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
[color:"brown"] [/color]

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


Taisha Southeast Asia

Shot glasses.

I do collect rocks sometimes. I took one from Jim Morrison's grave in France. I also like to get book marks of places. That way I find them in books and remember my trip. I started this on my honeymoon. I also like to save corks from wines I try, but that is not just on trips. Now they are replacing corks, I will have to change this one.

shot glasses and rocks. The shot glasses become bud vases, especially for pansies and miniature roses. I found a piece of petrified wood on the beach in Costa Rica. <img src="/images/graemlins/beamedup.gif" alt="" />

That's a good idea on how to use the shot glasses. They make a great conversation opener about past travels. There is alot of petrified wood and metorites in northern Arizonia. I was too chicken to take the wood after reading the signs not to do so. Cool!

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

I started collecting games (board games, card games etc.) from other countries as I travel. It is fun to learn different types of games played in other countries and is a good souvenier.

I would not take anything if there were signs, either. But the beach was all rocks, and this just jumped out at me because I love petrified wood. I also got a neat rock from the beach; they all had indentions in them and it took me a while to find the one I had in mind that I wanted to find. It is like a bowl made out of rock.

A bowl shaped rock is different!

Does anyone collect magnets?




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

i like to collect postcards, esp because i'm not much of a photographer - it assures i get at least a few good pics <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I agree with you. I am not a very good photograher. The postcards are awesome. I still view them. All readers who buy postcards, tell us where you were.

Southeast Asia Editor

Hi Taisha!

We would probably not be allowed to bring sand or rocks back into Australia, and items made of untreated wood or other raw materials, and seeds, fruit, etc are a big no-no.

I try not to collect anything, if I started I wouldn't be able to stop myself! My friend, though, started a collection of walking stick shields (the small metal badges) from every place she goes - one day, she says, she will buy a walking stick to put them all on!

I collect musical instruments indigenous to the area I am visiting.

I don't take rocks only because I saw the post office in Hawaii that has a museum of lava rocks people sent back to because they experienced terrible events after taking them off the islands. That freaked me out enough to leave all the natural things!

Hi Shannon,

That would freak me out, too!

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

Does anyone collect cookbooks for the local cuisine? I found some great cookbooks. Try the local resale shops. The books are reasonable for those not in the local language.


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

Good fiction books are available, too. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

For boughten gifts...t-shirts are my favorite item. For free from nature----- shells from the ocean, petrified wood from the desert, crafts related to the locale.

I have loads of shells. They make great decorations.


Taisha Turner<img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />
Southeastasia <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I collect shot glasses. My son brought me a set
back from the Virgin Islands - they had little
handles on them.

They were cute. They looked like little mugs.
I never use any of them.

Vicki L. Forte'
Bellaonline
Crime Editor <img src="/images/graemlins/king.gif" alt="" />

No one has mentioned photographs, do you like taking digital photographs or the twentieth century method? What are your favorite pictures? Post your favorite ones.

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

I take photographs of peoples windows. Not in a pervy way (ask anyone, they'll tell you) but for research. I need new windows in my trail..I mean apartment, house, and so I'm trying to work out the best ones to use. Aluminium's my favourite so far, hard wearing but stylish, and if I may say so, just a little sexy (like me). Unfortunately people can be a bit touchy when they see me crouched outside their windows taking photographs, so I occasionally fall foul of the narrow minded local constabulary*. They seem to mistake an honest, charming, good-looking researcher** for some sort of mad looney, trying to....*** So, what was I talking about? Yes, photos, aren't they lovely?

*The cops
** it's me
*** forget about this

My husband and I buy a Christmas ornament from every place that we travel together.

I collect two things: postcards (just in case my photos don't turn out as beautiful) and magnets.

My closet doors are magnetic, so I like to use the magnet to hang up a picture of the people I traveled with...it's small and inexpensive but gives me a happy thing to hold on to...

I agree postcards are an excellent way to have pictures of your travels. Sometimes personal photos are not very good, but they still are great to have to stimulate memories. <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />


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

T-shirts and Christmas ornaments are an awesome way to have rememberances.

I collect Snowglobes aka Waterglobes. Looks stunning on the mantle...

When i visit beaches, I usually collect sands and rocks. But in other places, (including beaches of course) I make sure to buy souvenir shirt. I keep them all together, it reminds me of the beautiful places i've visited. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I collect magnets, my oldest collects keychains, my 2nd child collects postcards and my husband collects rocks and stones.

meg

I collect the postcards as well because the photos always turn out better than mine plus little hat clips of the places I have been.

Rocks from the river, I always go to a river when I travel. My daughter collects bells and my son collects shot glasses.

I collect photographs and keychains...

I collect spoons from all the countries I visit. I've got them from all over Europe, many from the Carribean, even some from Africa.

We collect shotglasses and magnets. They're small and easy to get home on a flight. Sometimes we get shirts too, but I already have too many t-shirts and not enough room to store them! Easier to find room to display shotglasses and magnets.

And, of course, lots of our own digital photos...

Cindy

Magnets. I really don't have room for much and the magnets go nicely on the side or front of the fridge.

And..I take pictures of everything!!