Our visit really starts today, moving inland from the coast to the area known as the "cultural triangle ". The drive took about four hours but there were lots of interesting things to see on route, passing traffic much of which seems to be tuk-tuks, apparently there are 1.3 million on the roads of Sri Lanka! Some of the shops, markets and roadside stalls looked quite interesting. Abey took us to a lovely place on the river for our coffee stop, views across the river were really picturesque. After a pleasant stop we were making our way back to the care when we came across a guy with a very large snake around his neck! Needless to say I kept out of his way.
Arriving at our new home for the next few days , we had a real surprise not only is it right in the wilds well away from civilisation it it is a Enosco world heritage eco hotel, the Heritance Kandalama , is built right into the side of a cliff and overlooking a lake . It is amazingly beautiful and so well designed that it's almost mind blowing. It's also almost a kilometre long, never stayed in a hotel that long before!
It was a cqse of leave bags and set off for our first activity of the trip, hotel investigation will have to wait!
This afternoon we are going on safari hopefully to see some elephants. The long and winding road took us back to the nearest town where we met up with our jeep and driver ready to venture out to the Kaudulla National Park. Apparently the wild herds move between this park, the Minneriya National Park and the Eco Park (quite near to our hotel!)
Elephant watching is obviously a very popular pastime as before we got into the park we had to join a Melli of other jeeps also intent on getting into the best spot.
The drive started off well as the guide soon pointed out a crocodile in the river and is wasn't long before we got our first glimpse of the elephants, a small family just about visible through the sea of jeeps.
Going further into the park "the roads" became more and more bumpy as the road is gouged out by jeep tyres . Coming to the edge of the lake there were huge herds of elephants enjoying the grass and the water. They carried on minding their own business only occasionally playing up to us watchers with mock "battles" and trumpeting or chasing the younger ones away with a switch of a trunk. Now everywhere you looked across the park there were groups of elephants so everyone had a group to watch and the crowds of jeeps slowly disappeared. We stood for ages just watching these amazing animals who are just hope in the area but who have such a reputation amongst local farmers for the damage the cause. It was their land originally and even if elephants are moved to other parts of the island they often come home to these parks. Well they do say ' an elephant never forgets '!!
Our amazing afternoon was topped off by a brilliant sunset as we drove back. Not a bad start to this years adventure. Another one again to morrow!