Week 17 - Adventuring
- Mar 1, 2018
- 4 min read
As I sit writing this blog post, a few days late, I am thinking back on the past week and all that it has held for me. This week has been particularly different to many others I have had here in Sri Lanka; new adventures, introducing my parents to life here, and saying goodbye to my first friend in Jaffna.
Here I am, in Kandy, currently sat overlooking the Kandy lake, watching the sunset and listening to the Buddhist calls to prayer on the Poya day at the beginning of March. The view is stunning, the sounds are incredible in this place and the smells are just something out of this world. Fresh curries wafting up to the 5th floor of this small, but beautiful hotel where we have only just arrived, from our last few days in the small town of Ella, in the upcountry.
This week began for me at school, with my usual routines, usual days and usual lessons, but I guess with one major difference. My first true friend in Jaffna, who I met two years ago on my first trip to Sri Lanka, said goodbye to all of us. In the summer, she married a lovely guy, Sam, who is from the UK. Since August, herself and her husband have been trying to get her a visa to move across to the UK – which only last week was granted. Her leave date for the UK is set, and so my goodbyes to her had to be said before I headed out to explore Sri Lanka with my parents. It feels weird to be saying goodbye to her, especially after the bond we have had as friends has only strengthened since I moved to Jaffna. I have to remember though, a short term loss in Jaffna of her means that when I return to England, I will have her for eternity!
As previously mentioned in the post, my parents arrived in Sri Lanka this week, and so we have spent the last few days, so far travelling across the country to the ‘hill-country’, where we have been met with low temperatures, rain and stunning views. My favourite part so far has to have been the exploration there is to be done in Ella. I hadn’t really ever considered it a place to visit, mainly because it is not pinpointed on any maps of Sri Lanka, and it would be very easy to miss. Found through Pinterest, we decided it would be a great place to begin our adventure, and then would be a good place to begin our journey up to Jaffna for the end of the trip.
We spent the first two days in Colombo, exploring the city, and all that it has to offer (not much in all honesty), but it was rather nice to relax and wander around the city and get used to the climate of Sri Lanka. We spent lots of time in and out of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim places of worship, and they were rather interesting. For me a real highlight was going to a meditation centre on the middle of a lake in Colombo, it was so peaceful, with limited numbers of tourists too. The hotel we stayed at was wonderful, with coffee bars, shoe shining booths, 9 restaurants on site and a lovely team of staff to look after us.
After our day in Colombo, I had a rather relaxed morning of drinking coffee, marking essays and chilling out by the beautiful centre piece in the main entrance of the hotel. Mum and Dad were on a mission to find a gravestone of a friend’s cousin who was buried in Colombo at one of the war graves. Two hours later, and unsuccessful in their exploration, several Tuk drivers ripping them off, they returned to the hotel; annoyed is an understatement. We had to quickly pack our bags as the transfer vehicle which was taking us from Colombo to Ella was already waiting for us!
Before we knew it, we were on our way to Ella; a rather bumpy journey with lots of winds in the road. The scenery was stunning, and therefore we knew Ella itself could only get more so. Having booked a ‘resort’ in Ella, we had high expectations of what we have previously known as a resort, however we were met with a half constructed three bedroom travellers lodge. As we spent more time here however, we became fonder of it, the people who were running the site as well as the location of the hotel. We had a beautiful view every morning for breakfast, the ability to watch the sunrise over the mountains and a huge platter of food to demolish before we began climbing mountains.
Whilst in Ella we were able to do lots of hiking, and discovering waterfalls, caves and temples, which was very enjoyable. My favourite achievement would have to be reaching the top of both Little Adam’s Peak (not the real one!), and Ella Rock. The directions to reach the top of Ella Rock were sparse, and many times we were being pointed in the wrong direction by locals, who clearly are then looking for money to show you the correct way. Using online blogs and forums for Ella Rock, we eventually found the turn-off from the railway track and then made our way through various tea plantations, head-high grass and forests, but the view was just spectacular. Coming down the mountain, our legs began to feel like jelly, and by the time we sat down for lunch I began ceasing up, but it was totally worth it.
Another added bonus was the ability to walk along the railway track at Ella station. With the trains not being electricity powered, and not very frequently, it was safe to walk across each wooden slat at a time, soaking in the views which surrounded us. Greenery for days! We also managed to find the 9 Arch Bridge, just outside of Ella, which is famous for being an English construction. We were even lucky enough to have made it to the bridge when a train was passing through; being up close to as it came behind me, whilst leaning over the edge was certainly an experience. Ella had lots of high spots, which of course meant a long way down. I was certainly cautious whilst hanging my valuables, and feet over the edge.
So far, a great travelling experience – drop me a message if you fancy an adventure with me in Sri Lanka in the next year, I’m already looking forward to my next one!
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