A monkey on my back

THIS month's winner of a Lonely Planet guide book of her choice is Lia Genovese who lives in Budapest and chose the Lonely Planet guide to Eastern Europe as her prize.


THIS month's winner of a Lonely Planet guide book of her choice is Lia Genovese who lives in Budapest and chose the Lonely Planet guide to Eastern Europe as her prize. Lia visited Sri Lanka for three months between November 1985 and February 1986, in the early stages of the civil war which was then confined to the Jaffna Peninsula and the eastern part of the island. Here is her winning anecdote.





By Lia Genovese


In 1985 I was invited by pilgrims to Kataragama, a holy place in Sri Lanka, visited by Lord Buddha in the 6th century BC.


Notwithstanding the civil war, we set off from Colombo. I spent the first night in a pilgrim's house but the tropical insects and unfamiliar surroundings meant little sleep. Driving along sandy beaches, we reached Kataragama midmorning.


Disaster on arrival! Elephants had gone on a rampage and the area would be without water for days. No shower, early to bed on a straw mat.


Slept little again.


Dawn rise to fulfil many religious ceremonies lasting several hours. Back to the dormitory, desperately needing a shower, sleep-deprived, mood at rock bottom. I went for a walk to clear my mind, stopping under a tree to reflect on the absurdity of it all. And then drip, drip, drip. A monkey perched on the tree started peeing on me!


And still no water in Kataragama for at least two days!





Travelers, anecdote-writers and readers of The Budapest Sun, don't forget to send in your stories (150 words max) to Lucy Mallows, Style Editor, The Budapest Sun, 1122 Budapest, Maros utca 12 or email to lucy@bpsun.hu and you could win a Lonely Planet guide book of your choice in June's selection of humorous and enlightening travel anecdotes.







08.05.2003