The alarm went at 5.00am. We have been on holiday long enough that this felt early - starting back rowing is going to be a rude shock. We were provided with tea and cake while we waited and at 5.30 met our safari driver for the trip into Yala, with Dave and Juss having their own jeep. Dozens of jeeps waited on the road while guides purchased the ticket in readiness for the park opening. Then one by one we entered the park in a huge convoy, and jeeps peeled off onto the various side tracks in search of the elusive wildlife. We were five minutes down a track when our driver received a call, slammed the jeep into reverse and hurlted down the track, overtaking slower vehicles as we held on tightly. After about a kilometre we reached the cause ofvall this excitement - the rare sighting of a sloth bear. We watched on as it foraged around in the bush, and then slowly plodded across a clearing and across the road. Our tour driver - who accompanied us on the safari - was very excited, having never seen a bear in all of his previous visits to Yala. We resumed our travels backmonto the iriginal track and deeper into the park towards granite outcrops. Suddenly our guide stopped and pointed - and there up high sunning itself on the top of the rocks was a leopard, the prize sighting of the park. We had it all to ourselves for a few minutes before other jeeps heard the news and started arriving. Eventually the leopard decided it didn't like all thevattention and moved away. On the remainder of the safari we saw a brown mongoose, spotted deer, water buffalo, monkeys, crocodiles, wild boars and many birds,
including two rare species. It was a great time, and we were back in time for breakfast before joining Dave and Justine around the pool for the morning before adjourning to the bar area for lunch.
We had time for another dip in the pool - and then watch al the monkeys that had come down to the pool area - before setting of at 3.30pm for our afternoon safari. The day was still hot but we still found some animals around the waterholes, including three separate elephants, some jackals and more of the common wildlife we had seen during the morning.
We were back at six for drinks on the Payne's verandah that we had affectionately dubbed the Dog Corner Bar. Their chalet sat at an intersection of three tracks, and was the meeting place for the local dogs of the resort. Evidently they barked at all the intruders during the night - especially the boars - which kept Dave & Juss awake but was far enough away from us that we didn't hear them. We sat there until after dark having drinks, then made our way to the restaurant for dinner and then bed at the end of a long day.
Things we learned about Sri Lanka today #9 : Sri Lanka has a rather lackadaisical approach to buying a local beer. Many times you will be given the drinks menu, ask for a local Lion Lager only to be told its not available but they have the have the imported Carlsberg. When available, they also have the Lion Strong and Lion Stout - both 8.8% but the same cost as the lower alcohol beer. And a beer from the bar fridge in the room - usually expensive - was 30% cheaper than the same beer at the bar or with dinner. Dave has also bought some beers from shops in the towns and found some strange practices too. But we have found with the curries that beer is the best drink, while Carmel and Juss either have the same or a lime and soda, sometimes with a little extra something.
No comments:
Post a Comment