Wanna shop for paintings, décors, jewelry, t-shirts, lanterns, bags, buttons and all sorts of art, handicrafts and books in Berlin? Check out the Art market (Kunstmarkt) at the Museum Island (Museumsinsel) beside the bridge every Saturday (11:00 AM - 3:00 PM) and Sunday (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM) where you can find some Berlin souvenirs to take home with you.
Here are some photos of what’s on sale at the street market where busy tourists crowd around the many items displayed.
On our way to the Brandenburg Gate we passed by the Berlin Store souvenir shop to buy some pasalubongs.
There were just a lot of choices, if only you could bring them all home with you – bags, shirts, refrigerator magnets, pins, baseball caps and so much more. It would usually take us a lot of time when inside souvenir shops but we had to do our shopping real fast since we still had so many places to visit. After walking few meters from the shop, this is what we found…
A yellow Berlin bear with its arms raised up to welcome tourists!
The bear is the symbol of Berlin, and it is even the central figure in the city’s coat of arms.
Tsk, too bad we were not able to buy one of these miniature bears for souvenir when we were still at the shop.
If ever you’ll be dropping by Berlin, please say hi to the colorful Berlin bears for me! 
p.s. I found more Berlin bears here. Enjoy!
After a plane’s takeoff, when most of the passengers have already settled comfortably in their seats, the question of “What do I do next?” sometimes comes in especially during long-haul flights. Aside from flipping over the in-flight magazine pages, watching movies, listening to music, have a chit-chat with your seatmate, what else is there to do in a plane where about a hundred people are sitting and patiently waiting for landing? Sleep, of course! Well, sleep is what I do most of the time during flights. It’s because I’m usually busy packing up hours before the trip and I find time to catch up on rest as soon as the plane takes off.
Sleeping during flights may not be that comfy though unless you’re on business class or you’re bringing with you the SkyRest Travel Pillow. This inflatable travel pillow is featured on ShopWiki’s blog with the photo of a guy sleeping soundly on it which makes me think it’s not just perfect for airplane-sleeping but for bus trips as well. Anyway, the ShopWiki blog thinks it’s crazy enough as a product to be featured (maybe because it is ingeniously different than the usual inflatable neck pillows).
How would you react if your flight seatmate is slumped comfortably on this huge pillow while you’re squirming many times in your seat as you try to find a comfortable position for a nap?
More interesting (and crazy) products are featured with a dash of wit and humor (check out their Hunk Friday series!) at the ShopWiki blog.
Photo credits: blog.ShopWiki.com
To recognize a customer’s loyalty and show appreciation for the business, this is what rewards programs are all about. For travel bugs, this means frequent flyer programs which usually includes free airline tickets, discounts on hotels, car rentals, shopping and more.
Travel rewards credit cards not only give points for the usual purchases but more reward points are given when purchases are travel related. It’s important to compare the amount of travel rewards points or miles earned for every credit card purchase and if there’s a limit as to how many points you can earn annually. Other things to consider are the bonus points offered and their expiry, blackout dates for hotels and flights, and the interest rate. These details can be read in every credit card’s terms and conditions, so it’s best to check them out.
A list of highly rated travel rewards credit card programs on CreditCreator.com ranks Blue Sky from American Express® as the best travel rewards credit card – it offers 1 point per dollar of purchase on any airline, hotel, and other travel related purchases with no blackout dates. Introductory rate is 0% APR (annual percentage rate) for 12 months, free set-up fee, no annual fee and low balance transfer rate. Runners-up include the Chase TravelPlus Visa® Card, Capital One® Orbitz® Visa® Signature, and Miles by Discover® Card. More details about these travel rewards programs can be browsed from the site.
Ever thought about bringing your laptop with you on your camping or hiking trip? Here are some travel gears which can carry laptops safely while on the go, particularly in the woods or mountains or on field mission:
The Condor 3-Way Laptop Case functions as a briefcase, shoulder bag or backpack. It has a lot of storage compartments and slots, and contents are safely secured with side padding. The laptop compartment can accommodate sizes within 17” x 12” x 13”.
The Pelican Protector Deluxe Computer Case is designed to withstand tough physical conditions. It is not only crushproof but watertight, airtight and dustproof as well. Features include padded protective lid organizer for pens, CDs, mobile phones and other essentials. The laptop tray which can fit up to 17” size is made of shock absorbing polyurethane with lock down strap.
The Computer Messenger Bag is for carrying a lot of stuff for your trip with its many slots, pouches and compartments. It has a separate computer bag which can fit into the main compartment including pockets for computer accessories and important papers.
These tough bags are just some of the featured Blackhawk Tactical Gear products and are actually designed for military field mission purposes but can be great for use by travel bugs who need to bring their laptops on one of their hiking or mountain climbing trips.
Photo credits: BrigadeQM.com
Shopping time is usually included in one’s travel itinerary especially when you’re into buying clothes, shoes, souvenirs or anything fancy that you want to take home with you. For instance, when my sis and I toured around the Old Town in Prague, we also stopped by the souvenir shops lining the narrow streets. Shopping can be time-consuming and yup we didn’t just spend few minutes choosing which cap, shirt or mug to give to Mom, Dad, Auntie or bro - deciding on the many designs and colors can take so much time… really!
For those who would like to shop ‘til they drop at New York City, they can visit some well-known shopping districts like East Village, Union Square, Times Square, SOHO or go on a day trip to Woodbury Commons premium outlets (a bit outside NYC) with discounted designer outlet stores on brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Escada and more. With a New York bus charter, it’s possible to combine shopping and sightseeing depending on your trip itinerary. Planning for an NYC tour with a big group can be made easier with travel consultants from NYC Bus Charters (nycbuscharters.com) who will assist you in customizing your needs such as going on numerous day outings, multi state excursion or local tours.
We went to Tampere yesterday and had a great time. I will be writing a separate post about it later. Anyway, I’m thankful that I wore my favorite footwear for walking around… my high-heeled flip flops! :) Even though we had a car to tour us around, we still had to be on foot since some of the places we visited had no parking nearby. Too bad my little niece Az had a blister on her right foot since she wore her new pair of shoes. We were able to remedy it though by letting her wear socks.
Continue reading »
Aside from souvenir T-shirts, refrigerator magnets, shot glasses and handcrafted items, tourists also shop for clothes, shoes and bags when they travel. Fashion-minded travel bugs are fond of dropping by those high-fashion boutiques when on tour, stepping inside different shops and finding new styles and accessories to add to their wardrobe. Here in Finland, we were able to pass by some notable classy boutiques along downtown Helsinki.
With the ongoing Pori Jazz Festival, most shops are on sale with big discounts even up to 70%. There’s the ‘buy two take one’, the ‘buy three get one for free’ and other enticing promos. Luckily big sis and I were able to do some shopping as well. Recently, we found some ‘treasures’ of clothes at a nearby department store and we bought them at really reasonable price.
Continue reading »
Travel bugs usually look for souvenirs to take home with them. Some prefer souvenir t-shirts and baseball caps, while others look for those native food and delicacies or handcrafted jewelries and accessories. Keeping collectibles and memorabilia is one way of going back to those sweet memories of the places visited and people met. These then are added to their travel keepsakes compilation.
Continue reading »
These ladies are travel bugs too and are fond of going on weekend trips. So, who are the Grapevine girls? They’re Gabby, Shannon, Olivia and Raqui – four independent, smart, fashionable women whose life stories are featured in an interactive website Grapevine.com. The lives of these interesting fictitious characters make visiting the site fun with their daily updated serial featuring the girls’ tips and insights on travel, shopping, food, career and more.
Continue reading »
I just can’t get enough of my recent trip to the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) last month. Aside from the spacious halls and lengthy corridors which could be easily tiring, we were not able to tour the whole compound since we were always pressed with time and would even go home at the closing hour. Since I will be in Manila for my visa application next week, I am looking forward to visiting MOA again. It’s a one-stop food and shopping paradise for tourists and travel bugs being one of the largest malls in Asia.
Continue reading »
“Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.”
Marion C. Garretty
Throughout the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days. In Thailand it coincides with Queen Sirikit’s birthday on August 12, while it’s December 8 in Panama, second Sunday of June in Luxembourg and December 22 in Indonesia. Most countries such as the US, Australia, Canada, Finland, Czech Republic and the Philippines celebrate it every second Sunday of May, thus it’s going to be May 11 for 2008.
This lunch time, while my sis was feeding her baby, I commented to her that a baby’s life is uncomplicated - just eat, sleep, play, cry, giggle and do her usual heartwarming antics. It made me think of how our Mom cared for us when we were still kids – from changing diapers, to giving baths and feeding us. Being a mother truly entails a lot of patience and understanding. It is just fitting that they are being honored and given recognition on a special day every year.
I’m sure the malls will be busy with shoppers looking for gifts for their mothers and anticipating some clothing or jewelry sale, and the restaurants will be filled up on that day as well. For those who want to give something special and lasting, without leaving the comforts of their homes, they can browse online for Mothers Day jewelry at MyJewelryBox.com where they have a Mother’s Day jewelry gift guide with items categorized into diamond flowers, pearls collection, birthstones collection and more. Those who are on limited budget can shop by price range.
Mother’s Day gifts such as jewelry are long-lasting and should be handled well. Aside from their wide range of products (emerald pendants, diamond rings, gold earrings, gemstone bracelets, bangles and more), MyJewelryBox.com also provides an educational page about diamonds, gemstones, gold and silver and how to properly care for your jewelry collection. Mothers would surely love receiving gifts such as this, though it’s really the thoughtfulness of the giver that counts, whether you bake her favorite chocolate cake or simply give her lots of hugs and kisses.
It’s the first day of the merry month of May – a great month for fiestas, vacations, out-of-town trips and of course shopping!
To start off the month, SM Bacolod and Robinsons Place are having their Labor Day sale going on right now. So, why am I still here at home? Oh well, yesterday we already went to the city for some important matters and decided to drop by Robinsons. They already displayed some of the items for sale, we found some great discounts on clothes and shopped until closing time. It was an unintentional shopping but we avoided the rush by being there the day before. We also checked out their luggage, backpacks and travel gear on sale.
My sis and I planned to go back today but later decided not to since we’ve more important tasks to finish. Anyway, we already bought some sale items yesterday so it’s really no big deal. How about you, any great shopping finds this summer?
One of the simple pleasures of going on a trip is finding some great shopping spots along the way – be it food, souvenirs, clothing or…how about this?
The road along Sum-ag highway with pottery products on display
Thailand is a not only an exotic and interesting place with its majestic temples, ancient ruins and modern buildings; it’s also a place of non-stop shopping. Everywhere you look – in the busy sidewalks, inside huge trendy malls and crowd-filled markets – anytime of the day (and night), you’d always find something to lure the shopper in you.
The Thais are very artistic and creative with their well-crafted bags, accessories, décors which are great for souvenirs and gifts.
Decorative vases and table pieces
Knitted goodies!
I want that bag please…
R-jed posing with some ladies accessories
These Thai bags are the usual pasalubongs and gifts for friends
Photos taken at the Chiang Mai night market. Thanks to dviewfinder.com for some of the pics.
In the Philippines, each province prides itself with its own local delicacies and handicrafts which are perfect ideas for pasalubongs. For instance, you have those handcrafted wooden sculptures, hand-woven sweaters and shawls, fresh strawberries and peanut brittle from Baguio. How about Cebu? Well, you can’t get enough of their yummy danggit, otap, dried mangoes and crispy chicharon from Carcar. The nearby island of Mactan is famous for its guitars and ukuleles and you can see these carried by tourists in the airport who usually buy more than one.
My big bro’s family in Mactan would always remind us to bring them piaya, being one of Bacolod’s famous native delicacies. They were a bit disappointed when we failed to bring them some packs during one of our recent trips to Cebu. Another pasalubong that always bring a smile to our faces are the packs of yummy puto from Manapla given by Tita D every time they drop by our home.
