In a Hyundai hybrid driven by our chauffeur for 3 days from today ,just 63 years young ,strong ,wiry Dharma shree took us straight to pinewala from colombo airport .
We were sceptical to see elephant orphanages , as 100 yards from home we see the best specimens every day ,and it did prove to be a disapointment to the 800 SL Rupee ticket each (for SAARC countries )if other foriegn country we pay 4500 to see some anemic elephants standing around !!
After that disappointment ,we needed a good cuppa lankan tea ,so told Dharma to home in on a good old tea shop preferably the family corner shop ,avoiding those sanitary cafes if he can .
True to his salt Dharma sidled up a tinderbox teashop with an old couple making fresh aapams or white hoppers , frail and feathery like an angels gown .
The chilly red chutney was like an adrenaline shot to go with ,and some vadas were not bad .
And I waited for the piece de etat the famous Ceylon tea .
I had in mind the red coloured streaming cup of chai given to me once in a Manathavady tea estate ,and how i nursed it in the cold hill top .
The old man brought me instead an anemic pale white liquid ,which Dharma gulped ,and wife too did not seem to mind but no not me 
TEA should not be so i said
Make it strrrrrong please ,red in color and be stingy with the sugar ,milk of course not the watery one .
He nodded as if telling
i have met idiots like you before .
I stood as he poured dilute tea concentrate milk powder dilute and some sugar .
After a couple of shreiks and head shakes he almost met my standards .
It became drinkable
So much for ceylon tea !!
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