Shopping Bangkok’s Chinatown Market for Souvenirs
If you haven’t had enough of Bangkok’s spectacular markets (see my two posts on Chatuchak here and here), consider visiting a slightly different Thai market– in Bangkok’s Chinatown. While it …
Asia
Udaipur, India: Souvenir Shopping Miniature Silk Elephant Paintings
A Reader Shares her Favorite Souvenirs Shopping from Udaipur, India I love when readers share their favorite souvenirs from their travels, especially when it’s a place I haven’t had a …
A Japanese Souvenir to Leave Behind: an O-mikuji Fortune
On my first trip to Japan, I really wanted to get a fortune (called o-mikuji (御御籤, 御神籤) at one of the many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples offering them. But …
My Favorite Good Luck Souvenir: Japan’s Maneki-Neko “Lucky” Cat
As I’ve said many times here before, I can’t resist any souvenir that brings good luck. I’ve collected many lucky souvenirs over my travels, but my favorite symbol of good …
Shopping for Kawaii Souvenirs, the Japanese Culture of Cute
In Japan, there is a culture of cute known as “kawaii” (critical note: the “i” is pronounced like “Hawaii” not “Kauai”–which means the opposite of cute– dreadful. Trust me once you …
What to Buy at a Japanese 7-Eleven Convenience Store
When thinking back on favorite experiences in a country, sometimes it’s not the big attractions that stand out in your memory so much as the unusual quirks. Which bring me …