On the way to our hotel we stopped near Ella to climb part of a mountain. It’s a very different vibe here. Back packers and loud music. Bars and pool parties. A zip wire down the mountain and a big swing that looks like you’ll fall off the mountain if you let go.

The route is about 1km up and not arduous but, as always, incredibly hot and sweaty. The humidity here is a killer. But once you get up there the views are amazing. You’re on top of a mountain without having to do the whole climb. Straight to the good part.

We made our way back past the back packers, into the car and wound our way down to our hotel in the foothills of the mountains. Back to peacocks and palms. It is an eco tourism place. The rooms are basically huts on stilts in farmland.

The windows have no glass. Just mosquito nets so if your neighbour farts loudly you know about it. You can sit on your veranda drinking a beer whilst you watch the sun setting on the mountain and the farm workers harvesting their rice with the sound of prayers being played on a loudspeaker somewhere nearby. It’s somewhat incongruous and you kind of feel like you’re intruding yet it’s beautiful. Then you get over yourself and go for an amazing dinner (curry obviously) at the restaurant overlooking the infinity pool.

So many contrasts here…