that reminded me...

a great place to buy some truly lovely sarongs in SP is the Heart & Soul Boutique...located in a little "complex" of stores ... a bright purple building...hard to miss. there's a great coffee/pastry shop downstairs. the sarongs here were a bit more expensive than other places...but the quality and designs were outstanding...some truly lovely pieces.

and with regards to getting your hair braided...it is THE BEST way to wear long hair in the summer anywhere! imagine NEVER having to run a brush or comb thru your hair no matter what you've been up to??? wink i leave mine in braids for two months! been doing it for 20 years or more.