We woke this morning for a filling breakfast of watermelon, eggs, and toast. We had a bit of time to explore around this house. The owners run an adventure/ team building corporate camp. There are trails, an obstacle course, and a spare bunk house (that needs a new roof because the monkeys keep jumping on it). With raining season starting just last week, the trails are mostly closed due to mud, but we still were able to get a good look around.
Around 9 AM the van came for us and we went first to the second tallest waterfall in Sri Lanka, Diyaluma Falls. Besides admiring its beauty, we saw some very active monkeys, one even shop lifted a snack from the little shop while the shop keeper wasn’t paying attention.
Then we went to Buduruvagala Shrine to see the tallest carved Buddha (it was second tallest till the Taliban did their bit of demolition in Afghanistan). Leaving the Shrine, enroute to the next stop, we saw water monitor lizard and a large 6-8 foot snake crossing the road. The kids were able to play with wild Forget-me-nots.
From there we went to Uda Walawe Park for a safari ride. Since it is rainy season, everyone wanted to make sure we knew it was a bit of a gamble as to how many animals we could see before the skies opened up (yesterday’s groups saw none). While it did rain on us and we did get a bit wet, we had great luck between downpours and saw many elephants (mama’s with their babies, and a few lone males), water buffalos, peacocks and peahens, a cobra, monitor lizard, eagles, spotted deer, jackals, green beaters, parrots, hornbills from a distance, and other birds. From the park, we were also able to see Sri Lanka’s tallest waterfall. Due to the recent rains, we were unable to go and see the crocodiles.
On the way back, our guide got everyone coconut tea (coconut with the top cut off so you can drink the juice, then they sliced them in half so we could eat the meat). The long drive back brought us to the house late, for a late dinner of potato and chicken curries made by our wonderful host. Those awake enough to eat are now going to bed full and happy.
Then we went to Buduruvagala Shrine to see the tallest carved Buddha (it was second tallest till the Taliban did their bit of demolition in Afghanistan). Leaving the Shrine, enroute to the next stop, we saw water monitor lizard and a large 6-8 foot snake crossing the road. The kids were able to play with wild Forget-me-nots.
From there we went to Uda Walawe Park for a safari ride. Since it is rainy season, everyone wanted to make sure we knew it was a bit of a gamble as to how many animals we could see before the skies opened up (yesterday’s groups saw none). While it did rain on us and we did get a bit wet, we had great luck between downpours and saw many elephants (mama’s with their babies, and a few lone males), water buffalos, peacocks and peahens, a cobra, monitor lizard, eagles, spotted deer, jackals, green beaters, parrots, hornbills from a distance, and other birds. From the park, we were also able to see Sri Lanka’s tallest waterfall. Due to the recent rains, we were unable to go and see the crocodiles.
On the way back, our guide got everyone coconut tea (coconut with the top cut off so you can drink the juice, then they sliced them in half so we could eat the meat). The long drive back brought us to the house late, for a late dinner of potato and chicken curries made by our wonderful host. Those awake enough to eat are now going to bed full and happy.
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