Safari in Yala

December 8, 2018

Woo, up at 4:45 and the driver was knocking on our door 5 minutes later  It was time for safari! It was as dark as night out and we were walking down the dirt driveway following two guys that we don't know.  They unlock the gate and our safari jeep is waiting for us.  My body is barely awake and he motions to step on a bar and pull ourselves up and into the jeep.  Away we go into the dark.  The only vehicles on the road are safari jeeps.  Everyone is rushing to get to Yala National Park before they open.  Some jeeps pass us. It is a race to get to the gate so when the park opens you can get in right away.  We approach the gate, pay (safari for 4 w/driver and vehicle is about $120) and another guide from the park also jumps in.  We were all off hoping to find lots of animals.  The roads are of course dirt and very rough.  We saw a bunch of different birds, wild boar, samba dear, tons of peacocks, crocodile, herds of water buffalo and a giant one just sitting on the side of the road in a big pool of water eating his breakfast. 

After about 3 1/2 hours of driving we finally saw an elephant! She was beautiful hanging out by the side of the river drinking.  We did it, we saw a graceful elephant just hanging out, mission accomplished! Then about 30 minutes later we saw five more, much closer to the road, close to 20 feet away which felt much closer because there was no barrier. Then we heard a male elephant trumpet about 20 yards away.  He was upset with another jeep and was going to charge it. Glad that  weren't in that jeep.  We just sat and enjoyed our heard of elephants for at least 30 minutes.  there was an 1 1/2 month old baby too.  Just living the family life, eating, spraying water and chilin' with the folks.

On the way back to our cottages we are reminded once again of how lucky we are.  The women are doing laundry in a brown water way and saw others washing their hair and bathing in it.

Off to  Tangalle which is on the south end of the island, lots of little beach towns.  We are staying the night at Mangrove Beach Chalets.  Nice places just off the water in a coconut grove.  Love our little place - very clean.  Straight to the beach hut for lunch since we have been up for are really long time and haven't had much at all.  Tables in the sand and kids are already in the water! Our normal vacations are always around the beach so this has been hard for them.  They are so thrilled even with no sleep.  Lunch was good and I went down to visit the kids who immediately reminded me of the big potential of a tsunami. Thanks kids! All three of my kids are boogie boarding on the beach and very happy. :-)

Dinner at the The Trees Restaurant.  Very casual seafood restaurant with a great family who runs it.  The little girl took a major liking to Hudson and Saylor.  She brought her game of Memory over and with her small amount of English she played with the kids.  We picked baracuda for dinner.  He brought it over to our table for us to inspect it first.  Like I have any clue if it is a good baracuda.