Of bumpy ride and cricket's miracle

Someone had said about some place in New Zealand: "When you get there, there's no there there." That's Dambulla, writes Jaideep Ghosh.

There are more close shaves on the roads of Sri Lanka than the most recent version of the twin-blade sandwich blade.

HT Image

The country is a superb tourist place and almost all the infrastructure has been created to help the cause. That is, apart from the roadways. While the quantity and quality of vehicles have gone up, the road is still what it was years ago — just for a lazy drive around the Emerald Isles. We started from Colombo towards Dambulla in the morning, and it took quite a while getting out of the city, which spreads out its tentacles like a giant octopus, reluctant to let go of its prey.

These narrow and often poorly maintained roads are the lifeline of the country especially where the rail system is rather basic. Every vehicle, ranging from an auto-rickshaw to 24-wheel trailer trucks use this little strip, and often the trucks are wider than the road.

On top of that, the vehicle we drove in, a minivan armed with automatic gears, had the acceleration power of an overgrown moped. But what it lacked in pick-up, it made up in braking strength, often throwing us forward.

It was not a pleasant drive. But one thing is easy. In fact, it is almost impossible to forget where you are going. You see, when you drive from Colombo to Kandy, it is the Kandy Road. On the way back, it simply becomes the Colombo Road.

So, we catch the Kandy Road, till we reach and sudden left bend and then head down towards Kurunegala down the — you got it — Kurunegala Road!

Once you reach that place, you then turn for Dambulla taking the — right again — Dambulla Road. Wish driving on these roads was that easy.

ALL DRESSED UP...

Someone had said about some place in New Zealand: "When you get there, there's no there there." That describes Dambulla.

This place is being touted as a haven for nature-lovers, but is nothing sensational. Any part of South India would have similar and even better settings. This is basically a sleepy hamlet that has suddenly been told that it has to become a big town in a hurry. A serious place for relaxing without looking for too much.

The fun begins when you start trying to work. No phones in the hotel, and needless to say no Internet. Cyber cafés have to be sought, and they threaten to lose down in a hurry. So, there you are, all dressed up and nowhere to go. But if you get to read this, obviously something worked out.

That's the miracle of cricket — something always works out!