ponawalla elephant orphanage

This morning we woke up early and drove an hour and a half to polawantu where we went to the elephant orphanage. We paid 2500 rupee which is equivalent to 30$. There were around 100 elephants scattered and all of us went over to touch and take photos of them. Some of the men who look after the elephants called us over and made me stand by the elephant while he took photos. We had photos and then after when we went to walk off and the men stopped us and asked for tip money for taking our photos. The men were all rude like that and you could tell they didn't treat the elephants very well because as soon as one of the guides walk remotly close to the elephants they would freak and walk away from then. The men all carried large spears that they obviously hurt the elephants with to make them obey. The whole thing was pretty cruel. We then followed the yelephants down to the River and the elephants. A lot of the elephants just lay down in the water and chilled. It was so amazing to see! We brought some bananas and were able to feed the elephants in the water. By mid day it was so hot and we were all sweating so we got back in our taxi and started driving back to kandy to go the pools. I wanted to stop at a spice and herb garden so our driver dropped us at one and we got a tour by a herb doctor who showed us all the plants and the medicines and oils that they produce. It was so insane. There we're natural plants for pimples, hair removal, anti snoring, everything! The man tested the hair removal cream on my arm and after 15 minutes he rubbed it off and my hair was gone! After he led us to the phmarcey where he sat us done for tradtional Sri Lankan tea and he pushed us to buy stuff. I wanted to but it was all quite expensive. We left and drove home and we got our driver to drop us off at a hotel where we payed to use there pool. It was soooo nice and cool!! We ordered lunch because we hadn't eaten all dayy and then we just lay in the pool the rest of the avo. In the evening we left for home and took a tuk tuk home. That was an experience! When we got back most of the volunteers had arrived so we sat and introduced ourselves to everyone. Everyone's from all over the worlds it's really cool! Dimakee our coordinater came after we all ate dinner and told us plans of out first day of orientation tomorrow. We're getting all our papers signed and then were all going into town to get SIM cards and show us round as well as going to some temples. Everyone's off to bed early cause it's hot and everyone's jet lagged.