Kandy to Galle

 A new driver came up to get us and drive us the 5 hours down to southern Sri Lanka. There was plenty of the culture to see on the drive.

We stopped to try this corn on the side of the road. I wish I could report that it was good Keith, but it was not. It was a more round, rubbery feeling kernel, and it was chewy/mushy and gross inside. Not sweet at all.

But the stop was worth it because we got to see these two boys playing out in their yard. It was interesting to see them with only their poor surroundings, not a toy to be found, and yet they were playing so happily. 

We shared some candy with them and they were pretty excited about that too. 

 We continued on our way and as we crossed one bridge we saw something strange growing in the trees. We asked our driver, Wait, what were those giant black things hanging from that tree?! Were they bats?
Our driver turned around and we went back. No. way. They were giant fruit bats. We could not believe it!

 They were ginormous! The size of a cat, then add wings. The boys threw some rocks towards the tree to get some flying, it was absolutely incredible.

They were amazing, actually.

We made another short stop at an elephant orphanage. The elephants were down at the river when we arrived so we were only able to ride one of a couple elephants. 

 It was nice to see these elephants out in their natural habitat.

 Carrie feeding an elephant a banana.

When the guide asked if Brandie wanted the elephant to spray her, she said sure! She got more than she bargained for! But it made for a fun pic, thanks for sacrificing Brandie!

It was a fun little detour on our way to Galle!

 Thank goodness for our driver because it was 4 hours of two way roads and crazy driving before you hit the new toll freeway, built by China, for the last hour or so. China will collect the tolls for ten years and then turn it over... supposedly. The toll road cut 3 hours off of the drive. It was so strange to be going through these villages on broken roads and then suddenly hit this beautiful, straight, spacious freeway. What a different world it felt like!