From Dambulla to Kandy

Distances in Sri Lanka are not vast, but it takes a long time to get anywhere. This is partly due to the roads, but also because minibuses and other larger vehicles are speed-limited. To break up the journey from our base in the Cultural Triangle to Kandy (and out of the monsoon belt), we stopped just outside of Matale at a place that specialises in spices, herbs and ayurvedic medicine.

Our guide was a wealth of information, throwing recipes at us for everything from constipation to weightloss to a good cup of bedtime spice tea. He was able to reel off the history and 101 uses for practically everything in the garden. I must say it felt good to hear the benefits of the cocoa bean so highly regarded (and consequent consumption encouraged of 70% dark chocolate IN MODERATION, but every day).

At the end of the garden tour we were given information sheets with all the recipes and primary uses, then a short massage! This was designed to limber up not only our bodies, but also our wallets. Judging from Silvia’s haul, it worked.

But seriously, I never really knew much about what ayurveda was before. It’s a really interesting discipline – one I think I will investigate more over time.

PS One of the many uses for cinnamon oil is to warm the body by rubbing a small amount on the feet, behind the ears and under the fingernails. Arriving in Nuwara Eliya, where the temperature drops as soon as the sun goes down, we tried it out and it worked like a charm.