Leaving Kandy

Yesterday was an interesting day of seeing some more sights around Kandy. We drove for about an hour around the usual winding roads which wasn't a very great distance. I think it was about 15 kms to Kadugannawa. Went past a Grade cricket match on the way which seemed unusual to us as it was a Monday. Our destination was the Railway Museum which is in the town where Bob's Great Grandfather was based. We saw through the Museum which was a display of all the types of equipment used since the early 1900's. Unfortunately no written records. Lots of old locos some of had been well restored. They still use the pre technology system of manually handing a "key" over to train crew which authorises them to continue on the line. When I say handing it is a snatch of a very large metal disk in a leather pocket attached to very strong stiff rope in a loop. We saw a handover in action as a train came through the station without stopping and it was a very skilful well practiced act. We also saw the remains of some old buildings but it was pretty evident that the old houses had been replaced and we only obtained a general idea of where Great Grandfather's house might have been. Bob took lots of photos to show the family. From there we returned to Kandy and due to some miss understanding between us and our driver we went to a gem shop. He had said we were going to a Gem Museum but we had placed focus on the word Museum and though we were going to a genuine museum. The Shop did have imitation mine pit and rustic liv8ng accommodation set up but of course a whole second floor of jewellery. We were a bit annoyed and told Saji that we had not asked to go to such a place. He was quite distressed and pointed out he had said that he told us it was a gem Museum. It was just an unfortunate outcome of his rapid speach and the difficulty of hearing clearly from the back seat. We got through the rough patch and continued on into Kandy for lunch followed by a walk around a part of the huge central lake in Kandy. we then went back to our accommodation for a relax given two fairly busy days. I need to point out that Saji is a skilful driver but the roads are hectic with huge buses, thousands of tuktuks, and drivers who don't follow predictable rules. There were Police managing busy intersections in central town but elsewhere is more interesting!