Well what do you know - it is thundering and raining (again) - had planned a walk through the tea plantations this afternoon but has rained solidly for the last 2 hours! Bandara (our butler) says it only rains for an hour - ha ha!

This morning was 1.5 hrs drive each way to tea processing factory - hadn't realised how much goes into producing the perfect cup, different types and different grades, not to mention low, medium and high altitude teas.

Contemplating another strenuous day .....

You don't know the meaning of hard work until you watch these ladies plucking up to 50 kgs per day for 1000LKR (AUD8.00)

As the (male) overseer barks out orders!

Modern fire protection systems have been installed in the factory.

After withering and grinding and before fermenting

The consensus was that most of this equipment is at least 50 years old.

Fermenting tables.

Workplace hygiene is paramount.

56 kg bags of the finished product.

Does anyone else find the juxtaposition amusing?

What story here - a Christian grave - perhaps family of the colonial tea planters?

So the rain stopped and we walked - late afternoon, cloud on the mountains and setting sun