January 31: Adam's Peak (Sri Pada)

We have now been on the road for 3 months since we left JFK on November 1 and today was definitely one of the highlights.  It was a super early morning as we got up at 1:30 am and we’re on the road by 2:00 am to begin the climb of Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada).  It was a grueling ascent as it took us about 3.5 hours to cover the more than 5000 stairs.  The climb took on a carnival atmosphere with tons of people, music, rhythmic chanting, food, drinks and plenty of souvenirs.  

The climb was rough as some of the stairs had big risers and the end was wicked steep. The queues at the top were long as many people were sleeping along the path.  When we finally arrived, Kimchi positioned us in a good spot for the sunrise and we patiently waited.  The wait was worth it as the sunrise was absolutely spectacular and the many fellow pilgrimagers provided a ton of positive energy.  As good as the pictures were at the top, I think the ones when we initially descended were even better as you observed the valleys, mountains, flags, and people.  

We flew down, stopping briefly for some coconut water, making it back to our hotel by 9:00 am.  Kimchi ate some noodles while I had a couple of cups of coffee.  I also watched the Bengals and Chiefs game in 40 minutes -- thank you NFL International Game Pass.

Next, we made the 2.5 hour drive to Seven Heaven Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.  We got an awesome deal ($55/night) for an amazing room with breakfast included.