The alarm came off at 2:45am after barely 6 hours sleep with a nasty mosquito troubling me most of  the short night. Nevertheless, the decision was taken to join the pilgrim up to Adam‘s Peak. The weather forecast was good for the sunrise, the body still strained from the last two days in the saddle. However, now or never.

No sunrise despite a perfect weather forecast.

A climb of 1000m over 5km had to be done, stair after stair, approximately 5500 stairs in total, one way! Well, looking closer to the altitude profile, the harder part is 800m over 2.5km.

The crowd was already well on its way through the dark, early morning hours. Some slept overnight on the bare concrete floor at the top of this sacred mountain. From 8 weeks old baby, carried up its parents, to the 80 year old elderly, helped up by the rest of the family, they were all there. Most of them wearing slippers paired with bobble heads and gloves. Approximately 5% tourists.

Unique to this UNESCO World Heritage Site is not only the way to get there but also its multi-religious importance. Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims and Christians all see their god represented at this spiritual place. Amazing.

I am flat now but for no doubt it was worth the effort.

Fair winds…