The Kandy to Ella train journey is legendary; some of the best scenery in Sri Lanka can be seen from your seat. We were booked on the Viceroy service, a 'luxury' train car with comfy seats.
Full bar service and a pre-ordered curry lunch meant that we were set for the 6-hour trip. If only it were to be 6 hours.
The scenery was all it was cracked up to be - stunning tea plantations, tiny villages, temples, local boys running outside their homes to watch the train come by.
The train chugged along at 7 km per hour max, rocking violently from side to side. A trip to the loo was an adventure in finding your sea legs (but it was perfectly clean once you got there).
We finally arrived in Ella at 8:30pm. Darshana, our driver, was waiting for us and we got the address for Victor's hotel and took off. Darshana was a bit concerned about getting the van up some of the mountain roads, but he had not checked the road to Hotel Laura. Unfortunately.
We turned where Victor's GPS said to turn, past a mountain of garbage (first time I have seen any real mess/litter here) and down the narrowest part-tar track imaginable. No Hotel Laura sign anywhere, so D asked a local - he told us to keep going and we would find it. Dead end road. No turnaround.
A 9-point turn and then we got stuck going back up the steep road to the main street. One hour later and lots of burned rubber, the van made it to the top and we got a tuk-tuk to our hotel. Victor got one to Hotel Laura - it WAS on the same road where we got stuck. Just no signs.
Lessons learned: Never assume a car will fit down the roads in Ella. Never assume a hotel will have a sign on the road.
The view from our room made up for the hellish arrival.
Tea plantation tour next.
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