Leech-land

Both of us got bitten by leeches pretty much as soon as we set off on our jungle trek to Medakallie village, but Kiran’s was worse as her blood stains looked like she’d been shot! 

Medakallie Village

Our trekker is a seasoned trekker and adventurer but this is the first time he’s taken foreigners to visit the remote village known as the village in the middle of the jungle which is 14km from civilisation. Foreigners don’t stay in villages such as these and this for the trekkers is a pioneering trip – one they’d like extend to support the development of a more easily passable path into the village. Interestingly, but perhaps unsurprisingly, Medakallie has been untouched by Covid. Perhaps also the natural and simple way of life of this 25 family village, is one of the reasons why many live well into old age – the oldest man is 107 and his wife 97. 

We should have had two trekkers with us but the other one couldn’t come as he had to gather with others to protect crops following an elephant raid on another village the day before. 

Having climbed Wahangala (Bed Rock), a resting place for the Hindu god Ravana, we came over the top to see two wild elephants in the pastures below.

Are we nearly there yet…?

‘Are we nearly there yet’ was the repeated question after we’d trekked uphill, downhill, through virgin jungle and not-much-used paths to our eventual destination – a home in a remote village that took us 6 hours to reach on foot. 

The village and the home we stayed in was completely isolated and simple but totally welcoming. There was no electricity, running water, no TV or radio. We washed outside with a tank of water and a bucket in the dark with our torches, chuckling away. Sadly there’s no video or photo to attest to this – But here’s the tank and bucket! And the kitchen in the house where a fantastic rice, bean and supper was prepared for us.

If you missed the last blog then scroll below.

Next up: descending to Hassalaka and Rathna-Ella Falls

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