Day 16 Ella to Kirinda (Yala)

After a rest day yesterday we are on the move again, this time to “back of beyond safari lodge”; they really mean that, more later. We could have caught three buses, then a tuk tuk to get here: or as we did we hired a car. This allowed us to stop, and arrive quicker.

On the way we came down beside Ella rock to Rawana falls.

Wound through several small towns. The scope of the ancient water storage/irrigation is mind blowing. Look at a map of central Sri Lanka to see many lakes. These, essentially, I believe are all man made several centuries ago. Falls of 1inch in 1 mile!

We entered the the dry zone, looks as you would expect. Once through the busy town of Tissamaharama, otherwise known as Tissa, the GPS pointed us down a dirt road, worrying both us and especially the driver. There were no signs at all to indicate whether we had it right or not. Found a couple of mud huts in the scrub and yep, We are here...

As it turns out, these are fit for purpose, we feel at one with nature.

Midday rest and reading (no wifi) then an arvo walk to the beach. 

Advised not to swim at the beach even though ( it really looks inviting and we are a tad hot )it is still quite beautiful and has this distinctive red sand.

We are totally of the grid which is really nice albeit a bit weird, great place to relax!

Dinner is paratha with chicken curry, lentils and small salad: delicious. Followed by buffalo curd and coconut honey, this could take a bit of getting used to. We are divided on its taste.

 Off on safari tomorrow! To spot leopards, elephants, mongoose, jackels, loads of boars, buffalo. Fingers crossed and will keep you posted.