Dental Health Magazine Dental Health Magazine Issue 7 | Page 52

Issue #7, September 2017
52
Issue #7, September2017
53
The next day we moved into
the elegant Queen’s Hotel, another
heritage sort of hotel. It was adorned
everywhere with generous bouquets
of anthurium, a flower I like very much.
We stayed on in Kandy for a few days
and visited many places and saw
many interesting things. Buddhism
originated in Sri Lanka so there were
many things to see related to the
history of Buddha, including his relic (a
tooth) at one of the temples.
Hassan got us a car and a
pleasant young driver and thereafter
accompanied us to various other
important places in Sri Lanka – Sigiriya
with its enormous rock with the
ancient city atop it, Anaradhapura,
Pool onarowa and others. And finally to
Galle from which we took an interesting
train ride back to Colombo, the train
running along the coast, the railway
tracks practically suspended above
the Indian Ocean. At every stop young
boys or girls would get into the coach
and sing a very hurried song with an
outstretched palm for alms, and quickly
warmly welcomed by a most eager
into the night and as we went back to
jump out as the train moved on. It was
Mrs. De Silva who promptly served us the Guest House, what remained on the hilarious (the way they sang through On our last evening at the Mount The word “serendipity” meaning tea and went to great length to explain street were endless miles of elephant’s the song) but sad at the same time. In Lavinia Hotel on the beach, I watched ‘the faculty of making happy and opened its door wide and free
how Sri Lankan tea should be properly droppings! fact most everywhere we went, children a spectacular sunset befitting all the unexpected discovery by accident’ for the world to see all the
would follow us asking for alms. other spectacular sights I saw earlier coined by Horace Walpole originated beauty and wonders it has
brewed etc. She sadly lamented that in
Today
Sri
Lanka
has
the whole of Kandy she could not find during my journey through Sri Lanka. from the original name of SriLanka, to offer. I have often thought
the nail polish Cutex and wished we At dinner the waiter asked me where I ‘Serendip’ and it described the country about visiting it again but am
had brought her some! We were quite was from and when I told him Malaysia aptly. It really has so much to offer and afraid a new visit may somehow
amused but entertained by the kindly he excitedly pointed to us the dessert yet the country did not attract visitors spoil the happy memories of my
Mrs. De Silva, who could hardly stop menu which offered a specialty, ‘Malay as it should with all the problems it has 1978 visit. Anyway I have now
talking. Delight’! My Dutch travelling companion been going through since the civil war an invitation to a Malaysian
could not stifle his amusement. started in 1983. I feel lucky to have seen friend’s
the country before the trouble began. to a Sri Lankan in Colombo in
That
biggest
100
evening,
Perihara
Kandy
ever
constituencies
had
with
its
some
represented
at
It was indeed one of the most
interesting and memorable holidays I
the parade. An endless procession have ever had. There were hardly any why I chose Sri Lanka for a holiday. My
dancers, tourists yet despite what the country own family suspected I went there as
musicians and acrobats, fire eaters, you had to offer. I love the easy pace of our an extension of pursuing my courses
name it! It was quite an unforgettable visits and the quaint places we stayed in yoga and meditation! Well it was
elephants,
spectacle of colours and sounds. at. But the heat was something else. really my friend’s idea, and what a great
Hassan sneaked us into the VIP stand At every temple we visited, we had to experience it was.
and being foreigners, no one asked us take our shoes off and it was then like
anything! The parade went on till late walking on a hot plate or a frying pan!
wedding
December 2017. I may just take
Even back then, people asked me
of
decorated
daughter’s
it up.
Article by -
Dato’ Mohd Yusof Ahmad -
a former diplomat, having
served the Malaysian
Diplomatic Service for 35 years.