We reached Gangula Lodge after what felt like hours of driving hairpin turns into the mountains of the Knuckles Range. They don’t keep much inventory, so we bought provisions at the local market that Budica, the lone caretaker and cook, cooked up for us; fish, prawns, pork, vegetables, passion fruit. The resort was very basic – 12V electricity and no running hot water, but situated on the banks of a pretty section of the river. Jamie chose to bathe in the river every day. Upul had rented the entire place (about $60/night for 5 rooms), so it was very private. Budica turned out to be a fabulous cook and kept us very full and happy. He even arranged deck chairs on the rocks by the river for us to while away the afternoon reading, then stoked up the fire for riverside barbecue under the stars.
We were in the Knuckles Range, so hiking was in order. First, a couple of hokey ones, including this one that charges foreigners thirty times (about $7 pp) that of locals. We saw this now and then. I guess it’s a pretty good approach.
Then a much better one that ended right at our accommodation. Notice the choice of footwear of our forest trekking guide….
