Saturday 35th. Last day

jalfway through my last day and now we have come down from the high country it is hot again, so I've stopped at a little shop on the highway selling icecream, just what I needed. Not much to report except that some of these highways are no better than a country road that you can only just fit 2 cars on, and it makes for some interesting tactical driving when overtaking vehicles comming towards you don't give way. 

Finally I arrive at my last destination in Sri Lanka, Suriya Resort, Kammala, on the west coast.

Do I recommend this, would I do it again, YES, in the blink of an eye. JohnO gives this 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A few things though if you are doing something like this in a country like this, Google maps is your friend most of the time, but it cannot tell the terrain or condition of the road, and can lead you astray and onto roads that shouldn't be tackled without a 4x4.

Watch the locals and drive like they do, it may not be legal, or what you are used to, but it's the safest way usually. And the local trick to avoid running out of petrol is to fill 1.5 ltr water bottles with petrol and keep it under the seat, probably not recommended, but, fuel stations are only on main roads and towns and if you are touring around the country side you should carry some.

Friday 24th

 Well I finally arrived at the stop for tonight, Amaya Hills Hotel, Kandy, but not without some drama.

The day started out well enough, breakfast on the lawn, a tour of the tea factory, then a visit to a local school that the tour operator and the Tea Experience hotel support. 

Then on to Kandy, all went well until Google Maps took me into the worst road ever, I stopped a couple of times to ask locals if this was the way, and they said yes indicating to continue on the track. 

But the track continued to get worse, very rocky wash aways for a couple of hundred meters. I was going ok until I hit a rut and it stalled and slid backwards down the Hill, tipping on 2 wheels before righting itself. Phew, I thought I was a gonner. 

Luckily some schoolkids came along and suggested pushing, well I thought just a few schoolkids aren't gonna get this out, then a local man and another few kids came along and suggested the same, pushing. Well between them and me we pushed it back on the track, and then pushed up over the rocky section, and from there it was just a short drive to the hotel. 

God was certainly watching over me today. Amen.

Thursday 23rd

A much cooler day today as we head further into the highlands. The forrest has opened up to reveal Sri Lankas stunning landscape of larger farms and tea plantations. It's obvious as I drive along that road maintenance is not high on their agenda, unless the buses can't get through. Many rockfall & landslides litter the road, and in many cases part of the road has slipped away as well. 

Lots of narrow winding roads going up, down through the mountainous country, and some of them are little better than rock tracks. Finally arrived at our accommodation for tonight, Tea & Experience Factory, Mandaram Nuwara. 

Got here just in time as a huge thunderstorm rolled through after I got here and it's still raining, I've also just learnt that a tuktuk not far behind me was delayed for quite a while as a large tree fell across the road.

Wednesday 22nd

Today we continue on westwards through the heart of Sri Lanka’s up into the mountains, to the Hill Country. If it wasn’t for the traffic the winding twisting mountain roads would be great to ride a motorbike through, but the little tuktuk travelling at 40kph has no difficulty in navigating these winding roads with its picturesque countryside, it rains heavily for about 20 mins but I stayed relatively dry in the covered tuktuk.

The countryside we pass is lush green jungle and farms growing corn, vegetables, tea plantations, and rice fields. We evntually get to Ella a busy little town which has become popular for hiking, with many walks available including Little Adam's Peak or Ella Rock both of which I can see from the hotel.

At about 1000mtrs it is much cooler here, and as I write this the clouds are gradually rolling in obscuring the view from the roof of Hotel Onrock.

Tuesday 21