Habarana

Habarana is a small city in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, near the site of the old capitals Anuradhapura and Polunnaruwa, and within sight of the hill capital of Sigiriya. There is a nearby nature preserve, but even outside the preserve there are fabulous birds in every tree, and small villages scattered through the forest. We were treated to a local martial arts demonstration in one of these villages, although this was marred somewhat by the lack of a set program that required a lot of discussion under a tree.

Our hotel in this town was the Aliya (elephant) resort, which took its’ name very seriously. Everything that possibly could be shaped like an elephant, have an elephant painted on it, or be colored like an elephant, was grey and trunk-laden.