Winnipeg, Canada
It’s been another lazy weekend, as Aaron is still in town and I’m not starting work until mid-month. We don’t do much: watch movies, play video games, cook, go for drives, go to the museum, run errands, make some crafts (we even have a head-start on Christmas gifts!), read, nap, just enjoy each other’s company. Tonight we had my very good friend Rikki over to watch Walking Dead and eat nachos, so one could say it was an excellent Sunday night. I’ll be heading to a craft sale in a few weeks to check out her amazing jewelery and other local wares; for now, you can look at her stuff on etsy. I have one of her spoon necklaces and it is the kind of thing that gets endless compliments, it is so unique and beautiful.
Speaking of staying in, these photos show my kitchen, front hall, and front room in my new house; perhaps it seems a bit silly to post these on a travel blog, but I spent so long putting this house together (well, only a week, but it was a looooong week). It’s also nice to show a few of the purchases I’ve perhaps talked about on this blog: paintings from Laos, Canada, France, Lithuania, and Russia, a print from Korea, masks from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Borneo, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand, my collection of antique cameras, the Indonesian Buddha head I searched all over Ubud for, all of the religious icons/items I’ve collected (mostly from Mexico and Russia), and, of course, more books. When I think about all the trouble I went through to get these things home, I am so thankful that they all made it here safely and that I can now look at them every day. For example, throughout my journey on the Trans-Siberian last year, I tried to collect religious icons from each city I stopped in. I also collected a few antique cameras, one from Irkutsk and one from St. Petersburg. Many travellers would scoff at this; many experienced wanderers champion the “travel light” theory. I often secretly bemoan my heavy bag, pretending its weight doesn’t bother me while other backpackers or travellers carry bags they can lift with one finger. For me, however, as long as I don’t have to pay extra on a flight, and as long as I can find cheap items, I like to indulge in shopping in different countries; as I’ve mentioned before, I love spending the day in a market, bartering with shopkeepers for everything from jewelery to spices to the items shown above. I’ve also spent a lot of time and a fair bit of money sending things home, but I have had every single box make it to me, whether it be from Thailand, Norway, or India. I’ve heard horror stories, of course, but I’ve had nothing but luck when it comes to mailing things home.
I know this may sound materialistic, but I prefer to think of it as sentimental; it’s something fun I like to do when I have enough time and money while travelling and I love having these momentos from the places I’ve been. What about you? Do you like to shop when you travel? If so, do you carry your purchases with you or send them home?
See my living room and dining room here.
8 comments
I love your wall of masks! I collect masks from my travels as well and can’t wait to hang them up when I have my own permanent place. I like to shop and buy souvenirs when traveling as well, even if it means having to bring less clothes or carry heavy bags.
Ahh I just wrote a post about souvenirs! While I always wind up buying jewellery as I travel, when it comes to anything bigger or bulkier I usually just take a picture and enjoy instead…definitely lighter on the backpack 😉
i’m a very very light traveler, just a small gym bag for a 2 week trip and i’m set! which means i don’t have a lot of room for souvenirs, plus i’m pretty minimalist when it comes to home decorating. but my husband and i made a point of buying a mug in every country we went to during our year abroad and i’m SO happy we did. i love being able to choose from my paris cat mug, or my iceland sweater mug, or my ireland sheep mug, etc, every morning depending on my mood. the other 2 things we brought back form london which i love are two maps: one is an old-fashioned tube map (it’s actually supposed to be wrapping paper hahaha) and the other is a map of greenwich (our favorite place in london). we had both framed and they make me happy every day.
Haha I bought a gargoyle in France that really weighed my bag down, but now it’s hanging over my bedroom door. Totally worth it!
My bag is always a little too heavy as well, haha. I came home from Mexico with two boxes of chocolate bars for hot cocoa, two kinds of mezcal, the skull I wrote about in my recent entry, and a bunch of gifts for my family and friends. One could say that’s materialistic, but I call that bringing my travels home! Besides, when I’m home, I hardly buy frivolous things.
I love the picture of all your cameras! What a wonderful collection you have. I look forward to seeing many more lovely pictures on your blog.
Tee – Thanks! I didn’t even realize I was collecting masks until recently. It’s a fun collection, though! Hope you get to hang yours soon.
Naomi – I just read that post…it’s great! I absolutely loved shopping in Morocco, it’s definitely in my top five for finding amazing souvenirs.
Schaufele – I’m jealous of your ability to pack so lightly! The mug collection sounds great and a fun way to remember your travels.
Colleen – Yes, these things are always worth it. 😉
Ekua – Your purchases from Mexico sound amazing! I totally agree, it’s all about bringing the travels home with you…
Linds – Thank you so much! I hope I will meet your expectations. 🙂
[…] this blog long enough, you may remember a few posts I did on the house I own in Canada (here, here, and here) – I have never been one to hide the fact that I love buying things while I’m […]