JAN 16 EXPLORING KOGGALA LAKE

KOGGALA LAKE
We catch a morning bus that takes us 20 minutes along the road. The driver lets us off 1 stop before our destination so we get directions from a young guy on the road who leads us first to his house and family then down the railway tracks for a couple of kilometres or untill we get to the river entrance to Koggala Lake. The. Lake has a number of Islands of interest which our host has suggested we might enjoy. We get in an old fibreglass boat and begin our exploration.

BUDDHIST TEMPLE
First stop a small Buddist Temple. We land and ascend a small hill to the site of the temple with a village of monks situated behind.

CINNAMON ISLAND
Next we visit a small island where a couple show us the process of making cinnamon. The gentleman scrapes the outer bark off the tree then separates the inner bark off the stalk of the cinnamon branch and lets it dry for 24 hours. The female pounds the dried cinnamon into powder. The aroma is intoxicating and we leave with a few stalks.

FISH FEELING PLACE
Next stop the "fish feeling place". There are two netted ponds on the dock each swarming with fish that nibble the dead skin off your feet. Mani and Kathy stick their feet in one of he nets and instantly hundreds of excited fish swarm their feet nibbling away. Both Mani and Kathy ate in hysterics. 10 minutes and their feet are nibbled to a new freshness.

HERB GARDEN
The last stop is a visit to an herb garden. We are shown lots of exotic herbs growing. We nibble on licorice and curry leaves, and see tamarind trees. A couple of hours later we are back to the river, have lunch at a place where fresh seafood is paraded in front of you for one to choose their meal and half an hour later it is served for you. We are back home for a late afternoon swim and a wonderful fresh tuna dinner at Wijiya before returning home to pack up for our morning departure.

BLACK PEPPER PLANT