Saturday 18th February 2023

Today turned out to be such a relaxing day - generally! I woke up late and had a wonderfully relaxed morning with Gobi, Kavi and Merashini, who has got very used to me now, and was taking my hand to lead me round the garden! Kavi cooked puri for breakfast, which was delicious! I was able to just chill all morning with Gobi's family, as I didn't need to leave Bogawantalawa until midday.

I took a tuk-tuk to Bogawantalawa bus station just after 12:00 and by 12:30 I was on the bus to Hatton, although I was getting off a bit before Hatton, at the Wanarajah estate, to have lunch with Donald's family. Donald met me shortly after I got off the bus, and I had a lovely time with him and his mother, who had cooked a lovely lunch for us. His father appeared later on, and he then took me in his tuk-tuk to Hatton.

I was desperate for the toilet when I got to Hatton, so I had to go to the toilets in the bus station (I should have gone before I left Donald's house), and all I can say is never ever use toilets in a bus station in Sri Lanka if you can possibly avoid them, as they are quite simply disgusting! I got a city bus back to Nuwara Eliya and went straight to The Grand Hotel, where Daya joined me later on for a catch-up.

What a week it has been! I have enjoyed my travels so much. It has been a pleasure to go back to Maskeliya, albeit for such a brief time, and a real privilege to spend time in Bogawantalawa with Gobi, Kavi and Merashini. If anybody reading this thinks they might have the inclination and the time to volunteer at one or more of the Tea Leaf Centres in Sri Lanka, then go for it - I can assure you that you won't regret it!

I didn't manage to take any photos today, so I have picked a few of my favourite photos from when I visited Donald and his family last year!









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