globtr: Ella

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Train in Sri Lanka

2014 February, The Long Trip - Sri Lanka, Travelling from Ella to Colombo

I woke up early as my train to Colombo was due at 6:40 am. I bought a second class ticket with reserved seat for 650 LKR (3.61e). The first class was sold for 1000 LKR (5.55e). All tickets were already sold out. The train went about 10 max 15 km/h so I had a lot of opportunities to take photos. It was an amazing and picturesque route from Ella to Kandy. The train went via tea plantations and on slopes with magnificent views. I saw a lot of women working at tea plantations. On the train it was possible to buy food and drinks once it stopped. The windows and doors were open. The train was delayed at the final station but it was great time for me. It would be a shame to miss it while travelling in Sri Lanka.

Ella train station

The second class

Tea plantation

Garden

When the train is full

Tea plantation

After work - tea plantation

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Walking in Ella

2014 February, The Long Trip - Sri Lanka - Ella

Distances in Sri Lanka aren't big. The country is well connected by buses. Unfortunately, the roads are still narrow and drivers are not as good as you might expect. Buses usually stop almost every 5 minutes to take another passenger on board so 30 km long journey might take up to 2 hours, 200 km long trip is a day one :-)
If you get on the bus at the first stop you have a seat but after 5th kilometer the bus is full.
Ella offers many walks around the town apart of visiting tea plantations. I went to Ella Rock. The route started at the railway station. I followed the railway track for 2 km towards Bandarawela. After passing a black bridge I turned left, crossed another small bridge I turned right and climbed up through a tea plantation. One local man guided me and warned me about snakes:-) A lot of foreigners had a local guide. The view from the rock was amazing and it was worth walking for almost 2 hours.