May 5th, 2013 at 6:00PM:
You can find many things at local markets: organic vegetables, artisan cheese, perfumes, wine, textiles, souvenirs ... the list goes on. A look into the tastes and smells of a place, markets are a traveler's jackpot.
But market souvenirs come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes you find the kind of things you might just get pulled over for in customs on the way home. Like this selection ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
shopping posts
Photo Of The Day: Skulls For Sale
May 5th, 2013 at 6:00PM:
You can find many things at local markets: organic vegetables, artisan cheese, perfumes, wine, textiles, souvenirs ... the list goes on. A look into the tastes and smells of a place, markets are a traveler's jackpot.
But market souvenirs come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes you find the kind of things you might just get pulled over for in customs on the way home. Like this selection ...VIDEO: Nima Market In Accra, Ghana
Apr 26th, 2013 at 12:00PM:
Accra, the capital of Ghana, is an established point on the African tourism trail thanks to its good flight and cruise connections, its Anglophone accessibility, its beautiful beaches and the stability of the nation.
Less often seen, however, is Nima Market. Located in one of the poorest areas of the city and home to many migrants from rural Ghana and nearby countries coming to the big city ...
World's Biggest Book Fair Coming To London
Apr 23rd, 2013 at 4:00PM: Love books? You'll want to be in London this June when seven book fairs will all take place over a nine-day period.
Billed as the world's largest book fair in a press release by the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, it runs June 8-16 and features not only rare books and first editions but also maps, photographs and ephemera.
London has several annual and monthly fairs, but ...The Kimchi-ite: A Tour Through Hongdae, The Center Of Korean Youth Culture
Apr 8th, 2013 at 12:00PM:
Seoul has no shortage of unique neighborhoods worth visiting and it is certainly not at a loss for places to go drinking. However, there is only one true place where the youth of South Korea go en masse for so many of their desires and that place is Hongdae. Taking its name from the Korean abbreviation for the local art university, Hongik University, Hongdae is a great place for restaurants, ...Spotted In Tangier: Sting And Bruce Springsteen Going Native
Mar 22nd, 2013 at 12:30PM:
This photo pretty much speaks for itself. I came across this interesting snapshot in a shop in Tangier, Morocco. Sting and Bruce Springsteen got to this shop before me and stopped for a photo with the owner.
I like what this image says about the three people. The owner is obviously pleased to have two music superstars in his shop, Sting is being his usual overly serious self and Bruce looks ...Mar Mikhael: Beirut's Shopping District
Mar 22nd, 2013 at 10:00AM:
Beirut's Mar Mikhael (Saint Michael) looks at first glance like a pretty quiet neighborhood, a place where the sounds of machinery coming out of auto repair shops emit the only real noise of note. Scratch the surface just the tiniest bit and it becomes obvious that Mar Mikhael has gone the route of many other neglected urban corners. In between the exhaust and the whirring motors, the ...3Floz Inks Deal To Sell TSA-Approved Toiletries In Airport Kiosks
Mar 4th, 2013 at 4:00PM: Thanks to a new kiosk distribution system, online company 3Floz is bringing their line of designer toiletries in TSA-approved sizes to an airport near you. Appearing in 25 major airports starting in the third quarter of this year, travelers will now be able to get their fix of more than 50 different grooming, beauty and personal care items in sizes that meet the TSA carry-on requirement.
While ...Souvernir Of The Week: Black Pottery From Oaxaca, Mexico
Mar 2nd, 2013 at 11:00AM:
You've been reading Gadling writer Jessica Marati's Oaxaca dispatches. What did she bring home? Black pottery from 1050° Ceramics Collective, an artists' group with a focus on sustainability. Every piece is lead-free, but otherwise, artisans adhere to the region's 2,000-year-old techniques for making the earthy, ebony-hued objects, buffed to a high shine by hand. Products range from vases ...VIDEO: Merry Kiwi Christmas
Dec 20th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
Tis the season for holiday-themed marketing videos, but this one is so charming, it's already on heavy rotation in my household. Pauanesia, the wonderful Auckland shop featured in our New Zealand-made souvenirs story, has just released this "Night Before Christmas" video starring their stuffed kiwi birds. The adorable and colorful birds, retro-simple stop-motion animation, and jazzy ukelele ...
Ski Town Holidays: Not Just For Skiers
Dec 7th, 2012 at 2:00PM: It sounds crazy, but not all ski-town tourists are there to downhill ski. In fact, many don't even know how. I'll also let you in on a local's secret: not all permanent residents of ski towns know how to ski, and of those who do, many can't even afford a season pass.
The fact is, there are now more options than ever for non-skiers and those on a tight budget to engage in other winter sports, if ...A Run-In With The Iraqi Police
Nov 13th, 2012 at 10:00AM:
All I wanted was to buy an Iraq National Football Team uniform for my son, a perfectly normal thing for a father to do on his first day in Baghdad. The problem is, doing something normal in Baghdad can land you in serious trouble.
We were in one of the city's many souks, those famous Middle Eastern markets where you can buy just about anything. There were shops for metalwork, books, hardware, ...A Guide For Finding The Perfect Travel Souvenir
Oct 3rd, 2012 at 9:00AM: You know the feeling. There are only two days left of your vacation, and you still haven't gone souvenir shopping. It's not that you don't want to get a special memento from the trip; it's that you have no idea what to get. Use this guide on your next trip to help you choose the perfect travel souvenir for absolutely anyone.
Research The Culture Beforehand
Before leaving home, do some ...Kiwi Cool: Shopping For New Zealand-Made Souvenirs
Sep 20th, 2012 at 9:00AM:
When you go to the other side of the world, you want to bring back a few things to show for your trouble. Visiting New Zealand with my 1-year-old daughter, and with nephews at home in America, I became obsessed with finding them something actually made in the country. A stuffed kiwi bird or lamb toy, a merino wool baby blanket, or a fun T-shirt would do nicely, and I wouldn't mind some jewelry ...Beautiful And Bizarre Bookstores Of The World
Sep 17th, 2012 at 10:00AM:
Wherever I travel, I always find myself drawn to bookstores. They're a pleasant comfort zone when far from home. I love hunting for local authors and books of local interest while chatting with the people who frequent these places. I've found that bibliophiles are pretty much the same whether they're American, Ethiopian, Arab, Tibetan or whatever.
One bookstore I haven't shopped in (but would ...Conned By The Amish?
Sep 7th, 2012 at 11:00AM: We like to believe in the inherent honesty and virtue of the Amish. They are devout people who eschew material comforts in favor of simple living. In a country where the almighty dollar is king, and the gotcha capitalist ethos of say-anything-to-sell-it rules, they stand apart, as craftsmen who sell what they make with their own hands at fair prices with no nonsense. Or do they?
I've been ...Opening A Box Of Japanese Cookies
May 26th, 2012 at 12:00PM:
As I mentioned in a previous post, my wife recently came home from an astronomy meeting in Tokyo and brought back lots of Japanese snacks. One of them was this tempting box of cookies she got at a sweet shop next to the university.
My wife loves Japanese culture. She loves the orderliness and attention to detail, both important traits for a scientist despite media stereotypes, and she loves ...Fact vs. Fiction: The Bazaars of Istanbul, Turkey
Apr 10th, 2012 at 10:00AM:
Shopping in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul will overload your senses. Colors, shapes, smells and sounds approach you from every direction in what can only be described as immersion in consumption. The bad news, however, is that the touts are waiting for you. Cast a wayward glance at any nice rug and someone will chase you down the hall trying to strike a deal. The result is an experience that's ...Video: Witches' Market, La Paz, Bolivia
Mar 24th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
Bolivia is an exciting adventure travel destination offering challenging mountain treks, interesting dishes like roast guinea pig and mysterious ancient ruins.
One of the most popular, and certainly the strangest, attraction is the Witches' Market in the capital La Paz. Here you can find mummified llama fetuses, aphrodisiacs and herbal remedies. Many of the spells are based on the ancient ...
Photo of the Day: Duty free Flamenco
Feb 16th, 2012 at 7:30PM:
After many years of international travel, I've learned that duty free isn't necessarily a deal. Unless you're a smoker or live in a country where alcohol is heavily taxed (like Turkey), you won't find much value among the jumbo-sized Toblerone bars or rows of designer perfumes. But I still enjoy the ritual of browsing through the shop, trying some free samples, and maybe taking home a tasty ...More Istanbul shopping and dining secrets from Daily Secret
Jan 14th, 2012 at 2:00PM: Last week, Gadling included Istanbul in our picks for 2012 luxury travel, and introduced you to Daily Secret, a web-based "guide service" offering insider intel to 12 cities, including Istanbul. We got so many more great Istanbul secrets from editor Laura Wells (many with special discounts and exclusive access), we're posting them for Gadling readers to add to their itineraries. Happy shopping ...
