Souvenirs From Travels Worldwide

 

One of the joys of travel is finding new things overseas and bringing them back home. When we were living in Singapore and came back to London, I shopped in London for things to take back to Singapore. 

UK's Unique Finds & Souvenirs

NB Check what you are allowed to bring into your home and places en route and what is banned by transport and countries. Many countries ban certain foods, as well as animals and animal products. You also need to watch out for not importing larger knives, replica guns, magazines or tee shirts with suggestive pictures - even in clothing catalogues in the Middle East, or blasphemous sayings, and drugs, including both prescription drugs and over the counter drugs. You might even get in trouble with chewing gum and poppyseeds in Singapore. Fake watches from Hong Kong, even if you knew you were conned and are not giving or selling it to somebody else, could be classified as contravening the law. What else? Shells from the beach in New Zealand.

 Chewable Adcal tablets. 

Egg cups. (Known in India but unknown in Singapore and China, even though they are often made in China, for the British market.)

Lavender soap, bath gel and stick. (Anti-mosquito.) Yardley and others.

Couscous.  

Self-threading needles. (Hotel sewing kits have tiny needles.)

Christmas cake and Christmas pudding.

Christmas crackers.

Marmalade, thick cut. 

Cadbury's chocolates, Thorntons, and many more.

Biscuits, such as chocolate digestives. 

Cheap clothes from Primark. 

Souvenirs showing the union Jack, red phone boxes, and the Royal Family.

Scotland and Scottish Souvenirs

Tartans and woollens.

Whisky.

What have I saved from my foreign travels?

Australian Souvenirs

Aboriginal art. Boomerangs.

Opals in jewellery. Tim Tams biscuits.

Vegemite.

Lamingtons. 

Hats with corks (to keep off flies)

Soft toys such as koalas and kangaroos.

The classic children's book by May Gibbs, who invented the Sumnut Babies, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

Austrian Souvenirs

Mozart chocolates.

Belgium and Belgian Souvenirs

Chocolates. 

Lace.

China and Chinese Souvenirs

Chinese carpets from a factory near Shanghai. I bought one which was old and dirty, and flew home to Singapore with the carpet folded in a suitcase. I used the carpet with a table covering the stain and it looked gorgeous.

Silk clothes.

France - French Wines, Food & Finds

Aligote - dry white wine, and Cassis for, Kir, or Kir Royale. We went around the factory. The smell hits you as you walk through the door. Addictive. Sweet.

Chestnut paste.

Pain au chocolat. We had this for the first time in France when it was a novelty. Now croissants and pain au chocolat, called chocolatine elsewhere in France, is available from Tesco Express in England. We heat it up in the oven and it is delicious. Unbeatable.

Double net curtains with left and right halves of embroidered pictures of city or rural scenes for windows and archways.

Flat pancake pans.

Nougat.

Indian Best Buys and Souvenirs

You can buy sarees in London. 

Religious paintings of gods and Goddesses in bright colours with gold paint.

Indonesian Souvenirs

Carvings

Wooden carvings to hang on the wall, 3D.

Israeli Souvenirs

Metal work, jewellery and tableware with symbols such as the six-point star, known to Jews as the Star of David and to Moslems as the Seal of Solomon.

Other symbols are the seven branch candlestick called the menorah, the eight branch (plus one) candlestick called the hanukiah; and the two biblical spies (or surveyors, if you will) sent by Moses) bringing back a huge bunch of grapes.

Diamonds from a diamond factory.

Northern Ireland, Ireland and Irish Souvenirs

From Northern Ireland and Eire, souvenirs from the Guinness Museum, glassware, clothing and bar accessories,  from Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Eire, going towards Belfast in Northern Ireland, memorabilia from and the Titanic Museum and Game of Thrones.

Irish Whisky. Claddagh rings, showing tow hands holding a heart with a crown. Connemara Marble jewellery and carvings.  

Italy

Prosecco from Northern Spain.

Venetian Murano glass. Venetian masks inspired by the carnival.

Baci Perugia, chocolates.

 

Japan

Kimonos in embroidered silk. Yukatas (thinner, cotton items). See the videos on Facebook which start, only in Japan.

Wooden dolls, painted, wearing Japanese costumes such as kimonos and clogs.

Fans, circular on flat sticks, can be flat discs of strong paper or card, or pleated and folding.

Malaysia

A Moslem country but not Arabic. Modest styles of clothing with high necks, long sleeves and ankle length skirts, not black but bright oriental colours. 

The Netherlands

Diamonds.

Items decorated with windmills.

New Zealand

 I could not remember the name of the gorgeous green iridescent stone so I asked Gemini for souvenirs and was reminded about all of these (which I have edited and shortened.

• Pāua Shell Jewellery & Decor: Derived from native abalone, Pāua shell features an iridescent blend of blues, greens, and purples. It is commonly used in necklaces, earrings, and home accents.

• Māori Wood Carvings (Whakairo): Intricate carvings made from native timbers like Kauri or Totara, showcasing traditional patterns and stories.

Clothing & Textiles

• Merino & Possum-Merino Knitwear: Soft, warm, and highly durable clothing made from local merino wool. Blends featuring brushtail possum fur are exceptionally lightweight and insulating.

• All Blacks / Rugby Apparel: Official merchandise for New Zealand's famous national rugby team.

Food, Drinks & Sweets

• Mānuka Honey: Renowned globally for its distinctive flavor and natural antibacterial properties. (Check your home country's agricultural import rules before flying back).

• Whittaker's Chocolate: An iconic local brand famous for blocks like the Peanut Slab, Hazelnut, and local flavor collaborations.

• Pineapple Lumps & Toffee Pops: Classic "Kiwiana" candies available at any supermarket.

• New Zealand Wine: Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough or Pinot Noir from Central Otago.

Beauty & Skincare

• Rotorua Geothermal Mud: Mud masks and soaps rich in natural minerals from the thermal region of Rotorua.

• Lanolin Cream: Moisturizing creams made from sheep wool oil.

Novelty & Movie Souvenirs

• Pop Culture Keepsakes: Official replicas or prop items from the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series, available from venues like Wētā Workshop or Hobbiton.

• Buzzy Bee: A classic wooden pull-toy featuring bright colors that has been an iconic part of New Zealand childhoods for generations.

Portugal

Madeira from the island of Madeira.

Port.

WOW , a wine theme park, like Disney, a day full of attractions, in Vila Nova (new city) de Gaia across the river from Porto, everything from unbreakable drinking glasses to socks with wine themes. 

Sandeman, merchant of Port (fortified red wine 'the first duty of Port to be red' although there is a white one), has a remote hillside centre which cells capes and hats like the ones on the bottle, some big capes and grand hats very expensive, but I bought a cheaper hat.

Madeira, a fortified white wine, from white grapes, from the island of Madeira, where you can tour the huge shop and production area and historic barrels on the rafters (canteiros)  where the wines are cooking in the heat.

Singapore - Special Items

Tiger Balm. with wonderful aromas of eucalyptus, a bit like Vick's Vapour Rub from when I was a child. One dab under your nose and you breathe more easily. I used it most days and still do.

Durian flavour for ice cream and cakes. 

Mango rice.

Paper lanterns.

Spain

Red wine from Rioja, both a region, like Catalounia, secondly a DOC; wine  Admin, appellation. Another use of the word Rioja, thirdly, a type of wine made there. So, the geography, the grape, the style. Rioja Alta, from the highest area, upstream. Rioja oriental (used to be called lowest but that sounded derogatory, so it was renamed East). DOC is the Controlled attribution of the area it comes from. La Rioja Alta, is a company. 

On the pilgrims' walking route across Rioja and the north, the cathedrals have souvenir shops selling religious items and jewellery. 

White Cava wine.

Flamenco shawls with long fringes.

Castanets, for those who are musical or like decorative objects.

Spanish Extra virgin oil.

Fans.

Spanish nougat.

Thailand

Silk clothes and accessories such as bags. Heavy Thai silk with glamorous  appearance for wrap skirts, tops, dresses.

Jim Thomson house has silk.

Compare prices with various outlets. Shops could have cheaper or dearer fabrics than museums and different styles and colours.

Synthetics, not real silk, but glamorous evening wear.

Elephant motifs on clothes, and accessories.

Switzerland

Swiss army knives. Yes you can buy them overseas. But Switzerland has many more combinations of attachments and sizes of penknives. 

USA Souvenirs

Hershey chocolates. Designed not to melt in the heat. Originally ordered for soldiers in hot countries so that chocolates would not melt in their hands, or pockets or kit bags.

Every style of t-shirt and blue jeans you can imagine, at all prices. Sale rails in most clothes shops and stores including seasonal sales, so that the day after the Spring sale ends, the Summer sale starts..

Webster's Dictionary with American spelling which Webster started and promoted to simplify learning for foreigners and immigrants. You can visit his house.

Useful Websites

Australian authors' homes to visit

https://kids.kiddle.co/Norman_Lindsay_Gallery_and_Museum

https://maygibbs.org/story/snugglepot-and-cuddlepies-underwater-adventure/

-ends-

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Filling Food And English Apple Crumble at the Civil Service Club - and postage stamp UK artwork of a red phone box

Civil Service Club entrance. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

How To Go There

The Civil Service club has 12.000 members and a great location within walking distance of Trafalgar Square and near central London underground train stations. If you know anybody who is a member, and the chances are that you do, you can get an invitation. 

We went to the club for a food and wine dinner organized by Central London Wine Society. We were in the main dining room at a T shaped table. The reasonably priced menu offered large portions, we already knew. The wine group meets there regularly. I know the venue well because I have also been there several times over a decade. I went there for events such as an annual Christmas dinner organized by a member who belongs to a writers' circle. He is also a member of a Toastmasters International group which meets in outer London. 

You sign in at the reception which has a sanitizer dispenser, and an orchid. Before ticking my name on the guest list, I took a photo of it on my mobile phone. That way I could check on the names of fellow guests. 

Before the meal started, we were each served a hot white roll covered with poppy seeds. The butter melted into it. Delicious. We went without ordering starters because we wanted to leave room for desserts.

I recommend the steak pie. Big portion of juicy steak. Three of us liked it.

My husband ordered it and I tried it. We always order different food and swap. The steak pie came with more vegetables, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, broccoli. He chose mashed potatoes, included in the price. My salmon came with a bed of spinach. I asked for chips, included in the price. 

BBQ sauce and a white cuff stain

I usually take the precaution of wearing brown or black when I go out to dinner. This time my outfit had a black bodice - but white cuffs. Big mistake. My lovely white silk cuffs have a brown mark. 

I tried washing, soap, cold water, hot water. No luck. Silk is too delicate for me to risk bleach.

I could cut out the stained part and sew up the hole. No. I could just sew around the stain. Maybe. I could sew on a sequin.

Grilled Salmon - Not again

I saw the word salmon and thought, what could go wrong. I missed the word grilled. That is what went wrong. Part of the joy of salmon is that it is a juicy fish. Hard and tasteless when grilled or over grilled. I won't have that again. I wrote it up on Tripadvisor to be able to locate my last visit in a hurry, next time, and check what to avoid ordering. If you are happy with a cold main course, have the cheese platter, which includes grapes. Eat the grapes second for dessert. Or indulge in a hot dessert.

Apple crumble. With custard. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Dessert - Apple Crumble - Yes, definitely

I like a hot dessert, not ice cream. I chose apple crumble. I also chose custard rather than ice cream to go with my apple crumble. The French call custard creme anglaise. Yes, it is not something you see a lot in France.

Yes, good apple crumble. Not the tops. But good enough. One of the joys of the UK. I can't say I have ever had apple crumble in the USA or Singapore or elsewhere. 

Toilets - Your choice

The toilets are upstairs from the main restaurant. (On the same level as some of the private rooms.) A steep staircase. With a wooden tubular hand rail. If you are ultra careful about Covid you might consider when to wash your hands, or wear gloves, or take a disposable wipe, or not drink so much that you feel unsteady on steep stairs.

Two cubicles. The good thing about the toilet was the moisturizer.

If you don't want to use the stairs, on the ground floor by the bar are more toilets, a larger area.

Make sure to see the downstairs bar indoors, not just the outside seating, because of the pictures, created from what look like tiny postage stamps from close-up. From a distance you see three classic views, the circle symbol of the London undergrounds, a red classic telephone box.

Brilliant Bar Picture

Accommodation

Yes, there is accommodation, and very conveniently placed.

Useful Website

https://www.civilserviceclub.org.uk/Membership/Ordinary_Member_Form/accomodation_2021_screen.aspx

How to ask for silk in other languages - French, German, Spanish and more

 

My red blouse and green tunic top have labels saying silk.

Do you read labels? I do. Some words are easy to translate and recognize. For example, on silk clothes, the word for silk.

The closest languages to English are Scandinavian languages.  Silke in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish. Icelandic is silki. I don't often have need of Icelandic, nor Igbo, which is silki.  Esperanto is silko.

French is soie. 

German is Seide. Remember that Germans use capital letters for nouns. Spanish and Portuguese are close in spelling to the German, both seda. 

Italians change the d to a t. Sete is Italian for silk. 

Indonesia is sutra. Malay is sutera. 

Is this silk?

I would like silk.

Do you have any silk?

Where can I buy silk?

Cotton.

Wool.

Synthetic.

Polycotton.

drip-dry.

hand wash

machine washable

dry clean only

A different colour

Est-ce de la soie?
J'aimerais de la soie.
Avez-vous de la soie?
Où puis-je acheter de la soie?
Coton.
La laine.
Synthétique.
Poly coton.
égoutter.
lavage des mains
lavable en machine
nettoyage à sec uniquement
Une couleur différente

I would translate a few phrases differently. I would say, 

Est-ce que c'est de la soie?

ou est-ce que je peux acheter ...

really silk - vraiment de la soie

real silk - veritable soie

German

Ist es Seide?
Ich hätte gerne Seide.
Hast du Seide?
Wo kann ich Seide kaufen?
Baumwolle.
Wolle.
Synthetik.
Poly Baumwolle.
abfließen.
Händewaschen
Waschmaschinenfest
Nur chemische Reinigung
Eine andere Farbe
echte Seide
wirklich Seide
echte Seide

SPANISH

Es seda
Quisiera seda.
Tienes seda
¿Dónde puedo comprar seda?
Algodón. (cotton)
La lana.
Sintético.
Algodon poli.
fluir fuera.

lavado a mano/
lavar a mano
Lavable en la lavadora (machine wash)
Solo limpieza química
Otro color
seda real
realmente seda
seda real

Useful websites

https://www.indifferentlanguages.com/words/silk

polyglot page in facebook

https://www.facebook.com/polyglotclub.world/

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, fashionista. Please share links to your favourite posts or one or more of the blogs

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

What to do in cold weather - how to turn a scarf into a hood as I did in Hanoi, Vietnam

Flag of Vietnam.

Problem
In Hanoi in the north of Vietnam they have four seasons. In December 2018 the temperature dropped from one day to the next, from 6o degrees f to fifty. The local Vietnamese people had donned padded jackets with imitation fur edge hoods.

We were still wearing two or three layers of summer clothes. We did not want to spend on another, heavy jacket which would not fit in our suitcases and would be too hot to wear in tropical Singapore.

Cold Neck
Standing at a bus stop, we had a cold wind on our necks. Those sunhats which cover the neck are also handy against breezes.

Silk Scarf
I had with me a silky scarf. ('Thai silk' which is a good imitation of real silk). Unfortunately, the silky scarf kept slipping off my head and neck.

Hooded Scarf design
I remembered how I had turned a scarf into a hooded scarf a few months previously in London, England. I had looked at a hooded scarf and realised it was hardly more than a scarf doubled over, seamed from the middle a few inches.

One version had the point cut or folded in diagonally, secured with just a couple of stitches. Another had stitching rounded to fit the head. If you don't mind having a point, you can just leave it oblong on top.

Scarf - Sew
You could buy a cheap scarf, or do as I did and sew up the scarf you already have. In an emergency, when cold, just sew one line of stitching quickly up the straight seam and never mind about shaping it.

Sewing Kit
How? Where do you get a sewing kit?

With luck, and planning, you or your partner will always carry a sewing kit. If not, sewing kits are cheap from cheap shops, sold in lots of supermarkets UK and worldwide, and novelty shops in Hanoi, Vietnam.


Hotel Sewing Kit from Sunline Paon Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Our hotel the Sunline Paon supplied a small sewing kit in the room. The needle was so tiny that two of us struggled for ten minutes and could not get the thread through the tiny hole. We tried widening the hole with the end of a safety pin. Still no luck.

I went downstairs to reception. The girl on reception struggled for a few times. Eventually she did it!

Now, what do you do?

Seam from top right of picture. Scarf folded down on right to show where seam ends.


How To Seam
Fold the scarf in half horizontally. Sew a simple seam a few inches down from the fold, long enough to cover your head.

Scarf sewn into hood. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Success
That will keep you warm until you can find a beanie hat to buy or fly back to a warm country. The part which covers your neck can also secure a second scarf as a neck warmer.

I now appreciate an upright mandarin collar. you could do lots of other things. For example, sew the scarf hood to a jacket collar, or even a blouse collar. Add a pom-pom.

Or sew another scarf inside for extra warmth and contrast lining. Tie the lining scarf under your chin whilst leaving the long tasseled end hanging.

But, back home, you are now without your favourite scarf. You have a winter item and you are back in summer weather.

Unpick
In theory you can unpick the thread again for summer or warmer weather. How securely should you sew it? Double thread would be more secure. I sewed a simple running stitch, but back-stitched every inch or so to prevent it tearing open.

The sign outside St Joseph's cathedral says no baseball hats. However, I imagine my scarf would be allowed.

Travel information
For hotels
booking.com
Comparison site:
https://www.clicktripz.com/rates/search/index
For airlines
travelok.com
vietJetair.com (Comprehensive list of budget airlines in Wikivoyage.)
For transport
https://www.grab.com/vn/en/

Language
Duolingo.com 
(Remember to click on the sound symbol to hear how words are pronounced.) 

Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Light Weight Luggage, Holiday Clothes, Packing, Shopping, Washing Tips

When you are climbing up a mountain or trekking, or even taking a trip into town, the less you carry the lighter you feel. 

Saucepans

The lightest saucepans are in camping shops, little square aluminium things. You can also buy tiny frying pans on special offer in department stores. But the companying shop ones are lighter.

The lightest items, are either delicate or deigned for wear. For example, aluminium pans from a cheap shop which might get dented when carried. if you want them for a one off use, or to leave behind at your destination to save weight coming home, or as a tip to a host or guide, might be adequate. But those in a camping shop are likely to be sturdier and their information on websites is more likely to give you weight and dimensions rather than selling the sizzle.

Angela in silk caftan.

Silk Clothes
I try to pack silk clothes in an overnight bag. Taking a trip to a conference on a train, making several changed, along corridors, up steps, around stations to change platforms, haven a small enough case to have with me for security, not left unguarded by the train or bus entrance, is important to me.

However I found that some pretty silk clothes will snag, leaving runs (a pair of nail scissors is useful, but my tailoring and seamstress grannies taught me that you get a needle and draw a loose thread or a loop to the back of the fabric rather than risking it getting pulled or leaving a small spike.

Silk Underwear and Tank Tops
Silk underwear is also very light to pack. You can also wear two layers of silk underwear. A silk tank top can be worn as a single garment, an overgarment of contrasting or co-ordinating colour, then washed out and used as a warming vest, or simply a vest on the way home, protected from dirty and damage under other clothes, or keeping you warm when travelling from a beach area back to a cold climate.

Sometimes if the garment is just for a change, I am prepared to risk it getting torn., or tear apart at the seems, will give you lots of changes. The alternative is to check when buying or packing, that your clothes are not flimsy.

Over-Sewing Seams and Buttons
It's sometimes quicker to reinforce seams and buttons at home, rather than risk losing the use of the garment, losing a button, or wasting time on repairs at the destination. I find it easier to match up cottons at home from a box than hope to find the right thread in a sewing kit.

Sewing Kit Threads To Match Your Travel Clothes
You could look at all your clothes and check the colours. This is even easier if you stick to a simple scheme for packing. If you are trekking, or a conservative colours, inconspicuous, coordinating with mountains, maybe such as all brown (just three shades). If you have blue eyes or are near the sea or spring bluebells or summer blue flowers, all blues, (navy blue, mid and palest blue). For no washing, matching your black hair, no decisions, all black, or all black and white. That is very easy for packing, dressing, and buying at your destination. Or pick all pink, red, mauve, orange. Even one of each for variety on a four day trip, or eight days wearing all in rotation twice, is just four bright colours. Then find a matching cotton on your reels. Cut off an arm-length piece and wind it around the notched thin card in a sewing kit. he presto, a DIY sewing kit with exactly the colour you need.

Sturdy Hiking Shoes
A useful guide I read about hiking shoes suggested that you should look for shoes or sandals with the uppers sewn on, rather than glued on, so that they don't come apart when you step into puddles or are forced to wade through water. I was looking at hiking sandals. The blog post emphasised what I and you already know, but introduced it as something to be at the forefront of your mind before choosing, rather than something you realised after you have tried on the shoes, or taken them on holiday. The sturdier ones are often heavier. So take the sturdiest for your longer trips, climbing up hills and mountains. Go lightweight when anticipating a long day walking around on the flat.
http://www.hikingdude.com/hiking-boots.php

Light Luggage
The same applies to luggage. You can either pack like people with porters in Victorian times, in a huge well-organised case like a chest of drawers with loads of compartments, so strong it will last years, but needs two people to shift it. 

Or take a tiny suitcase on four wheels, cheap to buy, but vulnerable to theft and damage and stains. Mine has lasted about six months, now has a damaged wheel and my selfie stick tore through the inside picket.

Recycling Silk sleeping bag liners

If your trip is a one off and you are left with a silk sleeping bag liner, you can recycle or upcycle. In WWII leftover parachute silk in white was made into wedding dresses and evening dresses. White, from a parachute or wedding dress can be dyed into other pale, dark or tie dye mottled colours.

An oblong bag can be turned into pillows, cushion covers, tote bags, or a shift dress, tic top or long or short skirt.

I pack a week before I go away. If I am away for five days, the week before my travel trip I try on my first day's outfit, complete with shoes, raincoat or sunhat, matching umbrella, matching shoes, gloves, socks or stocking or knee-highs, co-ordinating tights or leggings, underwear which matches if it is seem around armholes or the steps come out of sleeves and necklines (add a safety pin), plus any needed belts or brooches, or neck warmers, or modesty triangles for a low neck blouse.

At the end of the week I am packed and ready to go, and no finding my luggage is too heave just as the taxi arrives to take me to the airport. At least, that's the theory.

I now have two days to spare to give my holiday address to the family, instruct them how to water the plants, check I have the address of the destination, pack up the food which nobody else will eat if I leave it behind, for a snack in case of delays on my journey.

Unpacking At Destination
And what of the other end? I always pack a hanger. Nothing worse than a destination with no hangers. A couple of clothes pegs or loops might extend the use of the hanger. If I can pack each garment on a hanger, at the other end I hang up the garment ready for the evening meal or tex day at a conference so it is crease-free. No time wasted unpacking. Ready to rush down to reception or dinner.

Unpacking At Home
When I get home, if I have packed clothes of the same type, no need to sort clothes I did not wear from those I did wear - if I packed carefully. You could also pack all clothes which are white, all coloured, or all delicate wash, or all cottons for hot wash, so the whole lot can be washed without sorting on return. (And no risk of coming back jet-lagged and making a mistake.)

Sorting Washing
Another system is to have two laundry bags in your suitcase, one for white, one for coloureds. Take a white plastic or paper or cotton bag and / or mark a white bag with a label. Have a dark plastic or paper or cotton bag for dark laundry. When you get home your washing is ready to throw into the washer.

Alternatives are to wash all whites by hand or machine whilst away, to be sure stains don't set in. Bring home all the coloured which might drip colour on the hotel bathroom or your host's shower, bath, bathmat, tiles, towels, carpet, walls, furniture. (I once washed out a red caftan and hung it on a line above a white bath cum shower in the Singapore flat of a friend I was staying with. Somebody else had a bath or shower and moved my hanger to the end over the tiled area at the foot of the bath. tex morning red stains were on the grouting between the tiles. I spent about two hours cleaning it off. When I told the host, he shrugged, "I'm only renting," he said. "It'll probably come off eventually in the steam. Don't worry." But I do worry. I bring coloured clothes home and hang them over a red plastic bowl, get up early and move my drip-dray clothes out of everybody else's way.

Another option is to pack all clothes which drip-dray overnight.

If you do the dry run of wearing your holiday clothes. Of course, your clothes won't have that completely unworn look. Some people prefer to wash everything anyway. They wonder whether the hands of the sewers were clean, the factory was dusty, the packers were clean, the garment was worn once and returned, tried on in the shop, still had chemicals to prevent creasing which might cause a rash in sensitive skin.

Sets Of Four
I bought a set of four matching items sold as a set of four on Ebay. You could do the same by buying two different matching outfits from the same designer, or even buying matching colours form a shop or department store.

One reversible dress is two outfits. Two reversible dresses is four outfits. (One reversible dress strappy dress worn as a slip under a cap sleeved dress is two day outfits and two evening outfits without packing any clothes for a weekend.

Weekenders Outfits
Years ago I bought a multi-way skirt from Weekenders. It had two four long thin belt steps from the waist, two on the right and two on the left. You could wear it with the kick slit in the hame at the back or the side, tie the belts at the back, from, sides, or leave them loose. If you have a thin fabric, you can use a donut shape circle to pull through your fabric to shorten a skirt or top on one side or both if you have two donuts. You need to be sure the donut has smooth edges so as not to damage the fabric. Also the fabric might keep pulling out, so I found it safer and less annoying to have a safety pin at the back.

Sewing A New Look
You could even sew the skirt up at one point in the hem, such as the front or sides. Ten or twenty minutes work, even an hour if you are hanging around in a hotel bored, or waiting for the morning coach out, and you have a new look.

Buy two dresses from the same shop or designer in similar fabrics but contrasting colours. Cut off a strip with pinking sheers. You have either a contrasting belt, scarf or headband, or a pin on brooch decoration.

One twin set, or three outfits?
An old fashioned twin set of a sleeveless top and matching cardigan is one co-ordinated outfit. You could make it three outfits if you wear the sleeveless top alone, the cardigan buttoned up alone, or both with the cardigan unbuttoned to show the matching outfit.

The same applies to a modern set of a sleeveless top and jacket for a woman, a tee-shirt and jacket for a man.

If you are moving from one temperature to another, you really have three options in terms of weight. But you may feel you do not have three new looks for style.

However, as far as photographs are concerned, you can be photographed in each of three ways. This gives you two or three different looks, casual, co-ordinated, or more formal and literally buttoned up.

Four or Six - how many outfits?
If you have two skirts or trousers and two tops, let's say black and white, you have four outfits. All black. All white. Black top and white bottoms. White top and black bottoms. Add a reversible scarf, for a man two ties, cravats, beanie hats, and you have two more looks.

Six Items - How Many Outfits?
Let's say you have three shirts in all red, all white, all blue, three skirts or trousers, all red, all white, or all blue. You have nine. A mathematician would do a calculation. Do you believe the results? T's easy to check. These variations are your choices. All red. All white. All blue.  Three. Red top with the blue or white skirts/trousers. Add two. That's five. White top with the red or blue skirts or  trousers. Add two. Seven. Blue top with the red or white. Add two. Nine.

All blue travelling. Four garments to pack. Seven different outfits for a week.

Bored by the same old colours? Buy three scarves at the destination. Buy three ties. Buy one top with a pattern in red white and blue.

Skirts And Trousers (US pants)
You could even wear co-ordinating leggings under a tunic, like a punjabi outfit, for travel day or evening (Friday night departure for the weekend). At your destination you have a short dress, trousers, or both.

(NB in the US they sell pants and underpants. In the UK they sell trousers and pants. Ask for pants in a shop in New York or the USA and you'll be sent to a department selling jeans and suits. Ask for pants in the Uk and you'll be directed to the underwear department.)

Wearing In Shoes
The hiker's blog also reminded me about wearing in new shoes at home in the house, just to accustom your feet to the shoes, and stretch the shoes to fit your feet. If something rubs, it will remind you to take thicker socks, and pack plasters. Or take a second pair of shoes, as a replacement, or to alternate to give your foot's rubbed areas a rest.

Keeping Packing List
(If you go to a campsite or annual conference every year, you should know that you need a travelling outfit, a a day outfit, a pretty outfit for the last night dinner, another outfit for the coach trip on the mid-week afternoon off. Last year's packing list, on your computer is very handy. If you don't have one, now is the time to make this year's packing list. Print it off and file it with the destination guide and in the lid of your suitcase and on the back of the door of your wardrobe (USA closet).

Useful Websites

https://www.diyaonline.com/outlet/women.html?product_list_order=low_to_high&p=3
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.
Author of How To Get Out Of The Mess You're In.

Angela in red Thai silk top and jacket.

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. Please see my other blogs and share links with your friends

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

White Towelling Slippers And Flip-Flops - Reinforcing slippers

At home and when travelling I like to wear slippers indoors. On holiday I like to pack slippers. If I am travelling light, I don't want to pack heavy shoes. Light slippers are a useful spare pair. Besides, if your daytime shoes are dirty or wet, it's good to take them off and wear slippers in the hotel bedroom. Slippers are good for keeping the carpet clean, and letting your feet breathe.

Hotel Bedrooms
On holidays and conferences I stay in hotels and university accommodation. In hotel bedrooms I don't want to go barefoot and risk stubbing my toes against the base of the bed or chairs with splayed legs. I put on slippers even when padding from the bedroom to the en suite bathroom.

If somebody knocks at the door I like to be wearing slippers. It looks so sloppy and undressed to be padding about barefoot.

I am not sure the carpeted bedroom floors are clean. I could pick up veruccas from a bathroom floor. Or slip on a wet floor. As for the area in front of the toilet ... !

But traditional towelling slippers are often made man-size so I have started to keep one pair for males and visitors, another sewn to suit my smaller feet. Sewing towelling slippers to make them smaller is a project at home before I go on holiday. I can finish in the hotel on a rainy day or when I'm waiting for room service. I just need to ask for a sewing kit, or make sure I have one packed in the front of my travelling bag.

Sewing Slippers
I am still working on adapting my white towelling slippers. My years-old white towelling slippers are my experiment in sewing slippers. I have not had the courage to make myself slippers, yet. But I am working on the old slippers. I have turned up the back of the too long slippers. I inserted a piece of white lace cut from an old bra. The link piece's main purpose is to hold up the back more securely, also to stop my foot from slipping back and crushing the back.

Cheap Slippers
I am not short of slippers. I have a pair of green open back slippers from a Pound Shop, which cost only £1. However, 'waste not want not' is my motto.

My favourite and smartest slippers were silk wine-colour backless slippers.  I wore them worn every day.  After about a year the part under the heel wore through.

They came from Patra, second hand on Ebay. I looked for another. But they were a one-off opportunity. Probably an oddment, clearance stock. Replacements were unobtainable, neither available at a reduced price on eBay, nor even full price from Patra.

Repairing Silk Slippers
Eventually I sewed a piece of ribbon over the worn part. Another six months and the ribbon had worn through. I shall have to do it again.

Improving Fit
But whilst I have the ribbon and the mood, I am wondering whether I should sew some more. I would like to add a ribbon running from the part across the toes horizontally back around the heel, just a long piece of ribbon. I could either sen down all the way around, or, more simply, neatly and quickly, sewn only the width of the ribbon at either side at the front.

Adjusting Straps
How would I get the ribbon on and off the back of my heel? Too tight and it's a nuisance. Too loose and it will slip off.

Elastic
One solution is to use elastic instead of ribbon. But that's often available in all widths only in black and white. Colours are harder to match and rarer.

On white slippers, white elastic would work. You could make a long strap entirely of elastic, which would involve less time sewing. Alternatively, sew on a long ribbon, with a short elastic insert either at the back behind the ankle (so long as it does not rub). If you sew neatly, a short piece inserted where the ribbon joins the piece over the toes would be good.

Ribbons
To make it fit exactly, you could have two ribbons and tie them in a bow. Two equal ribbons could tie in a bow behind your ankle. Or one piece of ribbon longer, you could tie a bow on the outside of your food.

Buckles
Another alternative is to take buckles off an old pair of sandals.

If and when I sew more slippers, I shall show you the pictures in a later post. See my previous post and photos on adapting over-large white towelling slippers.

The slippers are not ultra-smart. but they are just right for bathroom to breakfast at home. Even if you do not sew neatly, the white cotton disappears into the towelling.

Decorative Braid Option
I am so pleased with the comfortable fit of my slimmed down towelling slippers, that I am now considering investing more time in sewing parallel lines of ribbon to decorate the toes along the sewn area. If you had an untidy line of sewing, or the wrong colour cotton, you could conceal it under decorative braid. Best of all, the lines will make the wide slippers look narrower.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Hiding stains on garments when travelling

I was in Singapore during Chinese New Year when the main event is Chinese New Year dinners, Singapore style - called Lo Hei, where you are served a central platter in the middle of a round table and all the diners stand and toss the noodles and coloured ingredients in the air - with the risk of splashing your clothes. One American lady apparently made a fuss because her fine blouse or dress was splattered and needed dry cleaning at high expense with the risk of staining.

The memory of this event has bothered me for years. Whenever I go to an Indian restaurant I wear a scarf which can be washed which I drape across my chest or lap or both. The scarf should protect my dress. Also if my clothes are splashed I can wash them and cover the stain or damp patch with the scarf.

What happens if you get a splash during dinner? The usual answer is to go to the Ladies and wash as soon as possible.

(If you are stuck at the table and can't rush off, for example, because you are listening to the VIP giving a speech, or the groom's speech at a wedding, and somebody else reached for their sparkling wine for the toast and knocked their red wine over you, what do you do?

You might tip some white wine or water into a glass, from their into a coffee saucer, or use a teaspoon to scoop up a little water. Tip the water onto the corner of your white napkin - if all else fails, a white paper tissue from your pocket, a white tissue begged from a bystander, or even a corner of the tablecloth.

For a spot, without wetting a large area, apply with a piece of cotton wool borrowed from hotel reception or a member of your dinner party who is staying at the hotel.

Dry Cleaning
I recently bought an item from Ebay which was advertised as having some small stains on the top and skirt of a dry clean only garment. When it arrived, I made the mistake of trying to spot clean the stains on the skirt.

I knew from previous experience that some dry clean only garments can be hand washed. Providing you start with cold water. Also watch out for the buttons and other appliqué items which might colour run, or would be damaged, or pull off easily and snag so they would not be safe being tossed about in a washing machine nor a tumble drier. The same applies to delicate crochet where a button from one part of the garment, or a zip pull, could catch in a hole and tear the garment.

Washing Disasters
I have also had a silk garment shrink in the wash. (I now have a shrunken top, though the skirt is OK.) I also had a garment with a lining of a different fabric, so the lining shrank at a different rate from the outside. Result, one part shrunk, and seams puckered.

So I thought I'd already learned my lesson on garments which I had bought so cheaply that I considered that after wearing them four or five times I had had my moneys worth already and would risk washing them.

This tine I had a set of four garment, two parts with tiny stains, two on the skirt, four on the top. So I thought, let's try a tiny cold water wash. No use, still stained.

So, I thought, be bolder. Try a bit of soap and rubbing.

However, as soon as I added the water, the rough crepe silk started buckling and creasing, contrasting with the smooth just ironed look of the rest of the skirt. Disaster!

I tried pulling it straight. I would have to wait and see if hanging it upright helped the creasing fall out. Yes, it is just crumpled, not damaged, but looks as if it needs steaming, far too delicate to iron.

If all else failed, I would have to make a dart and sew up the creased fabric.  Luckily it was a fairly full skirt. Enough fabric for the dart. Enough fabric for it to swing about and not notice.

Hiding
A long jacket or coat might cover the skirt when I arrived at my venue. When I was seated nobody would notice what was below knees level. A long scarf could also cover a stain.

On the other hand, It was too nice a garment to wear on any occasion except a grand event where I wanted to look my best, feel my best, and impress.

Sew on Sequins, Buttons and Ribbons
The spots were tiny, smaller than my little finger's finger nail. I decided not to risk trying to spot wash the top. I would cover the spots with sequins.

Sewing sequins
How do you sew on a sequin? It has only one hole. If you radiate the threads it looks odd.

To hide the three threads you have to sew in one direction only. Then place the next sequin overlapping the thread on the first.

An alternative if you are in a hotel and have no sequins is to use pearl buttons. You can usually get a sewing kit from a hotel or supermarket with a couple of pearly shirt buttons. Pearly buttons can be sewn on with white thread. A five star hotel might have a button sewing service, which could be safer than trusting them to dry clean your garment or sending your garment out to a laundry when you have a plane to catch next day.

Pin or Sew On Ribbons
No sequins nor buttons? If you don't have sequins of buttons, or don't think sequins and buttons suit the garment, consider ribbons. You can double a length of ribbon and pin it on with a brooch. No brooch? Pin it on with a concealed safety pin.

Make a ribbon patch or appliqué. Cut out oblongs of ribbons, seam them and sew them on. Or wind the ribbon into a spiral to make a rose or abstract decoration.

Beads
Small or large beads could also be used.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Author of How To Get Out Of The Mess You're In.

Buying Three piece outfits: UK, USA, Singapore, Asia, Africa, S America, translating dupatta

At the World Travel Market I saw lots of ladies in gorgeous three piece outfits with matching scarves.
Even mixtures of red and pink and yellow and green and gold seem to work if you have the colours linking each piece and a matching hat or even a fabric flower in your hair.Notice these outfits have a short skirt over a contrasting long skirt, and short sleeves. Little gold shoes peeping out.

Vibrant colours come from sunny countries where the flowers and even the birds are brightly coloured. Here's another lovely lady. Looking at the photo again, I see she has a large 'shawl' , a thigh length tunic, and knee length trousers which tighten in a contrasting cuff. Because she is wearing trousers, (pants one would say in the USA), she can wear heavy, practical walking shoes, in black, and when I met her and at first glance the photo I was not even aware of them.

I was looking on line for three piece outfits, skirt, blouse and scarf, when I came across some indian outfits. Here are the translation of the names:

dupatta - scarf

You can find the pronunciation of foreign words:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/dupatta

UK
I found Indian outfits on sale in the UK in London at Northwick Park hospital. You also find them in Indian areas such as Southall and in ethnic shops in central London.

In Singapore you will find them in Little India and in the Mohammed Mustafa department store on the edge of Little India (one stop further north on the MRT) as well as in stores and supermarkets all over.

Malaysia
Malaysia has co-ordinated outfits with long skirts. Cheaper in Malaysian shops and stores and markets. Take a bus from Singapore. Or hire a car and drive across the bridge into Malaysia. Or shop in the suburbs of Singapore. Bargain in small shops, walk away and come back, or ask a local friend to buy for you.

Singapore
I bought caftans in Singapore at Tang's department store in one of their many sales. I was horrified to learn from a Singaporean Chinese friend that Singaporean women would only wear loose outfits such as my Malaysian caftan at home as housecoats. They wear fitted garments, mostly suits with pencil skirts, to the office. For years at meetings and on the train I had been wearing the equivalent of a dressing gown or night-dress! For several months, every time I looked at my caftan, I felt mortified.

But I also had some very elegant entirely silk caftans which I wore at home for entertaining. I got lots of compliments. (Well, I was the hostess.)

I gradually recovered my courage and thought: To hell with local customs and fashions. I set the style. If it suits me and my Western and oriental friends who have the same tastes as me compliment me on my clothes, that's good enough. Maybe I shall be a trend-setter and change the fashion.

India, Parkistan, Bangladesh
Other countries of course are India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Many African countries have national dress or local dress consisting of  a dress or skirt and matching top. Often instead of a shawl they have a piece of cloth worn wound around the hair like a turban.

If you make an expensive purchase, or several items, you might be given a matching scarf for free, or you could ask for one.

Men's outfits are similarly co-ordinated.

I noticed that in hot countries the local ladies even though they were shorter or plumper than Western women often looked elegant and slim. I think wearing either plain or co-ordinated colours with long skirts. Vertical patterns or patterns around the neck keep a pencil like profile.

Looking on eBay you can also buy two piece outfits in so called Thai silk, often a synthetic which is as pretty as real silk and as soft to wear.The skirts are wrap around so they fit most sizes if you buy a large one, which can always be pulled tighter and the bodice taken in. If you look carefully you can find a co-ordinating scarf to wear as a wide cummerbund or shawl.

Thailand and Singapore
They are much cheaper if you buy them in Thailand or Singapore, especially if you buy them from a market stall and bargain. (Easy to wrap around or hold them against you to try the size. Or take a tape measure with you.)

World Travel Market
At World Travel market I met lots of ladies who were wearing their national dress. I should have asked them where to buy budget clothes and best clothes in cor-ordinating patterns and fabrics.

Look at this lady looking gorgeous in her national costume from Colombia on the North West coast of South America. The turban adds to the height. From the shoes to the top of the head, the line is elongated, the colours co-ordinated.

Brides
Do check which colours are worn when and which outfits are worn where. All white, following the fashion set by Queen Victoria's daughter, is worn at weddings in the UK and worldwide. But Indians and Chinese brides often wear red for part or all of the day, so my outfit for a wedding in Singapore must not rival or outdo the bride's. White is also worn for funerals at some Asian events.

Mother of the bride
To find an elegant outfit in co-ordinating colours which is not too revealing, try searching for mother of the bride outfits. They are often sold new or second hand (vintage) with a matching hat or shoes or handbag.

The mother and mother in law of the bride may want to consult each other so they match by design, or do not default, and do not clash in photos with one in red and another in orange. They must decide whether they agree to look different, or agree to co-ordinate.

Made to measure
Made to measure clothes can be ordered in many countries such as Singapore, India and China. You can also order online from China, sending your measurements. See eBay. Warning. If you order online you cannot be sure the garment will fit and if it doesn't you might not be able to return it. Another option is to make it yourself or get one garment as cheaply as possible, then get it copied in other colours and better fabrics, either in your home country or when on holiday.


Fabrics
I find that some saris have beautiful gold or glittering brocade. But sometimes the brocade is scratchy.
I like to feel the fabric or look for the word soft. On the other hand, I buy reversible dresses in a rough, tough fabric. Just so long as you are aware of what you might be getting. I also like washable clothes because if they arrive creased I can hang them up to drip dry. Also when travelling it is handy to be able to drip dry to remove creases.

Internet terms which are useful in searches:

bag
balloon
batwing
belt
blouse
boho (short for bohemian, casual, gypsy look)
bolero
bride
bridal
brocade
caftan
calf-length
came / camisole
cardigan
Christmas outfit
clutch (small flat oblong evening / party handbag with short, small or no handle)
coat
coat dress
coat and hat
cocktail
co-ordinating
complete outfit
cruise
cuff
culottes
cummerbund (wide belt)
custom made
cutout /devore
diamond
dress and jacket
dress and top
dupatta
embroidered
ethnic
evening dress
fascinator (hairband or hair clip with flower, feather, lace or other flat or projecting headpiece
flute cuff
four piece
formal outfit
groom
gypsy
jacket
kilt
knee-length
lace
lagenlook (German for layered)
layered
leisure outfit
long dress
long skirt
long sleeve
matching
maxi
mother of the bride
occasions
one size fits most
outfit
overdress
p a l a t i o pants
pants
party
pashmina
prom
pure silk
raglan
satin
saree / sari
scarf
sequin
set
shawl
shirt and tie offer  / suit shirt and tie offer
silk
silk velvet
skirt suit
sparkle
special occasion
stretchy
suit (try suite - sometimes Asian sellers mis-spell words, but your search for suit or suite often brings up three piece suites of furniture so add the words women or ladies)
Sunday / Sunday best
tailored
Thai silk
three piece (again you are likely to get furniture, kids clothes as well)
trouser suit
trousers
tulip
twin set
two piece
turban
underdress
wedding  / guest outfit
waterfall

Warnings
Watch out for so-called gold which is merely a dark yellow. Gold and silver might be a really nice shine but a stiff metallic, non-stretchy finish on a tee-shirt.You might be happy with a scratchy surface if the garment has a lining or if you wear it over another item.

Indian outfits sometimes say, skirt needs to be sewn. They are sold that way sometimes so that you sew it to fit. Also it's cheaper.

Sometimes the scarf shown with an outfit is no longer available, is sold separately, or is in the photo to enhance the colour or effect. Check the specifications before you click on the buy now button, to be sure the scarf is included.

The most misleading ads I have seen are those where the colour is not the same as the picture.Sometimes the headline gives the colour. You click on the picture which is red and up comes the description, jade suit. Read the description carefully, or email the seller to confirm the colour. Other outfits are sold in several colours but when you click on the options you may find your favourite is out of stock. You can then look for another supplier, email asking for an update, or watch the page daily.

Some brand names and stores: Ann Balon, Anthony Sicari, Coterie, Jacques Vert, Gray and Osborne, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, J D Williams, Frank Usher.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.

Spanish for breakfast, lunch and dinner, dressed in silk

In Spain we were desperate for breakfast. But couldn't find the word for breakfast. The word was desayuno.

breakfast - desayuno
lunch - almuerzo (z pronounced th) al-moo-er-tho
dinner - cena

My Spanish is not too good, nor is my memory. I might have to skip lunch (almuertho) and wait for dinner - cena.

Dinner is easier to remember. Imagine it is spelled dina, then turn d into c - c e n a . My spellcheck on this site turns the Sanish word for dinner into cent, as in century.

Dinner is pronounced kay - na. Hard c.

What shall I wear for dinner?
seda - silk
silk - seda.

I said seda, silk.

Angela Lansbury, author, travel writer, photographer, English teacher.

Packing light and travelling light, secret of silk ...

Silk, yes, silk, is the answer to travelling and packing light. Just in case you luggage is lost or delayed, you can take a small extra garment in your hand luggage or handbag.

Silk Underwear
For a weekend away, wear two pairs of lightweight silk underwear, briefs and larger if you have them. One can be washed, maybe dried fast under the hotel hair dyer, even the hand dryer in a toilet. You still have the spare outer pair. Not too bulky for travel. Warm for leaving a cold country, light for arrival somewhere warmer.

Silk Vests
What else? Silk vests are light. Same principle. Wear one and pack one. You could even wear one short sleeve and one long sleeve or sleeveless tank top.

Silk Blouse or Dress
Silk blouse, even a long sleeved one with a tie bow neck packs light or is light to wear. Silk sleeveless dress is small enough to post through the letterbox, and can be worn as a sleeveless dress or as a slip under your travelling outfit.

Silk Jacket and Hood
A lightweight silk jacket with a hood is a handy cover for travel, covers arms in religious buildings and provides protection from strong sunlight or draught air conditioning. It packs away small in a tote bag if you are carrying it just in case, or don't want to risk leaving it behind or losing it in a restaurant.

Silk Scarves
To brighten up a garment in a subtle colour, add splash of colour from a scarf, which can double as a belt.