Adam’s Peak Hike: When the moon is not a loyal companion
Find
Out how our trip to Adam’s Peak was totally compromised by the full moon.
Out how our trip to Adam’s Peak was totally compromised by the full moon.
Are
you planning a trip to Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka? “Worth the hike,” people
say!!! Don’t forget to read our experience going to Sri Pada; It could be
interesting for all of you guys. What an insane ride we had! While scheduling
this journey in February we forgot a small but important detail which totally
compromised our trip: the influence of the full moon!
you planning a trip to Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka? “Worth the hike,” people
say!!! Don’t forget to read our experience going to Sri Pada; It could be
interesting for all of you guys. What an insane ride we had! While scheduling
this journey in February we forgot a small but important detail which totally
compromised our trip: the influence of the full moon!
Let
me explain it better: we were coming from Haputale and we were up to the Hotel
in Nallathanniya: Grand Adams Peak, which was just 100 m from the Adam’s Peak
starting point. The weather at Adam’s Peak was very fine that day and our plan
was to arrive at the hotel, have a good meal and start the ascent around 2 am
in order to reach the peak around 5 am to catch the early morning sunrise.
me explain it better: we were coming from Haputale and we were up to the Hotel
in Nallathanniya: Grand Adams Peak, which was just 100 m from the Adam’s Peak
starting point. The weather at Adam’s Peak was very fine that day and our plan
was to arrive at the hotel, have a good meal and start the ascent around 2 am
in order to reach the peak around 5 am to catch the early morning sunrise.
All
these plans were sorely compromised due to the full moon. Yes, it seems that
Buddhists all over the world have a high regard for full moon days and as
Adam’s Peak is a holy place, most of them climb the mountain on full moon days.
Doing so seems very important for the Sri Lankans. In fact just after the
Maskeliya Junction we had to slow down our vehicle due to the huge queue of
pilgrims’ cars headed to Sri Pada. It was around six in the evening and it was
already getting dark. We waited in the hope that sooner or later the road would
get clear.
these plans were sorely compromised due to the full moon. Yes, it seems that
Buddhists all over the world have a high regard for full moon days and as
Adam’s Peak is a holy place, most of them climb the mountain on full moon days.
Doing so seems very important for the Sri Lankans. In fact just after the
Maskeliya Junction we had to slow down our vehicle due to the huge queue of
pilgrims’ cars headed to Sri Pada. It was around six in the evening and it was
already getting dark. We waited in the hope that sooner or later the road would
get clear.
But
for hours nothing happened, we didn’t move from that certain point. Behind us
there were so many cars queuing and as the minutes ticked by, the line was
getting longer and longer. The Sri Lankan pilgrims, who were probably already
used to this situation, were waiting without any exasperation: some of them
came out of their vehicles to chat with each other. Others played and sang songs
in the middle of the main road. Vendors were going around selling food and tea;
a man came to us asking if we would like a foot massage and so on.
for hours nothing happened, we didn’t move from that certain point. Behind us
there were so many cars queuing and as the minutes ticked by, the line was
getting longer and longer. The Sri Lankan pilgrims, who were probably already
used to this situation, were waiting without any exasperation: some of them
came out of their vehicles to chat with each other. Others played and sang songs
in the middle of the main road. Vendors were going around selling food and tea;
a man came to us asking if we would like a foot massage and so on.
Because
of all this we realized that it was ordinary scenery for them, they were well
equipped to take advantage of the circumstances to do some business in order to
earn money. Nothing doing! The situation hadn’t changed one iota for more than
4 hours.
of all this we realized that it was ordinary scenery for them, they were well
equipped to take advantage of the circumstances to do some business in order to
earn money. Nothing doing! The situation hadn’t changed one iota for more than
4 hours.
With a heavy heart we had
to turn around our car to find a hotel somewhere closer to Maskeliya. The next
day we went around the tea plantations in Maskeliya and as you can see from my
photos here, we could only see Adams’s Peak from afar. If you are in Sri Lanka,
you are probably not going to waste a day, even if some facts like this can
compromise your plans, because wonders are just behind every corner waiting for
you. Nevertheless, in case you absolutely don’t want to miss the climb, you
better check your calendar to figure out how to handle it on full moon (poya)
days
Comments (8)
Anna
June 6, 2017 at 8:48 am
Interesting story! Such a pity you could not come closer to Adam's Peak ://
But nice photo anyway 🙂
Xavier Young
August 10, 2017 at 1:51 pm
I'm going put this on my things to do before I die list lol. Great post man I wish you the best of success
Just One Passport
April 28, 2019 at 1:03 pm
Very interesting. At least the trip wasn't totally water. Thank God for plan B's lol
Webb of Learning
April 28, 2019 at 2:54 pm
I knew full moons were a big deal, but I hadn’t thought about it affecting something like this. Great tip! Thank you!
Brenna – The Great Wide Somewhere
April 28, 2019 at 9:37 pm
I just recently saw a video with footage from Sri Lanka and now I want to go! These pictures only further that desire. Looks like a fun trip!
Melissa
April 29, 2019 at 8:16 am
Wow, what a nightmare – I had no idea that a full moon could totally scupper your plans – thanks for sharing your story!
That Texas Couple
April 30, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Gotta love local ingenuity. They knew exactly where to be to make some money off of the situation. I love it! I'm sorry that you're excursion didn't go as planned though. I hope you get another opportunity!
Just Lovely London
May 14, 2019 at 1:12 pm
Good story! So unfortunate that you guys did get as close as you had planned.??