Jewelry | Travel Well, Fly Safe

Around The World With Beaded Bracelets

“I learned that you should feel when writing, not like Lord Byron on a mountain top, but like a child stringing beads in kindergarten, – happy, absorbed and quietly putting one bead on after another.” Brenda Ueland

That should really be the name of my blog. I don’t know when it started but I buy cheap ethnic bracelets in different countries around the world for myself and gifts. People like them. (temple cedar bracelets – Viet Nam)

I try to spend under five dollars a bracelet and buy them in markets or from street vendors. A dollar or two is even better. (ceramic – Mexico)

It is an easy to pack gift and a nice memory for me of a country I have been to. I mix them all up and wear them almost every day. Today I am wearing Argentina, Mexico, Myanmar and Thailand. (Myanmar, Thailand)

It’s good to buy indigenous jewelry because it helps the local communities. Many countries have stores or markets that feature local artisans. The bracelets are made from wood from local trees, nuts, seeds, glass, silver, tin, brass, bamboo, woven, pottery and even plastic. Sometimes they have religious significance and sometimes only decorative.(Peru)

My favorite one comes from Panama and is made from a tagua nut which is known as vegetable ivory. Due to tagua’s properties in color, appearance, hardness and feel like those of natural ivory, it is being substituted for the latter one. This helps in the depredation of elephants while at the same time keeps rain forests from being deforested which in turn favors the ecosystems and the environment.

I also buy ethnic designed bracelets for myself. When I wear them, they remind of the special day in the country where I bought them. (Myanmar, Cambodia, Murano glass – Italy, Argentina, real coral-Croatia)

Another important factor to consider is that making things by hand provides work to thousands of people in these poor countries giving them and their families a better life and the opportunity of offering their children a better education. (shells-Panama)

Shopping for bracelets is perfect street consumerism for me.(Coca nut -Argentina)

There is the thrill of finding the bracelet among the crafts and tourist crap. I know these look touristy but there was a beach in Panama that was covered in these pinkish orange shells so they remind me of that beautiful beach. Yes I brought home a bag of the shells also. (Panama)

Then there is the delicate negotiation of getting the right price without insulting anyone.There is the danger of going too low and the stupidity of paying too much. (plastic- Turkey or anywhere that has real Turquoise)

Finally we have the adrenalin rush of the purchase. (Aborigine – Australia)

It makes my world better and their world better. It’s a win – win situation.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Ten Things That I Don’t Travel Without

“He who must travel happily must travel light” Antoine St Exupery

Packing properly is an art form. Some travelers strike the perfect balance and bring just what they need. I’m not one of them but this helps me. Pick your ten most important things and then add to them. Socks, bathing suit, a long skirt,hat (or I buy one when i get there), underwear, makeup, toilet articles, medicine, umbrella, mini flashlight and few changes of weather appropriate clothing are a given for me to add in and then I’m done.

1. A Moleskin notebook and a cool pen. This is my homage to Hemingway – even though I also usually have an iPad.

2. Hanes wife beaters. I hate the name but love the 100 per cent cotton.

3. Asthma medicine – I have asthma.

4. Lucky jewelry. I used to wear a red string bracelet when I was into Kabbalah. I do like a red bracelet for flying (Asian lucky color) or an evil eye on a chain or bracelet. A necklace made from a shell, piece of glass or a full circle charm is always good. I bring cheap beaded bracelets from other trips in the hopes of finding more. I like wearing something that looks like I might have found it on beach or has some lucky meaning from a different country – something that looks valueless to anyone but me.

5. Two cameras, extra memory card and battery. I have bad camera luck.

6. iPod and good sound canceling headphones. I like Bose. I dont like small planes and they block out the noise.

7. A few pair of leggings or jeggings. This is something I never wear at home but packs well, can be dressed up or down, layered for warmth. or rolled up if its hot.

8. Flat shoes. Also something else I never wear at home and sneakers something I do wear.

9. Jelly Bellys.They are my favorite superfood. I love finding them in the middle of the jungle in my suitcase. I also bring Protein Bars because I get low blood sugar.

10. Lots of glasses and sunglasses – because I need them.

My big problem is resisting that last-minute urge to stick other things in if I have room – extra t-shirts, shoes, another skirt or sweater – I never end up wearing them and I’m always repacking them. I’ve learned from the French to always throw in some scarves . They can be decorative or functional. Now if I only I can learn to tie and drape them in the way that only the French can. From my photos, I can see that I now have a travel uniform. Whatever works.

Fly safe,

JAZ