August 2005 I went to see my father's side of the family for the first time. I never had contact with them and was a bit scared to go on my own. But I felt I had to meet my grandma before she dies. And she wasn't very well, so time was precious.
My family in Sri Lanka is very rich, with royal people in the family tree and a lot of high influence business people. So it wasn't very surprising that I got picked up with a chauffeur in one of the three or four cars that belonged to aunty Christine's family. She lives in a mansion in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. On the day we wanted to go and see the elephant orphanage my aunt was busy and so I went with her Secretary and the Secretaries daughter. It was a drive that took us - or rather the driver - several hours. On the way we stopped at the Earls Regency Hotel, Kandy. The Secretary knew the cook, so apart from the buffet with delicious salads, various mains and loads of puddings, the cook came and asked if we have any other wishes. The food was fab and we drank a fresh fruit juice. I can't tell you about the costs, as I didn't pay for anything. But a double room will cost you approximately 10416 Rupees (65 GBP). After our lush lunch we walked around the hotel. The bar has an amazing view, overlooking hills. There are shops around the hotel, a swimming pool, a tennis court, riding facilities and downstairs you get your own private waterfall. Definitely worth a visit if you can afford it.
We also went to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. However as it wasn't main season for some of the flowers and water in Sri Lanka is precious flowers were partially dried out. The gardens are huge, but unless you are very interested in botany not necessarily worth a visit.
Finally we arrived at the Elephant Orphanage in Kandy (they are open daily from 8.30am to 5.45pm, feeding and bathing times are 10am and 2pm). And so did a lot of school children. Nevertheless we didn't have to queue long. We went inside and had a look around the big, grey fellas. The staff offered many opportunities for pictures, standing next to a big elephant, standing next to a small one... We then went to a little cage like area where you can bottle feed those lovely animals! There was also a newborn, it's mother defending it against anyone who tried to come near it. Gorgeous! We didn't ride on one of the elephants, but I am sure if you ask there will be the possibility of doing that as well.
After we had a good look around the elephants and after they were fed, it was time for the main attraction of the orphanage - the bathing of the elephants in a river. Slowly the horde started moving out of their home and towards the river. We got hold up on the way by two sales man, telling us that there will be plenty of time to see the elephants bathing and that we shall wait until the main crowd is gone to get a better view. So we went with them to have a look in their garden of health. We were shown around the various plants that are supposed to make you slim, help you with your sex life, give you better skin and so on. We then got a demonstration of the products, including cacao milk with real cacao (obviously), head massage and good-looking guide. We all bought something, as a woman can never walk by a product that promises her slimness and beauty and went down to the river.
For about an hour we watched the elephants wash themselves, saw two little ones trying to escape into the beautiful postcard view and fed them with bananas we bought. A brilliant experience and a tiring day, so we started our long journey back soon after. The elephant orphanage is definitely a must if you are anywhere near Kandy, don't miss it!
