Serendipity Travel - Adventure - Sri Lanka

Shopping in Sri Lanka

Shopping is not the main reason you would travel to Sri Lanka, luckily they have been spared the curse of big Malls and expensive brands. People here still opt for a traditional sarong and most of the time the men walk around bare chested.

Women on the other hand are very modest, maxi skirts and plain blouses are what are worn most days, white is worn to the temple.

If you are into shopping you will have to dig deep. Yes we indulged in finding things to bring back home. Colombo and Galle are places to visit if you are looking for clothes and jewels. Be aware that most Tuk-Tuk drivers will try and take you to some scam or other.

On our first night in Colombo, it poured down, cats and dogs, we wanted to go out and explore and the minute we walked out our hotel we were approached by scamsters.

You will never know that they are trying to scam you because they look like everyone else, but they will spin some story about an International Gem Fair that is ending this evening and you must go and buy gems at 80% off, or some such con.

Suddenly a Tuk-Tuk appears and you are taken to a corner store two roads up where fictional shoppers pretend to be buying hundreds of thousands of Dollars worth of semi precious (and precious) jewels. It's a real spectaclebut it is what it is.

Very early on you have to accept that things are done differently here in Sri Lanka. Every Tuk-Tuk driver is potentially a scamster and you have to make the choice whether you will play along or alert him to the fact that you are aware of his activity. Most times their attempts at scamming are harmless.

Galle Fort is where I did most of my shopping. Beautiful boutiques, Jewellery Stores and Antiques can be purchased here in one special place.

There are no bargains here, you can attempt to haggle and negotiate but they see you coming a mile away and they are so much smarter than us when it comes to sales.

Our favourite store in Galle Fort was the Karma Collection, owner Tivon Prasad Kankanamga was a great guide for our shopping adventures, and we would truly recommend a visit to his boutique, even if it were just to say 'Hi'.

Tivon not only gave me great discounts, he also introduced me to Sri Lankan nightlife and explained some of the unexplained retail mysteries.

Sri Lanka is great place to buy delicious tea, pungent spices and beautifully crafted jewellery. So often we squeaked with excitement when we walked past the jewellery stores but even after negotiating the price down to the core it was still a very expensive purchase.

When in Sri Lanka, it is worth exploring the gem market though, it is one thing that we do not have here in South Africa and we think that it would do well here.

There is a sweet formality when you walk through the doors of a gem dealer. When you walk through the door, the lights come on, the aircon is cranked up and you are treated with the utmost reverence.

While we negotiate we were told all about their ancestors, the school fees and the rising cost of living. Be bold when you negotiate and try to be firm. Have a clear number in your head, how much you are willing to pay and work backwards towards that.

Because most of the gem merchants are Muslims, check the timing of your shopping sprees as midday is reserved for prayers, even in peak season.

One thing that blew us away in Sri Lanka were the antiques. Priceless wooden furniture dating back to the 1600's, massive ancient Buddha statues and religious relics is what Sri Lanka has in abundance but you need a suitcase full of Dollars to get them.

In Sri Lanka our dreams took psychedelic dimensions. What we saw and what we experienced took us to another reality. One that was rich with artistic splendour, cultural heritage and spiritual stability.

If you have not booked your trip to Sri Lanka, take advantage of the booking dates below and experience something truly unique.