Our stay in Arugam Bay is a symphony in colors.
Whether at the beach, where the colorful fishing boats are the dominant feature, or later at an open air market where the men’s colorful sarongs are omnipresent, we are surrounded by intense color, everywhere!
Arugam Bay, known for its surfing! However, it is not surfing season while we are here and we have the beach to ourselves (with the fishermen of course!)
Banana boat?
Colorful fishing nets and rope, a painterly scene.
Ben, always a great hit in his sarong. He is definitely a convert to the comfort of sarongs (and longyis) over pants! I am waiting for him to go to work in the summer in Chicago in his best most colorful sarong!
Best breakfast and cappucino spot in Arugam Bay at the Gecko Cafe, right on the beach!
Ben makes a friend! (Part one)
Ben makes a friend (Part 2) The dogs on the beach run free in packs and seem to be fed by the locals.
Most of the fishermen appear to be muslim in this town. We chat with a few of them about their daily catch.
The kind of unposed street scene which captures the slow pace and feel of Arugam Bay (out of season.)
Empty clay pots piled up at the entrance to a cafe ~ People REALLY like their buffalo curd in these parts. Tangy and yogurt like, served topped with treacle (sugar cane syrup.)
Markets are a strong favorite destination!
We always seek out open air markets wherever we are, because this is where we find the purest most representative microcosm of local culture. We not only see what fruits and vegetable are being grown we also enjoy buying and eating fresh local produce.
The brouhaha of local markets ~ the playful give and take between buyers and sellers, the frenetic pace of men delivering boxes, baskets or loads of stuff, the opportunity to observe societal roles between men and women as they interface…. all this, gives us a glimpse of local culture.
Near Arugam Bay, we pass a small town in our tuk tuk on the way to dropping Ben off at the nearby airport, for a meeting! I (Peta) ask the tuk tuk driver to stop, keep my backback for a couple of hours and drop me off so that I can go exploring.
I feel super excited as I follow the locals into the buzz of activity of market day. The most immediate noticeable and unique aspect of this market is the men in their bright colorful sarongs.
(In the North we had an infusion of color from the women in saris, but here roles have reversed… The men are the ones who parade colors ~ peacock like.)
We continue to use tuk tuks as a way of getting from place to place. The advantage over the buses and trains is that we can stop when and where we like.
Follow the bright sarong into the market.
A seller of sarongs ~ I add to Ben’s collection of sarongs by buying a beautiful brightly colored piece. In some regions the sarongs are mostly dark colors, others they are pastels, but here they are out of a crayola box of children’s crayons.
As a woman, walking solo through the market (no foreigners here!) I have no fears and experience no discomfort. Only smiles from those I meet and a mutual level of curiosity.
Women’s clothing here ~ saris in this photo, do not compete with the striped and checked sarongs of the men.
This is where I have my delicious breakfast. A freshly made Sri Lankan classic: The HOPPER of course!
The ubiquitous hopper: Paper thin crispy sides, soft spongy center (sometimes augmented by an egg or spices, as in this case.) 30c for 3 hoppers.
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Comments and feedback are welcome and appreciated!
Makes me think I should add a little zip to my muted-colour wardrobe. Great to see the men in vivid colours. Your dress works perfectly with the beautiful blue greens in the second photo. Thanks for the bright, happy post.
Caroline, that’s great! We hope you do add color to your wardrobe…. That’s always a good thing! We always up our color vibrancy after being surrounded by it. The mens vivid sarongs really made the experience of the market extra visually appealing.
That was a fine eye opener along with my coffee on this grey April morning. What an excellent adventurer you are, with an eye for what matters! Thank you!
Being back in currently grey Chicago too, and catching up on writing our blog, is making us miss Sri Lanka!
You give us a wonderful personal view into local Sri Lankan life, culture and color! Thanks for sharing. Love your photos – you both have a great eye for composition! Love to you all from Steve and me.
Thanks Linda, so glad you enjoyed our post and photos! Nice to hear from you. Love to you both as well.
I love the men in colourful sarongs! I wish it was easier to find colourful clothing for me, and especially pants, in North America…
Ben has the same observation. Culturally the North American macho culture recroles makes it difficult for men to wear bold colors. In Europe its definitely easier to find. Men tend to dress way more boldly colorwise in Italy, France and England for example!
Great writing Peta, and wonderful pictures…yeah! I can see myself in a couple of those sarongs..no biggie..just fitting in with the fashions in Sri Lanka. Totally envious of your life right now…We just returned from Australia on a totally different trip to you…we attended
a $7 million wedding in Melbourne….yes..the other end of the spectrum compared to Sri Lankan life. We all can do with your relaxed life in Sri Lanka. Hopefully Ben is relaxing between business meetings.
Thanks Eric.
Yes of course Ben is relaxing as well. We are very adept at coordinating business and pleasure. Work hard, play hard.
Thanks for your positive feedback. Glad you are enjoying the blog.
Nice place! Hmmm..I think I see a right point break off in the distance…
You could very well be right Gib! In season this place is super popular with surfers. In fact surfer friends Brook and Renay were the ones that recommended it to us a while back! Surfers paradise for sure…,
Has Ben done any sarong wearing in Chicago? Did he bring any back? Can I buy one in Chicago?
Yes Ben wears his sarong all the time at home, but it will need to warm up significantly before he hits the streets of Chicago!
We will be very happy to bring you a sarong back from Sri Lanka next time we are there…meantime he says he can give you a “loaner” one of his!
From Adrienne:
I love reading these. I have travelled the world ( through your eyes)
So much fantastic color! I can almost hear the noise of the market through your photos. Most of all the images of the beach and colorful boats fill my wanderlust meter to overflowing. We have yet to travel to Asia and this post makes me think it is soon time to remedy that!
Thanks Sue! Yes the colors, the noises , the level of activity … All make markets a great place to be. This particular one was one of my all time favorites!!
You definitely should get to Asia ~ we have been fortunate to live in Việt Nam, Thailand, Laos, India, Indonesia and to visit Myanmar and Cambodia. (All blog entries to further whet your appetite.)
Peta