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| Sydney Souvenirs | ||||||
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Planning to buy Souvenirs on your next trip to Sydney? Think beyond the boomerangs koala key chains and stuffed kangaroos. by Leela Jesudason ow many times have you stood at outrageously expensive airport souvenir stores, boarding pass in hand, dolefully shelling out money for a semi-tacky trinket that was not even made in the country where you just completed a whirlwind round of meetings?
If you're in Sydney, forget about the stuffed kangaroos, look beyond the koala bear key chains and bypass the boomerangs. The city is brimming with so much creativity, it would be a shame if you took home gifts that did not reflect the vibrancy of Australian-designed and -made products. If money is no object, you could go with a well-established designer name like Ken Done. There are, however, many other Australian names that are less expensive and rapidly making themselves known around the world. One of them is Coogi. The company was founded by Jacky Taranto and produces high quality, distinctive knitwear that is stylish, comfortable and eye-catching. It combines elements and colors of Australia, rich hues and vibrant shades of the land. Stores can be found throughout the city and at the airport, too. Prices range from A$100 upwards. A trendy store to check out is Dinosaur Designs. Founded in 1985, the trio of owners started peddling their wares at the popular Paddington markets. A year later, they started selling their products wholesale. And in 1989 they opened their first store at The Strand Arcade in the heart of Sydney's shopping belt. Dinosaur Designs is a collection of quirky home ware created with a sense of fun -- without compromising the look and feel of chic. Brightly colored and made out of either glass or acrylic, the wares range from servers to platters, cups, jugs and dishes. To catch a glimpse of these wholly Australian products, check out: www.dinosaurdesigns.com.au. If you have the time, you can meander outside the city itself into neighboring areas such as Balmain or Glebe, where one-of-a-kind stores are choc-a-block. In Balmain, drop into Home Utopia, where you can get vases, glassware, handmade candles, soft toys, feng shui fountains or handmade key chains -- all crafted in Australia. The range of items made by craftsmen throughout the country has grown over the years, and shoppers from far and wide make their way here for unique gifts.
The weekend market at The Rocks is among the coolest, combining a little entertainment, great food and a festive atmosphere. You can book a Harley tour around the island or catch comedians making their way through the crowds dressed as policemen, pilots or just about anything, waiting to pose with tourists -- and they never fail to draw a laugh with their outlandish poses. By the time you get to the stalls, the fun-loving atmosphere of the place will have loosened your tight grip on your wallet. Surprisingly, the prices of the goodies displayed at The Rocks are competitive with other not-so-popular markets, so don't worry about paying more simply because you're in a designated "tourist" spot. You can find a gift for just about any difficult person you know. Check out the handmade wine bottle holders, which look like a piece of wood with a hole carved through it, but magically suspends a bottle of wine effortlessly. Visit the handmade pewter store that features jewelry, cufflinks, tiepins, photo frames and clocks. You can also find stalls that sell handmade quality toys, freshly made pots of jams, chutneys and pasta sauces, hand-painted lazy suzans, leather goods, discounted Australiana books, handmade semi-precious jewelry, scented candles, essential oils and eye-catching home ware. The list goes on and on. The products are of good quality and are proudly designed and made in Australia, so you can buy, buy, buy, knowing that you won't go home and find a tiny 'Made in China' sticker tucked away somewhere! Other markets to check out include the Glebe Market and the Paddington Market, both of which are fairly large and carry a wide range of handcrafted local wares at reasonable prices. Of course if you get hungry with all that shopping you can also stop for some international cuisine made on the spot at the food stalls while you have your palm read. | ||||||
