Month: October 2010

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Shipping, Shipping !!!

So yes we decided that the painting should be purchased, and here it is. It looks much more striking in the flesh. Its a mixed media by the award winning artist J C Rathnayaka, very striking and imposing ( at 4ft x 4ft) and should make a welcome addition in the Central Park Gallery.

This morning we did not have rain and so a quick dip in the pool was in order prior to striking out again on Tuk Tuk to go to the markets in Pettah, as normal we ended up in a kitchen supplies shop purchasing more hardware for the kitchen.

An early night as we have a journey by train at 7am to Kandy ………

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It’s spitting …it’s spiting …..

No it’s not, it’s raining and raining hard, and there are these flashes of light in the sky ( maybe thats what the candles were for ?).

Any ideas of going swimming were put on hold (well in the pool at least), myself and Swiss Miss set off on various Tuk Tuk rides around the city.
So what does one do when it rains , stay in doors and read a book noooo, if your female then one goes  shopping……
We sally forth, without a care for the rain ………
A tuk tuk ride along the coast road and we find ourself in an area that is called “Fort”  there are armed police and army everywhere, after 30 mins we alight the tuk tuk and go for a walk … only to be approached by a local who kindly tells us all the batting averages of the local cricket team, I think this guy would give Peaples a run for his money with his knowledge of cricket and not a Wisdens in sight .

However this was not getting us anywhere nearer the shopping and on his advice another tuk tuk was taken and we set forth to find a gem store via a temple which had an elephant tied up out side and lots of 19th printing presses. 

So after a mear 58 mins and 26 seconds (according the the stopwatch ) of leaving the hotel we find ourselves outside a gem store. A little guy complete with beard comes to the door and with eyes of the snake from jungle book , an entranced swiss miss is lead into the store, however we were sitting at the wrong table, this was the cheap stuff…. so 30 mins later and the owner of the store serving us, we walk out many dollars poorer in exchange for a little bag of rocks and Swiss Miss feeling very pleased with herself. 
After lunch at an art gallery, which was full of Tai Tai’s (thats women who have nothing better to do than lunch and spend money, yes we fit right in here) we find ourselves holding a painting, well  the assistant is holding it and we are there thinking how do we get this back home , if we take it off the frame then the paint could crack, we could ship .. but the customs duty on it would be horrendous …
So we ask assistant to work out shipping to home and we will think about the purchase over night.
Now I am thinking surely mission accomplished for today, but Swiss Miss reminds me … we have another 8 days to shop !!!!!! 
Waddamire !!!!!
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Sri Lanka the home of Spices and an average cricket team

After a one hour flight delay and a quick pit stop in Bangkok, that  would have put Martin Whitmarsh and Team Mclaren to shame, we arrive in Colombo 10 minutes ahead of schedule. 


Mr immigration passport checker dude, is instantly surprised that my passport of only 2 year of age is almost full and has to squeeze in his little chop between others. 

AND then ….. the wait, oh the wait, the one hour we made up by having Jenson Buttons’  Sri Lankan  uncle as pilot was completely negated by the no arrival of luggage. 

Now this can’t be difficult there are only six passengers actually waiting at the luggage carousel, the remainder of the passengers were all transiting to locations unknown. 

So there we wait, Mr and Mrs French, a Sri lankan merchant and his Chinese friend and myself and the Swiss Miss.

After 20 mins Sri Lankan merchant and his friend get their luggage, one suitcase and 20 boxes of candles (don’t ask, but I suspect they are expecting power cuts and hope to make money on the ensuing demand for alternative light sources).

40 mins later…… we spot two silver cases …. yes here comes the Rim, it is now 10.30 local time and the race is on through customs … now you wont believe this , we are actually going through what is the Sri Lankan equivalent of Currys or Fortress ( if you live in Hong Kong), people are actually purchasing fridge freezers, ovens and all manner of household goods in duty free ( now try getting that past your cabin check in  allowance) and then wheeling them through customs.

So out the other side and the driver is waiting for us, to lead us into RAIN !!!, (spending the last two years in Beijing, it is unusual to see so much rain )  

Now for the hour long drive to the hotel and it is scary … so scary (well not as bad as the drive through the Coca plantations in Peru), it was easier to fall asleep, my problem was being awaken by the screech of brakes as we slide towards a crane doing a turn using “forward and reverse gears” in the middle of the road, and my snoring !!!.

We arrive at what is described as a Retro chic hotel , a 200 year old mansion (http://www.casacolombo.com/) part of the Tablet Hotel collection, where we are swiftly shown our suite by our personal butler !!! 
Quickly ordering a few curries and the ubiquitous Gin and Tonics found in Sri Lanka ( for those of you that have not had one 75% gin , 25% tonic ), we settle in …….