Keep Calm and Go Shopping – My Sri Lankan Khareedaari

So, it turns out that Sri Lanka is one of my favourite places for shopping. There is enough to shop for – from small trinkets/souvenirs to home décor to personal care items. I came back as a content shopper, both in terms of the variety I got there and the fact that I did not end up emptying my pocket (too much). The price tags are pretty sweet and the LKR 1.39/PKR 1 exchange rate definitely helps! Bargaining works so bring along your haggling skills that you must have acquired being Pakistani. Travelling is just so much more fun if the shopping is affordable and the prices don't hurt your heart (and your husband). Here’s all that I got and I am super excited about using my new stuff!

Leather Handbag

This gorgeous pure leather handbag is just the right size for an evening out. It is going to go perfectly with the traditional block-printed-kurta-with-khussas look. I wouldn't carry it to work though because my work stuff won’t fit in it. But it is super cute – I love elephants – and it has a long sling so it will come down to my waist when I carry it on my shoulder. Cost me PKR 1700. Yes, ONLY. But that’s because a) my friend has amazing bargaining skills and b) the stall owner had been to Karachi for a marathon race years back so kinda loved Pakistan and Pakistanis. You will find these in Unawatuna and in Bentota - Bentota had more variety.

Silk Scarves

I got these amazing silk scarves in mouth watering colour combinations from a shop called Beach Lanka in Bentota. I love elephants and mughal figures on my clothes so these were just what I’d love to use to accessorize. They will look great with plain tops and jeans I think. The quoted price was PKR 650 but since a got like a dozen (for gifts), I got a great discount – especially after discussing the terrible performance of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the T20 world cup – the slogan ‘your team bad, our team bad’ was like a mantra for great discounts. So, thanks Afridi I guess!

Wooden Man and Woman Candle Stands

I thought these were super cute, along with most of the other stuff at Barefoot, a shop in Galle. These wooden candle stands are hand painted, showing traditional Sri Lankan attire. These cost me about PKR 1200 and look really nice in my living room.

Picture Frames

I loved all the picture frames I saw at Odel in Colombo. I got a few for myself and some as gifts. I found these to be different as they were decorated with all kinds of spices – what Sri Lanka is famous for, and what it was colonized for. Hence, they are truly representative of the amazing country. Some frames were also made of cinnamon sticks. Don’t have a picture of those. Picture frames ranged from about PKR 500 – 700. 

 

Jewelry

I picked up some jewelry from Cotton in Colombo and some from Odel. The rings shown in the picture below were about PKR 400 each and the earrings about PKR 300. There was quite a big variety of chunky necklaces and earrings as well at Odel.

Cushion Covers

I have already mentioned that I love elephants, especially when they look so colourful on an embroidered cushion cover. I got this from Beach Lanka as well for PKR 500 (Shocked Cat emoji needs to be inserted here). Now the cushion cover sits on my off white IKEA wing chair and gives it quite a lot of character. The chair wasn’t so good looking before. 

Wooden Elephants

Sorry. More elephants. Haathis are quite the saathis for me I guess. These were too adorable to not buy – they are hand painted and were too tempting. The pair cost me PKR 700. I got these from Barefoot too. They had tusks but my daughter stole them. 

Personal Care Products from Spa Ceylon

This shop is my love. You get an amazing range of ayurvedhic products made from age-old Sri Lankan recipes and local ingredients for your body, mind and soul. I love anything that says ‘relaxing’ and all the products are meant to relax and rejuvenate you. There was a lot to choose from but I silenced my inner voices and got only 3 things: 1. scalp massage oil (Neroli Jasmine) for PKR 2500. It kinda stinks but my hair definitely looks shinier and feels softer after the wash. I love how the jarhi booti sits inside and looks pretty. 2. Spa Cyelon soaps – the red one smells the best (and makes my bathroom smell really nice too). Each costs PKR 320. 3. Body Butter – smell great and feel SUPER nice especially in dry weather. I got a pack of 4 for PKR 2000. I gave away one and kept 3 -felt laalchi. The shop has really nice gift baskets as well – if you love someone enough you can get them one. You might find Spa Ceylon a tad bit pricey but all the products are worth the price. And I LOVE the concept.

\

Products made of re-cycled newspaper.

The products looked really pretty but more than their beauty I bought them for the purpose they are serving – re-cycling newspaper. Zoom into the picture and you will see newspaper writing. I love saving paper, water and electricity since my childhood so I just had to support this initiative. I got one for my friend who uses it as a fruit basket. Got another for my mother who uses it as a center table piece in her living room. I got one for myself and I use it as a bread/naan basket. I got it from Odel for about PKR 900. They come in really beautiful bright colours.

Wooden Masks

I am not a big fan of masks. I feel I will find them sacry if I am alone at home at night. However, I couldn’t resist these masks because again, they were hand painted. Also they are tiny and closer to being cute than scary so I got them. I got quite a few of them, some as gifts as well so I got each one for PKR 500. Buying economies of scale, yo!

Beach Clothes

There are a lot of small shops selling clothes you can use on the beach or just roaming around the small beach towns. I got this fuchsia top for PKR 400, the yellow scarf for PKR 150 and the maroon skirt for PKR 550. The quoted prices are post-bargaining. These clothes are very convenient and ideal for the hot Ceylon weather. 

If you like the stuff and want to have some of them in your own possession, don't J, just fly to Lanka and get them. Stay tuned for my next post where I will entice you with MANY more reasons to visit Sri Lanka. See youz.