SRI LANKA: Riding the Rails

Sri Lanka's railway system was originally built by the British in 1864.

The trains connect major cities, towns and remote countryside areas.

Sri Lanka is said to be home to some of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. 

We took the famous route from Kandy to Ella, considered "one of the world’s most breathtaking train journeys, passing through Nuwara Eliya, misty mountains, waterfalls and tea fields."

Apparently, something we didn’t know, was that this route is notoriously late and unreliable.

When we arrived for our 9am train we were told it would be late. Maybe an hour. Or maybe not. The schedule didn't really make it apparent when the train would arrive. Our guide didn’t seem surprised.

So we used the time to visit the nearby waterfalls. We walked the train tracks with other people that were unperturbed that trains may be running on it.

 

To get to the waterfalls we walked past tea plantations.

 

 The waterfalls were very pretty, peaceful and a great way to pass some time.

We got back to the train station at 10 and still no word on the train's arrival, so we explored the small station. 

 

 

John checked out the train sitting there.

No update at 11am.

And time ticks on....

At noon we were told the train would arrive and after 3 hours we’d have a couple of minutes to let the people off and then get on it.

We were in the 2^nd class cabin.

The views were very pretty and mostly tea plantations or some other form of agriculture.

 

 

We had some blue skies and sun.

 

We had some clouds.

 

 

We had some fog and mist.

 

 

We stopped at trains stations along the way.

And finally made it to our destination of Ella. Less than 4 hours late.

The glamour of being global nomads.... 

 

......but no complaints.