Day 8 - Handunugoda Tea Estate
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An afternoon trip to the Handunugoda
Tea Estate, returning to
Galle Harbour for an early evening departure.
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Sunday 23rd February 2025 (PM)
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After our interesting
tour of Galle Fort this morning, we had lunch on the ship
and then joined the afternoon excursion to the tea estate,
which is set in beautiful hills not from the coast. We drove
along the coast for most of the journey, before turning
inland for a winding yet scenic road up into the hills. |
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We passed Koggala
Airport, which was originally a Royal Air Force Station
and is now a Sri Lankan Air Force base, used for military
as well as domestic flights. |
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On the opposite side
of the road is the aircraft museum. Bruce would have liked
to stop and examine one of the planes properly. |
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Later research provided
details of what we had glimpsed. |
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The drive along the
coast was very pretty. We then turned inland as we ascended
to the site of the tea estate. It was quite a windy road,
but we took it slowly and were able to enjoy the contrasting
scenery. |
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After arriving at the
Handunugoda Tea Estate, we were introduced to a local guide,
who would be telling us everything about the estate and
the process of tea production. |
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Almost immediately,
we were told about the estate's premier product - Virgin
White Tea - and informed that we would be given an opportunity
to sample it later. |
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We began our tour with
a slow uphill walk as we made our way to the tea-growing
area. Along the way, there were plenty of interesting plants
to see. |
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Because we were in a
fairly big group, we were split up into smaller groups and
the order of visits was altered so that the places of interest
wouldn't get swamped. Our group was taken to the venue serving
tea and cake first. |
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Here, we were given
an extensive list of teas to choose from. |
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Feeling refreshed after
the delicious tea and cake, it was only a short walk to
the main tea growing area. |
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We were fascinated to
see the workers picking the tea and ensuring that they did
not touch the leaves in order to preserve the taste (and
their reputation) for producing Virgin White Tea, pure and
uncontaminated through human contact. |
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For the other types
of tea, it is not necessary to be so careful and picking
can be done without using protective clothing and gloves. |
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Our guide pointed out
a man who was peeling cinnamon tree branches. Subsequent
research revealed that this is only one stage of a multi-stage
process which is labour intensive. Also that Sri Lanka is
a major exporter of cinnamon. |
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For now, our focus was
tea and we soon led into the factory. |
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After the factory visit,
we were taken to the tea museum for an opportunity to taste
a selection of teas, and of course, to make purchases! |
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There was a wide variety
of teas available to sample, but since we aren’t especially
discerning tea drinkers, the subtle distinctions, especially
in their prized Virgin White tea, were mostly lost on us.
They were all enjoyable, though none stood out enough for
us to purchase and bring home. |
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After the visit, we
took the same route back to the ship. There was time for
a brief stop at a place where traditional stilt fishing
is done. |
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Unfortunately, there
weren't any fishermen there, but this is an example of what
we might have seen. |
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It wasn't long after
getting back onto the ship in Galle Harbour that we sailed.
We had enjoyed a full and interesting day here in Galle
and during our afternoon excursion to the Handunugoda Tea
Estate. |
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There was another beautiful
sunset as we began the 76 nautical mile voyage from Galle
to Colombo. |
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