Weekend in Ella

A group of us went to Ella for the weekend, starting on a Saturday morning. As ever Ampara planning resulted in a farewell party for 4 people on the Friday night and my intentions of an early night went wrong. We set off at 7am with a few hangovers and got to Ella about lunchtime.

Ella isn’t far from Badullah so Beatrice joined us in our guesthouse.

The views from the balcony were great and the whole area very scenic. Despite Beatrice’s warnings that it always rains in the afternoons we set off for a walk to see a waterfall. This involved going to the station and walking back up the railway track towards Kandy and Colombo for a short while.

It was a pleasant afternoon and we managed to miss the point where you leave the tracks. A local put us right but then stayed with us as a guide despite our encouragement for him to leave. We found the waterfall ok then headed for the rock temple, at which point it started to rain, quite heavily and the mist closed in. We got soaked, we eventually made our way back to the main road and some of us walked in the rain all the way, uphill, back to Ella and the hotel. A hot shower and some tea came in handy. This was about 4.30 and I could have done with eating about 6-7 ish.

We planned to meet with some others at 8, but in the event they didn’t get there till 9! Past the point by then. We managed a meal and crashed out. The next day we got an early wake-up from Steve and 3 of us, Claudia, Steve and I set off to climb Ella rock. Back along the railway, past the waterfall but this time up again.

We got 2 boys as guides but sent them away as Claudia said we could manage, and then she led us into somebody’s back garden! We went through the tea plantations and had climbed quite far when we noticed leeches on our boots, we all had them and they got worse the further we went. So being brave we legged it down again; on the way being attacked by bees, I got stung.

Thirkovil Kovil Opening Ceremony

The organisation I am working for is the only one restoring religious buildings. the funding comes from the Norwegian Foreign Office. This oppening ceremony is in Thurkovil towards the south of Ampara district. I was treated as an important guest and as usual was asked to make a speech! Good day out though.

Flower Power Party

This was a leaving party for Wendy, a VSO and Ettienne from TDH. The theme was flower power, I decided not to go to a lot of trouble as some of us had for a halloween party only to be alone in fancy dress. As it happened everyone made an effort and a good night was had by all.