Day 14 - Sigiriya (Hot Air 🎈 Ride)

Another early morning … another adventure! This morning it was time for a hot air balloon ride over Sigiriya. ☀️🎈

It was a real feat to roll out at 4:40am again this morning but once we were up and moving, the fresh morning air and anticipation got us moving. Plus the promise of a nap later helped!

Winston got to sleep in this time around so he was pleased … Instead the hot air balloon peeps swooped us up and delivered us to the launch pad. We arrived to some pastries and bananas, and tea/coffee as we awaited the balloons to be prepped. Then it was time to load up and be off.

I = nervous / Mike = excited. We were the last to load in the box. Once we (meaning I) got used to the whole floating feeling, it was relaxing and peaceful to float with a bird’s eye view of the area. (Except for beeping that made me a bit nervous, but the crew seemed cool, so I went with it. I mean what was I going to do at that point? 😂). The landing was interesting … we landed rather softly in an unplanted rice field to be greeted by locals who came and took pictures with us (they loved Mike!) and the balloon. Then it was unload and champagne to celebrate the first flight of the 2025/2026 season for the crew. 🍾 Overall … an experience that I’m thankful for. Oh and our “Cheif Pilot”’s name was Topac so that was pleasing.

Upon arrival back to the Jetwing, we came upon a ceremony/celebration of some sort. We weren’t exactly sure how to approach it, but just as we were walking by, we were welcomed in and asked if we would be apart of it. What were they doing? Sowing seeds for the start of another rice growing season.

Twice a year, they plant their rice. And twice a year they do this blessing. Sri Lankans have two rice seasons; the Maha (big season) and the Yala (small season). Today they were doing a blessing ceremony for the Maha season. What luck! We felt so honored to be welcomed in with the farm workers and the staff of Jetwing. But just when we thought we couldn’t be more welcomed, they asked us if we would honor them in throwing out the first seeds!! I truly didn’t feel worthy … I only grow succulents (and that’s touch and go) so for me to “plant” seeds for their Maha crop was dicey. They insisted so we humbly accepted.

They outfitted us in the traditional farmers attire (a bit different than the pearl plaid button downs with jeans and boots that is the farmer uniform of Yolo County). And then handed us the seeds to start sowing. Surreal … honored … humbled …

Not to get too preachy here … but with each toss of future “life”, my mind and heart were open to the word God was planting in this 🖤.
The literal act of the sowing of seeds here in Sri Lanka was from God’s lips to my heart. As I tossed, I wondered … What kind of seeds am I sowing? What legacy will I leave? Lots to reflect on, especially as we re-enter reality here in a few weeks and our next phase of life. 🙏🏼

2 Corinthians 9:6
Matthew 13:1-23

Ok back to the adventure … I got my nap and felt like a million bucks as we headed out to the tiny town of Sigiriya for some shopping. Stopped and had an amazing coffee and a non-alcoholic old fashioned, that was an Ayurvedic mystery drink to help with digestion, along with a shot of another Ayurvedic mix also for digestion. Both were interesting but seemed to help my belly!

After shopping it was high tea on a little island they have at the hotel, night-walk looking for a Slender Loris (pic has details on these allusive little creatives - saw one - nailed it), and then quiet dinner by the pool for our last night, kindly set up by Dessa (dee-sa) our butler. Butler sounds bougie, I know … and it totally is but it’s a thing at these resorts and Mike was able to shelve being my G.E.M. 😂

G.E.M - Guest Experience Maker

Bedtime now! And back to Negombo tomorrow for our last trip with Winston and in Sri Lanka.

Hugs! M&ARead more