Hunting for souvenirs

IN BRUNEI, it's almost a must to come home with souvenirs for your families and friends when you go overseas.

Although there is no written rule on it, since everybody does, that makes you feel obligated to come home with something for everyone.

How much thought do you put into the souvenirs that you get for people back home? Do you just pick the biggest pack of key chains carrying the name of the country you're in, just because they're convenient?

Key chains are the most common souvenirs people bring back from overseas, but really, who keeps them? Nine out of 10 times, you'll find it long gone and forgotten after a week. Unless you know that friend needs a key chain, or the key chain means something, stay away from them!

On the receiver's end, it's always great to get something new, even if it's something you don't want or need. Here's the thing though; you give someone something that doesn't mean anything, it's very likely you won't see it again after a week probably.

It's the thought that counts, they say.

So getting something that means something is really important for me. I can't stand the idea of buying people something meaningless, and have them lose it. It's a waste of money and waste of time looking for gifts.

I've thought up a list of cheap souvenir ideas, so that the next time I, or you, hop onto a plane to go somewhere, I'd bring back things that everyone will cherish.

Fridge magnets

I did a mini survey among my friends and found that fridge magnets are a favourite souvenir item. I love fridge magnets myself; my fridge needs more of them. They're practical and they make your fridge look less boring. They're super useful for sticking up reminders on the fridge, or on the CPU at work.

Button pins

I was rather surprised to find quite a number of my friends love button pins for souvenirs. Button pins make great decorations for plain looking bags, or clothes if your friends are one of those harajuku type of people who love to get creative with fashion. These button pins come with smart, wacky phrases, it's easy to find one that reminds you of someone back home too. What better way to say "Hey, I thought of you when I was away"?

Photos

Souvenirs do not necessarily have to cost a lot of money, and you don't necessarily have to buy the same thing for everyone just to be fair. It only looks like you put less effort in it, when you buy things in bulk.

When you're in a new place, you see things and meet people. If a place reminds you of someone back home or you meet someone who looks like a friend, take a photo, print it on a glossy paper and write a message on it. Simple and personalised. It's meaningful and your recipient is much more likely to keep it in a proper place, than have it end up under his or her bed...or in the most unlikely places.

Food

Who can say no to food? When one goes on a trip, one thing he or she will sure try out is the local cuisine. Your family and friends can't go on the trip with you, so please make the effort to take a sample of the food culture, i.e. local snacks, home for them. Food is the one thing that's OK to buy in bulk because chances are, everybody wants them. My colleague returned from Japan with Mochi, (Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice), it was not enough ... because everyone in the office wanted more.

Personal collections

This is definitely something your recipient will keep, because it's their passion to gather things to add to their personal collection. They can be as simple as stamps, postcards or shot glasses. A friend of mine had her shelf filled up with shot glasses from each country she's visited, while another friend collects silver spoons. It's easiest to find souvenirs for these people because you know exactly what makes them happy!

You don't necessarily have to spend a lot on souvenirs for people back home. It's much easier if you know the person well because you understand what they like.

But then again, these days, you don't really need to guess what your friends or family would like. Because as soon as you say you're flying off, they will say "Bah kirim..." ("Do bring something"). The Brunei Times