By Kassapa Ellepola
It is called friendship, the bond made between special people. Filled with respect and creamed with understanding, true friendship leads to new experiences, adventures and amazements.
It was December, the month it all began. The cold breeze invites you to test courage and stamina. It should be climbing up the highest mountain or swimming down to the bottom of the sea. We opted to climb high, to Adams’ peak.
We had a group of eight, six boys and two girls. A readily made simple plan including destination, mode of travel and food was more than enough. Travelling light was our policy.
Train travelling in the Colombo-Badulla route is promising for its scenic beauty which managed to trigger us as well, to take the ‘train’ to Hatton.
We caught the train to ‘Badulla’ from ‘Fort’, one morning in December. We were quick to jump in and catch two rows of seats facing each other, comfortable enough to have a chat. We sat down with excitement. The train puffed, gave a loud awakening whistle indicating its departure and pulled forward.
The train pushed forward through awakening Colombo, passing towering buildings and busy people. When the train gained its speed, the buildings gradually became shorter and instead were replaced with smaller houses. We left all our despair behind with the concrete in Colombo and were amazed to find ourselves enjoying our hearts out, shouting, chatting and laughing. Maybe it was the greenery which did the trick! It was always great to travel with good hearted friends.
The train slowly climbed the hills in the upcountry. The hills offered us comfort with soft breeze. The Colombo-Badulla rail route shows its unique glamour. The train traveled through a number of pitch dark tunnels, some very long. The surrounding was filled with neatly maintained ‘Tea’ estates, which added renowned beauty to the upcountry. The sight and sound of waterfalls made a pleasant sound which climbs down from high mountain cliffs beside the railroad. Cameras kept clicking all the time to retain at least few beautiful memories of these extraordinary sceneries.
Hatton was a dear little railway station where the train stopped. We clambered down with our luggage. It was obvious that all needed a small rest after a long train ride. After a small rest you can climb into a bus bound to ‘Nallathanniya’ which takes you through a winding route overlooking the Norwood reservoir. The bus ride kept our adrenalin pumped all the way up to ‘Nallathanniya’ as our hopefully experienced driver took turns in the winding roads at sixty miles per hour. (But alas after two days back at home we watched news to see the same bus tumbled down a cliff)
‘Nallathanniya’ was a busy village with a number of small shops and restaurants. We gathered into one for lunch and psychically made a toast with the fish curry for a safe journey. There is always time to waste in some ornamental shops, which we did and had some ‘oil cake’ tasting, promising the venders to buy some from them, which was a lie made up only to fill our hungry tummies.
We washed ourselves up from a small stream to refresh ourselves before climbing.
Traditionally, a leader is appointed to guide the group and as one of us had been here a several times we appointed him as our ‘Crew leader’. We were bound to respect him and his decisions throughout the journey.
Climbing can be started around two in the evening. First we came across a ‘Kovil’ where we followed some rituals and each member was given a colorful band to be worn around the wrist which indicated that we were assured with the protection of ‘God Saman’, the landlord of the holy land of Adams’ Peak.
We climbed up step by step uphill. We did not feel tired as there was plenty of chattering and laughing. We came across the ‘Makara thorana’ (Dragons’ gate), a stone made gateway which indicated that you are entering a graceful and spiritual land belonging to God Saman and that you should behold. It was a grand monument and few minutes were spared to read the placard beneath it.
Again it was the climb. Small periods of rest were needed and we stopped to take a zip of ‘Belimal’ (An Ayurvedic beverage) halfway from a shop and again started climbing.
The air around you keeps becoming cold when you climb high. We heard the soft sound of a Stream which was of the famous ‘Seethe Gangula’, the ritualistic river where generations of pilgrims had had bathed. We got into our swimming costumes and had a great time in the surprisingly cold water. It was so much fun to bathe in such cold water and we felt very comforted and strengthened to climb the next steps.
Resting shelters are made to rest and you can stay in at them to have a tea and a tidbit.
You cannot avoid the dark when climbing this magnificent mountain. But the moonlight along with the lights here and there kept us in the right path. We witnessed many kinds of landmarks, manmade and natural along our journey. The natural sceneries at night were the best which made heaven on earth.
We did the required rituals along the route accordingly to make the journey a complete one. After a very steep climb in the cold night, we finally made it to the top. Feeling proud and overjoyed, we were enjoying our price. The cold which overwhelmed us did not manage to freeze our hearts boiling with happiness.
We were in the top of the world in a cold night filled with feelings of love and friendship. Isolated from the rest of the world, we were dreaming our own thoughts. The endless night of experience and happiness will remain in our hearts forever.
The Sunset in Adams’ Peak is special. It is blessed. It makes wishes come true for believers. The sun peaked out from the end of the world to a new day filling the world with its might and adding strength to the world and its people.
We climb down with strengthened hearts, new bonds and with blessings, for to-be continued journeys..........
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