Importante Gifts
3149 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
90039
323.665.1901
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TRAVEL
Vietnam
 You would be hard pressed to identify Vietnam as a communist country by observing its healthy and vibrant street commerce. Row upon row of shops or stalls fill the streets - each carrying unique items we haven't seen in any other Asian country. The merchants are generally women which would explain all the men walking around cuddling small children by day. Lacquer ware in countless forms, watercolor art, rich silks, striking jewelry, water buffalo horn and bamboo artifacts are just a few things we carried home on our backs. Despite the "American War" the Vietnamese were unfailingly gracious which made for an easy, fun trip. |
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Peru
 The intensely beautiful skies of Cusco, Peru with its pure white clouds moving quickly against a deep blue canvas quite literally took our breath away. After a day acclimating to the Andes altitude we set out walking through the maze of narrow cobblestone streets where you run across both ancient Incan walls and colonial era Spanish cathedrals. Tucked in between are vendors with piles of the softest alpaca knits, jewel toned woven goods loomed in the same fashion as their long ago Indian ancestors and hand tooled silver jewelry carrying deep green turquoise, rose quartz and shell. As a street vendor told us "life in Cusco is muy tranquilo". We say verdad. |
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Argentina
 Its been said that Buenos Aires is the most cosmopolitan of cities in South America – with its sophisticated gentleman in fedoras who dress for lunch, its effortlessly fashionable women of mostly European decent and broad boulevards reminiscent of Paris, we have to agree. It also has its gritty urban side with cutting edge graffiti art, sensual tango dancer busking for change and dreadlocked hippies spreading their handmade wares on blankets in the parks. Weekends are for shopping with flea markets in several of the cities diverse neighborhoods drawing crowds. In the evening you can go for a prime cut of beef with a fine Argentinean wine or just sit in an outdoor cafe with an inexpensive vintage and a slice o’ pizza watching the world go by for hours on end. |
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Thailand
 The Thai’s make it easy to shop their country, just head to Khaosan Road in Bangkok and the night markets of Chiang Mai then hit every shop in between. It is a buyer’s paradise and the side trips to their many temples (wats), elephant sanctuaries and botanical gardens make for a well balanced trip. Oh yeah, then there is the food and the massages. The best Phad Thai ever - from a street vendor - cost $.50. One hour massage - $6. Ahhh. |
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India
 “Everything that can be said about India, the opposite is also true.” Is there chaos? Absolutely. Can you find an atmosphere for serene self discovery? If that is your mission. We were there to shop and there are few countries that offer more of a variety of handicraft. Jaipur was a highlight. We purchased our special ultra-soft cotton comforters and henna candles there, as well as antique jewelry and hand painted “blue” pottery. But we also picked up a stomach bug, par for the course when taking on the complexities of India.
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Bali
 Beautiful country, beautiful people and an abundance of traditional ceremonies in which to sneak a peek at their rich culture. In Bali, Ubud is the place to be. Not only for the incredible shopping but also for its views of dramatic volcanoes with deep green terraced rice paddies in the foreground. Wonderful batik silks, bronze statuary, floating plumeria candles, beadwork and of course the “Bali silver” the country is known for are all reasons to make the long trip worthwhile.
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Next Buying Trip – Morocco |
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