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

Tuesday 21

Today we head inland and up into the hill country. Although I passed a sign warning of Wild animals, I only saw monkeys, and evidence of where elephants have been. Good drive without any issues on reasonably quiet roads that were quite rough in places., I even had Spotify playing 70s&80s

music to sing and to. Much of the area we're driving through is quite dense jungle and the road for much of the way is lined with small farms and shops selling all sorts of things. Arrived at the glamping stop for tonight quite early, had a swim, some icecream, cold drink, and a massage. All in all a nice relaxing day.

Tuesday 21

I have arrived at Wild Glamping Gal Oya

Monday 20th Arugam Bay & Kumana Safari

The hotel is right on the beach where fishermen launch their boats so there it is intersting to watch them lauch and go out for the evenings catch.

Free day today no driving, so went off on a safari to Kumana National Park, saw lots of birds & quite a few animals including crockodiles, deer, wild boar, Leopard, Sri Lankan sloth bear, Elephants & Water Buffalo.

One of the things that are not provided for in the tour is petrol,  after nearly running out on my first day, I filled up with 7 ltrs for 2900 rupiah which is about A$2 per ltr. I’m also following what many locals do & fill up large drink bottles with petrol and keep it under the seat. Back on the road again tomorrow.