Beautiful forest in Kitulgala - 18th November

After an interesting breakfast consisting of spicy fish, string hoppers, coconut milk curry (with extra chillis if required), we crossed the river Kelani by canoe ferry and walked into the Mekandawa Rain Forest. The jungle is well preserved and was rich in sounds, including the constant singing of Large-billed Leaf Warbler. Our target here was the newly discovered Serendip Scops Owl, which often inhabits eye-level tangles of dead bamboo leaves by day. In spite of tireless searching, especially by Pradeep and Kalinga our driver and trainee guide), we left the forest empty handed, but did see a Spot-winged Thrush and a Malabar Trogon, so all was not lost. Some of us picked up some other visitors too. This part of the forest was thick with leeches. Although most of us wore leech socks, some still managed to attach themselves to us from the foliage - Robert and Mike both got bites.

The ferry across the Kelani to Mekandawa Rain Forest

A leech getting ready to feed on Rob

So back across the ferry for lunch, then move on to our next destination in the highlands of Nuwara Eliya aka Little England. Although only about 80km away, it took us over 3 hours to reach there. The roads aren't bad, but the slow traffic is unavoidable. I would feel reasonably comfortable driving here - there is order and sanity among the road users, lacking the anarchy of India for example.

Sri Lanka hanging parrot outside the hotel

Once in Nuwara Eliya, we stopped to buy a few things. This included a stroll around an indoor food market, which is one of my favourite occupations when in another country. This was a blaze of colour and strange smells, as the stalls overflowed with fruit and vegetables, interesting jars of spices, and slabs of fresh and dried fish.

A fantastic selection of vegetables in Nuwara Eliya

"If you eat these chillis you will fly - without wings"

We arrived at the Tea Bush hotel in Nuwara Eliya, complete with country house hotel decor and a European dinner menu, which is raising the blood levels in the curry that circulates through my veins. Bad news, my compact camera has gone kaputt, which will mean taking scenic shots on my mobile phone. Not ideal, but not a disaster.