Udawalawe National Park, Ella, Adams Peak and Kalutara

After a few wonderful and relaxing lazy days on the beach in Tangalla, it was time for some action on our program.

First destination was Udawalawe National Park, where we planned a safari. So, at five o'clock in the morning, we set off in a safari jeep to the national park. Upon arrival, we briefly wondered if we had accidentally flown to Africa overnight, but our guide assured us that we were still in Sri Lanka. The landscape of the park consisted of a large lake, countless small water puddles, savannah landscapes, and dense jungle. From peacocks to eagles, there were all kinds of birds to see. We saw wild elephants on the roadside, crocodiles, turtles, and water buffalos in the puddles, monkeys in the trees, and deer jumping in front of us. Since it is off-season at the moment, there were very few visitors in the park, and we felt like we had the park all to ourselves. It was so much fun driving through the park and it was a great experience for us.

After the safari, it was time to take the bus again. This time, it was about a five-hour journey. Our destination was Ella, a small village in the central highlands. Our hotel was located outside of Ella on a mountain. Andrew, our host, was a great entertainer, and the location on the mountain was beautiful. Deep valleys and high mountains with countless tea plantations surrounded us in the midst of a rugged mountain nature. It was really amazing. There was also plenty to do. After a hearty breakfast on the terrace, we went for a hike through the tea plantations. In the afternoon, we visited a tea factory and decided to introduce the English tea time in the future.

The next day, we headed towards Adams Peak, this time by train. The train route is described as one of the most beautiful in the world, and we can only say that the four-hour journey through the mountains of Sri Lanka, with tea plantations and waterfalls, was simply stunning. The subsequent four-hour bus ride to the foot of Adams Peak was tiring and not very spectacular. We arrived at the starting point of Adams Peak in darkness and cold, wet weather. After a quick meal of rice with curry, we went to bed because our hike was scheduled to start at 2 am. It was a bit eerie to walk through a deserted foreign village at night. The entrance to the ascent was easy to find, there was an old man in a white bathrobe. We can't say whether he was a monk and too lazy to put on his robe due to the early hour. In any case, he asked for a donation. After a kilometer, we encountered the next monk, a young man in an orange robe. He had an incredible charisma and he blessed us and tied an orange bracelet around our wrists, making us a few rupees lighter before we continued. The path was initially relatively easy, with small steps and a bit uphill, and Adams Peak in the distance. We kept going, somewhat eerie and mystical to be out at night. Eventually, the steps became higher and steeper, more and more steps, steps, steps.... At some point, we just kept walking and worried that we wouldn't reach the summit in time for sunrise. But we made it, we reached the top at half past five, accompanied by about 50 other mainly young pilgrims from all over the world, sitting freezing on the steps, waiting for the sunrise with us. Down below, the weather still looked perfect and starry, but it was all foggy up there! Unfortunately, the fog didn't clear and the long-awaited dream sunrise did not happen... At half past six, we started our descent, and already at the first step downhill, our legs started shaking like jelly, but we managed to make it back down the nearly 6,000 steps. After three hours, we arrived exhausted but happy at the bottom. There, we met two more monks, whose paid blessings we declined and preferred to head towards the hotel, shower, and breakfast. We didn't have much time because we had to catch our bus an hour later. Nine hours and three buses later, we arrived in Kalutara, somewhat exhausted. We were warmly received by our host Dill and after a swim in the pool and a delicious dinner, we fell into bed. We spent our last two days in Sri Lanka chilling by the pool and beach. Now, we are looking forward to our journey to the exciting and unknown New Zealand tomorrow.

Sri Lanka Conclusion:

- Despite poverty, an incredibly hospitable country, most people greeted us with a smile and helped us wherever they could, our hosts in each accommodation were incredibly warm, accommodating, and helpful. In more remote villages away from tourism, we were carefully observed and sometimes approached, asking where we were from, how long we had been here, where we were going...

- The nature was very diverse, with dreamy, long, palm-fringed, deserted beaches, mountains, tea plantations, rainforests, a touch of Africa, and wild animals.

- Tasty curries in all variations with pumpkin, potatoes, beans, beets, lentils, chicken, fish, served with rice, rotis, or hoppers. Delicious black tea and many tropical fruits.

- Traveling with public transportation, buses and trains, is very straightforward, and the transportation network is very well developed. However, due to the poor and crowded roads, even short distances take a lot of time. We spent a total of 6 out of 20 vacation days on buses and trains!

The drivers drive as if the devil is after them, overtaking everything in sight, motorcycles, cars, trucks, tuk-tuks, and other buses. Our most extreme experience was in the narrow mountain roads, where our driver drove at top speed around the hairpin curve (with a steep drop on the right) while checking Facebook at the same time. All of this happens with constant honking.

- The accommodations were relatively expensive and not very comfortable, with hard beds, no hot water, and undecorated. Nevertheless, we felt very comfortable everywhere, mainly because of the warmth and hospitality of our hosts.