The Tooth Relic Temple

Continued from Kandy Part 2.

The view outside

Adventures whilst trying to check out the tooth relic. To be honest, I didn't see a thing, and had no idea what I was supposed to see!

The final activity for the night was the visit to the tooth relic temple in Kandy. I don't know why, but probably it was because of all the driving around, we were all really tired and hungry by then. Nevertheless it was only 6:30-ish pm and we still had quite a bit to see. Now, even though we took a customised tour with a tour guide, his job was mainly to drive us around. He subcontracted us to guides from the respective tourist destination all the time. This time we were in the hands of a slightly elderly man who gave us quite the tour. He reminded me of a disciplinary teacher.

Unfortunately due to the importance of this tooth (or some other reason that we never quite understood) we were required to take off our shoes/slippers, go in through a room where were patted down for weapons and had our bags checked. No weapons in sight, they let us in - barefooted. 

The temple of the tooth relic was quite beautiful. After walking around with us and explaining everything he could as quickly as possible (and even forcing us to take photos in certain areas which you were compelled to obey due to his strict disciplinary teacher personality) he forced us into a line, citing how lucky we were to be there at that very moment because the doors were going to be open. The whole problem I had with this is that he led me right into the middle of a line where people had been lining up for minutes/hours? I felt terrible being put in a spot that way. It wasn't important for me to see the tooth when it was opened to the public. These people lining up there could be real believers who might have made their way there in hopes of seeing that elusive tooth, and there I was being put in the middle of the line behind my family (My parents had joined the line earlier while I was at another side taking pictures like he suggested)

When the doors were closed, we moved on to another side of the temple, was given a explanation on the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and also brought to a display of all the statues of Buddha donated by various countries and organisations. It reached a point where I thought I could fall asleep standing when he finally announced that it was time to leave. He ushered us out back to the shoe rack (no case of stolen shoes here, I think), and back to where the van was waiting for us. It was an interesting visit, though, and the temple's guide did a pretty awesome job. It was only tiredness that got in the way. 

It was dinner at the hotel after that. And there was a 3 man, 1 woman band playing old country music to all of us eating there. Dinner (as all food in Sri Lanka) was awesome.

Back in the hotel room, my sister and I almost became pyromaniacs. (Funny story, really)