After one final half-day conference session on Saturday, and the requisite attendee photos, the gates were opened and we were released into the city to do some damage. As it turned out, mine was of the monetary variety. Under the consumerist-wing of my colleague (and predecessor) Rachael, who is now based in Myanmar, she guided, okay, pushed, me through the world of salwar kameez shopping. She may as well have been S. Asian in a previous life because she knew what to ask for, what to look at and better yet, was a fairly decent haggler. Because Afghanistan will probably be a sure bet on my travel destination list this year, we looked for long sleeved plain outfits. Salwar kameez are the long tunic, billowy pants with a scarf thrown backwards over own’s shoulders. In AFG that translates into a head wrap instead. This being Colombo, we found mostly bright and sometime outlandish colors and decoration. In the end bought four – one of which required a tailor since it was only the fabric with the decorated neck line. I’m still in a bit of shock over purchasing so much that I will wear so infrequently.
That night, our crew reconvened at Galle Face Hotel for a lovely sunset and dinner on the ocean. Many were leaving that night and the next day while I few of us were departing Monday for the long drive out to Ampara for a field visit.
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