peaceman

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as u know i am going to europe in a fortnight(still no *^#@$ visa). considering that i've got some accomodation at places with some freeloaders and also that i have innumerable friends and relatives there in europe, suggestions on gifts to take along with me from here would be most welcome.

i was thinking about something small, not very cheap and reasonably long lasting. please suggest.

right now i am ruling out perishables like eatables, etc. and definitely not books becos they weigh such a lot! or they'd have been my first choice.

http://www.oocities.org/peacemanindia/

martess

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chillums. bidis. some sort of handloom stuff from KVIC, cottage industries.

treadin' gently...

cigalechanta

peaceman if your friends are westeners, a sari that we use as curtains and other decorative ways because we find them beautiful
if I knew how to wear one I would use it for dressy occasions, meaning more formal. I wish you a great time.


I wish I had me for me!

BeckyP

Silver serving spoons
Fabric: Wall hangings, pillow covers, clothing, table cloths and napkins
Art work: paintings, prints and enlarged photos
Stainless steel: katoris and thalis (engraved with names?), kitchen utensils
Tavas (and a lesson on how to make roti?)
Brass or silver candle holders, statues
A collection of masalas
Books: Indian writers, history of India, cook books, Hinduism
Music CDs
Videos of "classic" Indian movies
Indian games (with instructions)

And on and on!

cigalechanta

here in the USA IT's EXPENSIVE TO TRANSPOSE VIDEOS TO OUR SYSTEM SO CHECK ON THAT IF ITS THE SAME IN EUROPE.

I wish I had me for me!

I brought home those 6"x6" ceramic tiles with gods printed on them and people went absolutely apeshit for them. There's nothing like them outside of India. You know what I'm talking about? You see them used in walls inside and outside people's houses, and there's a million different kinds. Yes, they're heavy, but they're SO cool it doesn't matter. People can use them as butter plates or trivets (for putting hot dishes on). You can find them a stores that sell supplies for the bathroom, and they're dead cheap, like Rs 15 each.

"People who like this sort of thing will find this to be the sort of thing they like."

Edmond

were a bit hit here! Made of coloured leather with a flap to close and a little mirror inside. Some even hold two lipsticks. Small and light also.

"Far away hills are green"

Can always be used, are always prominent,
and are very distinctive, light and not too expensive!
For children, I reckon that a few nice Rajasthani Puppets would fill the bill!
Enjoy your trip, and I wont complain if you dont spend the mandatory $500 u.s. or whatever a day, which seems to be the norm for Indians travelling o/seas! After all, peaceman, when you are asleep, the brain is dead and knows not if you pay $100 or $20.
I would be careful of food and perishables etc, shells and the like, some places are very fussy about what you are allowed to introduce into the country.

SoulCurry

here's my list... i find they've been a great hit, whether in europe, africa, middle east or SEA:
kashmiri papier mache boxes ~ small ones cost about rs. 70; also coasters or x'mas tree decorations (stars, bells etc all papier mache)
puppets from rajasthan (approx. rs. 100)
moblies made of stuffed birds (approx. rs. 50 to 80)
leather puppets from andhra (Rs. 300 onwards)
small boxes of tea ~ i found these in bombay store & corssroads in bombay, dont know about other places... they cost about rs. 50 & look & taste greasmall dangling silver earrings with semi-precious stones
terracotta sculptures ~ but only small ones please.. bankura horses are usually a hit.
mirror-work stuff ~ gosh, you live in mirrorwork land, this should be easy for you...

ooh, i wish i could help you shop!!






~ deuteragonist, moving centre-stage ~

bring them some beautiful gujarati textiles! i agree with smart sally... cushion covers are great gifts. preferably ones that aren't too flashy... earthy, batiked, embroidered or patchworked ones. bedspreads, also, though they are bulkier. or some embroidered wall hangings. shawls also are nice... the gujarati mirrored and embroided ones are great to drape over furniture.

those lipstick cases are also a common souvenir in italy, fyi.

lhasa has not escaped the clutches of hello kitty...

abraxus

the patterned woolen socks, shawls & blankets you get around the kullu/parvarti valleys. in some parts ov europe it can be hard to get hold ov quality doop for puja.
be careful w/chillums, some countries(like the UK) have a catagory ov illeagle imports- "paraphenalia"- how they choose to apply it seems to vary from person to person.

peaceman

thanks again.

martess - i've never understood the fascination for pipes, every traveller i know always wanted to take them. strange.

cigal- good sarees are quite expensive and then i'd hate to see them getting destructed. are there any particular type of sarees that you recommend? cos i'd think sarees would be too thin for making curtains.

iyou - aint bringing no gods to be put under food! tch tch. i'd hate to do that to jesus, use his head as a coat hanger, u know what i mean?

smart sally - just for you, and becos i love you so much, i shall try to bring down the national average with a spending so meagre that by next year we shall be almost at par with australian spending by my sole effort.

soul, worthy, abraxus, edmond, becky - thanks, very helpful

and i'm gonna go out today to buy some CUSHION COVERS!!



http://www.oocities.org/peacemanindia/

SMART_SALLY

You are such a nice boy!
Now thats the way to go. Just see if you dont enjoy yourself for saving that hard earned and then to be inviting me for the big splurge in India when next I return.
PS.......I know you are a frugal man, and you know as to what I am referring by my previous post, only joking of course,tongue in cheek, so to say. And you really never can believe all that you read!
And DO remember to say all the "hail mary`s, may God be with you,and say hello to the Pope for me (he still owes me for letting him take that lovely photo of me in the red mini-skirt!)

SoulCurry

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after getting all this sage advice, if you go out and buy only *cushion covers*, i shall have to seek you out in europe and kill you with my bare hands....






~ deuteragonist, moving centre-stage ~