Yala, Beach (not) and Galle Fort

Bettysue says: We left Ella next morning. Ella is a quiet mountain village with a left over British post office - still with the wooden cubbies and 3 office clerks, but we were anxious to start a safari. We travelled down the mountain, stopping at an outdoor temple where there is a giant buddha carved into the hillside.

Reaching Yala village hotel in the mid afternoon, all we could do is fall into the beautiful pool. Yala village hotel is located in the park and they insist you have an escort if you leave your cabana after dark. WILD animals roam around - we saw lots of boar and water buffalo and monkeys but no elephants that do come in - we saw the poo - but not that night. Next morning early, 5:30 am we climb into a landrover and head out in the park to see what we do.

Unhappily, D&BSue do not see one of the 12 leopards in the park (there are only 60 left in Sri Lanka), but we do see a tusker elephant, and more elephants, and sloth bears, jackels, wild water buffalo with huge horns, who are perpetually angry and will attack you outside a vehicle. It was a great experience (especially if we don't get to kenya) here are some pics:

Sometimes when you travel, you see the same people at each spot. Our regulars were David and Susie (I know) who were at the Temple of the Tooth, walking down our road in Ella, on the safari in Yala (different jeep) and finally walked in when we were having our G&Ts on a veranda of a fancy boutique hotel in Galle Fort. They are British but live in the Emirites. Here is a picture of them - let us know if YOU spot them.

The next stop for us was a much anticipated beach layover - originally planned for 4 nights but trimmed down to 2 (meaning 1 full day at the beach) It was a good thing that we hit the beach the afternoon we arrived because the entire next day - our 1 day - was overcast. Probably saved us a sunburn. This beach was probably the lovliest we have ever seen - here is pic (from our veranda).

We travelled to Galle Fort - a Portugese/Dutch fort that has lots of old houses and pretty hotels - and we were lucky enough to stay at a very fancy one - helped by our SriLanka in style friends. We visited the markets - see these pics:

Here is Dave on a veranda just before a G&T:

Next morning we travelled by train up to Colombo. We travelled along the same stretch where the tsunami washed every one away. There is major efforts of recovery and still some damage to see. Life continues here and everywhere.

We stay in Columbo 2 more nights and travel on to Bangkok... (to be continued)