One of the best purchases I've ever made in a souvenir context was the bone-carved necklace I bought whilst backpacking in NZ in 1995.
It's nearly 12 years since I made the purchase and it still gets worn 4 or so times a week. You could take this as a comment on the sophistication (or lack of) of my jewellery taste, but for me its simply that I love wearing it. I like its aesthetic simplicity. I like its cultural significance. But most of all I like that it reminds me of one the best times of my life travelling around a amazing country.
You can also opt to carve your own and Whitianga on the Corormandel is a great place for this.
One thing that I hadn't imagined when I bought it though, was how much of an identifying mark it would be. On numerous occasions on meeting someone for the first question i've been asked "Have you been to New Zealand?". Out of context this seems like a really random question, but then I remember I'm wearing my bone carving and it all becomes clear...
Since 1995 I've been bought or bought myself several further necklaces from New Zealand, but it's still the original that I wear the most.
This is one of the better sites that I have visted. I will be back...
Thank you
Posted by: T. Alexander | December 09, 2007 at 01:21 AM