![Hot and cold in Nuwara Eliya, a non-Nuwara Eliya ExperienceSeptember 3-5, 2012 – Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
After having come from the already pleasantly cool temperature in Ella, I moved on to the even colder Hill Country town of Nuwara Eliya, which most visitors coming in by train would recognize through its manicured tea plantations like this:
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Little Heaven in Nuwara Eliya
While on a feeble quest to find cheap accommodations, a man on a tuk-tuk, Wijitha, zealously volunteered his guesthouse. In spite of apprehensions, it seemed like a harmless offer so we hopped on the tuk-tuk to check it out and found that it had all the necessary fittings for comfort: a nice thick duvet and blanket, a clean bathroom with a hot, hot shower, and a fireplace for the colder nights.
As appealing as his offer was, and the lack of other cheaper/similarly-priced options, the absence of Wi-Fi was quite a deal-breaker for me, but apparently not enough so. Because of his persistence, eagerness to please, and the breakfast he threw in, I eventually relented and chose to stay at “Little Heaven” in spite of it being a bit out of town as well. Figured it would be good exercise. :)
You’re Hot Then You’re Cold (or in this case, the other way around)
At Little Heaven, I also met a Kiwi-Canadian couple Steve and Laurie, whom I would be joining on a warm weather, less touristic tour to see “the jungle people” (as Wijitha calls them) not too far away from Mahayangana, a hot little town mountains away from Nuwara Eliya (instead of doing Dane’s initial plan to see the World’s End at Horton Plains, which I didn’t mind missing).
The whole trip lasted a long 13 hours, with stops at an important temple whose name I forgot (sorry)…
…and some lake that underwhelmed everyone in the group, especially since we had been traveling for some 3-4 hours at that point, to be greeted by a lackluster lake (particularly when the others in the group has been exposed to the lakes in New Zealand and Canada”.
The highlight of course, was “the jungle people”, and after being underwhelmed by the trip until that point, the four of us were like bright-eyed kids observing “the jungle people” create a fire, sing, dance, and play “hunt”.
We also had a go at some archery, though as I expected, I failed at it terribly. :P
[Steve having a go]
As cool as “the jungle people” were, at $45/person, I honestly felt the entire trip cost too much money and time to be really worthwhile. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy Steve and Laurie’s company on the long van ride, and again on our nights at Little Heaven.
The next day, I would be leaving Nuwara Eliya all too soon for the city of Kandy, but looking back, I really wish we had stayed a bit longer to give Nuwara Eliya a good walkabout, hear more stories from Steve and Laurie, and just enjoy Little Heaven and the cold weather (only because the place had thick blankets for the night – otherwise, I wouldn’t really enjoy the cold at all).
If you’re going to Nuwara Eliya, and are looking for a clean, comfortable, yet relatively more affordable accommodations, contact Wijitha with the details below, and he’ll definitely try his best to make you enjoy your stay. :)
View more pictures here.
Now hankering for a hot chocolate, Jen
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Little Heaven (Wijitha Wijesinghe) No. 16/44 Under Bank, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lankatrackingopperatorvip@yahoo.com (+9472) 274-1982](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mav22oyQTv1r0u81eo1_1280.jpg)
Hot and cold in Nuwara Eliya, a non-Nuwara Eliya Experience
September 3-5, 2012 – Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
After having come from the already pleasantly cool temperature in Ella, I moved on to the even colder Hill Country town of Nuwara Eliya, which most visitors coming in by train would recognize through its manicured tea plantations like this:
![Baan Chang Elephant Park Part 1: Waterfalls, Rapids, Rafts & Lanterns
At $100 for only 2 days, this was the single most expensive thing I paid for in my trip so far, and I couldn’t be happier about the decision to push through with it.
I initially just wanted to take mahout training (elephant whispering), but when I saw Baan Chang’s packages, I figured I’d take 1 “adventure” day as well. Let me take you step by step through Day 1. :)
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First: Akha Village
There are a number of hill tribes advertised by different tour operators in Chiang Mai, and while I LOVE the idea of visiting hill tribes and seeing them in their beautifully woven traditional garbs (I love indigenous textiles), something about the other tours (particularly to the longneck tribes) made me feel like visiting them would be akin to visiting poor Mali in Manila Zoo, so I was quite put off by the idea and decided not to do something like that.
Akha Village didn’t feel zoo-like (though I noted how the ladies seemed rather desperate / dependent on tourists buying souvenirs).
Our guide also took us around the village showing elevated bamboo houses with thatched roofs, which amused my western tour-mates, and reminded me a lot of traditional provincial homes in the Philippines.
And then we’re off.
Second: Trek to Waterfalls
Having never owned a pair of trekking / hiking shoes / sandals, I didn’t buy one specifically for this either. And I was okay with that. Even when early in the trek, I fell flat on my butt on account of the super slippery mud brought about by the rain (Mishi, you would have been happy to see this happen to me).
At this point, I am glad that Hariharalaya had got me accustomed to walking barefoot on the ground, and I continue some 45 minutes to the waterfalls on bare feet. :)
I was on the same tour as Welsh couple Joe and Amy, and Swedish-Canadian couple Dag and Michelle, and I appreciate the fact that they kept checking up on me and how I was doing (Michelle, in particular). It really is sweet how some strangers look out for you when you’re alone. :)
[With Michelle on the trail]
[Joe & Amy]
[See first photo in this post for waterfalls :)]
While I thought the Mapawa river trek and Iligan waterfalls (both in my beautiful country, The Philippines), which I had gone to on a Cagayan de Oro trip earlier this year, were more awesome than this, I was still happy to have gone on at least one trek in Thailand (:P), and with good company. But we were just getting warmed up for…
Third & Fourth: White Water and Bamboo-Rafting
I didn’t expect much from this either because I was told it would only be 45 minutes (as opposed to my 3-4 hour rafting adventure again in CDO), but we did have a couple of thrilling moments. I realized we don’t ALWAYS have to compare which one was the more adrenalin-pumping adventure. What really matters is that we have good fun either way, and it wasn’t hard with good company. :)
When the river’s excitement died down, we changed rafts to enjoy a more peaceful ride through the river.
[With my “arch-nemesis” Dag, and people from another group]
[Michelle & Amy]
…
Overnight at Baan Chang Elephant Park
After that, we head back to Baan Chang to get cleaned up. Since we booked a 2-day thing, we had accommodations at the park. And while the rooms were spartan, the surroundings were uh-mazing.
[Dag & Michelle by our baan / house]
Longan trees surrounded the place, and you were free to get as much as you could eat. They were big, sweet, and juicy too. My dear mother would have a field day here.
Later that night, we would have dinner. More than we could really eat. And even later that night, we would be in for a bigger surprise.
If you plan on going to Baan Chang for an overnight stay and be delighted by an activity that is not otherwise stated in their brochure / catalog, then DON’T READ ON.
I was happy that I didn’t see this coming.
After dinner, our guide Woody…
…created a bonfire, and he and the other mahouts would gather around singing their campfire songs of choice (Boyzone and other boy band-y songs, but good fun nonetheless) with a makeshift drum set from aluminum containers of oil.
They also roasted a couple of bamboo stalks, which we would later discover encased sticky rice with coconut milk and sugar (like the Filipino suman).
But the most delightful surprise was yet to come.
Woody later brought out these giant paper lanterns for us to send a wish to the heavens with.
Bye-bye, wish. Please come true.
Day 2 post on my mahout training coming up.
But hey, Day 1 and I already got more than I hoped for.So thank you, paper lantern.
Catching a falling star and putting it in her pocket,Jen
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Baan Chang Elephant Parkwww.baanchangelephantpark.com147/1 Rachadamnoen RoadMuang, Chiang Mai, Thailand+66 53 814174 / +66 89 6355206info@baanchangelephantpark.com - They reply efficiently!](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m85qwaewHr1r0u81eo1_500.jpg)
Baan Chang Elephant Park Part 1: Waterfalls, Rapids, Rafts & Lanterns
At $100 for only 2 days, this was the single most expensive thing I paid for in my trip so far, and I couldn’t be happier about the decision to push through with it.
I initially just wanted to take mahout training (elephant whispering), but when I saw Baan Chang’s packages, I figured I’d take 1 “adventure” day as well. Let me take you step by step through Day 1. :)
