6 am, my
phone alarm just went on, I have been counting the drops of the heavy rain
outside for quite some time trying to get back to sleep after another wave of
mosquitoes.,
I am
excited and in a rush as I must pack up again, clear the room and check out to
meet my bus at 7.30. I like to be a bit of ahead of the schedule.
Its 6.45
and I have walk under the rain from the guest house for a good ten minutes to
finally be disappointed. The bus to Badulla left at 6am and the next one won’t
be before 1.30pm. I am rumbling, I am definitely unhappy about it especially as
I have been misinformed by the guest house on this.
I return
there to kill the time on the internet and doing nothing less else before
leaving for the second time, definitely the last this time. The weather is back
to normal and left quite a huge sun to dry out the asphalt running by fast
under my walking shoes. It feels like I am running with my house with not much
effort.
I have just
two hours to kill , one spent talking around with the drivers and get loads of
good tips and the other one, taking some needed force especially once I knew I
would be stuck for another 6 hours journey.
My neighbor
Luxmam tried to make out conversation once a nice and good size rainbow pierced
the clouds and let us admire it for the few minutes of sunlight remaining. I
couldn’t be rude to him(but I was bored already) while he was browsing through
his phone, showing me his wife, kids, dogs and grandparents and asking me the
inevitable question of my marital status.
It seems like society here is seeing wedding as a very important value
and doesn’t really understand to see a white male aged 30 still not complying
with the mold. Maybe I am abnormal!
The
distance was not that long and it felt like déjà vu though the road was in a
much better condition till we arrived at the bottom of the mountains, in an
absolute darkness, barely able to see the pedestrians on the side of the road
or dogs crossing without a warning.
Badulla,
7.40pm, almost 6 hours in total crushed in the backseat. My information was
correct. I am starting wandering around the bus station, trying to spot for
some guest house, found a lodge but they are full. The owner calls a three
wheeler and for one hundred rupees I ll be able to hunt with him for accommodation.
I don’t plan on staying here more than one night as my objective is to reach
Ella. After one unsuccessful try, we got a new address to check. Time for a
rest, its 8pm and I am falling asleep.
6 am this
Saturday morning! I slept almost ten hours and feel like a charm! After a cold
shower I am back on the tracks aiming at the railway station. Badulla is
apparently famous for its waterfall but we can’t go swimming there so this is
not really worth for me to go there and lose the opportunity of being very early
in Ella and enjoying myself.
I must
anyway be in the tea trails if not Monday, at the latest Tuesday if I want to
explore the south of the islands and chill in MIrissa.i ll soon confirm with
Amuthan for my arrival there but need to finalize the last bit of the ride from
Hatton train station to Norwood.
Badulla to
Ella was fantastic, back to the train and its melting pot of people from
different social backgrounds. I am by the window, watching out and being waved
at by some teenagers that will soon join me on the rail, in the fresh air as I
was fed up being seated among breast feeding mums and kids yelling around and
throwing food at me by lack of precision !
Badulla-Ella,
it is only one hour by train and finally get to see some big tea factory.
The smell
Is hard to describe but I am feeling much better here, away from the massive
pollution of the city centers.
I am
outside, saying bye to my teenagers singing act and spot the hotel country
comfort right in front of the station.
This will
be definitely the first one I will give an attempt and in fact that’s where I
am staying for the night after bargaining for a mere 30 seconds. The price went
from 1500 to a rather worth 1000 lkr much more in my line of budget.
Left the
hostel around 12, supposedly the warmest moment in the day but its very cloudy
today and the wind condition makes it very nice to walk outside though it looks
like it will rain but lets hope not, I didn’t take my jacket.
I walked
back to the train station, took the road down and made a right , pass through a
tunnel and start climbing the hill ahead with the idea of getting a view point
and finding some internet.
The story
will tell that I didn’t get both in the right order but so much more! On the
way to the top, I had a quick rest at this place called the skygreen hostel. Talk
to the manager and sealed a deal for tomorrow night…even better from 2500 lkr
he went down to a 1000 lkr. I am getting good at it!
The pitstop
was necessary and resourceful in information. Got to the summit in no time, the
last part was a bit harder as it was mostly burn and the soil was covered of
pine needles making it very slippery.
Sat there
for a while and a few minutes later an eagle came back to its nest quickly to feed
the birdies and went flaring a few meters ahead of me, glancing at me like I was
eatable… barely had time to pull my camera and got a shot of its rear. Really beautiful
!
As I was
waiting to make the shot, I got caught up by the rain and got soaked wet in no
time. Stuff my t shirt in the backpack, put every single belonging in there too
and covered it up with the rain protection as I was slipping through on the way
down.
I got
protection first under some banana tree then under the porch of the house I found.
Very convenient place that allowed me to wait for a calmer moment to make an
exit.
Still
looking for internet if you do remind, took a staircase then another and soon I
was on the rail track right behind a western (yeah) that I followed for a while
before catching up on him and being tipped regardless my search.
I just met
the guy again, his name is Fabian, he is a couchsurfer out of munich and we
just kill one beer while the rain is still pouring and I must go back to my own
place….
Just the
idea is discouraging !
I also
received an email today regarding the rest of the plan at dilmah and I ll be
first in the bungalow, then hosted by the manager of the plant till the 5th.
I love when
a plan comes together…(cf to Hannibal smith and the a team)
Ciao
Everyone
Love you
all
Big kisses
to Pauline, guillaume and the amazing dog left home certainly having croquettes
as I type in those last few words.
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