Day 4: Sri Lanka Vacation

Our day started out with a lovely buffet breakfast overlooking the river at the hotel. This was another Cinnamon hotel and it was beautiful, however we were to only stay one night because of our itinerary. The first attraction on our list for the day was the Temple of the Tooth. Apparently, when Buddha died someone managed to save one of his teeth and it housed in this temple. However it is highly secured and protected. Before entering, Steve was required to cover up his legs. Our driver found the guy that rent out the sheets to cover up. There were two levels of the temple and there were many people there to pray. While there we got to see the morning ceremony with the drummers and pipe player. There was so much to see there as the grounds were a good size and there were many buildings you could enter, however we couldn't stay long because we had a train to catch.

Before going to the train station, our driver suggested we stop at a grocery store to pick up some snacks to take with us. We picked out some Sri Lanka foods such as spicy chips (Tyler picked these out), chocolate, and lemon crackers. We've had the lemon crackers before; they sell them in Bahrain. The chocolate was absolutely the worst chocolate we've ever tasted. LOL Anyway, we got to the train station and our driver got us our tickets. We had an hour to wait before our train. Meanwhile one of the employees at the stationed showed Steve and Tyler how the controls work in the control

tower. They even got to switch a track!! When they got back from the control tower, the train came. We ran to catch it and since we were riding in First Class we had quite a distance to run. All the way up front! We literally jumped on as it started pulling away. Turned out, however, we got on the wrong train!! LOL Lucky for us though it was still going to the same place, but it would take 2 hours longer to get there because of all the stops in between. Our train was the tourist train. It was OK though because we still very much enjoyed the ride and got to experience an authentic train ride in Sri Lanka, the way the locals do it. LOL

Along the way we saw lots of tea plantations. Everywhere we went, people would stop what they were doing in the fields and streets, or come out of their houses, and watch and wave as the train rolled by. It was probably their only source of entertainment they get all day. Steve got to hang out by the open door and get some awesome video with his GoPro camera. A guy came around and was selling these round nuts that were seasoned with curry leaves. They were really yummy!
We got off in the town of Nanu Oya and our driver met us there and drove us to a town called Nuwara Eliya (nicknamed Little England). It is obviously modeled after an English Town. The driver took us for a little tour before dropping us off at our place for the night, an English style inn. They served us hot tea and gave us wet towels to freshen up when we arrived. Once we got settled in, we went outside and viewed the lovely English gardens. Then we were about to walk up the street to get a photo of the incredible view, when we saw two donkeys walk into the property. However, as soon as they saw the manager they turned back. It was pretty funny! They probably got in trouble before for eating their flowers.
We walked up the hill and took some photos. It was grey outside. It reminded us even more of England. Some neighborhood kids asked if we wanted to have a game of cricket, but we declined. Instead we went back to our room, had a nap, relaxed, read, and watched some TV before dinner. Dinner was by candlelight and the food was so amazing. It was not only pretty, but delicious. The manager came to our table and asked us how everything was. He told us that the building once belonged to the first prime minister of Sri Lanka and that it was built in 1948. Here are more photos of our fourth day.