This morning, after a breakfast of pancakes, egg, toast and fruit, Wasi took us to the train station to travel from Ella to Nanu Oya. Vast rolling emerald green scenery and an abundance of wildlife. We could see the famous Ella waterfall in all its glory. I saw a cow chasing a stork of all things absurd! I have definitely changed my mind on returning to Sri Lanka… I would come back, but only with Wasi as a guide. It is so valuable here to have a local guide, as can get you local prices, and negotiate with sellers on your behalf. He is very trustworthy, the safest driver I have met, and knows all the local points of interest. He is kind and gentlemanly, and can speak English brilliantly. If anybody is tempted, find Wasi’s tours Sri Lanka on Facebook. He is really worth the money, and very good company…knows when to join in and when to let you have your own time.
On the train, we met two sweet Russian girls, Mila & Galia (her birthday today), who are on a 10 day holiday and are best friends. It takes 15hr and very expensive to get from Russia apparently. They wanted a photo with us and gave us. Russian coin as a present to remember them by! How cute is that!
Cat with the 2 Russian girls They took a photo of Leon & I Russian coin
We got to Nurwara Eliya, which was built by Britain. Very strange to see so many British (Georgian) style buildings but is totally Sri Lankan. We went to a restaurant for lunch at met 2 Germans, a lady from Bremen, and a guy from Stutte possibly?
We had a great chat about Brexit, and our fellow Europeans really don’t want us to leave and don’t understand why! A bit like the majority of us Brits I guess. Their English was incredible, and I have been trying to learn German so had a fun practicing on them! Wo in Deutschland kommst du aus? I mispronounced and should have been kommst hier. They were so shocked I spoke a little German, they forgot to reply!
Gosh, I’m going to miss us being part of the EU. Shady business indeed. I wonder who is benefitting.
So! The tea plantation! We were taken around by a very firm lady called Shoama. Her phrase was ‘come!’, and ‘are you clear on that’. The factory smelt divine! Herbal, warm, familiar stench of fresh tea wafting up our nostrils. She showed us the process of plucking the leaves (only done by women, as the men are too dirty and wipe their noses apparently!), and then dried, rolled, fermented, and then graded. The bigger pieces make lighter tea, used for flavoured teas, and the darker fine pieces that are used for more traditional tea. The Sri Lankan’s normally have it with milk and plenty of sugar. I saw they had people with the job of tea tasters, and know a certain person who that would suit!
Tea tasting station Tea plantation Leon in front of the tea plantation
