We are very excited to announce a new selection of fair trade jewelry from Bali, Indonesia.
The pieces that have just arrived range from beautiful hand painted fashion bangles, to harmony ball bracelets to Bali handmade silver jewelry rings.
Check out all the Bali fair trade jewelry on the Pangea Collection site.
Fair Trade Jewelry From Bali Indonesia
Why not celebrate fair trade month with some fair trade jewelry (fair trade jewellery)?
October is fair trade month. During fair trade month you can help raise awareness of fair trade by spreading the word to your friends and family that it is possible to purchase products including fair trade jewelry that you will love, are fairly priced and produced in good working conditions and the artisan is paid a fair price for their work.
Fair trade products including fair trade jewelry ensure that the fair trade jewelry artisan (or other artisan/producer) are paid fairly for their work, are producing the goods such as jewelry in a good working environment, without child labour etc. There are ten basic principles of fair trade that all fair trade organisations must follow ensuring that the fair trade jewelry or other goods are produced ethically.
So this fair trade month help us not only celebrate the beautiful cultural jewelry of the jewelry artisans from around the world but also help these fair trade jewelry artisans achieve the art of self reliance.
The following jewelry is fair trade jewelry:
Fair Trade Jewelry From India
Fair Trade African Jewelry
Nepal Fair Trade Jewelry
Chile Fair Trade Jewelry
Thai Fair Trade Jewelry
Ecuador Fair Trade Jewelry
Happy Fair Trade Month
Yes it’s true the trees have barely started to turn colour and already it is time to be thinking about Spring Fashion 2010!
Here are the spring fashion week dates for those who want a sneak peak at what you’ll be wearing next year.
Fashion weeks always kick off with New York:
Mecedes Fashion Week NYC Sept 5 - 12
Milan Sept 23 - 30
Paris RTW Sept 30 - Oct 8
Montreal Oct 13 - 15
Toronto Oct 19 - 24
Pangea-Collection.com has just received new artisan jewellery pieces from Bali. We are very excited about these new Bali jewelry pieces!
We are in the process of posting all of the new Bali jewelry to the website and will post another article when all the pieces have been listed on the site.
Here is a sneak peak at what is being loaded:
Bali Sterling Silver and Blue Agate Drop Earrings
Bali Filigree Abalone Disc Earrings and Pendant Set
More to come, check Pangea Collection Bali Jewelry page for more.
Love this Polyvore set which shows that Fair Trade Jewelry can be as high fashion as designer fashion.
Check out the Pangea Collection’s fair trade wood jewelry from India to see this necklace and more fair trade jewlery from India.
Check out these beautiful and colourful Polyvore sets featuring Pangea Collection’s fair trade wood bangles from India. These sets give you great ideas of how to wear and combine the bangles with other pieces.
Pangea-Collection.com is once again proud to be supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) with a donation being made from Pink Breast Cancer Jewelry Collection purchases.
Last year, Pangea Collection offered a $10 donation from every Sterling Silver Link Heart Pendant Bracelet in support of breast cancer research. This year, Pangea Collection is extending the Breast Cancer Jewelry Collection to include eight different artisan jewellery pieces.
A donation of $5 from every Pink Breast Cancer Jewelry Earrings or Scarf purchase and a $10 donation from every Pink Breast Cancer Jewelry Bracelet or Necklace.
Breast Cancer Jewelry Collection
The pieces in the Pink Breast Cancer Jewelry Collection include the jewelry pieces below. Click on the name to see the jewelry on the Pangea Collection website.
Pink Semi Precious Stone Lariat Necklaces
Salmon Moss Semi Precious Stone Bracelet
Pink Rhodonite Semi Precious Stone Bracelet
Sterling Silver Heart Pendant Bracelet
Silver and Pink Cz Crystal Earrings
Pink Jade Earrings
Cherry Quartz Earrings
Coral Pink Thai Silk Scarf
In addition to your artisan jewellery purchase contributing a donation to breast cancer research, you will also be helping support artisans and their families around the world.
Pieces in the Pink Breast Cancer Jewelry Collection are artisan jewellery pieces from the Mexico Silver Jewelry Collection (Sterling Silver Heart Pendant Link Bracelet), Canadian Artisan Jewellery Collection (Pink Semi Precious Stone Lariat Necklaces, Salmon Moss Unakite Semi Precious Stone Bracelet, Pink Rhodonite Semi Precious Stone Bracelet, Pink Jade Earrings and Cherry Quartz Earrings), Thai Fair Trade Jewelry and Silk Collection (Silver and Pink Cz Crystal Earrings and Coral Pink Thai Silk Scarf).
Top Tips for saving money while travelling:
1. Flights:
i. Use Points
Use points wherever possible, you will still have to pay the taxes but you can often save significantly and get a higher class level. Another option is to use points to upgrade from a lower class seat, just make sure when booking a lower class seat that it can be upgraded using points or an upgrade certificate. Airlines often have a lot of restrictions on these.
ii. Book In Advance Or Last Minute
If you have the time to plan in advance you can often save significantly on flights. Alternatively if you are flexible and don’t have your heart set on a specific destination you can save by waiting for last minute deals. It would not be recommend to try this last minute tactic during peak travel times.
iii. Travel Off Peak
This will not only save you on flights but likely everything else, accommodation, attractions etc. Another non cost benefit of this is less tourists, which should not be undervalued.
2. Accommodation:
Hotel accommodation is expensive even if you stay at a so called inexpensive hotel and then you usually can’t make your own meals. Opt instead to choose one of the following:
i. Stay With Friends Or Family
This is the least expensive option, usually a nice thank you gift is sufficient payment. There are some personal costs to this though such as loss of privacy and let’s face it sometimes Uncle Harry can be down right annoying.
ii. Rent A Flat
This will likely in the long run be less than a hotel room especially if you are cooking your own meals rather than eating in restaurants. Generally there is a minimum stay period so if you are only staying for a day or two this will not likely be an option for you. Another benefit of renting a flat is that you feel more like a local and less like a tourist.
iii. Use Points
If you are lucky enough to have points that can be used for hotels, use them. Often if you are a higher level member of a hotel point program you will get access to the lounge where you can have a continental breakfast, snacks during the day and cocktails at night. This can be a big savings. Also you will likely have access to the internet - another savings.
iv. Use A Home Exchange Service
If you have an apartment, house or cottage you can list on a home exchange you can save on accommodation costs by swapping your abode for someone else’s home. Generally this takes time an preparation so plan ahead for this.
3. Food
i. Make Your Own Meals
It can be as simple as some bread for breakfast which you can do even if you’re staying in a hotel and don’t have access to cooking facilities.
ii. Eat Out At A Different Time
Choose to eat out for breakfast, lunch or tapas instead of dinner. Often you will find this is less expensive and you won’t miss out of the local dining experience.
iii. Use The Lounge
As mentioned above, if you are staying in a hotel where you have access to the lounge, use the lounge for breakfast, snacks and/or cocktails.
iv. Eat In Residential Areas
Eat at restaurants outside of the “tourist areas”, opt instead to eat in more residential areas. This has more than an economic benefit, often the food in tourist areas is less authentic and not as well prepared. Plus wouldn’t you rather be eating with locals than tourists?
v. Buy Prepared Take Out Meals
Purchase prepared meals you can eat as a picnic. Instead of eating in a restaurant buy a sandwich from a bakery or some other prepared meal that you can eat on a park bench or somewhere with a good view. In some cities the best food is from a street vendor.
Buy bottled water or carbonated soft beverages etc from a grocery rather than a restaurant.
vi. Eat Like The Locals
Often following the patterns of a local, who knows the best food places and deals can save you on dining/food costs.
For example, the cost of a glass of wine is often the same or less than a coca-cola in a restaurant in France. In Bangkok for example most people eat from street food carts.
vii. Check For Restaurant Specials
This could either be a certain time of day or a special pre-fixed menu. Savings can be significant over the regular menu prices.
4. Getting Around
i. Travel Like The Locals
If taxis are cheap, travel by taxi but if they are expensive, take public transit.
In most European cities taking public transit such as the metro is one of the most efficient and cost effective ways of getting around. However in some other cities taking a taxi is a great way to get around.
In Bangkok for example, it is not uncommon to take a taxi to the sky train even if it is only a few blocks. The taxi driver won’t mind (actually they like it because the shorter trip is more profitable for them - and not very expensive for you) and you’ll save yourself from the heat. In Paris however the taxi driver will throw you out of the taxi if the ride is not long enough.
ii. For Intercity/Country Travel Check For Local Transportation Companies
If you are travelling between cities within a country of to a neighbouring country check to see if there are airlines trains or buses that go to your destination. Often the local airline will be less expensive than a major international airline. This can be especially true in Europe where there are numerous low cost airlines.
5. Culture/Entertainment
i. Do Your Homework
Before you go on your trip do a little homework on the top cultural and entertainment venues/sites for your destination. A little investigation in advance can save you a lot of effort and money while at the destination.
ii. Check For Free Events
Some cities offer a lot of cultural events that are free. Paris for example has a number of free city run museums which are free (except for special exhibits). London also has a number of free museums.
There are also a number of concerts held in Paris churches which are free. Picking up a Pariscope when you arrive in Paris will tell you all the events and costs happening in the city that week. Many other cities have these features in local papers or on websites, check around.
iii. Be Open To “Off Broadway” Type Performances
Don’t just be stuck on the idea of “Broadway” - top shows or drawn into the tourist performance. Often you will find that some of the lesser known theatres/entertainment can be fantastic and more authentic.
For example when in Buenos Aires rather than paying to see a tourist Tango performance so out in the evening to one of the Tango bars visited by locals and watch (or participate if you dare) in authentic Tango in an authentic atmosphere - way more interesting and a lot less expensive.
iv. Check For Free Sites
Often the best things in life are free a very true cliche - especially when it comes to architecture and landscape. Many destinations offer beautiful architecture which you can soak up just by walking around.
6. Shopping
i. Know The Specialty
Figure out in advance for what the place you’re visiting is known. For example buying silk in some parts of Asia, precious and semi precious stones in Brazil etc.
ii. Comparison Shop Before You Go
Know what is the best value and check out the prices of similar items at home before you go that way you’ll have a comparison in mind and know what great value is.
iii. Avoid Tourist Areas
Avoid shopping in tourist areas, you are less likely to find authentic goods and are much more likely to pay more. Find out where the locals shop and shop there.
Best advice overall for traveling less expensively - when in Rome… Basically if you follow the locals (not literally of course) you’ll have a more authentic and less expensive trip.
Bon Voyage
In my opinion the best shopping in Buenos Aires takes place in open markets. The name for this in Spanish is feria so when you are looking at a map often you will see open air markets denoted as feria.
The following will outline the city’s open air markets and what you can expect from each:
Feria de Plaza Francia
In my opinion this is by far the best market to visit while in Buenos Aires. If you love crafts and handmade items which reflect local culture plan the rest of your trip around this market.
The Plaza Francia market is the city’s largest and is set up in the park beside the Recoleta Cemetery, it will be marked on your hotel map. The market runs on Saturday and Sunday.
All of the vendors on the interior circle are supposed to be the artisans who handcrafted the items themselves. On the outer area closer to the Design Market you will find other vendors who are not necessarily selling items that they crafted themselves. You will most likely be able to spot that yourself.
Francia Market Jewelry Vendor
You will need a good couple of hours to visit this market and it is worth it. The market is full of interesting handicrafts from leather goods, jewelry to eco handicrafts using recycled materials. We even saw an older gentleman who recycled metro tickets into home accessories.
Francia Market Jewelry Vendor
A visit to this market will not leave you disappointed.
Cabildo Patio Market
The market is located in the small garden behind the city hall (Cabildo) and runs on Thursday and Friday from approx 11 am to 6 pm. You can visit this charming little market in about an hour (unless you really get caught up in a conversation or decide to have a snack in the garden).
I’d suggest you plan a visit to this market on the same day you plan to visit Plaza De Mayo (just don’t forget but you must do that on a Thursday or Friday when the market is open).
In this tiny little garden market you will find pretty handcrafted jewelry and other crafts. The feeling in the market is warm and friendly and it is not over crowded.
Plaza Serrano Market
The Plaza Serrano market is held in the (tiny) square at Calle Serrano and Honduras in the heart of Palermo Hollywood. The market runs on Saturday and Sunday from approx 10 am to 6 pm.
It’s a small market but worth a visit as the area and shops are very charming. At this market you will find jewelry, clothing and other handicrafts.
If you go I’d suggest going in the late morning visit the shops in the area and stop for some lunch in one of the area’s many charming restaurants.
Impromptu Baez Market
We did not find anywhere marked on our map or listed in any of the guide books a single mention of this market so I cannot be sure that it is a regular
ongoing market. It may have been a special event.
The market was at night at the end of Baez (in a dead end court). Lights and music were set up and this was a fabulous market for artisan jewlery and clothing designers. I actually really loved the selection here.
My suggestion is that you will want to go to dinner on Baez, in my opinion, the best place to have dinner and cocktails especially if you fall into a younger age group.
We were on Baez on a Thursday night and that’s when the market was set up. Definitely worth a check see when you plan for a dinner or cocktails on Baez.
Florida Street
Okay it’s not a market but the street pretty much turns into a market every afternoon. Independant vendors set up their wares on blankets down the middle of the street right from the beginning at Plaza San Martin all the way to Plaza de Mayo.
This is not a predicable shopping “market” however as the vendors are setting up illegally. You may find different vendors from day-to-day and they may be schussed away by the police, although generally speaking the police seem pretty lax about letting the vendors stay.
In terms of what you will find - everything from nail clippers, yes I am serious to beautiful handcrafted jewelry. The area closest to Plaza de Mayo seemed to consistently have the most authentic handcrafted jewelry and a lot less of the head massagers and nail clipper “junk”.
San Telmo Market
I’ve included San Telmo market on the list as it would be odd to not have mentioned it since in every guide book this is the must visit market of the city.
In my opinion, unless you love antiques, skip this market. If you love antiques however you will likely love this market and surrounding shops. Personally I found it to be way to touristic and I’m not that interested in antiques so I felt like I took time away from other markets which would be more interesting to me - for example another visit to the Francia market.
Here are a few details if you decide to go. The San Telmo market is held every Sunday from approx 10 am to 5 pm. The heart of the market is in Plaza Dorrego however all of the shops and streets leading into this area are equally filed with antiques. The open air part of the market is actually not that large but the whole area including the shops and covered antique market are quite large. You would need most of the day or at least half to see it all.
Here too you can watch Tango dancing (street dancers do this on a small board placed on top of the cobblestone streets. Again my sense was this added to the touristic feel of the market - but most tourists seems to like it.
December 31st
We arrived home in Toronto early in the morning. We had arranged in advance for a car service/limo to return home. We were told by the service that we should call them once we arrive in Toronto and they will be waiting or us at the airport and will arrive within a couple mins of our call.
We waited quite a while for the car to pick us up and we were not impressed. We could have taken a car or taxi from the airport without waiting and would have paid a little less that way and not had to wait. Lesson learned for me is to arrange for the car to pick you up from home but take a car already waiting at the airport on the way home. Only caveat to this is depending on the airport volume you may actually have to wait in a taxi line to get a taxi when you arrive, in this case you are still likely better to arrange for a car in advance.
This is the last article in this series.
Read Other Posts In This Series:
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
Part VII
Part VIII
Part IX
Part X
Part XI
Part XII
Part XIII
Part XIV
Part XV
Part XVI
Part XVII
Part XVIII
Part XIX
Part XX
