Bumps!

I lay on the sun lounger as I write this with a magnificent view of the Huluganga mountains and listening to some Hindi music blasting from a radio somewhere in the fields below. Rolling hills full of tea plantations and even though I'm eagerly keen to see some Tamil tea pickers, I won't have any luck today as it's the first day of the year and since it's full moon - there are celebrations planned.
The trip to this slice of paradise was "bumpy" in the literal sense.
The flight was smooth for the most part - but for the last two hours, we experienced some rigorous turbulence - just what I needed to get some shut eye.
After making it to Colombo Fort station rather painlessly, we were told we had incorrect train tickets and the train we wanted was fully booked. Eeekkk! Panic averted we were put on the 9am train to Kandy (therefore some 2+ hours to spare). Tiredness was starting to kick in a bit more aggressively however we happily got over this when we had two seats on the train to Kandy with windows that were fully open. This meant we were able to really enjoy the scenery!
The uuuuus and aaaahhhss lasted quite a bit however the train was so bumpy that it didn't allow me to concentrate on anything but the bumps. I'm not saying a gentle sway, I'm not talking about a rocking feeling - I'm talking " can't control which way my body is moving" bumps! You would think that tracks are linear and smooth... Well not in Sri Lanka! And this was a 2 hr train ride - I must find some  travel sickness poppers before the 6 HOUR ride on the 3rd Jan down to Ella!
Once back on solid ground my sense of vertigo quickly dissipated and I was eager to get to the lodge.
As soon as we got out Kandy station, we find our driver waiting for us - our names written on a brown paper bag, and after putting our bags in his a red (old) Toyota van - off we went.
We KNEW this was going to be approximately 1.5hrs and that the last bit was rough in terms of road condition.
"I promise not to complain anymore about the potholes in London anymore!"
Geesh there were potholes!
The road (track) was steep but the drivers are good - you need to be with the hairpin turns! Whilst going up a stretch of hill we did hear a big "thump" - only to realise that the back door had opened and Gabie's bag was tumbling down the hill! That is not a pretty sight to see. You can only hope that the backpack will stop rolling down or that someone will catch it.
Thankfully after the truck behind us "qala l-horn" and people shouted "wwwooooo" - our driver stopped and ran down the hill to pick it up - result: fairly intact!
Once we arrived - we were dumbstruck to see the view (which you have seen in photos I've shared) - and the rest is history!
Buffet evening organised by the staff including a DJ set! (I think I would have done a better job at being a DJ though - very poor taste in techno music mixes.)
This afternoon we are planning a 2 hr trek! Gabie insists we remain "active"... I like my idea of remaining "horizontal" much better 🤫

Brambilla 3 goes on an adventure! 2017

If I had to look back - this is the most “unorganised” trip I’ve done. We have everything booked in terms of hotels but apart from that - nothing much. Following the last trip in Myanmar - this is going to be hiking-free, bike-free, pagoda-free trip - I literally want to be a beach bumm. Even my packing was literally left until the 11th hour! You would think you need everything under the sun in 2 weeks - so yes, you’ve guessed... we over packed!

Taxi this morning was on time - actually he was nearly 45 mins early but we left him wait until our pick up time of 9:15am. Whizzed through London and got to T3 at 9:50am. With a serious, nonchalant feel, we both went to the business class line and immediately to the check in counter. After a nice “good morning” the lady behind the desks say “are you interested...” but before she could end her sentence, I jumped and said “interested in business class?”.... to which she said “umm no but we have an offer.” At this point I already had a partial frown on my face. And she continued “if you get on the later flight this evening, we will give you €600 each in hard cold cash”. After a few seconds of hesitation and a few “ums and aaas”, we politely declined because heck we just wanted to get to Sri Lanka and get to the view in the mountains that was awaiting us! Are you kicking me at the moment? I am sure you too would be in the same pickle as me... go now or wait 8 hrs and get nearly the whole flight price for free back???? 

Bags checked in and we scooted through the terminal to try and find a Zara...‘permanantely shut’... “but how can it be? I need some spare t-shirts!”. Thank goodness for Brambilla 2 providing some very luxurious-looking kaftans - I have taken them ALL! Thank you!

At 10:40am I had already devoured 1 bacon butty and 1 cheese omelet butty - and to wash it all down 2 glasses of white wine. No bubbly was available at the time so I had to go for the second best option.

One of the first to board - and there is a musky smell - like a perfume trying to mask a smell of pungent urine.  I’m pretty sure the nose will settle and it’s just an intro to what we are to expect when we get there!

I will have Internet for the full duration in Sri Lanka - but not in the Maldives. We will be 4:30 hours ahead of Malta! I can also receive calls for free :-) 

I will be landing at some 4am local time but will send you a text In our group chat “Galea tours” to let you know. If the photos become excessive - let me know and I’ll stop (or not) xxxx 

Let’s see if I manage to keep this blog up... not promising you and definitely not one per day!