Kandy - Ella - Uduwalawe

Day 5
On Day 5, Namal took us back to the station in Kandy. We said goodbye and promised to return.
We booked our train tickets online in advance, as the train route from Kandy to Ella is very popular and also a tourist attraction. The tickets were delivered to our accommodation the evening before. The journey from Kandy to Ella takes about 6 hours and continues through the highlands of Sri Lanka. You travel through breathtaking scenery, including many tea plantations. In the highlands of Sri Lanka, a lot of vegetables are also grown. People still work in the fields here like my grandmother did in her childhood. We passed through small villages, jungles, and many plantations. People waved at us as we drove by. We didn’t just pay attention to the people, but also to the monkeys that caught our eye along the way.
The higher we ascended, the more the landscape and climate changed. The wind became fresher, the temperatures milder, and the trees darker and denser. Suddenly, we spotted ferns that were several meters high. The landscape started to resemble that of New Zealand. The highest station was at an elevation of 1891m. We passed through Nuwara Eliya and finally got off in Ella. Ella is situated at about 1000m, the weather was very pleasant, and the fresh air felt great.
Upon arriving in Ella, we immediately noticed a different atmosphere. Many more tourists, completely different venues, and hotels one after the other. We chose an accommodation that was a bit away from the hustle and bustle and were very happy about it.
Day 6
The next day we hiked up Little Adam's Peak and to the Nine Arches Bridge. From Adam's Peak, we had a beautiful view of and around Ella, and at the bridge, we discovered a small bar with a nice view of the bridge. As if we had anticipated it, the train appeared just then. It slowly chugged over the bridge, allowing us to take great pictures.
Despite the altitude, it was around 30 degrees during the day, and the sun blazed down from the sky. However, it cooled slightly in the evening.
In the evening, we went to a small, once again very inconspicuous restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious curry cooked in a banana leaf. By the way, we discover new things every day about what the locals here cook and enjoy eating. The curry varies each time, depending on what is available in the kitchen. In the curry yesterday, there were, among other things, beetroot, carrots, jackfruit, cassava (a root that tastes somewhat like potato but sweeter), spinach, beans, and of course rice. Lentil dhal and something with coconut are also included in almost every dish. The owner gave us tips on how to get to our next destination, Uduwalawe.
Day 7
After breakfast, which included coconut rotti, fruit, milk rice, and eggs, we made our way to the bus stop. We made another stop by the restaurant from the night before and got some samosas for the journey. The owner even accompanied us to the bus stop and made sure we took the right bus. That was really nice of him.
In 2.5 hours, we arrived at our destination. Google estimated the travel time to be about double that. So you can imagine what a wild bus ride it was! As a German driver, it was almost unbearable. When the brakes were smoking after the winding and steep road, only one thing helped: trust and stay cool.
We had to transfer once. Even there, the locals were very eager to ensure we took the right bus. Hardly had we stopped, we were asked where we wanted to go, and then we were assisted. The bus was quite full, but we still found a seat. Still, it was very cozy, and once again, the driving style was wild. Nevertheless, the bus rides in Sri Lanka have something cool about them. The bus driver speeds, people are picked up during the ride, and the local music is turned up.
And to be honest, have you ever seen elephants on a completely normal bus ride? We have. Uduwalawe is located near the Uduwalawe National Park, where many elephants live. We were very lucky to see some along the way.
Tonight we are staying in a lovely camp in the middle of the jungle. The accommodation is called Wild Safari Clay House. Here we already encountered some monitor lizards and many birds. Tomorrow we will embark on a 7-hour safari and take a closer look at the national park. We hope to discover many animals.