The small Adams peak walk, third time by now, looks so much
different when the sky is blue. The mountains show their true
green coat, the shadows of scarce clouds appears, everybody
smiles more, my mind is happy. After this breakfast we take
the bus to Badulla, down the mountain 23 kms away from Ella.
The drive is memorable as the driver speeds, has no feeling
for his side mirrors or any fear in his vains when overtaking
another vehicle when on the other lane a big truck is rapidly
approaching.
The busstation in Badulla is one big unorganised mess. Busses
moving in and out using the same lanes, blocking eachother
path, causing a lot of horne usage. Will get to see the town
itself later on. First we try to find wheels to the highest
falls in Sri Lanka, Dunhinda falls, 5 kms situated out of
town, which ended up to be an easy task by simply asking
around.
After arriving at Dunhinda the tourist show begins.
Everywhere little souvenir shops, ice cream carriages, food
stalls, soda stalls. At the entrance a little very familiar
travel irritation arises: locals pay 20 rps, tourist, not
joking 200 rps. Maybe because of this, but probably more the
fact that this place is very much out of the way, there are
hardly any tourist. At the soda or food stops a long the 1,5
km path towards the falls, 20 or more for sure, mostly locals
are present. In particular young love birds, trying the find
a quiet spot for some hugging, some handholding, which is off
limits on the city streets. P.D.A. is not allowed. But for
some reason all honeybunny couples flock here. The falls
themselves are impressive, massive, a wide 60 meter high
water mass dropping down. The monkeys around the place steal
food where they can, hiding in the trees around the viewing
platform, attacking when they see food. They seem to have a
preference for biscuits next to bananas. All together its a
pleasant walk down and of course back up, mainly using
staircases, we can’t make the trip here too difficult for the
young lovers of course.
Back in the city which is mainly one big shopping area
including some old English buildings, a tall coloured Hindu
temple including ganesh statue, long rows of unoccupied
tuctucs, screaming advertising displays, we found ourselves
soon attacked by, again, rain. We find a little curry place,
which is packed with locals, which normally means its good.
Well. The quantity you get is enormous for no money. Though
the quality is not very memorable. Combine this with a huge
mess everywhere on the floor, the most disgusting toilets
experienced in a long time, with urine everywhere, and I feel
myself back in the India of 13 years ago, the year
2000.
Back to Sri Lanka, meaning the bus to Ella and enjoy a
lionlager at Zion view, with a magical view on Ella rock and
rawana falls, followed by diner in our favourite curry
place.
9/4/2013