In the morning about 5.30 AM I got in to Kumar’s Cab. There was Lasantha, Thisara and Daham was there in the vehicle and we were supposed to pick Amith and Ravi next. Final pick up was Gayan as usual we had to go close to his home to pick him up. Nuwan was also with him. Everyone in the vehicle and we were ready to leave Colombo. We move along the low level to Awissawella then Rathnapura. Thisara and Gayan was in hungry mood and wanted to have breakfast. So we stop on by the road and ate our breakfast. This time we were more equipped, I and Daham had bought our digital cameras. So we could capture some quality photos. Our next stop was Rathnapura Cargills Supper, We got down to buy foods and other necessities for the journey. It was about 11 AM we leave Rathnapura toward Balangoda. We were supposed to turn right to Mathara road through Rakwana and Suriya Kanda, few miles ahead from Rathnapura. Road was normal at the beginning. Sometime after we were moving in an area much cooler and covered by trees. Surrounding area was a forest. We had to pass 10 great bends which ware each named by it number. We stop by a steel bridge to take some photos. The bridge was built over a stream and it was falling from one side of the bridge making a small but beautiful water fall. First major town we come across was Rakwana. We stop by to buy kerosene and some other things. According to our information sources it was the last place we could buy anything we need but we had to go to several shops to buy a bottle of kerosene :D. If you are going there you better take whatever you want from Rathnapura town. We move forward to Suriya Kanda, a small town and the last one before entrance road to Morning Side. At about 12:30 we were at entrance to Morning Side but the road was not look good. Kumar’s face became dark when he saw it yet he turns the vehicle to it. But we couldn’t move that far. Vehicle was stack among rocks on the road. We try to push and take it up into the hill but it was not moving at all. At last we decide to keep it there and move on foot. So we took everything in to our hands and get ready to move toward the forest area. It was small rain drops while we were struggling with the vehicle. Not long after we started to walk on foot it started to rain. Few of us had umbrellas but the wind turn against them. And it was really difficult to hang on to an umbrella while holding about 15 Kg each. There were few umbrellas so while others get wet it is not fair to go under an umbrella. So I got rid of my one. We move forward in the rain and our food was in Cargills bags, which ware not so strong. Time to time they broke and we had to tie them again and again. There was another big problem. Leaches were all over the road and waiting for their food to arrive. It was so annoying. Ah did I mention? It has 7Km from the place we start toward the forestry bungalow. Somehow we manage to get about 3Km and stop for a while. A villager told us that the bungalow keeper has gone down to town and there is no one else at bungalow. So we climb slowly. We were so hungry and eat some of our biscuits on the way. In another bend few yards away we met a person coming up among the forest. That was the bungalow keeper; He didn’t know that we are coming until that time. We climb up with him. There was another threat, ELEPHANTS. Bungalow keeper told us there are 3 elephants in the area and they are very dangerous. He told us if they are on the road it is impossible to pass through. There were marks of elephants all along the road. Mist comes and covers the area time to time; even we couldn’t see the person in front of us. If an elephant is on the road we might not see it until we hit because of the mist. So we run after bungalow keeper thinking what if there is an elephant at next bend? If there was an elephant we could do nothing but standing there hoping that it would pay mercy on us. We were so tired and couldn’t even run. There was no place to run other than along the road, because one side of the road was a hill and other side was a drop. We ere use to sit in front of computers not to run jumping over barrier holding 10-15 Kg of weight on our solders. :( Finally after 2- 2 ½ hours walk we manage to come to Morning Side Forestry bungalow.
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