from Kandy to Dambulla and back……..!
Our driver Ranga is a bit deaf in the left ear so many a times
when I speak with him I need to use sign language….. We took a couple of days
to understand this physical challenge, till that time we were probably assuming
he had an attitude issue as my multiple queries used to elicit an occasional
response
He is in fact a very safe driver and throughout our 6 day
trip across Lanka we were penalized just once by a traffic cop for intersecting
a lane on a highway at high speed. The fine was 500 SL Rupee which he did not
have it in him and borrowed from me, though it was promptly returned a day
later when we reached the city
And the best thing I like about him is his sense of
discipline so every time we come across a zebra crossing he halts for the
pedestrian to cross …..that could be one of the mandatory rules for a driver in
Ceylon which I have never seen way back in my homeland.
He is very passionate about cricket and many a times our conversation
used to drift around the personality or lifestyle of a prominent cricketing figure
in the island. He keeps himself
disciplined with regards to his food habits while driving so lunch may be typically
a small sandwich with a cup of coffee
There are few traffic cops on the highway so driving at
high speed is no issue but almost the entire highway stretch is 2 lanes so you
have to exercise caution. The road is smooth as butter, but an occasional cloud
burst may add to your woes when you are navigating a hilly terrain
The best part about Lanka is that the population is
sparse so you may encounter few occasions when a pedestrian may halt or slow
down your vehicle. And an even rare occasion when you may have to brake for a
Cow or a Bullock cart or maybe a stray dog
The hills, lush greenery, small thatched houses, coconut
palms swaying in the breeze and the hot humid countryside all add to the charm
of the journey ….just as the Nike AD in the movie “What Women Want” showcases a
woman running on wet pavement, thinking to herself about how the road, unlike
life, demands nothing………..!
