Date:	Fri, 4 Feb 1994 11:32:46 -1000
From:	curtis@CS.Arizona.EDU (Curtis E. Dyreson)
Message-Id: <2iuetu$ehu@univers.cs.arizona.edu>
Organization: University of Arizona CS Department, Tucson AZ
Subject: buying kites in Sri Lanka


My father lives in Saudi Arabia but recently traveled to Colombo, Sri Lanka 
where he sent me the following about his experiences with kites.

In this part of the world, people use the word 'corniche' to describe
an area with a walkway along the ocean or bay. One day at dusk, we
walked along the corniche on our way from the center of Colombo to our
hotel. The walkway is close to the waves but raised above the water
level by about ten feet. Between the shore and the road there is a
large, open, grassy area that is at least half-a-mile long and two
hundred yards wide. People play soccer, jog, have picnics, and enjoy
the evening breeze from the Indian Ocean. As the sun set, we came to a
place where kite sellers still had their kites in the air. Even in the
darkness, they apparently saw me looking at the kites and they were
quick to come over to us. I said that I didn't need a kite. They said
that everyone needs a kite. I said that we were traveling by plane and
could not pack a kite. They said that that their kites could be folded
for packing and proceeded to demonstrate. I said that it was too dark
to buy a kite but that I would return one morning to examine their
kites in better light. They looked doubtful.
 
Several days later, I returned to the kite makers in daylight. I intended
to buy a couple of kites but ended up with six that day. I bought four bird
kites, a star kite (eight pointed), and a cobra kite. These people are part
of a famous kite making family and they had some well worn magazine and
newspaper articles to prove it. We talked about kites, the economic
situation, civil war and the Tamil Tigers, world affairs, and kites. I
found that they would construct other kinds of kites on special order. We
agreed on two fish kites and two Indian fighting kites. Did they want a
deposit or pre-payment? No, they said they trusted me since I was clearly a
true lover of kites.
 
After two days, I returned to see what the kite makers had made for me. The
fish kites and Indian fighting kites were fine and I was happy to pay them
what they asked. They also gave me a very large plastic bag and some
string, along with specific instructions about flying certain types of
kites. Then they asked if I would like some additional types of kites.
What kinds of kites? Man kites and women kites was the answer. I replied
that there was no way I would attempt to take a man kite or women kite
through Saudi Arabian customs. I had no wish to be arrested for such an
offense. They were mystified. How could one get arrested for possessing a
man kite or a women kite? I was unable to explain but I remained unwilling
to take such a risk. We parted on excellent terms. I was happy with the
kites. They were happy with making a good sale. We were all happy to share
our thoughts on the joy and pleasure of flying kites.
 
It was my intention to pack the kites in the luggage and I had chosen them
with an eye to how they would fit. However, the kites that I ordered turned
out to be too large for this, so I put all ten kites in the large plastic
bag the kite makers had given me.
 
Many international airlines are very strict about carry ons. At checkin,
the airline people looked at the kites, smiled, and said nothing about my
large, fragile carry-on. The security people smiled and said there was no
need to x-ray the kites. When I entered the plane, the stewardess smiled
and put the kites in a safe place. Kites must have some special magic.
 
Delmar A. Dyreson


 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =