Blogs

One of the most popular day tours from San Jose, Costa Rica, is the charming artisan town of Sarchi.

Called the “cradle of Costa Rican handicrafts,” both international tourists and locals alike visit Sarchi for its more than 200 stores and small family-operated woodworking and leather workshops. It is a perfect Central Valley day tour to combine with the Poás Volcano, a coffee tour, or the Juan Castro Blanco National Park. Sarchi is also an excellent stop on the way to Volcano Arenal.

Located on t

It was a rainy autumn day in Tokyo, as my companions and I shuffled out of the Toei Chikatetsu metro line at Asakusa Station. Emerging onto the street level, we quickly opened and raised our large, red paper umbrellas, on loan from our escorts, and made our way down a few alleys to the Ohshimaya Onda Chochin Lantern Shop.

Here, we were greeted with bows by Mr. Shunji Onda himself, a fifth generation master of the Japanese paper lantern.

Mr. Onda’s business was founded 160 years ago by his great-

Shopping in Costa Rica, whether for Christmas gifts or birthdays, etc. is a creative affair in Playa Guiones, near Nosara.

The eclectic Guanacaste beach community is home to more than 35 talented international and national artists who sell handmade art and products. The Nosara Artisans group always holds an annual Holiday Art Fair in Playa Guiones in December.

Artists make everything by hand, such as handmade bikinis and beachwear, unique pottery, glass art, fabric art, jewelry, painting, photog

The Surajkund Mela is an eye-opener for the city slicker to the best skills from rural India as Thommen Jose found out. Photographs by Raushni Abraham

You reach Surajkund even before you can say ‘Surajkund Mela’. You are there even before you realise that you are in the outskirts of Delhi. For Delhi-ites used to getting into Gurgaon or Noida for work or shopping, the drive to the annual gala-mela is hardly a drive. Then, it is not exactly supposed to be one either. This little village in Haryan

Situated on the northern bank of the Red River, Kieu Ki is considered as the unique village in Vietnam still performing the standard craft of manufacturing gold leaf. The dexterity of Kieu Ki artisans is created in pagodas and temples where statues are covered with thin gold leaf.

On the road to the village, guests are able to hear locals hammering gold to provide thin sheets. Old and young people are committed to the craft. The village elders believe Kieu Ki villagers learned to form gold leaf 3

Azulejos de Azeitao are making several workshops with tourists who travels to Setúbal Region. 

It is usual find german, french, japanese, americans and even canadians working in tiles and drawing their own drawings. During 3 hours, tourists have the opportunity to improve the knowledge of the handmade process and painting their own tile.

Azulejos de Azeitão besides the amazing workshops that they made at their studio, made an amazing job in California recently.

Absolutely astounding and unique in concept, colour and workmanship, the art and handicrafts of Rajasthan are beyond comparison. Be it jewellery, painting, furniture, leatherware, pottery, metal craft or hand-printed textiles, each object has a penetrating and irresistible appeal.

An ethnic aura envelopes even the simplest of forms, making each one truly a collectors delight. Rajasthan Tourism, popularly known as the ‘treasure trove of Indian & ‘shoppers’ paradise’, has been able to preserve its

Tlaquepaque is an old oasis within Guadalajara's modern big city sprawl. A small village that has been able to hold on to olden times and lifestyle. It is Mexico's premiere Arts and Crafts capital and your visit will certainly bring you to discover breathtaking works in ceramics, iron, blown glass, leather, wood and many other materials. Many of these creations are authored by local artisans and artists that live in this enclave and show and sell their works to you directly, many times from thei