My point, gawk, is that there are valuable and unique things available for purchase in SE Asia and elsewhere. I’ve been fortunate enough to bring some of them home and they bring me pleasure, both in their presence and in the memories they evoke.
Your post seemed to say that there is little of value to bring home from travels and that what you’ve seen can be had at garage sales. You’re wrong on both counts.
If emotional baggage had weight (in lbs/kgs), they wouldn't allow some people on airplanes.
some planes would never get off the runway...
Yeah, their tires would blow out before they left the boarding gate.
Bun_cha
Your point "there are valuable and unique things available for purchase in SE Asia and elsewhere."
I would say, each to it's own taste. What is valuable to you could be junk to me! Therefore, it is hasty to point out that gawk is wrong on both counts.
I grew up with some of the stuff you collected and therefore, it is a truism that for me 'familiarity breeds contempt'. Also, I have come to a stage in my life that I prefer not to burden myself with material goods. As for memories, you carry it around with you, and for me, that is enough. Why should one burden oneself with "unique and valuable stuff" or eager to show it and to share it with people who have no interest in what you collected. They after all have their own memories.
Lee (if you're the Lee with the little house in Cali, then big respect),
The value of the things I’ve accumulated is to me and there is also artistic and monetary value. The value to me is indisputable and the current issue of Arts of Asia features several pieces (silver betel paraphernalia and lacquerware) that are almost exactly like (in terms of age, workmanship, style, material) what is sitting within reach as I type. So that would speak some to artistic and monetary value.
That your contempt (I’m assuming a figure of speech) for some of what I like would indicate a lack of value in those things makes no sense other than there is a lack of value for you. I put no value in Rolex watches, but I don’t think they have no value.
I don’t think many people who come into this room see it in terms of full of souvenirs.
There is still a lot of good stuff in SE Asia and I assume, elsewhere. That’s really my only point.
Good luck with the lightening effort. REI is having a great sale right now (if you’re in North America), with good deals on the synthetic clothing that is essential for lightening the load. Good backpacks, too.
Have any Canadians on this thread ordered stuff from REI? Does it still make sense once you pay duty, etc.?
Lee52, I can't talk as a female but my partner, Vikki, only takes one pair of shoes - the ones she's wearing. These are rather cute but amazingly sturdy and ultra- lightweight Keens walking shoes. They seem to fit any occassion from climbing the vulcano in Bali to breakfast with the Australian ambassador in Cairo. They are available in Australia in maybe half a dozen styles.
Sometimes Vikki may take a pair of very lightweight sandals, but not always. That's it as far as footwear goes and it saves a lot of weight. I just take the lightweight walking shoes I wear, fairly normal looking and not those outrageous designs, so they are multi-functional when it comes to going out to restaurants, etc.
