Kandy and Nuwara Eliya
Whilst still in Kandy, a visit to another manufacturing jeweller was made. This was a seriously well set up enterprise with officially qualified staff for manufacturing and grading gems. This was also going to be a frighteningly expensive day by the look of it.
Part of the gem cutting and polishing process
Making an individual item of jewellery
A tray of cut sapphires - absolutely breathtaking
Jennie's birth stone is a star sapphire. These gems are cut to reflect specific inclusions which generate a star pattern in the right light. No photo can do it justice. What a surprise when one of the gem experts drew Jennie's attention to the star sapphire below, set in white gold.
What's a guy supposed to do, particularly as she knows that after 53 years together; I'm a pushover where she's concerned. She even has the brass to say it to my face, sigh.... Now she has two sapphire rings to go with her sapphire and diamond bracelet.
Whilst the deal was being done, I was chatting to the owner of the factory who was also a classic car enthusiast. Here's some photos from his on-site garage.
Baby Austin 7, MGA and Mercedes saloon
Mk 9 Jaguar (I think)
The badge with the stylised deer is the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka, apparently popular as car badges on colonial vehicles during the 1940's to 60's.
Before leaving Kandy, there was a guided walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya. The guide was a wonderful Sri Lankan botanist who could clearly make the most mundane of subjects sound interesting. We were privileged to have someone of his calibre spend time with us. The gardens were established in 1821 and seem to have been a magnet for international dignitaries from those early times as many trees have plaques commemorating the plantings.
The range of plants was stunning and the sample of photos speak for themselves.
Mrs J in front of bamboo which grows up to 0.5m/day, up to 35 metres tall
The next photo shows Carat seeds from the Carob tree. These were originally used by traders as scale counterbalance weights for weighing gold and gemstones. They allegedly had a consistent weight of 0.2gm or 1 carat. No charge for this great pub quiz question!
Carat seeds
Our next stop was at the Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. Built in a very British expat "tea planting mansion" style, we had high tea of tiny club sandwiches and fancy cakes reminiscent of a past colonial era and very nice it was too. The quality tea was served black and woe betide anyone who asked for milk. A bit like asking for a slug of ginger ale in your single malt, I suppose.
Taking high tea on the terrace
A well-maintained colonial era house
Part 6 to come......
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