A Train Ride to Ella

I love train journeys. I think its because it reminds me of family holidays to Goa- we always went by train and it was always a great adventure that involved food, great scenery and bonding with fellow passengers. So when, while planning our Sri Lankan holiday, I noticed a lot of people recommending taking a train ride to Ella, I didn't need much convincing. 

We took the train from Kandy to Ella. It's quite convenient since it departs Kandy at 8.45 and we are in Kandy by around 2.30 pm. We went 2nd class reserved (there is also an unreserved 2nd class which makes things a little confusing). Along the way we enjoyed some spectacular scenery, bonded with our fellow passengers & were entertained by a group of young Sri Lankan girls who were enjoying a game of antakshari. I also noticed that, like in India, it is customary to scream/howl out of the window as the train passes through a tunnel. It was also incredibly amusing to see a few German tourists, who had befriended these girls, try their hand at it as well. These are the things I enjoy about train journeys... people bond, they talk to one another, share food and for some reason are just a lot more open and friendly. There is a certain romance, an atmosphere, to train journeys that you just can compare to speeding from one place to another in an air-conditioned car :)

A lot of people take the train from Kandy to Ella, some take a car from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya and then hop on the train to Ella from Nuwara Eliya, while others deboard at Nuwara Eliya, explore this town and then go on to Ella by car. The scenery throughout is pretty awesome, although it gets a little cloudy and rainy after you cross Nuwara Eliya, and the landscape becomes a little more wild and rugged. 

I couldn't stopping taking pictures the entire journey! The train winds its way through and around the hills, by numerous tea plantations, so close you can wave out the the women who are picking the leaves,  and offers beautiful views of valleys and waterfalls. In my opinion this train ride is a must do, so if make a trip to Sri Lanka, and plan to visit Ella, take the train!

Here a a few of the many, many images I captured.

[All images- Shalin Pereira. Please do not use without prior written permission]

An 18th Century Villa, Lotus flowers, Heritage & History

We are back from our Sri Lankan Odyssey- 10 days, 6 towns, 3 provinces and I have to admit, by the end of it, I was sort of wanting to get back home :) But I fell in love with Sri Lanka- it's like a juxtaposition of Kerala and Goa, only much cleaner! And I have so much to share about all our experiences there, that I don't know where to start :)  

But the designer in me loves pretty things, so let me start with some eye candy- The Fort Printers Hotel, Galle. Galle fort is a 16th century Dutch fort and a beautiful example of colonial architecture. It's a living fort and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's quaint, beautiful and has made the list of 'my favourite places in the world' :) We stayed at The Fort Printers Hotel... it was love at first sight when I came across it on Agoda, and we stayed in a bunch of smaller guest houses, just so we could afford 2 nights here :) (it's a little pricey)

So often when we see a hotel on the net, the reality doesn't live up to the expectations... but in this case it surpassed them! By now you all know I love heritage architecture, and this place has been adapted so lovingly and sensitively by owners, husband and wife, Dorine and Shahzad, to create an amazing experience. See for yourself...

I really liked everything about our stay at the Fort Printers... the location, the building, the decor, the atmosphere, and the hospitality extended to guests... Owner Dorine personally takes guests around the hotel and escorts them to their rooms, all the while giving them a brief history of the hotel. She explained to us the difficulty in renovating an old building- the restrictions involved and the constant need for maintenance.

The food here is also really great. We had a lovely candlelit meal here one evening. I had the ceviche with avocado and mint and it was divine! So if you happen to visit Galle, at least drop in for a meal here. They also bake their own breads and we enjoyed these at breakfast with some delicious homemade mixed fruit jam... going to be trying to figure out the recipe... so major experiments going to be happening in the kitchen :)

The staff here is very friendly too. One evening we had a really fun chat with one of the guys who worked there. The Champions League was going on and we got down to talking about cricket. (everyone in Sri Lanka loves talking about cricket!) I mentioned that my favourite player was MSD and he excitedly told us that Dhoni is very popular in Sri Lanka... as is Virat Kholi, especially after the way he destroyed their bowling during the 2012 series :)

There are 3 buildings which make up the Fort Printers, two that adjoin one another and another across the street. The original printers building is done up in old world, colonial style, while the newer wings are very contemporary and Bawa-like in style. 

So even if you aren't staying here, visit and take a look around this lovely old building and the way it's been restored and revived :)

[All images by Shalini Pereira- please do not use without prior written permission]