SL 13 Play the Game Days 36 & 37

The main reason we selected Sri Lanka as a holiday destination was to get to the cricket - and today was the first day of the test match. Although we are only around 10km west of Kandy, and Pallenkele cricket ground is 10km east, it took us 90 minutes to get there through the traffic snarls that choke Kandy 24 hours a day. Finally at the ground we joined the queue for tickets, eventually finding out that it was either free to get in and sit on the grass in the sun, or you could pay 200 Rp ($2) to sit undervshade in the top tier of the grandstand. Who could resist a bargain like that ? It was overcast but with some periods of bright sunshine, so the shade was welcome. The cricket itself was absorbing, with wickets falling regularly. By lunchtime we were ready for a beer - and although we had to queue for a while to get a drink we had the next pleasant surprise : beers

were only $2 each. Rather than brave the queue too often we bought a few at a time, all in the name of efficiency. The only dampener on the day (literally) was the rain that came down in the afternoon washing out the final session, but it did give us the chance to go into Kandy firstly for a cup of tea in a local cafe and then to see a local cultural show of traditional dancing, drumming and acrobatics. It was all very entertaining, and then afterwards it was back to the hotel for another superb cooked meal of assorted curries.
Next day was similar - overcast with rain forecast in the afternoon. Again wickets fell, but Australia built up a handy first innings lead. Just after the first wicket falling in Sri Lanka's second innings down came the rain again. Carmel and Justine provided entertainment for the crowd with their dancing, but eventually the announcement came that there would be no more play for the day. We all travelled back into town to a restaurant overlooking Kandy Lake and sat sampling the local spirit arrack that is distilled from the coconut flower. Then it was back to the hotel for our final dinner together, with both our drivers invited to say thank you for their care and attention.
Tomorrow we explore Kandy and then head home.