Here are some more photos from my visits to the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage, Kandy and Kosgoda turtle hatchery.
The elephant orphanage is very near to Millennium Elephant Foundation where I am volunteering. At the orphanage as its name suggests there are calves and young adults together with mums- there is now quite a herd as you can see from the photos. The elephants are led down to the nearby river twice a day. Its quite a site seeing 60 or so elephants coming towards you - they cross the road from the orphanage and then go down a road lined with shops, to the river. There is one poor elephant that as a result of an accident has half a leg missing and it still makes its way down to the river behind the rest. We did have a few concerns about some of the actions of the mahouts and also elephants dragging chains behind them - we were told for training purposes.
One of the calves - very cute
The herd enjoying the water
This baby was trying to stay upright
Angela and the elephants
I was trying to capture these two playing, trying to drown each otherMo another volunteer and I decided to visit Kandy for a cultural day out, however one we'd walked round the lake we decided a bit of retail therapy was required so we never made it to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic... that will be made another day! We did walk up to the buddha on the hill with our shopping bags though!! Since I havent brought any heels with me, I have developed a passion for flip flops too!!
The veiw of Kandy from the hill
The Buddha on the hill
The buddha again
This is how cheeseplants growOne weekend four of us decided to visit the turtle hatchery at Kosgoda. This involved getting the 7.15 am train through to Columbo and down the west coast. The journey was long and the train packed as it was a bank holiday but the views were great - definately the way to see the country. Hoping to go on a train journey through the tea plantations before I leave.
I will put some photos of the journey on the next blog but here are some of the turtles.
A baby turtle 3 days old
A turtle 3 years old. They put their flippers over their backs for a rest!
Some beach along the coastThats it for now. take care, Angela x
