Friday, August 13, 2010

Good Vibes

Just returned from our favorite (Only?) Korean restaurant here, great meal, but not why I am writing.

As we walked out of the apartment there was a trishaw as usual waiting for someone to come out from our building, not unusual, and we approached the driver to bargain for a ride.

It was an older gentleman and when I asked how much he told me "You tell me" he knew where I worked, no surprise there. I made him an offer and he gladly accepted and we got in.

He was very friendly and spoke good English and he offered to wait for us at the restaurant. Afterwards he took for us ice cream and then back home.

Well Chris and I both had to agree that this old man just made such a good impression on us. We never know what to expect when we get a trishaw. It's like all of the drivers want to inflate their prices so much. But not this guy.

It's not so much that he gave us a good price as much as he restored our faith in Sri Lanka again!

The Factory Visit

Chris went on a tour of a factory that makes everything from women's lingerie (V.S.), Nike, Speedo, Gap and a host of other clothing.

She said at the end of the tour they brought them into a big boardroom and treated them to a spread of goodies to eat complete with chocolate cake.

They also gave them a gift, that gift was to let them pick through bins of presorted ladies bras and panties that the factory had already presorted for them based on the sizes they gave them.

She returned with 9 bras and 8 panties that I guessed cost upwards of $100, I could tell they were expensive. Chris said more likely well over $200! Not only that but they gave them 2 coffee table books, not cheap books either. One is a book of sports figures wearing the company clothes.

She said the factory was very clean and that they provide transportation, breakfast and lunch for the workers. They work 45 hours a week and no more than 60. No sweatshop here!

http://www.masholdings.com/