Bargaining In the Negombo Downtown Market

In downtown Negombo, there's an awesome little open air market.  So far, it's my favourite place to shop.  Twice before I bought stuff with Toby's help. Today, I bought 2 items on my own!  It went mostly well....

At this market, there are lots of stalls for clothes.  Which are so inexpensive for us, that everything feels like a deal.  Toby bought fun shorts for $5 CDN each and a linen shirt for about $15.

Many of these stalls also sell sarongs.  A sarong is a piece of fabric, about 2 meters long and 1 meter wide, that's sewn together to make a big tube.  You step into the tube and tie it skillfully around your waist.  And voila!  Men wear them instead of pants or shorts.


I love the sarongs!  The colours and textures are great!  I'm using them instead of my Mexican wraps. To lie on, and as a pseudo dress around the house.  The prices for the sarongs vary according to the fabric and weave.  From about 1200 rupees to 375 rupees (about $10 to $3 CDN).

Today, I bought two. I couldn't remember how much this type should cost.  But when the sales guy started at 1,000 Rupees each, I knew for sure that was too much. Because they like to bargain, and I was white and alone.  I bargained down to 600 Rupees.  I felt ok about the price until I heard him START the bargaining at 500 Rupees with a Sri Lankan, in Sinhalese! Which meant he would have settled for 400 Rupees or less!

I don't know much Sinhalese yet, but I'm starting to know the numbers.  I told the salesman that I understood what he said and I knew he overcharged me. I kinda tried, but didn't get any money back.  I didn't feel too bad about losing the $3.00 he overcharged.  But I was really proud of myself for understanding the number and telling him so!!

Pictures
1-  One of about 4 aisles at the Negombo downtown market
2 &3 - Some kids and me having fun with some blow up toys for sale in downtown Negombo
4- A toy salesman showing off his wares. Fun!
5- My white skin makes me a magnet for beggars in Negombo Lagoon, where there are very few tourists.  This poor man is wearing a sarong.