Going to Ella

Yesterday was interesting for the variety of activities. We began by going into the town centre to see the Post Office which was built in 1910 and was Sri Lanka's first official Post Office. It is a gracious old building and I hoped they had some postcards I could post from there but they only sell stamps and handle mail. From there we took a stroll around town and I managed to persuade Bob to buy a new shirt at a real menswear shop. He was complaining that he only had one shirt with a top pocket for easy access to his pen, phone etc when we are somewhere he is taking lots of photos. It is a nice cotton/linen mix which will be useful into the future. It is an interesting town with a street system that just "growed". Lots of large gracious buildings from the English era. They also have a botanic garden which is nearly as beautiful as Kandy's. This one is spread over a larger area so the impact isn't as immediate. We spent an hour wandering and I identified plants that I have in the garden at home such as salvias and impatients but these were all much more vigorous and taller. From there we headed out of the city and climbed into the mountains. Saji had mentioned booking a Safari the other day and we assumed he meant out of Ella. However we went up to what we gradually realised was a Govt. owned and managed old tea plantation. It is being rehabitltated for grazing cattle and tourism with a gazebo on the highest point to show of the surrounding mountains, valleys and forests. The vehicle taking us through the property was definitely something we hadn't come across before. It was a large Ute with a steal framework built on the back with 8 very comfortable car seats firmly attached. Just as well it was strong because the road up there was very rough from washaways and rocks. When we got to the top the views were fantastic so we were taking photos in all directions. On the way back down we met some of the cattle they are breeding. They looked like they may be imports of Indian cattle, sturdy and with a touch of Brahman. Given the number of bulls in the herd they should be producing calves at a great rate. On the way back we stopped at a restaurant with Northern Indian cuisine which Saji said had good food. It was certainly delicious and I wished I could take a bottle of their Butter Chicken sauce home. We are finding the restaurant meals very large and I just ordered Samoa's when had a bit of Bob's Butter Chicken. We then had a short stroll along the lake before deciding it was time for a nanna nap. For dinner we caught a Tuktuk into town for another bit of a stroll and had a light meal at a restaurant which Saji introduced us to on our first day but sarcastically referred to as a "tourist" Cafe. However we had our first coffee there as we knew it would be good. we have been drinking tea everywhere else.

YESTERDAYS PHOTOS