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Published: June 26th 2017
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Geo: 7.39317, 80.7239
0630hrs: "Flaps back" and I am greeted by sunshine! At last the weather gods are smiling and a view stretching at least 30 miles across the huge valley to the ranges opposite is visible. In the far far distance I can once again see the large lake shimmering in the early morning light.
The shades of green are ever changing as the clouds and mist slowly rise from the valley below and gently drift skywards drawn by the ever strengthening suns rays. The night noises have now been replaced by cheerful callings of crickets, birds and the odd cockerel strutting it's stuff in the village far below us. To our right, is a small waterfall in full flood after the recent heavy rains and in the distance, I make out the tiny white shapes of the tea workers moving between the bushes.
All the other "Eco Tents" seem very dormant. The "Young Euros" are clearly gathering strength for a day of hand holding by the pool. Ours soon becomes a hive of domestic activity and already a small collection of wet socks and other smalls are fluttering in the wind on the balcony. Nothing dries properly in the heat and humidity:
even our sheets and clothing feel slightly damp to the touch.
We are embarrassingly over equipped. Cathy has everything: 50 small UHT mini milks, crisps, can openers, Tuppa Ware containers full of sugar, washing powder, pipe cleaners gifts for small children, plates, tubs of HP Sauce sachets pinched from various Hotel buffets over the last 12 months. "Oh these will come in useful" and they do! For my part ,I have yet again packed too much clothing. Why do I always think I will need two office shirts and a tie! I even stuffed in a medium sized iron, caffetiere and kettle!!
Time to test out the Short Wave receiver! The instructions are as clear but complicated. Location: South East Asia; Time 0700 to 1500: Band 4 Frequency 7450. I "twiddle" the mini dial and amongst the crackling and shoofing noises I make out a tiny British voice taking about crop growing conditions in Southern India. Riveting..........and pack it away for the next time.
Today is a Lala free day. He is "OK" but we turn down his offer a "special bird watching walk" and decide to do our own thing. After another hearty breakfast we head off up the hill in search
of adventure. We puff and blow for a few hundred yards and rest! It must be the altitude.......! We soon work off breakfast and climb our way slowly towards a hilltop planation workers rustic village with women washing brightly coloured laundry, children attending a little school and dogs basking in the morning sun.
We spend about 3 hours walking from tiny village to village passing by old British Colonial plantation bungalows and signs saying "Greenland Tea Plantation Workers Tool Shed"...... all dating back to the 1930's. Dotted amongst this landscape are the odd Hindu Shrine and small Temple. We pass groups of women tea workers returning from their labours to have their picking weighed. We then head down a small track to the main town below some 4km walk.
Pleased with our efforts we hire a tuktuk back to the Eco Lodge where we tuck into a Club Sandwich.........
Back to the Tent and time to update the blog......
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