BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Southeast Asia What do you collect when you travel?

I collect matchbooks on my travels. What do you collect?
Share with the Southeast Asia forum readers.



Taisha <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />
Southeast Asia Travel Editor

I have started collecting postcards. I have a book that I put them in. I started this when I was pregnant with my first child. I got them for his baby book because I was 6 months pregnant when we went on vacation that year.

I recently heard of people who collect vials of sand. They have samples of sand from each beach visited.

Does anyone collect sand?

Does anyone collect rocks?

Taisha
Southeast Asia Editor

When I go to my various fire circle gatherings, many of us collect a bit of ash from the sacred fires to bring home. I have a friend who hoards empty film cans and then hands them out at the end, much to many people's delight.

I have collected many, MANY things over my life. (thanks, Mom!) Now I seem to have settled down to masks and Goddess images. The masks have to be local creations with some significance, not just fancy ones with no meaning. And the Goddess images can be 2-D artwork or a 3-D figurine.

Does anyone collect backpack patches?

Taisha Turner
Southeast Asia <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />

How many readers collect mugs or silverware on your travels?




Taisha Turner
Southeast Asia <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />

I collect spices! Also seeds to grow ethnic veggies and herbs in my garden. If in Thailand I collect celadon dinnerware and also blue and white pineapple pattern dinnerware.

I also collect hand woven silks like matmee in various countries or other needlework such as zari work.

I also try to learn new recipes especially from street vendors-love street foods in Asia.

Mary Anne,

Could you explain zari work?


Taisha Turner <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />
Southeast Asia

Zari work is a special ornate embroidery that is done on special event clothing. The embroidery typically has built up three dimensional beading. Every ornate gold, silver, beading, is by hand. When the garments are worn-out they often are gathered and the ornate decorate bodices, collars, etc. are hand stitched in an ornate "patchwork" and then made into decorative pillows. I have bought many such pillows on a side alley in Delhi where tribal women from UP (Utter Pradesh) gather and sell such items.

They are a lovely accent to an otherwise no personality sofa.

I have also bought jeweled silk sari patchwork cushions and had a bed coverlet made.

The handwork of Southeast Asia and India is amazing.

Mary-Anne
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What unique item do you collect? Read what Mary Anne collects. Wow!!!


Taisha Southeast Asia