Last Day

We travelled up to Colombo by train yesterday. There was a bit of confusion about our seat allocation. Bob believed he had booked 2nd Class Reserved seats but when we found the seats there was Sri Lankan woman occupying one of them. She would not accept that our ticket showed 37A and that she was occupying it. Being the 7.15 am train it was not heavily booked so we managed to find two seats together but the woman had the plum seat with full window view and open to the breeze. We waited until there were Rail Staff nearby and then Bob explained the problem.They then explained the cause. Our ticket was for seats 37&38 Car A ie 1st Class. We had to get our bags ready and when the train stopped at the next station get off the train and scurry along to the next car with the staff herding us saving "hurry, hurry". So we ended up with slightly more comfortable seats but windows that were dust and rain streaked but which we couldn't open because it was air conditioned. It was only a 2.5 hour trip so we were soon back in Colombo. We then cloaked our luggage and hired a Tuktuk to take us for a drive around Central Colombo. We have been booked into accommodation both times out near the airport in an area called Nogombo. As such we have explored this area and not been in to the city. Our driver took us to a brief stop over at the Botanic Gardens which were pretty but didn't rank as high Kandy. We then saw a bit of the city scape as we drove to Independence Square and back to the Railway Station. We then used "Pick Me" to hire a car and driver to take us out to Nogombo. Pick Me is a local cheaper version of Uber which was recommended by our first hostess and which has been highly reliable. By 3.00 pm we were ensconced in our accommodation and had nothing more to do than have a rest and walk down the street to dinner. This morning we caught a succession of Tuktuks to go out to the Nogombo central shopping area which is quite a long way. We explored a couple of the department stores and then went out to the beach to watch the fishing boats, the young people surfing and have an ice cream. The weather is quite hot now and because of the humidity we sweat a lot so it was very pleasant out there in a breeze and watching the hawker trying

to earn his living. He had quickly realised he wasn't going to get anywhere with us even though he had modified his stock of necklaces to include some without shells or wood. We have late checkout at our accommodation so we can stay here until we leave for the airport. So tomorrow morning we will be back in Perth and it is over and out from me.

Galle Day 4

This morning we went to breakfast at a more upmarket place than we have been frequenting. I ordered French Toast and this is what arrived.

Galle Day 3

This morning our host took us on a complementary walk up Church Street to visit two major Christian churches. These are the Anglican and the Dutch Reformed churches. They were both built in the early 17 hundreds.There is another building which is of the same era which was a church but is now a Mosque. They were all impressive buildings built of stone and rendered white or cream and with magnificent timber interiors. We only visited the Christian ones. From there we walked back to our accommodation in a very leisurly and circuitous way.We walked down past Sri Lanka's longest building which is the old mercantile traders building and is now converted to two museums. To fit in with our host we had commenced this walk without breakfast so it was our first priority when we arrived back. Bob ate his usual two egg, sausage, chicken bacon serving but this morning he was served baked beans as well. We always seem to be eating so I settled for a banana milkshake. We were joined by three scrawny kittens who seemed to be obsessed with Bob's shoes and socks. We did our best to ignore them but they were quite cute. Eventually one of the men serving us took a carton of milk outside and filled up a couple of improvised trays for them. No sign of mother cat. We came back here after breakfast to pick up a tuktuk to go exploring the department stores up in the main town. The Fort area has all variety of offerings for tourists and most of it is good quality but we have travelled enough not to want "things". My main requirement was a new backpack as mine won't accommodate the few things we have bought. Found just the item at a reasonable price in the school requirements section. After a rest it was approaching lunchtime. Just as we set off it started to rain. Big heavy drops but it didn't last long and we just waited on our first floor verandah and watched the street parade. Lunch was easy to find and then we had another walk around town. Then it was rest time again. Only a few hours to dinner time now. Life is tough.

Galle Day 2

After going out to find breakfast because this is the first place that doesn't supply it we took a car with driver to Merissa. This is the town 30+ kms back along the coast from the direction that we came from yesterday. We didn't pass through it then because our driver brought us along the main highway which is also a toll road. Merissa is one of three surfing communities along the coast from here. It is a pretty coastline but we found there was no major town centre to explore. It is rather like the stretch of road between Busselton and Dunsborough with endless accommodation places and restaurants. We went up to a local lookout called Coconut Tree Hill for a view of the coast and bay area. You will see from my photo how it earned it's name. The surf didn't seem particularly larly significant to me and I was much more intrigued by the out rigger fishing boats. If you can enlarge my photo you will see the outrigger is made of rough bush timber and apart from providing stability it is very useful for dragging these heavy boats up the beach at the end of the day's fishing. There were 8-10 men working on the one we photographed to lift/drag it up the beach. Even though Merissa is only about 30 kms away the road is narrow and winding like most roads here so it was an hours travel each way. When we arrived back we went for a walk around town until it was lunch time. Scouting was beneficial as we found a bakery with freshly baked rolls. We needed the change from rice or noodle dishes for lunch and dinner. They were delicious even though Bob was disappointed that the best option was tomato and white (bland) cheese with pesto.I also bought two chocolate chip biscuits because the commercial biscuits are pretty tasteless. They were a success. Might go back tomorrow. This evening we went for a walk after dinner around the top of the Fort walls. These are very tall being about 25 feet high, built of stone and broad at the base. They were commenced by the Portugese in the 15th Century and then improved by the Dutch invaders and finally the British. They also provided protection from the most recent Tsunami. Tomorrow we have been promised a walk around points of interest by our host. Particularly the magnificent old churches that we haven't ventured into.

Galle Day 1

We had a comfortable trip down to Galle in a Toyota sedan with a driver who was friendly but didn't pretend to be a guide. The accommodation we have here is in a big old renovated house. The business owner is an architect turned artist so the ground floor is a gallery for his work and the upper floor is the accommodation. Comfortable room though not spacious but with a good bathroom. We had a rest and then went for a walk around the main tourist streets which are within the walls of the old Dutch Fort. Later we went down to walk some of the path along the top of the earthen/rock walls and to watch the sun go down over the ocean. I will need to take photos this evening because I didn't take my tablet last night. We went to a restaurant to have fish for dinner as this is the local specially and we haven't had any since we have been here. Prices are higher here because it is the premium tourist town so it cost a lot more than we have been paying. Elsewhere meals and accommodation have been a lot less than Australia. I am posting a photo of a photo of a leopard which our previous host had above his desk. It was taken by a professional photographer who stayed at his accommodation.

Tissa Day three

Today hasn't quite panned out a planned. Initially we set off to visit the local Temple which like previous ones is Buddhist. We had also mentioned to Saji , who is Buddhist, that the Hindu one sounded very interesting but this vanished like vapour as he mapped out a logical progression geographically. We drove to the Lake which was on our way to elsewhere . This is a huge lake created by the reigning Monash in the 1st century BC as a water supply. It was then restored and had the capacity increased by the British in the 1850's. It makes a restful centre piece to a busy town. The temple was photographed from the outside as Bob was wearing shorts which didn't cover his knees. I knew this decorum related to women's dress but hadn't realised that it applied to men also. While we were standing admiring the building which was interesting I noted a young man ignore the protocol and stroll in. This obviously happens but not on Saji's watch. The temple was interesting because it had a rectangular Stupa compared to all the others we had seen which were round. This may be because it was built in the 3rd Century BC and was governed by the technology of the time. From there we went downtown and indulged in a bit of shopping. Because we bought locally produced items it was very reasonable. It remains to be seen how successful our purchases will be. For lunch we dined at what Saji said was a genuine Sri Lankan restaurant as opposed to a tourist one. The vegetable side dishes for our curry and rice were certainly more varied and one of them was the spiciest we have eaten. We went vegetarian which seemed the safest as there were a few flies buzzing around. No repercussions yet. The plan was to return to the hotel for a rest and the Saji would collect us at 4pm to go to The Hindu temple. However he phoned us at about 2pm quite distressed because his family had phoned to say his mother was ill with chest pains. He was obviously worried and naturally wanted to go home. He has arranged another car and driver for us who will hopefully turn up at 10am tomorrow to take us to Galle. He came around as he was leaving because our rain jackets were in the car and so that we could give him his tip for his work until then. He was a cheerful young man who was a good driver but didn't know much more than Google did about the towns we have visited. Bob is currently swatting up on Galle because we have four nights there and the driver is an unknown quantity. He is being supplied by the original travel agency that recruited Saji so there is some reliability in that history.

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Tissa Day 2

This morning was notable because we were up, dressed and ready for the driver at 5am. This was Safari door to door service so we were collected in the Safari truck that was our vehicle for the day. Our usual driver was a leisure around Tissa for the day. It took about 55 minutes to reach the entry gate to the Yala N.Park so we joined the queue and like all the others headed to a series of waterholes where the leopards come for their early morning drink. We shuffled around between water holes unsuccessfully before the driver headed off to show us other features of the Park. Besides managing the road which varied from smooth to very rough where there were rocks or wash aways he was very adept at watching the bush for animal siteings. There are a lot of small deer through the Park but the places where we really saw wildlife was around water. It has been very dry here with no rain since the end of the wet season. They didn't even get the thunderstorm we had in Ella. We saw lots of waterbirds including quite colourful Storks, Herons, Egrets, and several different small colourful birds similar size to our New Hollands. These latter ones had names that didn't translate easily.Nearly forgot the Sea Eagle and his nest and a brown eagle. In the animal kingdom we saw lots of buffalo, a marmot, water monitor lizards and eventually some elephants. The elephants were scattered around various watering places and three we saw were belly deep in a huge area of water plants having a great feed. One of these was a female with a baby at heel. He was just big enough that his head and back were above the water plants. Bob got a great photo but mine is a bit distorted by the enlargement needed to cover the distance. We were taken back to the cafe for lunch but this was more for seating as our driver unpacked bowls od rice, chicken, beans, and Dahl prepared by a friend who owns a. restaurant. This was delicious especially be cause the beans were obviously fresh picked compared to the tired frozen ones we have been getting in the restaurants. By now we had been on the road in the Park for 6hours. The agenda provided a two hour break with the tour recommencing at 2.00pm. Bob and I had a confab and decided that we had been foolish to book a full day and the possibility of seeing a leopard at dusk didn't stack up against another 3-4 hours in the heat and bumps. We convinced our driver that we wanted to bail and despite his reluctance he brought us home. Rewarded with the appropriate tip. The swimming pool was first stop at our accommodation and it was bliss. Dinner at our accommodation and relaxation sealed the deal.

TISSAMAHARANA

I am starting this entry because we have just arrived at Tissa and settled into our room at 4pm. I am unlikely to write anything before tomorrow evening because we have booked on the early morning Safari to the National Park and Pick Up is 5am. This is because it is most likely to see a leopard while they are just getting out of their tree at this time. This morning we went to the temple on the mountain which we didn't get to yesterday due to the rain. We left just after 10am and arrived at the beginning of the access road about 15 minutes later. Then it took us 50 minutes to creep up the mountainside sitting in neutral most of the time. The early bird tour buses were just coming down and they have difficulty manoeuvring around the hairpin bends because they a mostly big old British Leylands. Then if the traffic had closed in too tightly to the corner or were sitting too far towards the centre of the narrow road it was stalemate. Bob and I were just about to call it quits but really there was no way to turn around due to the bumper to bumper traffic. Saji then informed us that quite apart from this being Sunday, the only day everyone has off but it is also the beginning of a three day National holiday. We finally reached the top and I must say that the temple is beautiful. It is quite new and reflecting on the difficult access I suggested to Saji that it must have been difficult to get all the construction equipment up to the top of the mountain. He agreed and said it took 13 years to build. I will attach some photos which can't do it justice because it is too big at close range to show it's complete fascade. Also we were not allowed to take photos inside of the ten golden Buddas and other ornamentation. The two little girls were just so beautiful that I asked their mother if I could photograph them. She agreed but of course they then posed and I lost some of the spontaneity that had first attracted me. Still they are quite beautiful and mum was happy when I said so.

Ella Day 2

There was the most amazing thunderstorm yesterday beginning at about 2pm just after we came back to the house for our afternoon nap. We had planned to go out again at four to drive up to the mountain top temple. However the rain and thunder just rolled on. We sat on our balcony and after watching a monkey delightedly devour an apple core Bob had thrown across to the shed roof we settled with our reading. Phone contact with Sagi decided that he would collect us at 6pm to go down to town 2 kms away for dinner. We had walked into town the day before as there is a track down from here to the railway line that runs along the gully. It is then only a 10 minute stroll into town. There was quite a crew of us using this quick, cheap access. Earlier we had gone into town and I had had a massage. I tried to convince Bob to have one too and he was wavering until we saw the price! Ella is known as the preferred city for young travellers and the prices are a bit inflated as a result. W

e then had a walk around town investigating a few shops but the offerings were also mostly geared to that age group or the sort of things that clutter your desk top once you get home. This morning we are off to Tissamahar which is the main hub for the National Parks. Hopefully to see leopards and of course elephants.The photos which have decided to cut into the story are the view from the open air dining area and a huge Tulip tree. There are many of these but usually a long way off in the middle of the tea plantings. presumably to pro ide some shade for the pickers during their breaks.

Ella Photos

Ella Day 1

The weather here is warmer than Nuwara Elyia but still comfortable. There is the unexpected. occassional thunderstorm. This blew up yesterday as we were halfway back from a longish walk up to Little Ella Peak but it didn't produce more than a few spots of rain. There were quite a few. souvenier stalls on the path as we walked up but they were rapidly packing their displays once rain threatened. The rain was just a few heavy drops in the event so they were probably relieved and disappointed for their effort in the end. The views were beautiful when we reached the point near the top where the zip line departed. The screams were entertaining but we didn't participate. We also went to the lookout where the train was onroute the Colombo and passes through a tunnel under the station as it does a loop to change direction. Bob informed us via Google that this the only instance in the world of this occurring. We then hopped on the train and travelled back to Ella crossing the 9 Arch Bridge in the process. Bob tells me he has Watsapped this so I will say no more about it. We then drove the winding road to stand beside the Bridge. I don't think I have mentioned before the constant short beeps of the horn that all drivers seem to use just prior to going around the hairpin bends. Yesterday we were stuck for a while behind a tourist driver of a rental who persisted in driving in the middle of the road. At one point he met a small truck who couldn't get any further off his side and we were all stuck! The idiot couldn't accept that he had space on his side and I am surprised the Truckee didn't get out and bop him. Of course he couldn't because there was no room to open his door. Eventually the tourist turned his wheels a bit and we all drove on.

Train approaching tunnel.

TRAIN TO ELLA

This litTle exercise took most of the day. We packed up, I wrote my blog and we had to check out by 11am. All of which was accomplished. Saji realised that we would be early for the train even though the station is some dìsitamne from Nuwera Eliya. I asked him if we could stop to photograph some of the mountain ponies which are all around the towsn. Many are saddled ready for the intrepid to go riding. Saji oblighed and even agreed to pose with one. Some are quite free range and there was one wandering down the lane way accessing our accommodation when we first arrived. We then headed out to the station stopping on the way to photograph a tea plantation which covered a hillside near the road. Some have quirky names but many have Rahaj era names.This one was Edinborough. When we arrived at the station after a road which was impressive for its hair pin bends we were of course early. Then it was announced that the train was behind schedule which is par for the course, I can Thank goodness for our reserved seats,use this analogy because Ella has a very impressive golf course which we discovered when we finally aarrived after a 3hour trip which was worthwhile for the spectacular scenerey. Bob took lots of photos but they can't really show the great depth of the valleys that the train was crossing. The work to lay out the line along the ridges and tunnelling through the mountains in the early 1900's is amazing to contemplate. Saji met us at the station and took us to our accommodation up the usual climbing road However our host informed us there is a short cut walk trail into town and we will use that in future.

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