21st Sept. Nuwara Eliya

The Hill Club is an institution. A throwback to the colonial days, the place where plantation owners would congregate. Women had to enter through a side door and weren't allowed to be seen in the public bars. It has only been in the last 20 years or so has a women's toilet has been added. No locals allowed in those days, now, looking at the presidents board 1976 was the first year a Ceylonese name comes up. A Colonel A.V. Ratwatte being the first native president.
A club where samber heads and rainbow trout adorn the walls, an elephant's foot umbrella stand stands by the entrance. Portraits of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh circa 1953 hang each side of the fireplace and 'formal' is the appropriate dress for dinner. I had bought a tie knowing this but they do have a supply of ties and jackets in the men's dressing room for the plebs.
Non-staying dinner guests are given a temporary membership for the night and women are most welcome. An economic decision as the number of white plantation owners have dwindled.
Milton was a pillar of quiet efficency. Our head waiter, he had been at The Hill Club for 29 years and would have seen many changes. The servce was excellent, food delicious and the South African cab/sav a fitting accompiament. It was a 5 course meal, the second course, onion soup, was served from a silver soup trolley. Milton noticed Joan had been served a smaller amount than myself, a quiet word to his assistant server to check that that was what madam wanted. The last course, high country tea was taken in front of the roaring fire helped alng by the odd splash of diesel.
The botanical gardens south of the city attract man Sri Lankans on the weekend and even more so during our visit being the end of Ramadan, and a public holiday. Founded by the British in 1800 their legacy has been continued. There is a fine array of colour and form.