An early morning walk and a train ride

Thursday, February 22, 2018
Ella, Uva Province, Sri Lanka
And indeed we were up and away at 5.00 for the hour long ride to the Horton Park entrance. And we were not alone !! Dozens of vehicles twisting upwards hoping to make the start before the sunrise. Whilst it was a red one it was partly obscured by high cloud. A long frustrating wait while the park opened so everybody could pay the park entrance fee and get going. Very cold morning with frost around the streams and ponds. Long string of walkers, including the yabber yabber Chinese, rolled off. Soon the track split and we took the less crowded right fork - it's a circular route anyway so you can go either way. Very different landscape up here at just over 2000m compared to the rest of tropical hot Sri Lanka. Rhododendrons, camelias, lichen covered gnarled and stunted trees open out into what can only be described as grouse moors. An ancient landscape with growing populations of sambar deer and leopard - we did see deer but not leopard. Easy 9km walk, if a bit noisy at the various viewing places (don't think we've mentioned but it's currently Chinese New Year fortnight and that's why there are so many of them  - the Sri Lankans are not keen on them !) 
At the end of the walk it was back down again to pick up our bags we'd left at the hotel. Then to the train station for the 12.45 express from Kandy to Ella - along with the backpackers (hardly a local on the train). The train is a very slow moving relic of the colonial period, but without the steam. Our driver pushed and shoved his way to get us a couple of seats, after which he left us to drive to Ella. Difficult viewing conditions through all the bodies but what we did see consisted of tea plantations and vegetable farms. Up here they can grow spuds, carrots, leeks, strawberries and lovely agapanthus ! After 2.5hrs arrived in Ella. The hordes disembarked and we linked up with driver, Zaniel, again. Writing this in the Misty Hills hotel, our accommodation for the next 3 nights
Friday 23rd - Ella
Not long ago Ella was just a sleepy  little village on the edge of the escarpment with fabulous views through Ella Gap down to the lowlands.  It still has those views but the village street is now awash with bars and cafes catering for the backpacker crowds that are drawn here.  Our hotel is somewhat more basic than previous ones but has a  great view through the gap with Ella Rock on one side and Little Adams Peak on the other.  We opted to stay here three nights as there are various walking options to stretch our legs and enjoy the countryside.  After lunch today at the upmarket "98ha Hotel" (it's in a tea plantation ) we climbed Little Adams Peak.  This is a very wee little brother to The Adams Peak which is a must climb for many  Buddhist pilgrims and energetic young visitors.  As our climb didn't require so much energy we continued down to the 9arches railway bridge, which is quite a feat of engineering and then continued along the track to Ella station.  There is a sort of path running along the track but everyone just uses the tack to walk along.  It was a lovely walk and we got to wave at the old fashion 5.35 train.  
Saturday 24th
Armed with a packed lunch we set off to climb Ella Rock.  Zaniel came with us as he wasn't confident we'd find our way and that's probably true.  Again we followed the railway track winding along the hillsides dotted with patchwork productive farms.  Fortunately there was more cloud so it wasn't as hot for walking.  But we did require all our strength and energy to negotiate the final steep ascent and which I found just as challenging to come down!!  The view from the top was good but not photogenic today due to increased cloud.  Feeling well and truly exercised we spent the afternoon lounging in the hotel garden with Mike keeping a look out for opportunities to photo the flitting birds, not very successfully.

Comments

Andy Smith
2018-03-01

Great photos and enjoying reading your adventures.Hope you are now feeling well Mike. Weather in U.K. Is very cold with lots of snow. Good move to be in Sri Lanka! Keep safe Andy

Daniel Smith
2018-03-01

Cant agree more! -9degrees is cold enough to freeze the balls off the proverbial brass monkey. Have you seen any live monkeys? Or indeed other quadrapeds (elephant? ) Please bring some of that weather back home with you. Best Daniel

2025-02-10

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