We celebrated our first successful day of exploration with a feast of Sri Lankan curry and rice. And beer.

The next day, we headed to another important part of the Cultural Triangle- Sigirya Rock.

Oooh, very important-looking tickets.

But now I'm terrified I'll be eaten by hornets!

Or crocodiles! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!

Luckily we didn't die, and made it to Sigirya Rock. Yes, we had to climb that.

Sigirya means "Lion" in Sri Lankan.

Jones selfie at Sigirya!!

Matt readies himself for a very hot, very humid, very steep climb to the top.

Sigirya Rock, as we begin our climb.

Halfway up the stairs...

...and up a vertigo-inducing spiral staircase...

...and across a very steep, very narrow bridge....

Halfway up were Sigirya's famous rock paintings. Even after centuries, they are still vivid.

These paintings are symbols of Sri Lanka today, and some of their most important antiquities.

The view from halfway up...

Nearing the top...

Near the top are The Lion Paws, as you can see on either side of me. Back in the day, there was a matching HEAD that visitors would climb into through the stairs.

Joneses conquer Lion Paws!

Atop Sigirya Rock.