“A triumph of hope over experience” fairly accurately sums up the way I live life. Being perpetually optimistic has its disadvantages though, which manifest themselves in various ways. That’s why I squelched up the tracks to Ella train station in the dark – tired, hungry and dripping wet…
The day started well – a Sumana special breakfast followed by a slow but steady trek up to Little Adam’s Peak which rewarded our efforts with lovely views (spoilt only by hordes of noisy tourists, but you learn to block them out):
Even the dogs were relaxed:
Chameleons are now like the number 68 bus – never seen one, and now there’s a queue:
Spent a peaceful (notwithstanding the tourists), relaxed, attentive hour at the top, then headed past the tea plantation (where clouds of yellow butterflies were getting high):
… via a small shack selling “strawberry flavored melon jam”:
… to “Nine Arch Bridge”. Which is, of course, a viaduct, but who’s counting? Watching the train go over the bridge is *the* thing to do (I told you – something’s significance is affected by what’s around it… a bit like colour):
Tick.
We knew we should get going as the heavens always open in the afternoon. Not for long, but the torrent is complete and relentless. So we wandered down to the track. At this point, I must point out that I am very proud to have been “train trained” at primary school. I remember it distinctly, sat there passively listening until he suddenly and unexpectedly lurched forward and clapped his hands and shouted “BANG!” so loudly we all jumped out of our skin. “That’s how fast they’ll appear”, he said. I’ve never forgotten it.
But in Sri Lanka, gaps between trains run into hours. Between times, the track is used as a pedestrian highway. So after the requisite photos:
… we started walking, through the tunnel and out the other side. We’d been walking for about 20 minutes when we felt the first drops of rain… just as we were passing one of the only shelters we saw on our return. The gentleman invited us under, and hurried away into his house. Within minutes, the drops had progressed to a downpour:
… which brought out the leeches (which look much more scary than they actually are):
I know they’re not strictly bugs, but I think they win BOTD today.
Fifty minutes later, it was still pouring with rain. The gentleman and his wife returned to offer us a tuk-tuk. Today’s lesson: when it’s pouring with rain, and someone offers to get you a tuk-tuk, say “yes, please”. Don’t, under any circumstances, ask how long it takes to walk, as it’ll be about double their most conservative estimate.
And so it was that I squelched up the tracks to Ella train station in the dark – tired, hungry and dripping wet…
Later that evening, I got my reward: Sumana’s devilled chicken – easily the best of the trip so far (athough the meat still slightly overcooked, which is the Sri Lankan way):
A memorable day 🙂
PS Whilst the leeches win BOTD, the runner up also deserves a mention – it jumped onto the path in front of me during a rest break ascending Little Adam’s Peak this morning:
