Stuck in the mud

Early to bed, Early to rise.

The group are up early as we have got a lot to fit in today. Firstly we make our way to Little Adam’s Peak. At 1141 metres high, it is the little brother of Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada) which stands at 2,243 metres. After a short drive we find ourselves going up a a rather short but quite steep hike to the top of this now famous rock. On the way we pass quite a few interesting things but the one that really catches my eye is a day resort with a few different pools including one with underwater seats next to a bar. I assume it is for the sunset party I see advertised that runs from 12pm to 12am. Maybe for a future trip I think, as this resort also has one of those massive swings that you can sit in and swing over the edge of the hill we are climbing. Along the way we also pick up a group of four legged friends led by what I assume is a female on heat. To be honest they are quite a manky looking lot and the group is relieved when the pack starts following a poor couple that we pass walking the other way who have made the mistake of carrying snacks with them. Instead we are now accompanied by a single doggo, who we all very much like and Jason gives the name of Gregory to. The reason I am spending so much time discussing the journey up is because when the group arrives to the top of the peak so does a load of fog and clouds and any hope of beautiful views or amazing photo ops disappear. Although judging by how sweaty I, and some of my group, are probably best to not get too many pics!

The ascent of Little Adam's Peak

After the walk up we are hurrying to our next spot. The Nine Arch Bridge, a very famous tourist hot spot. A limestone bridge constructed for the railway between Demodara and Ella. On Wikipedia it states that this bridge was built by a famous Ceylonese builder PK Appuhami. Sumudu says that the truth of the matter is that, given this was a colonial build, British engineers designed a wood and iron bridge that was cancelled due to a shortage of iron. This is when Appuhami stepped in and said no delay was needed and with a different design the build could go ahead as planned with limestone and, as it is still used to this day, I think we can all agree he did a pretty damn good job. The group stop for photos on both sides and on the bridge itself before waiting patiently for the train that we had rushed to see pass over the bridge. Unsurprisingly at this point it is behind schedule, running on ‘Sri Lanka time’.

What could have been – view of Little Adam's Peak on a clear day

Waiting for the train – 'Sri Lanka time' style

Once the train has passed and having met a few new doggos the group is back on the bus heading towards another safari. Along the way we stop at what seems to be a local’s house were we all get out to see a table fully laid and a buffet waiting for us. The group, including me, are a little unsure as to why we’ve stopped here or who even cooked this food. We weren’t really given any context or even saw anyone around, but I have to say it was the best dal we have had yet and we have had a lot, I mean a lot, of dal. With our bellies full we are quickly escorted to our safari were we transfer into some more jeeps. I jump into a green Range Rover with Jason, we pick it because of the colour. We are joined by Jordan and Jenna who tell us they picked it due to it looking like the lead car and therefore the one that gets the best view of the animals: slightly smarter reasoning! Finally we are joined by Anna who will become the most important member of our rag tag team by far!

So we set off and Jordan and Jenna are right, our jeep is the lead vehicle, with the rest of the group closely following our tail. We quickly devise a points-based game based on who sees what animals first. We see a lot of pheasants, like hundreds of pheasants and not much else to start. Finally our driver pulls up next to a watering hole were we all park up as the driver points out a baby crocodile to us. Jason confuses this with a rock for about five minutes, but sees it eventually. Filled with ego and pride for being the first car on the scene we are struck with disaster. Our car won’t start! Our driver futilely continues to turn the key with nothing happening other than us passengers in the back getting surrounded in black smoke from the exhaust. The other jeeps leave us behind as we have to wait for a rescue car. How the mighty fall! After not too longer a wait we are transferred to a new jeep. We speed off round the corner and Anna shows how indispensable she is by somehow being the only one who sees and shouts elephant! Our driver slams on the breaks and backs up and it still takes me a minute or two to see the big mumma elephant with her young child in the brush. Anna goes on being the only one to spot elephants in our jeep for the rest of the trip! To be honest we don’t see many animals and those we do see aren’t really spoken about by our driver. However, we are not left unentertained as, although you may be thinking your jeep breaking down would be the worst thing that can happen, later on we realise that none of our jeeps are four-wheelers, when on two separate occasions jeeps get stuck in the mud. The first is fixed quickly but gives us a scare, the second isn’t so lucky. Sarah and the girls are in a jeep that is the third in line to try and traverse a muddy bank; the jeep I am in and one more have just about made it! This third jeep gets stuck and for the next 30 minutes or so we watch in horror and fits of laughter as the drivers try aimlessly to get the jeep out. Eventually those on board are forced to disembark and a pulley is tied to another jeep to get it out.

Nine Arch Bridge

Mud, mud, glorious mud. Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood

The day ends with the group getting to our glamping site where we are staying the night. Some of the group decide to have a quick dip in the pool before dinner – you guessed it a curry and rice centric buffet, although this time with BBQ chicken as well. After dinner Erin and I play crib at the bar having drinks with a few of our fellow travellers and I win 121 to 120, which brings me great satisfaction and Erin great annoyance!

And I go to bed a happy man, well as happy as a man who is pretty certain he is gonna spend the night getting bitten to shreds by mozzies can be!