Into the Wild

Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
We awoke to a leisurely breakfast before check out. We have a big drive today as we head to the south east coast - back to the beach and heat!!

As many tourists travel with a driver in Sri Lanka, hotels generally provide driver accommodation and meals . Manoj did tell us that despite this being a very nice hotel, the driver accommodation isn't very good, and all the drivers hate it.

It is very interesting driving through Sri Lanka. The drive began through the tea plantations as mist rolled in and out.

Given the large population, towns and cities are plentiful so there is plenty to see. It is rare to see tourists beyond the tourist sites and hotels. We arrived at a town called Ella and straight away it was obvious it was a tourist destination by the bars and restaurants (Sri Lankans eat at home), shops, and massage spas. This is a popular area for trekking and the scenery is gorgeous.

A few more observations:-
- dogs continue to be a nuisance on the road. A little puppy (only a few weeks old) was in the middle of the road and someone on a motorbike kicked it off the road. This saved it...for the time being.
- there are no footpaths so people also walk on the road . Even in the middle of the road. They don't even try to get out of the way. Just one more thing to avoid when driving.
- brake lights are not compulsory.
- there are no rego checks.
- mechanics also offer a "tinkering service".
- government buses are amongst the worst vehicles on the road in terms of condition.
- vehicles just stop in the middle of the road.
- vehicles pull out, and reverse onto the road without giving way.
- it's not uncommon for vehicles to just be on the wrong side of the road.
- roads are overcrowded and in bad condition generally.
- there are fruit and vege stalls everywhere
- there are also lost of roadside stalls selling blow up toys. Like, hundreds. It is very colourful. It must be common to pick up some bananas and carrots with a blow up pink duck.
- helmets on motorbikes are optional.
- police are no longer allowed to take bribes and undercover cops are in place to ensure this does not happen.
- some farmers are sleeping in tree-houses due to the wild elephants.
- drivers are meant to stop at pedestrian crossings . I would not rely on this however.
- there is very little crime in Sri Lanka.
- wild elephants will cross roads. Best to avoid them - they are very dangerous.

Tim did say he would be grateful to get home alive after the traffic shenanigans today. Having said that, Manoj is a very careful driver so don't worry Dad.

Manoj took us to another family run restaurant for a Sri Lankan feast. Yum. Their dishes are mainly vegetarian but they are so good you can forget that there is no meat! I even had buffalo curd for dessert (which is nice with treacle).

Shortly afterwards we checked into Cinnamon Wild Yala but not before seeing peacocks, buffalo, monkeys and some crocodiles. Our jungle chalet is quite cute. It is dangerous to walk around after dark so you need to ask for an escort! Wandering the grounds are boars, elephants, black bears etc.
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Comments

Rachel
2015-07-23

No crime as no rules maybe... Well at least no traffic rules!

2025-02-07

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