The Tea Factory Nuwara Eliya

... and Totapola 2,359m), on the edge of a dramatic plateau, while undulating hills up to 2,000m are home to the Plains themselves. It’s got all the usual ingredients of good, country fare, with the weather a major determinant of what you’ll see. Early morning is the best time to visit, as cloud mist can quickly obscure all but your feet in front of you!

I wanted to walk thro’ Horton Plains to World’s End - literally an end point (or almost ...

... a horse racing course. One day I visited the Pedro Tea Estate. Tea is one of Sri Lanka's major exports and the hill country of Sri Lanka is where the tea plantations are found. In order to grow, tea requires a warm climate (I'm not so sure when Nuwara Eliya is warm?), altitude, and a sloping terrain. So after taking a tour of the tea factory I learned how ...

... views. So we found ourselves standing around shivering at 5:30am waiting for our jeep to the park. Our jeep was a great old battered thing but it was perfect for the job. We stopped at a small shop on the way to pick up supplies but ended up staying for about 30 minutes, clearing them out of honey & coconut hoppers (delicious!) and some tea to warm up. The tea they seem to drink here is milky and very sweet, I prefered to have it black with no sugar ...

... took don't do justice so best to have a look at the website which also plays a tune to you. http://www.helgasfolly.com/ The Stereophonics stayed there and were inspired so wrote a song about it called "Madame Helga". The interesting thing is - I spoke to the Madame on the telephone after our meal - was all quite surreal, the little waiter asked me if I wanted to speak to her and I thought he was going to fetch her. Then ...

#1 - I chase wild elephants into the jungle. #2 - I drive a moped 80km/hr toward oncoming traffic in the dark and rain in a country where buses regard motorbikes as speedbumps. #3 - I ride bus routes which 4 days earlier were bombed. #4 - I'd do 1-3 again in a heartbeat if I had the chance.

... turning to see who the handsome intruder with daring eyes and a lean fighting body (these bits are OBVIOUSLY very accurate). I grabbed my terrified taxi driver and made for the van as the final terrorist sprayed bullets all around us. A chase ensued and we made our through the streets of Colombo, this involved speeding up to dizzying speeds of 8-10 mph, before the traffic jam we were no doubt in caused us to slow again. After rounding a bend on two ...

... Next, we took a train to Heputale, another quaint mountain village. The scenery along the way was breathtaking - tea plantation covered hills, green as far as the eye could see. In Hepulale, we visited a tea factory/plantation and enjoyed more of the cool mountain climate (nothing a little arrack didn't fix...). Then we headed for the beach and spend a few days partying and relaxing on the beach.

... MEF as well, as the Vet will be able to conduct tests onsite that normally have to been sent by road to Perediniya University (over one hour away) Wednesday I am back to the hospital for round 2 of my post rabies exposure vaccines, as I have had such a reaction to the first set I am unsure what treatment I am going to have. I have to say that being bitten by a stray (which was always going to be a hazard I guess) has just strengthened my resolve to get as many ...

... twice in 2hrs! And woe betide anyone who doesn't have their passport or ID on them! Colombo's also extremely expensive. I stayed at the YWCA & it still cost me over Rs.800 - extortionate! (Rs.200 to the pound) Took a local bus to Kandy the next morning which was fun. I've found that I get stared at just as much in Sri Lanka as I did in India..........even moreso actually. Apparently Sri Lankan women don't really travel unchaperoned so me travelling on my own caused ...