One thing that still intrigues me - and I believe always will - is the sight of a man in a sarong. Obviously, coming from a Western country, I am unaccustomed to seeing so many sarong-wearing men on a daily basis and it has got me wondering what it is that causes the sarong to be so enduring. Sure, many men wear shorts or trousers but it seems the encroachment of these modern, Westernised garments has had little threat on the existence of the sarong. I figure the sarong must have some serious advantages for it to fare so well in the face of trousers.
If I find myself sitting watching a conversation, say, between three men - two wearing sarongs and one wearing trousers - I will inevitably start wondering what caused two of them to decide to don sarongs that day and the other trousers. And are they in any way conscious of the differences in their attire. Do sarong-wearers secretly think that pants-wearers look silly? Do pants-wearers laugh about sarong-wearers behind their backs? Does a sarong-wearer ever wear pants or a pants-wearer ever wear a sarong?
Now I know a few simple questions could put an end to all this wondering but now I wonder if I really want the answers or would I rather keep the mystique. If I were to find that to a Sri Lankan the difference between someone wearing trousers and another wearing a sarong was akin to the difference in my eyes between a lady wearing a skirt and another wearing slacks, would the enigma of the sarong be lost forever? So I won't ask. I'll just watch a shopkeeper standing behind his counter in his sarong and bare chest and think how great it is to be able to go to work in the same clothes you might wear while kicking back at the end of the day.
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1 comment:
Its always casual day for Mr Shopkeeper.
-Cathy
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