01.09.18 - 04.09.18 Ella

To Kandy, we should go further into the mountains to Ella, a village that is located just above 1000 meters. The journey must be done by train, as it is said to be one of the most beautiful routes in the country, even in the world. Hundreds of other tourists also had this information. So the train was mainly occupied by tourists. However, since it was a more expensive train with air conditioning, there were no open windows from which one could take the typical leaning-out-of-the-window Instagram photos. Only the doors between the carriages were open and it was quite amusing to see dozens of people jostling there for hours just to somehow force their authentic Instagram photo. The landscape during the journey was indeed beautiful, but we were satisfied with the view from our seats.

6 hours later, our train finally arrived and although Ella was not the final stop, it emptied almost completely. In the town center, it was clear to see that this place is entirely dedicated to tourism... You rarely see so many cafes and restaurants in such a small place in the middle of the mountains. This was probably the most extreme tourist hustle and bustle we have experienced in Sri Lanka so far. Nevertheless, it somehow spreads to the surrounding area, as most accommodations are not in the center.

Even ours was slightly outside and we have to honestly say that it was one of the better and definitely the best in Sri Lanka. Beautiful and airy, with a balcony and hammock, it was perfect for relaxing. The included breakfast always included Sri Lankan pastries, fruit, and delicious avocados picked fresh for us from a tree on the property at the perfect level of ripeness. Lounging around was what we did most during the two days here.

But of course, we couldn't completely ignore the beautiful surroundings, so we also went on a few nice walks. The first one took us to a very picturesque railway bridge... of course, not just us, but also hundreds of others. A very beautiful sight. To leave the hustle and bustle behind us, we then walked a few kilometers on the tracks to the next train station (don't worry, trains come very rarely, they drive very slowly and are also extremely loud, so you can hear them long before they arrive and can get to safety).

The next day, we tackled 'little Adams Peak'. After gasping our way up the steps to the summit, we were glad that we didn't take on the real Adams Peak (a pilgrimage site where you have to climb over 5000 steps to see the place where Adam is said to have taken his first step on Earth and looked back into paradise). The view was beautiful, almost as beautiful as in the home country. Allegedly, on a clear day, you can see all the way to the south coast of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, it wasn't that clear.

On the last evening, we were treated to a delicious meal by our hosts. So the journey continued the next day out of the mountains.