Yala

After a few days in the hill country, we were finally back in the dry area - just in time to visit Yala National Park ...  I was sceptical at first and I was wrong - so much wildlife, so much variety!
Just a few shots will not do it justice ...

The pool at the place we were staying was so inviting, I decided to take a dip at 6:00 am ... being careful not to step on another "guest" ...

Udawalawe - Elephant Transit Home

A visit that was a must for us - the elephant transit home, where orphaned elephant will be taken care of for about five years before being released into the wild in the national park close-by ... The elephant get some milk four times a day and during these times visitors can see them (but not touch them or get too close) for a small fee... The project was started and funded in 1995 by the Born Free Foundation and is much more reputable than any other in Sri Lanka ...

... and on our way out, we even found a sleepy friend ...

Ella

The new day in Ella began with: sunrise!! (This was the view from our hotel ...)

We then went on to the second hike in two days - this time to Little Adam's Peak (I barely managed that one, the "real" Adam's peak would have killed me ...)

 

not many birds on the road today, but a lot of scaly friends - one cuter than the other ...

... and the occasional "small" spider ...

Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, train journey to Ella

Leaving Kandy, and with Ernst proudly wearing his sarong, we made our way to Nuwara Eliya ... not before Ernst insisted to try a stinky durian on the side of the road ...

... moving on, we visited a tea plantation where we tried some different teas ... and Ernst contemplated a career change as tea "plucker"

Nuwara Eliya hasn't got much to offer, but the veggie side of the market is very pretty

After waking up at 4:00 AM, we had a small hike in the Horton Plains - about 9 km ...

 

I didn't see much wildlife (the animals were hiding in the thick forest), but I quite liked the statement at the entrance of the park ...

After the hike, a quick change and off to the station to get the train to Ella - a very panoramic journey among tea plantations, villages, forests and waterfalls ...

A full day in Kandy

Panoramic view of the city ...

... then the sacred Tooth Temple - full of tourists and locals alike ...

.... and the surprisingly entertaining Kandy dance show ...

(in-between lots of street food and black tea, but that's another story ...)