Sri Lanka D4: Let's give it all !

I take a bit long to tell you about Sri Lanka, and the more I wait , the more feelings are fading ... but if one thing is not, it is the 4th day of our trip...


In the middle of the island is standing a sacred montain ... It is one of these places in the world that as a meaning for many religions ... One of those place on which everyone kinda of agree on the sacred charactere no matter the religion. Just for that it is worth taking a look at it.

That place it is Adam Peak, considered as the place where Buddha had his last step before illumination and where Adam did his first step when he got quicked out of Eden Garden. The beginning for one, the end for the other !

This pilgrimage we decided to do it , and this montain we decided to climb it ! (Cf 1st post : "Those weird things we do when on a trip" !!! ) . Moreover to climb it with the locals and the climb it by night to make the most out of the fresh night and see the sunset from the top .

The more I think about it the less I figure out what 5,200 steps represents .... I try to convert it into a number of floors ... I count the steps in the hotel ... not helping  ! What is 5,200 steps  ??? I have no clue .

At 2 am, when I wake up, take a look outside and see the top of Adam Peack  and the luminous path , I quicky figure out what is 5,200 steps ! It is inhuman !!!

But no choice, we are not gonna change of mind now, we have to do it.

It starts quite easily ... a few steps and long walk, a few steps, a long walk ... for around an hour. Until here, we are fine ! And we are not alone.  Hundred of Sri Lankan poeple climb or get down the montain ... poeple are singing, talk to us with the only sentance they know in English "Hello Madam' where are you from?.

All generations are suffering together and in all possible conditions ...10 years old kids, grannies, pregenant women ... some of them are barefoot, some of them have just old flip flop. If the old ladies manage to do it, we can do it !

We climb, climb, climb, and the village behind us is getting smaller and smaller .... but the top doent seem seems to get any closer ! But it is ! The music from the temple on the top is getting louder and louder , the crowd is getting more intense and the steps are getting higher and closer ! At some point I climb only a step at the time due to the density of poeple. I lost the girls on the way ... I am a definitely the less fit and the slower among us !  I cross path with a old man carried by two young boys, and a old lady climbing on all fours .... 

And suddenly ... it is done ! After 3 hours , I am finally at the top and I find the girls with a lot of joy and satisfaction ! We did it !

We take out our shoes, put on all the warm clothes we have and walk around the temple. The crowd is impressive. Poeple are praying, resting, sleeping, or simply waiting under blankets for the sun to come up , to warm  up our bones, our faith, our heart and motivation !

Slowly the sun comes up and gives way to an amazing sight ... I am on the top of the world ! Nothing around us is higher ... even the clouds are way below us, stuck at the top of the small hills around.
If Adam fell here from Eden Garden ... it could have been worse honnestly !

The irregular sound of a belt wakes me up ! There is a tradition ... we have to ring the bell as many time as we climb the Peak ! Some of them ring it up to 0 times !

I ring it only once but the satisfaction is full ! Once more I feel like there is nothing I can't achieve ... and I like the feeling, which is quite rare.

The sun rise the weather is awesome, it is hot, but it is time to go back already to avoid the crowd and catch our train. And going downs happens to be as tough as going up ! My knees are having a hard time !
2 hours later it is already over ...

In the hostel I take the coldest shower of my life ... the water comes directly from the river just next to the garden. .... Breakfast is waiting for us .... AWESOME !

Hey did I told you .... WONDERFULL