“Tea, tea everywhere but not a drop to drink”

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21st Feb - High Knuckles Mountain Range and Tea Plantations

Today we got up early for a one day walk in the mountains. The place where we were walking is called Knuckles. We had to go in the van up a ginormous hill. It was full of pot holes and very bumpy. We kept climbing up all the time and we saw lots of school children. We walked past thousands of tea bushes. After we walked through all the tea we kept going up and up. When we got to a river it was a relief because we drank a lot. Half way was 1570m above sea level. Some of the time was disgusting because there are these worms called leeches, they suck your blood and they are really quick, and easily get up your leg.

5 Facts about Tea Plantation:
They were planted higher because there was better air and it was wetter.Women pick the tea because it was a tradition. (The “Colonial British Gentlemen” thought the men were lazy).They plant them on a steep hill all clumped together.They pick them in the morning because it is cool.The women pickers are paid 1000 Rupees (5.00 pounds) per day. Sophie




When we got to the top we were in the clouds (4,500ft). I liked it because there was a river from the mountains and I poured the cold water over my head. When we got to the car lots of boys greeted us. Jonathan

.... facts from the parents. Leeches, in the forest it was best not to stand still longer than 30-seconds otherwise they were all over your feet. It helped to tuck your trousers into your socks. Leeches sense vibration and their speed is impressive - yuk! Rangala was one of the three tea plantations we passed through, all were started in the "Colonial Times" and as Sri Lankan owned businesses are still big employers today.

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Comments

[susannah]

You have made the man in the photo look like he has a big nose as the roof is behind him

[Sarah Thomas]

Thank you...
... for the reply. It sounds and looks like you are having a great time - especially swimming in the lake and seeing the waterfall. I wouldn't like the leeches though! Everyone says hello and we are all missing you.