The first day we walked to Little Adam's Peak, so named because its shape resembles the more well-known Adam's Peak, which has a hollow resembling a giant human footprint, much revered and draws pilgrims from all religions - we gave that one a miss.
Then I discovered the Pekoe Trail, a 300km long distance trail. The next day we took a ride hailing car to the Stage 15 trail head in Makulella (also reachable by public bus), and walked back to Ella via the Ella Rock Viewpoint. The day after, we walked Stage 16 from Ella to Demodara and took the train back.
At first I was appalled at seeing some of the more straggly tea terraces. Then I read that tea was only introduced to Sri Lanka by the British in 1824, and making bagged black tea is not as stringent as loose green tea. I blocked out my Chinese tea terrace standards out of my head, I began to really enjoy seeing the verdant tea terraces.
Our bus from Galle to Ella left at 5:10am (1st below). Oh my! Super early, however we caught dawn and sunrise over the Indian Ocean (2nd and 3rd below) from the bus window.
Little Adam's Peak is very accessible to tour groups. Also, at the base of final slope, there are several Instagram Photo Spots - there was no lack of IG Enthusiasts in Ella - including a Mega Zip Line, and a Giant Swing.
The view from the top of LAP.
By chance Fruity Coco Cafe caught our eye and we tucked into a masala dosa cone, and a veg kottu (lower right)...
... and on our way back to the guest house bought some rambutans from the back of a truck, bananas from a stall, and fresh eggs from a box.
Breakfast on the veranda with tow Sri Lanka Grey Hornbills for company.
Stage 15 of the Pekoe trail began on a logging road in Makulella.
And took us up to Ella Rock with an awesome view back to Little Adam's Peak.
We take a short detour off the main trail to catch a view of Small Rawana Waterfall and the Railroad (center up) Bridge. And promtly got lost in the high grass for a few minutes
Then it's a slow 3km walk on the RR tracks back to Ella Station. Fortunately one can hear the train before it comes by. ;-)
Stage 16 started in Ella at the Nine Arches Bridge, fairly quiet now, but crowded when trains are scheduled pass through. And that will be us in several hours. ;-)
Most of Stage 16 is on tea plantation roads. That's a plus as the view is almost always amazing. We're pretty sure we spotted a woolly-necked stork soaring across the valley (2nd below).
At one point there was a View back to Ella Rock (left center).
In Demodera Estate Tea Plantation, the work supervisor was a sight from the past with stick, checkered blue shirt, blue kneesocks, and khaki shorts.
Soon we were in Demodera with a perfect view down to the station.
There was plenty of time to catch the 11:45 train, headed to Ella over the Nine Arches Bridge, and filled with enthusiasts of all sorts (including SL).
1 comment:
Looks like a wonderful adventure. Glad that you can hear the train before seeing it!
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