5 Souvenirs worth Travelling For

While waterfalls, mountains and monuments definitely inspire travel, sometimes it’s alright to get lured to a place for the sheer love of owning a piece of its culture. It’s a materialistic world after all. Here’s a look at 5 souvenirs worth travelling for…

1. Stylish Leather Goods from Florence, Italy

If you’ve been dreaming of a bag that’ll faithfully be your arm candy for a lifetime or indestructible boots that’ll stylishly cocoon your feet forever, head to the historic leather school, the Scuola del Cuoio in Santa Croce. Yes, a leather school indeed does exist. The best part—here you can witness artisans crafting wares from genuine Italian leather and students learning the craft, right in front of your eyes. Apart from the leather school, a 40-year-old brand called Pierotucci, minutes away from the city centre, is worth looking at too. And just like the leather school, here too, you get invited into their workshop to watch skilled Italian artisans cut and assemble leather bags, jackets and accessories. Do remember, though, to skip the overrated San Lorenzo market.

2. Camping Hammock from Bali, Indonesia

If you love the outdoors, get a camping hammock from Ticket To The Moon, a company based in Bali since 1996, hailed as the original manufacturer of the camping hammock. Strong, lightweight, foldable and skin friendly, this hammock made of parachute nylon fabric can be set up anywhere in less than a minute—between two hills, suspended from a tree above a river, or even in your balcony! Go grab it from the TTTM factory in Badung to smear your travel experiences with an air of adventure and to get inspired to travel more. A liberating souvenir you’ll cherish forever.  

3. Special Pearls from The Disney World, Orlando, Florida

The Disney World is packed with numerous experiences and equal number of exclusive souvenir ideas. The ‘Pick a Pearl’ experience will have you pick an oyster from a tank, which you then hand over to a cast member who cuts it open to reveal if you’ve got 1 or 2 pearls. The pearl is then measured and put into a baggie. It is suggested that you pick the hairiest, ugliest oyster to increase your chances of getting 2 pearls. You can live this souvenir experience at the Mitsukoshi store in the Japan section of Epcot's World Showcase for $17 + settings separate.

4. African Masks from Kenya

Striking and large, African masks made of wood make for sensational souvenirs, perfect for displaying on your walls. So if your eyes are tired of seeing flat paintings or Chinese fans on your walls, it’s time to visit the exotic African lands. The Wakamba of Kenya specialize in the art of carving masks out of hardwoods such as mahogany or ebony. If you want to buy these masks directly from the makers in Kenya, go to the Akamba Cooperative in Mombasa, a large workshop where visitors can watch the carvings being made.

5. Longpi Pottery from Manipur

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Cooking ware that is so artistic that it also doubles up as great serve ware and statement décor is almost every house proud person’s dream. Mine too! Which is why I am so lusting after Longpi pottery—contemporary-looking black stoneware pottery from Longpi village in Manipur. Surprisingly, not made of clay or on a potter’s wheel, Longpi pottery is crafted from weathered rock and serpentine rock—available at Longpi alone, and is accompanied with a lacing of fine cane at the handles. These pots and pans are used for direct cooking over fire and continue to sizzle long after being taken off the heat, ensuring the food continues to remain hot. Now isn’t that tempting!

I am so itching to go globetrotting for shopping! Tell us about the souvenirs luring you to travel.