A late morning today. We were to meet for breakfast at 8:00 - some extra rest for most. I even slept until around 6:00.
We were told that we could not uses our bus today and that we would be transported in 2 smaller vans. Our new drivers “Lucky” and “the other guy” were waiting for us. There was a bit of mixup about bagged lunches for us - not ready when we finished and would be ready in “ two minutes”. Several two minutes later we were on the road.
We went on a pretty scenic route up up and up more until we reached Horton Plains National Park. Along the way be passed many villagers and the train station that is at the highest altitude in Sri Lanka.
When we got there a hour and a half later we saw why we could not use the bus. I have never seen a more chaotic parking area. We got
parked and were ready to walk.
The Park has a circular loop path that normally should take 3 to 3.5 hours. A lot of up and down and quite a few rocky parts along the way. We saw a couple of Sambar deer before we parked the vans. They are much larger that I thought. We saw a few Bear monkeys and white faced monkeys as well along the way.
We were told that by 9:00 fog would roll in an block your view at World’s End which has a 880 meter cliff. That’s over 2400 feet. Well, they were right and we saw nothing which was fine with Richie (fear of heights).
Continuing on the loop we reached Baker’s Falls which were quite
impressive. Paul Shore-Suslowitz image.
After another 3.5 k were were back at the carpark. We ate our packed lunches and headed home.
Rich and Gayle went to the Grand Hotel for high tea and we went into the town for a while. We stopped at the golf club which was founded in 1889 and Richie tried to buy a shirt. That didn’t work out but they got some stuff at a local pharmacy.
We went to dinner at 8:30 at the Grand Thai Restaurant in the Grand Hotel. Very nice buffet and now for some sleep. Breakfast at 8:30 tommow so again more sleep.
We were told that we could not uses our bus today and that we would be transported in 2 smaller vans. Our new drivers “Lucky” and “the other guy” were waiting for us. There was a bit of mixup about bagged lunches for us - not ready when we finished and would be ready in “ two minutes”. Several two minutes later we were on the road.
Horton's Plains Towers front entrance.
Nice small lake along the way
This is the highest altitude train station in Sri Lanka
Stopped for this view back where we had come from.
When we got there a hour and a half later we saw why we could not use the bus. I have never seen a more chaotic parking area. We got
parked and were ready to walk.
The Park has a circular loop path that normally should take 3 to 3.5 hours. A lot of up and down and quite a few rocky parts along the way. We saw a couple of Sambar deer before we parked the vans. They are much larger that I thought. We saw a few Bear monkeys and white faced monkeys as well along the way.
Fog rolling in created an eerie look in the trees.
Taking a bit of a break
impressive. Paul Shore-Suslowitz image.
After another 3.5 k were were back at the carpark. We ate our packed lunches and headed home.
Sambar deer and a raven on the way out.
Back in Nuwara Eliya we found the Golf Club, founded in 1889.
View from the clubhouse.
Richie and Bobi are in there trying to buy some dress shirts for Dr. Blood. That didn't work out sadly.
They were able to buy some stuff at the pharmacy.
We went to dinner at 8:30 at the Grand Thai Restaurant in the Grand Hotel. Very nice buffet and now for some sleep. Breakfast at 8:30 tommow so again more sleep.
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