Saturday, October 17, 2015

October 16 Nuwara Eliya


We booked a tour day with our hotel and we were underway at 5:30. We drove to Horton Plains where Joan and I did a 9 km hike. We started at 7 AM and by 9 AM we were at Lands End where the plains drop off in a single cliff for 1 km and you can see forever. On a good day you can see the ocean – about 150 km away. It was a good day but I couldn't see the ocean. Maybe if we had been 2 hours earlier? We continued on the walk until Baker's Falls. The falls were 200 meters off the path but when I got to the viewing station,
Viewung Station at Lands End

Land's End

Baker's Falls

Root infested Trail

Rocky Path
half the falls were missing, There was an old muddy trail which I followed down to the riverside and then some rocks leading down river and at last I could see the top of the falls. Now I'll see if my neutral density filter works.
The guide book promised a gentle walk through the park on a well marked trail. The reality was a difficult walk over boulders and soggy ground and at one point a steep climb up a slippery root strewn forest. I even had to pick up the old tourist in front of me after he fell over backwards in the roots and couldn't get back up. When Joan and I were finished our legs were a bit rubbery.
After the walk we had a Waterfalls tour. The drive through the mountains to the waterfalls was spectacular- tea hills all around.   We saw some small waterfalls and some larger ones but  were too far away to really appreciate them.  We did see close up three waterfalls just down the road from each other which were pretty nice.













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Thursday, October 15, 2015

October 15 Ella to Nuwara Eliya by train


I got up early to walk in the tea fields and enjoy the morning cool. As I was heading up a hill to get a better view of the fields, a young man passes me. He worked as a cook in a resort 1 km further up and he walked up to his resort and led me to the viewing patio. It was a great view of the Ella Gap down the mountains.
Waterfalls at Ella Gap


Out the window
After breakfast we boarded the train to our next stop. We traveled 65 KM along the mountains, at an average of 25kph with all the windows wide open. Its fun to stick your head out the window of a moving train. We went from 4000 ft up to 6000 ft. and it is noticeably cooler up here. The town is an old British hill station and has a horse track, golf course, a Victoria Park and lots of wet weather.
From the train

October 14 Ella


It was a terrible night. I was trying to sleep and Joan was throwing up loudly. Then while I was trying to get my beauty sleep in the morning, she kept dashing to the bathroom. Then I had to go out at 7:00AM and buy toilet paper because I couldn't find anybody in the hotel. I hardly slept at all. Later when I tried to bring Joan a pot of tea in bed the staff learned that Joan was feeling poorly. One of the nice young men brought her a cup of hot water and a special tea bag. He said it would fix her problems – and he was right.
Tea Leaves

Tea Pickers
Later in the morning I left Joan in bed and I went for a walk in the tea fields. When I got back we went for lunch. I had rice and vegetables and Joan had an enormous piece of chocolate cake. She didn't try my meal and I didn't get a single forkful of the cake.

While Tim was out during the afternoon, I opened a window to get some fresh air but pulled the curtains together to keep bugs out as there are no screens on the windows We went out for supper around 7 and returned to our room afterwards for the evening and turned on the lights. Tim noticed a few moths and by the time we got the window shut, there were hundreds flying around our room. We turned off all but one light so they would congregate in one spot and started whacking them with my running shoes. Between my squealing when one flew near my hair and the constant whack whack of my shoes, it was a noisy place (and of course we were laughing at our actions). Every few minutes the shoe soles would need to be rinsed off .I think I exaggerated when I said hundreds but we must have sent at least 100 to their demise
Just another travel adventure!!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

October 13 Ella


Start of the 300 steps
We were walking up “little Adam's Peak by 6:15AM.  The uphill was gentle enough but then we hit the steps, about 300 of them. Joan breezed up the steps with no problem. Then a little steep path and we were at the top. Being early in the morning, the air was clear and there were no clouds at all. Great for pictures. Much to my surprise we were back in our hotel before 10 am for breakfast.
In the afternoon we boarded a rickety old train that took us 30km to the provincial capital. It was a 1 hour trip through the mountains. We went third class because there was no first class. It cost $0.40 for both us. All the windows were open, so I often had my head out the window taking pictures. So did everyone else. On the way back we bought 2nd class tickets at a cost of $0.80 for both. But the attendant insisted that Joan and I sit in first class. The first class was empty so he probably wanted company. He told us he made $150 per month in his job. I didn't want to tell him what I made – and I don't even work!
Ella Rock


Ella Gap
9 Arches Bridge

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

October 12th Arugam bay to Ella


In my early morning walk I went to the beach to watch the fish come in. There were 50 fishing boats all landing at the same time and emptying their nets of fish. The fish were only 10 inches long and three people would unroll the nets and shake the fish onto a mat on the sand. It seemed everyone from the village was there to help drag the boats up the beach, and then buy the fish. At the same times hundreds of dogs hung around and thousands of bird were looking for their share. It was loud and crowded.
Fishermen
Fish in the nets


We have left the seaside and we climbed into the hills to Ella. At 1040 feet it was a hill station for the English during the hot summer months. We are here to look at the tea plantations and hike in the countryside. At this time of the year it rains every afternoon. Today was no exception. We sat on the balcony and watched the building across the street disappear in the mists. Tomorrow we start the day with a hike.
Ravana Falls near Ella

Monday, October 12, 2015

October 11th Arugam Bay

We are in Arugam Bay which is the surfing capital of the east coast. The town is full of surfers and pizza shops, submarine sandwiches, and heath food shops. I was out at 5:30 this morning to photograph the sunrise and the first surfer walked by 5 min later. The sun rose at 6:00 am and by 6:15 there were 15 surfers chasing the waves in the bay. Most of these surfers spend all year chasing waves in Sri Lanka. In November surf season moves to the south coast.
In the afternoon we took a lagoon tour with a local fisherman. The lagoon is so shallow that he poles the boat rather than paddle. We saw 2 elephants in the lagoon, but we never got very close. The locals have a great respect for the elephants and give them a wide berth. Elephants kill about 70 people a year in Sri Lanka.
Lagoon Elephant

Surfer in Arugum Bay

Sunday, October 11, 2015

October 10th Tissa to Arugam Bay


I had arranged a taxi for the drive from Tissa to Arugam Bay at the local taxi stand. I wanted to find out what the bottom line price was, since I reckon I have been overpaying for Taxis. They wanted $80, I offered $50. They didn't budge so I left. Two blocks down the street a driver approached and offered $65. I took his phone number and didn't commit. Three blocks down the street I got an offer for $75 from another driver. Back at the hotel I told the houseboy I had an offer for $65 and he agreed it was a very good price. I phoned and booked. When the taxi showed up it was old, with no air conditioning. It was comfortable but we drove with the windows open all the way. Joan thinks I should have paid $10 more for air-conditioning.
Before I tossed him some bananas

After I tossed him some Bananas

The local bat tree in Tissa
The drive was interesting, After an hour the driver stopped and bought a kilo of bananas. He said it was for elephants. Sure enough 50km down the road there is an elephant standing by the side of the road accepting donations. The driver threw him a bunch and he posed for pictures, then on we went. Ten km later another elephant was by the road. I threw him some bananas but he didn't like my style and he backed away. But I did get a picture. These were wild elephants at the edge of a national park. They can be dangerous but Sri Lankans love their elephants and whenever they see an elephant (wild or tame) they get excited. It's the local beaver.