Wanderings in Sri Lanka - 4 - Yala National Park

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We drove south from the cooler hill country into the very hot and humid conditions on the south coast of the island. This area and the adjacent east coast were the worst affected regions in the 2004 tsunami. In fact the hotel we were staying in had been totally washed away, sadly with all staff and guests being killed. The island seems to have recovered well and tourism has increased over the last few years.

This area is famous for the Yala National Park. We enjoyed an afternoon safari, travelling deep into the park on bumpy rough roads. We were lucky to see an elephant family "playing" in a small lake and even luckier to see a leopard, albeit in the distance. Colourful birds were very abundant and our "trip bird list" reached it's half century!!

I cannot finish the Sri Lankan blogs without a mention of the food!! Fruit is abundant with many small road-side stalls selling small tasty sweet bananas and juicy pineapples. Other food has also been excellent - breakfast, lunch and dinner curries!! Breakfast curries have been varied, with the highlight being "egg hoppers" - a rice flour pancake cooked in a small wok-shaped pan so that the base is thicker and soft with a thin crisper upper part - served with a central egg and Dhal curry and coconut sambol - the fruit & fibre at home, will never be as good!!

We have now finished the group tour and have moved to a beachside hotel near the old Dutch fortification town of Galle, for a few days of R & R, before flying back to the cold of Britain.

Accommodation - Jetwing Yala Hotel

- Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel Galle

Weather - Sunny & cloudy 35c - very humid

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Photos

Another variation of a Sri Lankan Breakfast Curry
Paneer paratha, Masala Uttappam & Poori with chicken curry, Dhal, black-eyed white beans & Seeni Sambol

Comments

[Helen and Bob]

Sri Lanka
It sounds as if it has been a fabulous trip. Enjoy your beach r and r, and we look forward to catching up when you get home. PS, the amaryllis you gave us has four beautiful flowers and looks gorgeous in our sun room! X

[CB]

4 Ayala National Park
Hi Always good photography , and interesting commentary. Many thahks

[David Smith]

Best Blog Yet
Photos of birds amazing. Curries look mouthwatering. Looking forward to tasting them when Peter makes them!