Our last day in Sri Lanka was spent trying not to get too car sick as we wound our way down the mountain with a few stops for photo shoots, at record-speeds and trying not to have a heart attack watching as Anton swerved in and out of lanes passing trucks and cars on a barely-callable two-lane road.
18-Jun-2010 21:48, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
18-Jun-2010 21:59, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
18-Jun-2010 22:32, 7.4, 11.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Still, we had a few highlights, such as the stop at Sifani’s again to pick up my jewelry. The photos I’ve taken do not do the jewelry true justice, but you can get the idea. The plan was to get in and get out. C jinxed it when we walked in and said, “I’m not going to buy anything…”! haha. As they were putting the final touches (lengthening the chain on the necklace) to my pieces, I wandered again – definitely NOT thinking to buy anything.
24-Jun-2010 01:48, 8.4, 18.9mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100
24-Jun-2010 01:44, 8.4, 18.9mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100
24-Jun-2010 01:44, 8.4, 18.9mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100
But, the truth was that I had been thinking about the blue sapphire. I mean, it would be a shame to be in Sri Lanka and to go home without one having bought other semi-precious stone items. Still, I wasn’t sure. I again looked at rings – why am I fascinated with rings???? I found a simple oval-shaped one that looked interesting, but I wasn’t totally in love with it. Then, the salesman brought me a new Sifani-designed setting with a light sapphire in it. I just didn’t like the stone as much since the darker (medium) blue was much better to my eye. At one point I had four different rings I was looking at. One was a princess-cut (square) medium blue sapphire with a nicely cut setting. Everyone said it was a unique cut and I could get it for a good price…. What to do????
24-Jun-2010 01:47, 8.4, 18.9mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100
Plus, they threw in an extra ring for free – so I chose a green stone…. π
24-Jun-2010 01:47, 8.4, 18.9mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100
Sri Lanka is known for its blue sapphires and gems. What's a girl to do? The necklace and earrings were all part of one necklace, but they made it into this set especially for me…19-Jun-2010 12:49, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
So, all my jewelry for LIFE is taken care of…well, now I’m contemplating a few more pieces to my collection, but simple simple is the theme. hahahahahah.
Anyway, we AGAIN took longer than expected (even C ended up with more jewelry…), but still arrived at the airport with a few hours to kill. Thankfully, the airport was small and no major temptations were to be found there aside from a few touristy/gifts to be purchased. Phew.
In sum up, the trip was great. C was an awesome traveling companion – good for laughs, chats and shopping. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, though they’ve got a bit of work to do to truly be a desired tourist destination. Starting with NOT asking the following question-statements:
1. You are from?
2. You look Asian…?
3. First time in Sri Lanka?
4. How long staying – 1 week/2weeks?
5. How is Sri Lanka?
True, they are being curious, friendly, etc. and I know I am a rather sensitive person to questions like this, but still it got a wee bit tiring after four full days of it.
Still, I would return to see the beaches as I’ve heard they are amazing. So, ends my brief trip to Sri Lanka!
18-Jun-2010 22:15, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100
More to come with summer travels…
-T
