Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls

As many do after a night that ends at three in the morning, I started my sixth day in Sri Lanka with a lie in. In fact the only reason I woke when I did was because Ali woke me to tell me he was going to breakfast, and the only reason he woke up is because Sumudu, our guide, had received a call from the hotel worried that three of the group rooms hadn’t turned up for breakfast. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who struggles the morning after the night before!

Anyway, I eventually manage to get myself out of bed to discover I am naked. Now normally I sleep naked so not a big deal right. Well, I am sharing a room with Ali and I did only meet him about a week ago, so I am slightly concerned I have flashed my new friend. After rushing down to check with him at breakfast I find out he didn’t see anything. The stripping happened in the dark after he had gone to bed, but lesson learnt, take it easy on the tequilas, although this is a lesson that never seems to stick!

Today is a ‘free day’ meaning a day where the group doesn’t have anything planned officially but many of us have agreed that we want to do the Diyaluma falls, the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. So, at 10am – thank god it wasn’t earlier, a load of us pack into some mini vans and are whisked off to the falls. Diyaluma or Diya Haluma means ‘rapid flow of water’ or may be translated as ‘liquid light’. It is only a short hike to the first swimming area which normally would have been a breeze but Jess and I are bringing up the rear, struggling to keep up, with our heads pounding and sweat dripping! After what felt like an eternity we reach the first tier, a nice big pool of natural cold water with a natural rock slide and jump that many of the group try out. I have to admit I felt kinda bad for the couple who had the area to themselves before our group rocked up. After some sliding and swimming the group slowly starts to make its way back to land when someone notices that if you stand still in the shallows long enough this pool actually has those fish that will come and eat the dead skin on your feet, it is a weird feeling, because of course I give it a go!

Diyaluma Falls

Parting company with my hangover
(click on the top right hand icon)

Soon we are moving onto the next tier, this one has a large rock face for those recovering to lay on, Jess looks like she has found her spot. I opt to be the only one in the group to do the seven metre jump into the pool on the tier below. I do question my choices as I stand on the edge looking down, with the guide telling me the specific area I have to hit to avoid hitting the rocks in the shallow end. But I’ve got to get rid of the hangover somehow, so I fully commit and launch me and it over the fall, into the pool below. It is definitely a wake up call! I then slide down into the next pool which allows me to peer over the edge of the biggest drop yet. It is quite an experience peering over the edge of a waterfall feeling the water flowing past you, definitely would recommend it to anyone looking to recover from a hangover. Then onto next tier, but only once the guide has come to fish me out the pool; this involves a rope in order to get out, not something he told me before I flung myself off, but oh well.

Trapped!

Will Jason go head first?

This tier is the one at the peak of the main part of the falls, with amazing rock pools and views for miles. It is a lovely place and the group quickly take the opportunity for another dip and, of course, some photos. One of the girls from the ‘Sarah and the girls gang’ (Febe) is talking to me about my travelling and asks if I am having a mid-life crisis. It is good to know the impression I give people I have spent just a week with, is that my life expectancy is early 50’s! Finally we reach the pool at the bottom where most of us just chill drying off, although Jason did decide to take a final dip and made friends with some Sri Lankans on holiday after having been to the Kandy festival. We then walk back to our drop-off point and have a lunch where, desperate for sugar, I pretty much chug two bottles of coke straight away. Hang over gone. The day ends with a group of us going to a restaurant called The Barn for some food while listening to live music and then to bed early!

The slide

Spectacular!