ROAD TRIP PART 1: NUWARA ELIYA

We have recently come back from a week on the road so we would like to share some of the experience with you. We visited the hill country, which was so picturesque that we have returned with squillions of photos. Because it is so difficult to decide which photos to share with you, we have decided to have the next few blogs dedicated to our time away so that you too can enjoy the scenery of our road trip.

Our first day was the drive to Nuwara Eliya. We left around 9am and stopped for lunch at a restaurant halfway to our destination. The restaurant we chose was located near a waterfall - the hill country having many stunning waterfalls. After our meal we followed a path down to the waterfall for a look up close. It's amazing the amount of noise and wind that can falling water can generate (the same can also be said of some of our family members!).

Then it was on to Nuwara Eliya. This town, situated near Sri Lanka's highest mountain, is 1889m above sea level. We had been given plenty of warnings that it gets cold in Nuwara Eliya but, with the arrogance of foreigners, we didn't really pay any heed. What would a Sri Lankan know about being cold? We laughed at the sight of the locals we passed in our van, rugged up with winter jackets and beanies. Oh, foolish, foolish foreigners. We got out of the van and it was freezing! So cold that we needed to make a beeline for the markets the next day to buy some more jumpers. The funny thing about buying jumpers in Nuwara Eliya is that everybody, tourists and locals, must all come to these markets to get their jumpers so it is not unusual to look around and see several other people wearing your jumper.

We managed to get a good deal to stay at an upmarket hotel, which was a birthday treat for me. Prince bought me a birthday cake and got the staff to bring it out after dinner. Everybody in the restaurant joined in singing Happy Birthday. I would normally hate that much attention but I have to admit it was actually pretty cool. The hotel and it's grounds were very picturesque and it gave us an opportunity to enjoy 2 things which we never expected to enjoy in Sri Lanka - steaming hot showers and hot water bottles in our beds.

Nuwara Eliya is known for several reasons (apart from the cold); rolling green hills, vegetable gardens and horse racing list among them. A day of sight-seeing included a visit to a tea factory, scrumptious pancakes with strawberries and cream from a strawberry restaurant and pony rides for the boys. All in all, a lovely day for everybody!