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| Idalgashinna station when we got off the train at 5.30AM |
FYI if the universe gives you a sign and tells you, 'Don't do that!' then don't do that.
I had all the signs I wanted in the world and my stupid ass decided to say F- you to the universe.
I don't think the universe liked that, because it hit me with a whopping fever. Yes, a FEVER. I went on a hike and I came down with a fever caused by a bacterial infection.
I feel like the universe is trying to tell me something... hmm.
So sit back peeps, and enjoy the tale of me #budgetingto Idalgashinna.
***
I was really excited about finally going on a hike this year. Due to funerals and a lot of extra expenses, trips had been relegated to the backseat for a while. I was actually embarrassed that it took me 6 months to finally plan one.
We decided to make it a quick one - Idalgashinna is a small hill just behind its namesake railway station. It is located along the Fort-Badulla railway line, between Ohiya and Ella. The hike would be easy, taking only about an hour to summit. The climb wasn't too steep and most of it would be through a tea estate. Since our last hike had been in 2016, neither of us were in peak condition and we wanted an easy climb.
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| Idalgashinna station via Google Maps |
It was easy enough to plan. We bought tickets on the Colombo Fort-Badulla night mail express train, LKR 400 each in the 3rd class sleeper compartment. The train would leave at 8.00PM on Friday and reach Idalgashinna station around 5.20AM on Saturday. We also bought return tickets on the night mail coming back Saturday night from Badulla-Colombo Fort. The 2nd class sleeper tickets are LKR 600 each.
Word to the wise: tickets disappear like උණු කැවුම් so you need to book at least 2 weeks prior to your planned date. Tickets can be booked at the Fort railway station at the intercity tickets counter, or over the phone if you have a Mobitel number. Call 365 and be prepared to lose 15% to commission as well as 8/- per minute (they will drag out the minutes). On popular lines like Badulla, tickets sell out really early.
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| It's ORANGE! |
Remember what I said about signs? Sign #1 was when I went shoe shopping for hiking shoes coz I didn't have a pair. We checked in shop after shop. First, they didn't have my size. My feet are small, but seriously??? The only ones that did were pink because they were"ladies." What is this, the 90s???
The last shop finally had an outrageous pair that had orange neon shoelaces on dark blue shoes. Bleeugh, but what to do? I shelled out a ridiculous LKR 8000+ for the pair. Our entire hike didn't cost that much.
Friday came, work was done and I flew home. The plan was to take dinner, breakfast and a snack for Saturday. After the hike, we would catch another train to Ella, only a few stations after Idalgashinna and have lunch there. So I made instant noodles (don't judge - you've done it too) for dinner, packed that and waited.
The tuk arrived and we jumped aboard to get to the station. That took us about LKR 500. I opened my bag to take out my purse to pay the tuk... and there was sign #2. No purse. I'd left if behind.
Shit.
We discussed the money situ; should we take the chance and really budget it or withdraw some cash from the ATM? We decided to withdraw and then, guess what? The universe hit us with #3: the ATM ate my boyfriend's card.
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| Idalgashinna at break of dawn |
It was 7.30PM and we didn't have time to go anywhere or complain to anyone. We tried the cardless withdrawal and that didn't work either. We stood outside wondering what to do; we only had about LKR700 between us (well, him really, coz I didn't have my purse).
"Should we not go?" he actually said this. My face was stubborn. I mean, I was invested in this trip, y'know? I'd been dreaming of a hike for months. I'd got new and expensive shoes. So why was he suddenly looking over my shoulder so horrified?
Welcome to Universe sign #4.
(To be continued...)
