December Hike Day 2: Horton Plains

World's End

Camp was cold.

There were freezing gusts of air that blew so hard, we heard the trees howl and moan throughout the night. Thank God we were all cramped inside one big tent and had each other's body warmth. Trust me, it still didn't help. We all slept in fits & starts and that only coz we were so tired.

The dying fire BEFORE it revived

And did I mention that we had to wake up at night to put out a fire? Yeah, so were were very responsible and put out our campfire completely before we went to sleep. Thanks to the crazy wind however, one tiny stray ember had been brought back from the dead. By the time we heard the crackle, there was a merry little fire going, happily feeding on a log close by.

We set off... (on a paved road)

The boys put it out of course. Nearly froze to death in the process.

Next morning, we went to Horton Plains. Seriously, words cannot describe just how LONG that walk is. I swear, I have the heart of a hiker; my body needs to catch up. Not to mention that my bestie is an avid cam-'o-holic (as opposed to an amateur photographer) and would take a photo every 5 minutes. No hate - I love that girl.

We took the left route; came back the right way :P

On the way to Baker's Falls

Anyhoo, we did it. Conquered both Little and (Big?) World's Ends-es. The views were of course breathtaking and cold. The wind was biting and sharp, and I could feel the skin of my lips cracking bit by bit the longer we stayed. But man the experience was worth it.

And then back down, through Baker's Falls and the crystal clear water that was more like glass being blown in a factory. We avoided the crowds and crept further down from the falls. There we splashed some water, struck some poses, took some pics (of course) and refreshed ourselves. It was divine.

... Sigh

😂😂😂

I'll tell you what wasn't divine though.  There was absolutely no cell coverage. None. It was a nice respite from my bestie's office (which kept texting her for some reason) but seriously. We were on top of a mountain!!! Also, we needed to call down to our tour coordinator Amila aiya to send up the cruise cab and our lunches. Without signal, we couldn't reach him so we started WALKING out of the park and down the road till one of us got a bar. It was past 4PM when he finally came up and we hurriedly ate coz we had yet another hike to do.

Oh. I just realized how long this post is. You know what guys? Thotupola kanda can wait till next week :P Till then, check out more pictures from our hike here  (@travel_with_hiru) and here (me! @girlwithabudget)

(Approx.) Time Taken : 10 hours
(Approx.) Total Cost    : LKR 10,000 (for 4 people)
Satisfaction                 : 4/5

*All pictures are subject to copyright © Asuka Randeniye 2016

December Hike Day 1: Pattipola Railway Summit

Railway Summit @ Pattipola. The two signs are on the right. Credits: Lahiru Piumwardena

Heiyo! Right now I'm on a train, heading home after yet another trip - this December is full of trips. So by the time I get home, this post will be up and ready to be read; welcome to my first, full-fledged, camping+hike trip!

We started off by taking the Super Line Luxury bus from Pettah to Bandarawela at 10.00PM. The ticket is LKR 900 per person and the seats are like heaven. They were so comfy that we missed our stop and ended up in Badulla! 

Pettah to Badulla via Google Maps

Nine Arches Bridge in the mist

Not to worry though because that way, we managed to catch the 5.20AM train from Badulla to Pattipola. We were gonna catch the train from Bandarawela anyway but this way, we got on from the station it starts from so we all got seats :)

The view on the way is breathtaking, I am a literature major and I have no words to describe it. Follow my instagram here and these other accounts here and here to get an idea... it was truly amazing and I'm gonna try to do justice to it here with the few pics I have.

We had breakfast at Happy Cafe within spitting distance of the Pattipola railway station. Mind you, everything is within spitting distance there; it is one tiny community. The local food there, like rotti, hoppers etc. are good; the sandwiches are terrible and terribly overpriced too. We bought 2 packets of sandwiches (chicken and cheese) and 3 rottis with accompanying curries and it cost us LKR 620 for 4 people.

Our plan was to do the railway summit hike which is to walk along the railway line towards Ohiya station till we came to the highest point in the Sri Lankan railway. Again, the view was spectacular and it took us about 1 and a half hours of slow trekking. Unfortunately, the beauty was spoiled by a ton of trash - people had thrown plastic cups, gum wrappers, shopping bags and all kinds of rubbish on either side of the tracks as they passed on the train.

Summit!

After plenty of stops for pictures and selfies - never mistake the two - we came to the summit. Interestingly it is located on a bend and there were two signs on either side of the bend declaring the summit. 

We also went through one of the longest tunnels in Sri Lanka. We waited for a train to pass and then walked into the creepy, cold and dark tunnel. I do not wanna try that again.

Long ass tunnel #creepy

Our camp :) Yes, that's the garbage :P

We got back to Pattipola in time for a late lunch. We were coordinating with Amila aiya*, a very nice gentleman who provides camping gear and off-road vehicles to aspiring explorers and nut jobs like us. He gave us lunch in his own home and then packed us off to our camp site, barely 2km down the road towards the Horton Plains reservation from Pattipola station.

Then ensued a hilarious 4 hours of clearing the campsite, setting up a torn (yes, TORN) tent, building a fire, keeping it going and basically, making the campsite habitable. I have a very bad opinion of humans after seeing the kind of garbage they threw away: diapers, underwear, tissues, shopping bags, glass bottles, plastic bottles and more. We had to scatter ash all around the tent to make sure roaches didn't crawl in, thanks to all the rubbish people'd left behind.

I'm minimizing the suffering, but it was an extremely windy day and the fire was not easy to build. Nor was it easy to cook on the small camp stove we had. But once we did... YUM! Never have instant noodles and sausages tasted so good.

*slurp nom nom

We slept late and tossed the whole night thanks to the moaning of the wind around the trees that surrounded us. More to come next week so stay tuned everyone!

(Approx.) Time Spent: 1 day
(Approx.) Total Cost  : LKR 7000 (for 4 people. We also took LKR 5000 worth of stuff for camping, hiking etc.)
Satisfaction                 : 3/5

*Please contact me via instagram or twitter for his contact details if necessary

**All pictures are subject to copyright © Asuka Randeniye 2016

December Vacation Hike

Hi everyone, long time no see! I've been so busy with work and all that I decided to take a quick break - except that break was the whole of November. #sorrynotsorry

Anyhoo, I am back and I am kicking off the December holidays in style. Four of us will be going on an EPIC hike+camp trip this upcoming weekend. Why epic you ask? Well, thanks to the Sri Lankan calendar gods we have not two, but FOUR DAYS (I just made that bold to show you how psyched I am :D) in that weekend (Monday and Tuesday are holidays). We will be going to Pattipola, Ohiya and Bambarakanda Falls for sure and depending on the weather, how tired we are etc. we'll improvise our route along the way.

Oh and did I mention the camping?? I am so excited that I don't even re... yes I did. Oh well.

About that... I have a confession: I've never been camping.

Ok, so I've been in a tent when I was like 5. Or maybe 6. That doesn't count. Thanks to some spectacularly protective parents, the most adventurous trip I've been on before I became an official adult was to the beach. 

Yep. *takes a moment to let the lameness of my childhood trips sink in.

So this is my moment to let all my childhood dreams and frustrations fly. Fingers - and toes - crossed that it's not gonna rain (literally) on my parade. 

*sigh

Obviously, there won't be a post next Monday but keep your eyes peeled coz I will be tweeting and gramming my adventures and mishaps as much as my phone signal and battery will allow me. There's another big trip coming on but that'll have to be a secret for now.

He hee, welcome December! Onwards, hikers!!!

The Hidden Gardens of the Seethawaka Kingdom

Seethawaka Gardens

 Yes, there are botanical gardens in Sri Lanka other than Peradeniya and Hakgala. This one I went to some time back; it sucks right now coz of the rain. Catch them when the sun is shining though and you'll see they're fit for a Bollywood movie.

The Seethawaka Botanical Garden is located in Koswatte, Avissawella on the side of a hill. It's become very popular as a day-trip destination among school children because it is only 1 hour away from Colombo. To get there, you have to pass a lot of tea estates and abandoned factories - the shortest route takes you across Rajagiriya, Hokandara, Athurugiriya, Godagama, Watareka, and Meepe to the Meepe-Ingiriya road. You turn left at Pinthaliya junction and keep going on the Diddeniya-Waga road towards Waga, Labugama, Ilukovita and finally, Koswatta and the gardens.

Colombo-Seethawaka Botanical gardens via Google Maps

Directions couldn't be clearer

You know what? Just switch on Google Maps. :P Also, take your own vehicle and make sure it doesn't ride low. The roads get progressively worse as you get closer to the botanical gardens. 

Roses from the Rose garden

The Seethawaka Wetland Botanical Gardens is just breathtaking. Compared to Pera or Hakgala it's not much, but it's still under construction and it has all the makings of a fantastic botanical garden. We talked to one of the gardeners and she told us that it fell under the purview of the Forestry department and so they didn't advertise it much. On the flip side,  they care more about the plants than the visitors. 

The entrance ticket was LKR 50 when we went. It may have hiked up since. ID's are checked as you go in, and I saw (but did not understand) why as we went in: it was a haven for couples. My boyfriend and I looked out of place with our caps, cameras, water bottles and backpacks. All the other young folk had tuition books in their hands and were wearing ridiculously smart clothes and impractical shoes.

Boulder Garden on top of the hill

Most people also don't wander beyond the impressive lawn and artificial lake you see as you enter. Big mistake. There is a tarred road that leads up into the hill and there is a rose garden and boulder garden on top. There is even a herb garden. Tons of kende trees. The view is, of course, spectacular. 

We spent a good 3 hours wandering along the trails. As we came down, we realized that this place was also popular among couples doing pre-shoots before their weddings. We saw one couple change their clothes three times in that baking hot sun. Bless them.

The gardens have a dining area if you want to take your own food and there are plenty of signs warning against littering. Recently a friend of ours visited the place and said that people had littered everywhere and the gardeners now had to do the job of cleaner as well.

Back when it looked pristine

I highly recommend you go see this little bit of wetland paradise before too many people get at it and spoil it. It's worth the long drive.

(Approx.) Total time taken : 8 hours

(Approx.) Total cost           : >LKR1000 per person (with petrol)

Satisfaction rate               : 4/5

*All pictures are subject to copyright © Asuka Randeniye 2016

Garrison Cemetery - Beauty Between Life and Death

The Garrison Cemetery

Hey everyone! It's good to be back after 1 week off. I promised myself I wouldn't miss a post even if I had nothing to write about - and then promptly went and missed one! I know you'll forgive me though. I was chillaxing at home during mid-term break. Don't ask me why schools give a week off 3 weeks before their exams; nobody told me why.

Anyhoo, I didn't actually go anywhere recently (my budgeting break is a delayed reaction) but I've got 2 trips coming up in December. In the meantime, let me tell you about a 1-day trip I took some time ago to a very specific place in Kandy, my home town. Don't worry, I'll lay down the tracks from Colombo itself - I know not everyone lives (and loves) in Kandy.

The Garrison Cemetery via Google Maps

I started off on the 7 am intercity train to Kandy from Colombo Fort station in Pettah. The 2nd class tickets are LKR 280 (that's what I booked) and 3rd class is LKR 190. Word of warning: tickets sell like hot cakes, especially on weekends so book yours as soon as they open the dates. These days, train tickets open for booking 30 days prior to the date. 

The train usually takes 2 and 1/2 hours to get to Kandy. That's on a good day. On a horrible day, you'll have engine problems, the signals won't be on or another train'll be stuck and you will get into Kandy around 11 am or 12 noon - if you're lucky. I was lucky to get in around 9.45 am that day. I brought my own breakfast but there are canteens at Fort station if you want to grab something. The train doesn't stop anywhere after Gampaha so I recommend you take breakfast with you.

Kandy is notorious for not having anything to do, especially for the young crowd. It's true there's not much in the way of "entertainment" but for those who love walking, sight-seeing and cultural osmosis, Kandy is the mother lode. 

I walked from Kandy station to the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) but I wasn't going there. You can take a tuk/three-wheeler, but they are ridiculously expensive in Kandy. Kandy tuk tuks are yet to embrace meters although there is an irregular and unreliable PickMe service now in operation. An average three-wheeler will charge you anywhere from LKR 150 to 300 to cart you across the town, which is not even 2 km as the crow flies. Please walk; it'll be healthier for your purse and your gut.

The Garrison Cemetery is located on top of a steep hill immediately behind the Dalada Maligawa. It remained obscure for a long time until HRH Prince Charles visited it in 2013 and put it on the map. It's a small plot of land, beautifully maintained by an old man and his young protegee. It has over 50 graves however, including one of an admiral who fought in the battle of Waterloo. The young caretaker speaks excellent English and will happily give you a tour and comprehensive info on each and every grave - even if don't want to hear it. Their work is astounding; from what he said, I got the picture that although the Commonwealth War Graves Commission pays them to work there, his is a labour of genuine love.

It's a peaceful spot and the traffic of the town only penetrates so far. The history of the place is unbelievable - over half the graves are for those felled by malaria under the age of 40. There is a small chapel right outside the gate which has been turned into a mini-museum to record the evolution of the Garrison Cemetery over the years. It's worth seeing if you catch it open.

BFFs: tortoises and monitor lizards

It took me about 2 hours to see everything properly, and then I came downhill and took a leisurely stroll around the lake. It was heartening to see wildlife return to the banks of the Kandy lake; I remember a time when authorities rounded up the pelicans because they were "making a mess."

Lunch was at Pizza Hut back then but now that the food court World Spice has opened on top of KCC (Kandy City Centre) you should have no problems grabbing a bite. And can I recommend the Oreo Banana milkshake at Natural Coffee? It's next to Pizza Hut on Temple Street, in front of Queen's Hotel.3 words: To. Die. For.

Getting back, you can catch a Kandy-Colombo bus or take the 3.00 pm intercity train to Fort. Again, it's better to book tickets to ensure you have a seat. I of course, stayed on at home but you can get to Colombo by 5.30 pm, just in time to catch the sunset.

(Approx.) Time Taken:  1 day

(Approx.) Total Cost  :  LKR 1200

Satisfaction              :  4/5

*All pictures are subject to copyright © Asuka Randeniye 2016.

My Budgeting Break: Ella (2)

Nine Arches Bridge, Demodera. Photo Credits: Hiru Piumwardena

In the interests of keeping it real, lemme tell you that my first thought on seeing the water at Ravana Falls was, “yuck.” Shampoo sachets, soap wrappers, shopping bags and plastic bottles littered the once pristine falls. The waterfall itself was still beautiful, but now it was choked with people who were enthusiastically soaping themselves and bathing full Sri Lankan-style. The water was murky and polluted, filled with the grime of hundreds of visitors’ bodies.

Human contribution to the banks of Ravana Falls. Photo credits: Hiru Piumwardena

Ravana Falls. Photo Credits: Hiru Piumwardena

Fortunately for us, the Ravana Ella has a calm pool and a rather slippery, rocky (but safe) pool further up where there weren't any people. We aimed for the latter. While I stayed on the rocks and took pictures, the others quickly changed clothes and jumped in. Since we were higher up than the hordes washing below, the water was clean. Still, it’s not a good idea to stay in it too long.

There is a restaurant on the opposite side of the road called Ravana Ella Restaurant. They serve a killer chicken fried rice. Lunch was fried rice, chicken curry and Elephant House cream soda. Excuse the lack of pictures - we were too hungry to think of taking any. The bunch of us polished off several kilos of rice and the bill still only came to about LKR 150 each, which is a fantastic price.

That's Me! Photo Credits: Hiru Piumwardena

We took a bus once again, this time to the start of the trail to the Demodera Nine Arches Bridge. I’d lost all sense of direction by this time; I know it was LKR 40 distance. We got down where the bus conductor told us. There was a tourist board sign welcoming tourists to the bridge so we kept walking down a minor road that turned into a dirt track, that turned into scrub land, that turned into full-on mountain and finally intersected with the rail track. We came to the Demodera Nine Arches bridge just in time to see a train go by.

Sausages roasting on an open fire...

The rest of our hike went by fast enough. We hiked to Ella station, and caught the 7pm train to Ohiya station, about 2 hours down South. There, we stayed the night at Angel Inn, a hiker’s rest on the Welimada road just 5 minutes from the Ohiya railway station. After dinner and a quick barbecue, we crashed.

Photo credits: Hiru Piumwardena

Next morning, we hopped aboard the Badulla-Colombo Fort train that arrived in Ohiya around 8.20am. After much wrangling, all of us managed to get seats. We were lucky; many people stood the entire journey. The ticket prices were the same as before. If you’re taking the train back, make sure you book seats.

We arrived in Pettah around 4.30pm, tired and sore but with hearts and souls full of beautiful scenery and the magnificent views of our country. Here’s to another hike soon: Hip hip hooray!


(Approx.) Time Taken: 2 nights, 2 days
{Approx.) Total Cost : LKR 4000 per person
Satisfaction : 4/5
*All pictures are subject to copyright © Asuka Randeniye 2016. Photo Credits: Lahiru Piumwardena

My Budgeting Break: Ella :D

Graffiti art near Nine Arches Bridge  

I know, I know. I said I was on a break. To be fair, I did pay for this trip before I announced that I was taking a break. So it doesn’t count, right?

Here’s what happened: a bunch of friends invited me on a 2-day/1 night hike. The trip was organized by a girl in the group. All told, it cost each of us only LKR 4000 total. Read on to find out the miraculous way we managed on that pittance.

We left Colombo for Ella by the night mail train from Pettah railway station at 8.00 PM. We booked 3^rd class tickets which are LKR 400 each (ticket is valid all the way to Badulla). There are 1^st and 2^nd class berths too but they get booked faster than you can say “hot potato.” There is only one 3^rd class car which can be booked – the rest are open seating so each man for himself – so make sure that you book nice and early.

I've drawn, as near as I can, the railway route from Pettah to Ella via Rambukkana, Peradeniya, Walapane, Haputale, Badulla and Ohiya

 On the way to Ella station, I discovered the magical game of ‘Mafia.’ I had not played this game before. Yeah, yeah, I lived under a rock. But now I see the light. It’s a crazy-ass game which has several Mafia (wo)men invading a village at night and attempting to kill the innocent villagers, the doctor and the policeman and... etc. etc. Too long to describe but you can find out how to play it here.

We played into the wee hours of the night. My friends know that I usually hug the pillow by 10.30. I was up till about 12 or more, which is quite an achievement for me.

The lights went out around 1 AM the next day (we are still in the train folks!) and we were lulled to sleep by the gentle sway of the train as it wound its way through the beautiful (unfortunately, now dark) hill country. As we went up, the air got cooler and by 5 AM, all of us were bundled up in jackets and scarves. A couple of (brave? idiotic?) boys decided to face Ella and its mist in board shorts and tank tops.

We got off at Ella station around 6 AM. Our aim was to hike to the summit of Ella Rock, climb down by way of the Ravana Caves and have a quick dip at Ravana falls. Remember your Sri Lankan history? This is where the Demon King Ravana is supposed to have held the beautiful Sita captive after he kidnapped her from Rama.

All the places we covered that first day: Ella station, Ella Rock, Ravana Falls and the Demodera Nine Arches Bridge

Walking back to Kithal Ella st.

It was only after we got down that we realized we should’ve gotten down one station before at Kithal Ella. This meant that we had to hike back a bit the way we came along the railway track. 

Waiting for rotti at Garden View Restaurant

We made a friend during breakfast

We stopped on the way for breakfast at a rail side තේ කඩේ (tea shop) called Garden View Restaurant. We stuffed our tummies with carbs in the form of tea buns, bread, කිඹුලා (kimbula) buns and rotti. Omg that rotti! It was piping hot and somebody magically produced seeni sambol. Yum times 1000. Even after all 18 of us ate, the bill only came up to LKR 1600+.

We started the hike proper around 9 AM through a cart road leading away from Kithal Ella station. Word of warning: start your hike earlier or the sun will blast you. We were inexperienced hikers with various levels of fitness so it took us till 10 AM to get to the top of Ella Rock. It sounds like a short time but let me assure you, we burned all the carbs we ate. By the time I got to the top, I was calling on all the gods from the Romans to the Mayans for strength. I am not as fit as I thought.

Mind you, the view was FABULOUS. Everywhere we looked there was a beautiful vista to see. We spent about an hour at the top, simply admiring the view. Let’s not forget the fantastic cup of tea we had – I understand why the British were so desperate to plant the stuff on our hills. Of course, everyone also had to take selfies in every damn pose they could think of so it took a while.

View from Ella Rock summit

More views

Coming down we took a slightly easier route and had thambili (king coconut) to revive us. I tell you, Red Bull can’t touch what Mother Nature gave us. We got lost – several times – and even went down somebody’s back garden (yes, people live here). We found a tarred road in the end and followed it down to the main road, emerging somewhere between Ella and Ravana Falls, tired but happy to see motorized transport again.

We bussed it to Ravana Falls (LKR 20 each) and were shocked to see the hordes of people who were bathing and swimming in it. The water was cool though and I was sorely tempted to jump in myself, something I had promised myself I wouldn’t do. 

(To be continued...)

See you guys next week!

#Budgetingto A Budget No. 1

I'm gonna keep these short and sweet coz I know you guys would much rather read about me budgeting to somewhere hidden, mysterious or exotic (or all of the above). Basically, I'm just gonna tell you the single most useful thing I do to save money. Like, all the time.

I walk.

Yup, that's the big reveal. Sounds simple right? Wrong. I'm not talking about the walking that happens around Independence Square every morning and evening for exercise - unless of course someone is paying them for it and I'm the only one who didn't get that memo.

No, I'm talking about walking from A to B. Why don't we walk that 500m or 1km to the nearest Keells? Why do we hop on a tuk for every little outing? 

I don't wanna preach. But if you guys wanna know my #1 saving tip for Saver October that's it. I walk. Everywhere. I walked to uni every morning for 2-3 years straight. I walk to work every morning. No, my clothes never get messed up. Why? I always leave 10 min early so I have time to freshen up before my day starts. 

Granted, I didn't always walk like this. At first, I did it because it's a great way to get some exercise. I still do it for that reason. But in the process. I realized that every time I walk, I'm saving a Rs. 50 here, or a Rs 100 there that I would have otherwise spent on a tuk-tuk. If I really can't walk, I bus it. Now, Sri Lankan buses are in a class of their own and it's not for the light-hearted. But if you can brave the sweat, the heat, the humidity and the groping, then it saves you several zeroes at the end of the ride.

If you are taking a tuk though, I recommend you install PickMe on your smartphone or call a taxi service that offers tuk tuks at a discount rate. These tuk tuks charge less than the average meter taxi per km and they start at LKR 32 per km. 

So that's my Saver October tip for the day. Look out for an account of a long-planned, highly-anticipated budget hike next week! (I know, I know, I was on break. But what do you do when something like this comes and yells in your ear?)

Taking a Break

View from Kandy-Colombo train one fine morning. Photo Credits: My pen pal Helen*

Let me start by thanking everyone who has been so supportive of this venture and who keep coming back to read the Girl With a Budget navigate Sri Lanka on a strict budget. As you would've noticed however, these trips aren't cheap; they cost money. Money that comes out of my not-so-big paycheck.

Coz that's the whole point here. Some of us (maybe most of us) live with our parents; we don't pay for water, electricity and food. Tripping with their money kinda feels like cheating, no? If they're generous enough to make you a rice packet every morning to take to work, then maybe we should take care of our own entertainment.

In order for me to take budget trips every few weeks, I save like a crazy person. So much so that my parents are convinced I'm a stingy person. I'm not. I spend generously on memories :)

I'm on a budgeting break right now, so Girl With a Budget will be spending most of her time in Colombo (work) or Kandy (home) earning money and saving it. And just like all of my #budgetingto posts, I'm inviting you to come with me. Save with me. Let's see how much we can collect by the middle of October, shall we?

Here's to Saver October! Woo hoo!

Next Week: #Budgetingto A Budget

*Name changed to protect privacy

*All pictures are subject to copyright © Asuka Randeniye 2016.

Beddegana Wetland Park: Colombo’s Secret Garden

Incandescent

One of the biggest problems about Colombo is that unless you have a load of cash, there’s very little to do. As in, to hang out. Watch a movie? Upwards of LKR 600 each. Eat out? Saivar (roadside eateries for the non-Sri Lankan you) is fine; you can polish off a meal for two for less than 200. But any decent cafe, restaurant or even fast food place is gonna cost you more than LKR 500 per head because you can’t just eat to fill your stomach, you have to pay service charge, other taxes, leave a tip yada yada.

Step right in...

What about a trip? Again, if you don’t have a vehicle of your own, public transport is gonna tire you out. And as you saw from my earlier posts, trips kinda empty your account. Even budget trips.

So imagine my delight when I found this little gem in the heart of Colombo. Frances Hodgson Burnett* would’ve been proud.

The Beddegana Wetland Park is in Ethul Kotte and opened for visitors just about a month or two ago. Before that it was just a patch of land with swampy water where people would visit at night to ahem... er... maybe I shouldn’t say. Wasn’t safe for kids anyhow.

We started off from Colombo 05 on a weekend and got there around 11.30 AM. It took us about an hour to navigate traffic from Borella and find the Beddegana road that leads to the park. If you're familiar with the area, it's very easy to find.

Beddegana Wetland Park via Google Maps

The prettier ones wouldn't stay still  :(

Today it is a bird park (although I saw more butterflies than birds) that charges LKR 50 per head for entrance. There is an elevated walkway that goes around the park so that humans don’t damage the environment. There’s a huge parking area too, and it’s very family friendly.

 

It was kind of hot inside but the most surprising thing was the quiet. Ethul Kotte is close to Nawala and Battaramulla, both busy urban areas. 100 meters from the front entrance are traffic-laden roads. But inside? It was paradise.

There were tons of butterflies of all colours and shapes. My boyfriend and I had fun trying to count how many (we lost count). It was close to midday so most birds were resting but a few storks were out on the water for us to see. There is a watch tower, several viewing platforms and a number of intersecting paths that meander around the park.

Come over to the other side...

It took us a good 1-2 hours to go all around it. Mind you we walked slowly, enjoying the absence of smoke, dust and loud horns screaming in our ears. The park borders the Diyawanna Lake on one side and you can look out on it from 2 different viewing points. 

 Most of the park is closed off for public access, which I think is smart. Even the small area open to us was already becoming polluted with toffee wrappers, polythene bags and plastic water bottles. I wish they’d kept large dustbins here and there. And checked our bags to remove all polythene stuff.

One of the many summer huts dotted around the park

Colombo's secret garden

If you’re thinking of going, take a hat and sunglasses and switch off your phones. This isn’t the place for selfies every 2 minutes. It’s a place for quiet, for reflection and maybe a few photos to remember the place. You won’t catch the bird calls on your Instagram my friend. It’ll only be in your heart. If you remember to listen. 

(Approx.) Time Taken : 3 hours

(Approx.) Total Cost   : LKR 500 (including petrol for the car)

Satisfaction                  : 4.5/5 (didn't see enough birds)

* Check out 'The Misselthwaite Archives' here, a retelling of F.H. Burnett's Secret Garden on YouTube. 

*All pictures are subject to copyright © Asuka Randeniye 2016. Photo Credits: Lahiru Piumwardena