Souvenir tip: knowledge is the best souvenir

by Gadling Staff on

Hopefully when we visit other places, we can take a bit of the culture home with us. Knowledge is the best souvenir. So take a class with the locals. Learn:

  • To do a local dance
  • To sing a song in their language
  • To play an unusual instrument
  • To cook a special recipe

No time to take a class? If food is your favorite, buy a local cookbook or ask the chef for a recipe. Purchase a songbook or a video of local dances. You can learn it when you return home or continue practicing the lessons you did take.

What’s up with all those wacky Vancouver Olympic mascots?

by Amy Chen on

No Olympics is complete without heavy marketing, and Vancouver will be no exception. Meet the trio of Olympic mascots, which are sure to be emblazoned on everything you can think of. Want a reusable ice pack? Now’s your chance to get one for only $9!

Quatchi, the sasquatch: This sasquatch (also known as Bigfoot) loves hockey, photography, and travel. I want those blue earmuffs.

Sumi, the animal spirit: Sumi has the hat of an orca whale, the wings of a thunderbird, and the furry legs of a black bear. (Aww how cute.) His hobbies? Alpine skiing and flying over the Coast Mountains.

Miga, the sea bear: Sea what? Part killer whale and part Kermode bear, a sea bear is apparently what happens when orca whales transform into bears on land, according to First Nations legend. Miga’s Olympic profile (who doesn’t have a profile these days?) says that her favorite food is wild salmon: salmon jerky, smoked salmon, B.C. sushi roll. Mmm tasty. Her hobbies: surfing, snowboarding, and anything “fun and exciting!”

For other mascot accessories, check out the Olympic Store. How on earth will you decide between Quatchi fuzzy slippers ($25) and a 38-inch-tall plush Quatchi ($350)?

Want more Olympics coverage?

Keep maps and tickets – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

As an undergrad traveling around Europe, I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on souvenirs, but I still wanted a memento from every city and town that I visited. Though I couldn’t afford, say, a miniature plastic Eiffel Tower, I did stumble upon the perfect souvenir for anyone looking to save money: transit maps and tickets.

By keeping tickets, I not only had a physical keepsake of my trip, but I also had a great way of documenting exactly what I did and when. And by keeping maps, I could literally retrace my steps at any time.

Lunar New Year souvenirs

by Amy Chen on

Lunar New Year falls on Valentine’s Day this year.

While hunting for souvenirs in Seattle’s Chinatown last month, I spotted these cute tote bags that feature the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac ($20).

I caught up with the designer Joyce Wan at New York City’s International Gift Fair last week to learn more about Wanart, her five-year-old collection of greeting cards, infant apparel, and canvas totes that are still screen-printed by hand.

It turns out that Wanart’s Zodiac Zoo line is not just a lucky Chinatown find, but is actually carried in several museum shops nationwide, including the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

“It’s exciting to have my products in the museum that I visited as a kid,” said Wan, who was born and raised in Boston. With a studio and workshop now in Union City, N.J., Wan recently expanded her collection to include a kids’ book based on some of her travels around the world (Chronicle Books, $13).

For the Year of the Tiger, Wan has also created infant bodysuits cleverly packaged in a clear Chinese take-out container (from $24). Can you say adorable?

If a museum near you doesn’t carry Zodiac Zoo products, you can order everything at Wanart.com.

Buy a cookbook – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

Part of the fun of travel is eating new foods. But why restrict yourself to only eating these fabulous dishes while on vacation? If you’re impressed with the food during a trip, buy a local cookbook and a few area-specific ingredients.

When you get home, recreate your favorite dishes there. If you’re feeling like a party, invite your neighbors over and feed them, too. When they’re devouring your delicious meal, they may even be interested in hearing about your fantastic experience.