Sri Lanka - Train journey from Kandy to Nanu Oya and the tea plantations near Nuwara Eliya

We have travelled in a range of transport since arriving on the plane. We have a very comfortable coach but we have also experienced a safari jeep, bullock cart, double canoe, tuk tuk, public bus and today we took a long ride in a train.

This was quite an experience which took almost four hours. We boarded the diesel train in Kandy and travelled over the hill country to Nanu Oya where our coach met us. This was one of those trains where the windows stay open all the trip and the air con. was a collection of fans on the ceiling. It was noisy and windy but the scenery as we passed over the range was spectacular. We were surprised to see many eucalypts growing on the steep slopes.

Once we reached the hill country the tea plantations became evident. What a pretty scene they make. The older bushes were planted by seed and are less regimented but the newer ones are from saplings and they start producing tea leaves much earlier than the seedlings.

After lunch we visited a tea factory. We saw the tea tips being plucked, the bags of leaves being brought to the factory, tossed, rolled and dried. The tea leaves are then graded and packed. We were able to enjoy a fresh brew of their tea overlooking the plantation.

Back in Nuwara Eliya we checked out the market, bought some tea to take home and then had some free time. Just as we were getting into the coach to go to our resort hotel the rain started. Up until now we have had very hot and humid weather but the hill country is cooler.

The bananas are small and very sweet ( but not so pleasing when you find one squashed in the bottom of your backpack, the majority of it all over your big Nikon camera!) 

It was suggested that we should try Old Arrack, a 34% spirit made from rice or coconut. One of our number bought a bottle and we sampled it on the coach on the way to our overnight stop. Our local guide Don is seen here measuring out this Sri Lankan special drop.

Sri Lanka - Royal Botanic Gardens and elephant orphanage at Pinnawela

The history of The Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya dates back to 1371 but in 1780 it became a royal garden. In 1810 Sir Joseph Banks had input into the garden. Today the garden displays Sri Lankan  plants as well as trees from around the world. We hugged a giant kauri from Australia!

 

Jack fruit

Bats

In the orchid house

The elephant orphanage in Pinnawela was established in 1975 with seven orphans. One elephant that had lost a leg from a land mine was rescued by the orphanage and later became the first elephant to give birth in captivity.

What a happy place this is. We arrived in time to see the elephants bathing in the river with their mahouts. They were having a great time, especially when they were showered with water.

Aldo was excited to see the elephants too.

Later the elephants walked through the street to return to the orphanage. One elephant thought my red camera looked like something nice to eat.

Back at the orphanage we saw the elephants enjoying their environment and one lucky one was the star who was hand fed fruit and photographed by the many people visiting.

Lastly we saw two baby elephants being bottle fed. You had to be fast to get a photo as it only took them six to eight gulps to empty the bottle.

We were all amused to see the shops selling Poo Paper. In a plan to raise money to help with medical care for the animals some clever person has come up with the idea of making paper from the elephant poo. As each elephant eats 50 kgs of greenery every day, they do produce rather a lot of poo! Let's hope the sales of Poo Paper really take off.