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It feels like its been a long day today. We woke up early to catch our 8:45 train over to Ella. Annoyingly the train was packed and we had to stand for awhile. Someone later gave us a seat that we shared for the majority of the journey. The train took 6 hours to get to our destination, but it climbs up into the Hill Country of Sri Lanka passing small villages, huge tea plantations, mountains and rice fields. The scenary is stunning but we were on the opposite side of the train to be able to experience it to the full extent. Eventually we did get two seats to ourselves but we were feeling sleeply and there's only so many tea fields you can appreciate on a 6 hour journey!
During the train ride it started to rain, and when it rains in Sri Lanka it seems to pour it down with huge raindrops, it was lovely to see from inside the carriage, but when it was still going on as we arrived in Ella we were less impressed. Though it's all part of the experience in the end. We walked through the rain to find our hotel so our stuff got a bit wet.
Again the family that run the hotel are so kind and friendly when we arrived they brought us tea, bananas and CHOCOLATE biscuits! They even helped us plan out what we wanted to do, without trying to sell us anything. So we've planned out our two full days here already. Our rooms basic but its got all that we need including a light up neon orange bathroom door no idea what it for??? But great addition lol.
Ella is a lot cooler than the rest of the country, so we headed out in the evening with a jacket and trousers. The place has been early turned into tourist central, all the restaurants sell western food and their is neon lighting everywhere. There is also a lack of tuk tuks but loads of taxis which suggests there is a richer crowd of tourist heading here. We've got lots planned for the next few days a looking forward to it. Ella is the last place we are exploring until we head back to Kandy and then Colombo to get our flight.
- comments
Pat Khan Your bus and train journeys are good they are the best way to get the feel of the country and meet the people. It all sounds great you must be a bit shattered at the end of the day though.Enjoy Ella.Really look forward to your blogs.luv xxxxx
Ali(Papa) Khan Just caught up with your excellent journey blog. What an experience and keep it going! Hope the flight to Japan goes to plan and look forward to this next experience and your blogs. Do keep well in the changes of climates etc. Love from Papa/Ali xx