because of the monsoon season it's best to plan all outdoor activities, like cycling trough the ancient former capital of Sri Lanka, in the dry morning. Also, it should be less warm. Wrong! Sledgehammer heat again. Everybody is looking at me. Is it because I'm white, sweating or riding a girl's bike named 'Cinderella'?
But Cinderella takes me effortlessly trough the ancient city. It's filled with temples, lakes, ruins, dagobas, monkeys, bats, dogs... I really do like the dagobas. I really don't like the dogs. 2 of them chase me, snapping at my legs. Cinderella isn't fast enough so I have to zig zag and kick them away. But except for this encounter everything was really nice.
In A'pura there's also the oldest human-planted tree, Sri Magha Bodhi. I had big expectations, but it doesn't look special so I'm a little disappointed. The guard is also disappointed in my dress code: shoes have to be removed and pants should cover your knees. The only solution is to wear my shorts like a gangster
In another temple I got a skirt which was much more fashionable (unless maybe you are Kendrick Lamar)
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