Traveling the world is something everyone wishes they could do. While finances and responsibilities hold some people back, others are able to make that dream a reality. They may take a few vacations in a year and go to a different country each time, they take week-long road trips and explore more of the country they live in, or they wave goodbye to their homeland and nomadically scour the globe for food, culture, sights, and experiences they would’ve otherwise never found.
Some are able to make a living out of traveling. By blogging about their journeys to lands far away, where they meet some interesting locals and get to do some incredible things, these nomads are able to earn money from companies advertising on their website.
They can also make a little extra money by selling some of the souvenirs they come across. They can use their vagabond lifestyle to send items from other countries to people who wish they could travel to these places.
If you are a digital nomad with your own e-commerce website, or if you are considering selling the house and begin roaming the continents of our world, here are some of the souvenirs you can sell along the way as you visit each country.
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Japan
Japan has an interesting mix of ancient tradition and ultra-modern culture unlike anywhere else in the world. Technology in America is big but nowhere near the level the Japanese have taken it. Some of the more popular souvenirs (that a traveler can carry and ship) are some of the most un-techy items around.
Photo by Federico De Iorio on Unsplash
The most common is actually just two pieces of wood. Authentic chopsticks are one of, if not the top souvenir people in the Western world desire. As you tour the restaurants of Japan, collect a few sets and sell them before you move on to your next country.
Various hair accessories are one of the most demanded products women want from this country. With an elegant look and elaborate craftsmanship, snatch a few of these up and ship them off to buyers before moving on to your next destination.
Although they are a little bit bigger than you probably want to carry, manga is big in Japan and a heavily sought-after commodity in the US. If you can score a few copies of a series that has not made it outside of Japan, you can make a lot of money to keep your travels going.
New Zealand
Many Pacific-Island cultures are big into jewelry, and New Zealand is no different. After you surf the beaches of the North Island (or South, if you like more of a challenge) or black water raft through caves of glowing worms, make sure to pick up some of the local greenstone (jade) necklaces — pounamu to the Maori natives of the islands. The use of jade and the designs the precious mineral is carved into have deep spiritual and cultural meaning to native New Zealanders. Share some of this meaning with the rest of the world.
If you really want to get the geeks geeking, you can sell a souvenir to rule all souvenirs. New Zealand is the home of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies (all six movies were shot exclusively at sites in New Zealand). It is here that the official One Ring is produced. You can make a select few fans of the novels and movies ecstatic by selling a handful of these on your website before setting off for another country.
Australia
For many Baby Boomers and Generation Xers, the epitome of Australian souvenirs would be an Akubra hat. To own an authentic Australian hat like the one Mick (Paul Hogan) wore in Crocodile Dundee would be “awesome.” However, for a traveler, carrying these around in a backpack as you tour the country, from Sydney Harbor to Uluru to Perth, is not feasible.
Instead, focus your souvenir efforts on gold or opal jewelry. This country is known for producing beautiful pieces of jewelry from these materials, especially the opal. You can even sell uncut versions of the gem; some people would be very interested in having an Australian opal in their precious stone collections. Selling these can earn you some extra cash to take with you on your next global stop.
You can also sell charms for charm bracelets. These will come in designs significant to Australian culture that both locals and foreigners will love. Including these in a limited run on your website will have you earning extra money to continue your adventures elsewhere.
Brazil
Brazil is full of culture. Music and art are extremely important to the people of the country. Unfortunately, a traveler such as yourself cannot carry the pieces of art you find on nearly every street corner or the locally produced examples of Brazilian musical instruments. For your lifestyle, and for shipping purposes, you need to keep the souvenirs you sell on your site small.
Soapstones are a popular item for tourists and will be popular for people buying authentic trinkets from their country of origin. These are carved rock rich in talc and magnesium and are a Brazilian staple. Grab a handful of these and sell them online as you explore the Amazon or experience the best Mardi Gras celebration in the world.
Antarctica
Not much exists on the White Continent. The seventh continent is protected by international treaty, preventing it from being owned or developed upon. There are a handful of scientific colonies established by a few countries to study the ice and snow, and the wildlife living in the inhospitable environment. That doesn’t mean adventurers can’t visit Antarctica.
Kayaking and mountain climbing are very popular with travelers as are the numerous cruises that circle the continent. Since there are no real manufacturing facilities in Antarctica, any souvenirs from here are going to be limited to mostly patches from tours taken on the continent. Still, people are interested in collecting items from all over the world and would want anything they can get ahold of from this forbidden land.
