Firstly we just love our accommodation, Ella Grand View. We each have a spacious room and bathroom with the most fantastic view from the balcony and squirrels playing around us. This morning they served us what seems to be the norm, a massive breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs, toast, spicy dal and coconut, sweet pancakes and rotti. Amazing!! The hotel guy advised on places to see about the place and off we set after brekky, along the railway track to see the Nine Arches Bridges. It is 2 and a half kms along the railway through lush tropical forest area. We got to the bridge and joined the throng of tourists waiting to see the train come. Which we did!!
In the meantime we wanted to go to an iconic restaurant in the hills called 98 Acres, that overlooks Adam’s Peak which you can climb should you feel so disposed. There is a short route from the 9 Arches Bridge but it is a small, treacherous path up over the mountain. Rose scouted ahead and decided it wasn’t for me. The alternative is a circuitous Tuk Tuk ride down massively steep, winding roads that goes for about 10 kms instead of the 1.5 or so if you climb over the mountain…we paid for the privilege and Tuk Tukked.
So it was a light lunch in an amazing setting of mountains as far as the eye can see and Adam’s peak perched in front of us. We decided not to climb the peak, although I did try to persuade Rose to go by herself, fearing that I was holding her back from doing things she would normally do if it weren’t for me…but no, she was fine to admire the view from where we were.
We came back to our guesthouse wanting to just enjoy some downtime in our lovely accommodation. We sat on the balcony and had a drink and are now about to set out along the train track once again to go into town for an early tea so we can get back along the tracks before it gets dark.
Later: We’ve been in to town, pounding the tracks once again with (in my case) the utmost concentration. Every time I lift my head to greet someone I’m in jeopardy. But nonetheless we got in without misadventure. We had to go to a bank and then back to the same cafe which does seem to be the best one in town. We can get a drink there and I had a yummy curry although I can never eat it all and Rose was able to get a burger. We decided that as we’re moving on tomorrow to a very small place near the National Park, that we’d buy a small bottle of gin so we could have a G & T. Again we had to run the gauntlet of a dark, dingy cave full of men…we look so out of place…female, white tourists! Anyway we have a small hip flask of gin for our alcohol free venues.
Anyway mission accomplished and it was hit the train tracks again….always much harder after dinner I find but here we are back again. We’ve had another long chat on the balcony with our British neighbours here, who were advising us yesterday…and we are quite satisfied with our itinerary when we compare it to what others have been doing.
Now its shower time. We have a driver taking us to Udawalawe tomorrow…as always a relative of the manager. We’ll leave around 11.30…next stop a safari lodge. Ella has been great.