KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA.

Today we got picked up at 10.00am to catch the train to Nuwara Eliya about a three hour trip. The driver then drives to Nuwara Eliya to pick us up. The reason for this trip is to go through all the tea growing areas and to wind up through the hills to our destination for a different adventure. We both really enjoyed it, something different. We had good weather most of the way but as we were approaching Nuwara Eliya we could see the dark clouds gathering.

Our driver dropped us off this morning at a station 20mins out of Kandy as he said the main station in Kandy is too busy and you can't get parking.



We were invited up into the signal box while we were waiting. PT was wrapped rushing down the tracks forgetting I existed.

Walking up into the signal box. We weren't allowed to take photos inside unfortunately. I wish I could have shown you PT working the signals arms and crossings which were  150 years old. He had to put a lot of effort into pushing forward and back of the long handles.

Looking out of the window inside the signal box.

We then had to walk back down the tracks before our train came. Made it!!!!!

Inside not nearly as bad as I thought that it would be. Reclining seats, pull down trays and foot rests. But the train itself jiggled around a lot making a few crunching noises. We are now on our way to Nuwara Eliya. Initially the seats in our "first class" carriage were facing backwards but the guard or some chap came and changed all the "first class" seats forwards for us.

The next photos will be taking shots out of the open door between carriages. Very hard with the movement of the train. After a while I got more daring and took photos without the frame of the door.

We will go through different landscapes but the aim is to see the tea plantations.

Looking forward to the train engineers quarters.

Going through a small forest area.

The Tuk Tuk has to wait for us while we cross over a road.

This is the Tuk Tuk and mother and child on the side of the road both beautifully dressed. The people always look well dressed in their bright colourful fabrics, and clean. The hand top right corner is a chaps hand holding his cell phone out for a photo. I had to duck under his arm as he  wasn't going to move for me.

More into the tea plantations all built over the hills.



Love being up in the mountains. Every time you look out of the window you see a different picture.

A small community amongst the plantations.








People hanging out taking photos probably the tourists and locals just sitting in doorways hanging their feet out. Just like you see in travel brochures. No body on the roof though.



PT was hanging out doing these down the side of the train. It was very hard to balance and hold onto your phone.

Now getting really close to the crops.

That's probably the road our driver was on.

Passing a small town.



Continuing passing the tea plantations lovely views.

The local kids sitting in the doorway. I just stand there taking photos over them trying just to balance myself.



Getting a lot higher into the mountains.

Someone's private back garden. They would be living off the land.

Taken just after we got off the train. Our carriage was the 2nd from left behind the engine. First class with air conditioning. There was then 2nd class don't know what they got, then the rest of the train was just open carriages where they all hung out the windows. It was a very interesting trip a real eye opener but fun. It was quite apparent the amount of industry seen on the way. We saw Tea of course, timber as in pine stands, rubber trees, coconut stands, and loads of wild flowers. One of the items that we saw was a trumpet shaped flower with a bluey tinge which was growing in our back garden at Braemar Road. We were told it/they were drug related but when ever we cut it down it would grow again very quickly producing the same flowers. Again they were very prevalent. And the tea plantations we didn't see Merril Fernandez and his Dilmarah Tea brands anywhere.

Just after we arrived at our hotel at 4.30pm, it bucketed down. Taken from our room. Apparently  this is very common in this area high in the hills. We are just over 1800m (5925ft). The train seemed to be slowly climbing all the way. We aren't sure what we started at but around three to four hundred metres.

It is now 6.00pm and the Rain has now stopped. We are staying here for two nights which the driver can't understand as he said to us there is not much to see or do here. We are only having one night at the next place and he said we would have been better one night here and two at the next stop. Over the last two days I had been thinking along the same way but too late to change it all. So we will see tomorrow how little there is to do. Drop in temperature at this height PT has just put the heater on. I can't believe it.......