Teapot

Miniature chrome teapot

Tea is the Britain's number one drink. The British have been the largest per capita tea consumers in the world.

You may have heard the word "high tea". I used to believe that high tea involves things like manners, lace and dainty foods. After doing some research when I wanted to post this miniature chrome teapot, this is what I learnt.

High tea is an early evening meal, typically eaten between 5pm and 6pm. It is also known as meat tea. High tea usually consists of cold meats, eggs or fish, cakes and sandwiches.

The term “high tea” was originally used to distinguish it from “low tea” or afternoon tea. Low tea was served in a sitting room where low tables (coffee table) were placed near sofas or chairs. The word high referred to a table such as a dining room table and it would be loaded with dinner dishes like meats, cheese, breads, shepherd's pie or steak and kidney pie.

This is one of my collectibles from England brought to me by my eldest daughter.

Balalaika

Balalaika is a stringed musical instrument of Russian origin and is a traditional symbol of Russian culture. Balalaika has always been an original gift for guests of all Russia, who are interested in Russian folk music.

Balalaikas come in number of sizes. The smallest is The Piccolo Balalaika; The Prima is the most common size. It is approximately two and one-half feet in length. There are two more larger sizes, i.e. The Second and Alto Balalaikas. Since the real balalaika is rather large and it is not always convenient to carry, a miniature balalaika is therefore the best option to serve as a souvenir.

Another magnet collectibles from my eldest daughter.

Switzerland Cow Bell

A cow bell is a bell worn by freely roaming livestock, so they don't run away without being heard. While bells were used on various types of animals, they are typically referred to as "cowbells" due to their extensive use with cattle.


This red metal cow bell was added to my collectibles in the year 2007 by my colleague, Pi Yao who claims that 80% of my collectibles (excluding what have been bought by my daughters) came from her. Um, may be she's right.

Black Sheep

Baa Baa Black Sheep have you any wool ?

This plush stuffed black sheep doll from New Zealand was added to my colletibles by my eldest daughter. It is so cute. When it is turned over, it makes a "baaah" sound.

I have to keep it away from my dog, Lotto, who whenever hears a "baaah" sound, would try to grab it.

Maori Doll

New Zealand Maori Doll Magnet.

Sweet little Maori Dolls are popular items of Kiwiana and make wonderful New Zealand souvenirs. This little girl wears a hei tiki, a cloak and a headband with Maori designs. The hei-tiki worn around the neck is made of greenstone which is considered a treasure.

Magnet collectible bought by my younger daughter on her flight to New Zealand.

Vintage Delft Blue Finger Candle Holder

A vintage Delft blue finger candle holder. Blue pattern of flowers. Excellent vintage condition. This is another Delft blue product bought in Chiengmai, Thailand. I have two of this in my delft blue collectibles.

Tea sets collectibles

It's now summer in Thailand. However, the weather for the past few days was even colder than in winter. Whenever the weather is cold, I like to sit in the garden drinking tea or hot chocolate. This tea set was added to my collectibles by my eldest daughter when she was an exchange student to Kansas, USA in 1996/1997. This miniature tea set is made as a serving set . Though, I wouldn't dare drinking from it, I just love the whimsy of these little sets.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas promotes itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World. It is famous for the number of casino resorts and associated entertainment. Gamblings and entertainment are not the only tourist attractions, one can also see New York, Paris, Venice and Egypt on the same day. There are replicas of the Statue of Liberty, The Eifel Tower, The Great Sphinx of Vegas, The Eifel Tower, etc. A magnet collectible bought on my visit to Vegas in May 2009. I spent less than US$50.- in the casinos.

Koala

Like Kangaroos and Platypus, Koala is one of Australia's best known animals. It is an icon represented when promoting Australia to the tourists. Koalas are often referred to as a Koala bear. However they are not a bear. Koalas only eat certain eucalyptus leaves. The name Koala comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "no drink" as they rarely drink water. All liquid they require comes from the eucalyptus leaves. As Koalas are very placid animals, they do not move around much. They are only active for about 2 hours of the day. The rest of the day?, they sleep. Collectible snowglobe bought by my younger daughter.

The London Eye

The London Eye, originally called The Millennium Wheel, was created to celebrate the dawn of the year 2000. Why a Ferris wheel? The turning of the wheel was meant to represent the turning of the century.

The London Eye is a giant 135-metre (443 ft) tall Ferris wheel located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in the London Borough of Lambeth in England, between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge.

It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kindom. It has 32 capsules and carries around 10,000 visitors every day. Each rotation takes about 30 minutes and you can see up to 40 kilometers away in all directions from each capsule.

Since 1 January 2005, the Eye has been the focal point of London's New Year celebrations.

Aboriginal man with a Didgeridoo

Australian Aborigines are those people regarded as indigenous to the Australian continent and they have been specifically identified as a group of people who share, in common, biological ancestry back to the original occupants of Australia.

This Aborinal man is holding a didgeridoo in his left hand. The didgeridoo, known as Yidaki or thambaljig in aborignal languages, is a musical instrument that comes from the North Eastern parts of Australia. It is oftenly made from a hollow eucalyptus log, with no side holes. It is believed that every yidaki has a spirit inside. A spirit will wake up when someone rightly breathes into the dij.

Yidakis have been played by Aboriginal men for at least 2000 years and have been part of social and ritual gatherings in aboriginal society for hundreds of years. Didgeridoos are ‘men’s business’ and so have not been traditionally played by women. However, some aboriginal societies are no longer so strict about this now.


A magnet bought by my younger daughter.

The Saviour's (Spasskaya) Tower

The Gothic-spired Spasskaya (Savior's) Tower is considered the most beautiful tower of the Kremlin. It was built in 1491 under the supervision of the Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solario. The Tower stands on the north-eastern side of the citadel, bordering Red Square.

The gate of the Spasskaya Tower has been the official entrance to the Kremlin for centuries. Until the 17th century the tower was known as the Frolovskaya, due to its location not far from the St. Frol church and monastery. In 1658 an Icon of the Saviour was mounted above the gate facing Red Square, and the tower's name was changed to Spasskaya by decree of the Tsar.

During the 16th and 17th centuries the Spasskaya Tower was used for ceremonial processions made by the Tsar and the Patriarch and for greeting important Moscow foreign visitors.

The tower is crowned by an illuminated ruby-red star, which replaced the double-headed Russian eagle in 1937, raising the tower's height to 71 metres.
One of the collectibles from Moscow bought by my eldest daughter.