Nature's best at Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens & Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Woke up to an awesome and free breakfast, courtesy of Camarin Residence. It was really really good! Even the fruit jam that he used is different from the usual overly sweet ones you get from supermarkets. We also tried milk cake, which is a Sri Lankan snack prepared for festive occasions!

After breakfast, we took a tuktuk down to Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens.

Spent a few hours at Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens. However, we had to leave the place early as we were rather tight on time.

While waiting for a bus heading in the direction towards Kegalle, a man with deformed hands approached me and asked where I was heading to. I knew it was one of those situations whereby they would ask for money after helping us. Even though I could simply flag for the bus on my own, I knew he was standing around us, hoping to help us so that we would tip him. After yesterday's experience on the train, I knew that I wanted to just give this man some money (to help him). I am pretty sure with his physical condition, it would really be tough or almost impossible to get a proper job or anything.

So as expected, he helped us to flag the right bus heading to Kegalle, and I gave him a small tip. After an hour of bus ride, we got off at Karandupana Junction. The moment we got off, a tuktuk approached us and asked if we are going to the Elephant Orphanage. The easiest way in from Karandupana Junction would be to tuktuk in. Upon getting on, I double confirmed with the driver that we're heading to Pinnawala Elephant Orpanage right? He said yep.

However, he tried to bring us to another Millenium Elephant Foundation instead. He insisted that it is better because we get to ride on the elephants. However, we didn't want to ride the elephants as it is cruel to do so!!! Also, I read that the elephants are treated really badly at the Millenium Elephant Foundation. No idea how true it is but I didn't want to go to a place where we could ride the elephants. We firmly insisted for him to bring us to Pinnawala and he tried to charge us a higher tuktuk price. However, being firm worked and he brought us to Pinnawala for the pre-agreed upon price.

#SriLanka #Kandy #Peradeniya #Pinnawala #Travel