Adventure of the month

Public transportation rocks. I love me a subway, bus or train ride. You don't have to worry about driving, you are free to read or knit or do whatever it is you enjoy doing on your free time and at the end, assuming you got on the correct conveyance, you are at your destination. If said mode of transportation is world famous for its scenic properties, all the better.  In this case, I am referring to the journey between Ella and Kandy, considered one of the  world's most beautiful train trips . While researching things to do in Sri Lanka, you could be forgiven for thinking that this ride is the only thing the country has to offer. That's how often it comes up, along with a myriad of articles about how to get tickets on the oft sold out train. If you have seen an IG pic of some some lithe young thing hanging out the side of an old locomotive that is barreling through lush green countrysides (note: you have seen some version of this pic, I assure you), you have seen the Ella-K

So, let's say that in the past week, you've already been diving in the Indian Ocean, seen a mama turtle burying her eggs on the beach, encountered monkeys and monitor lizards at every turn, made good on your goal of seeing a leopard in the wild and had multiple surprise elephant encounters whilst just going about your day. What next? If you are following my itinerary, you leave behind the sweltering heat and head inwards and upwards (as in 3,415 ft above sea level). My next stop was Ella, an ultra-chill mountain town where I could have happily stayed for weeks. I was initially a bit wary about this stop since a lot of the activities revolve around hiking and I was still limping around after an unprovoked run-in with a coral reef. But as I was quickly learning, there are no ugly parts of Sri Lanka so even if I just chilled in town, I was sure it would be fine. Who needs scenic hikes and waterfalls?