What are the things you usually buy in India on your vacation and get it back to USA?

Re: What are the things you usually buy in India on your vacation and get it back to

kolhapuri chappal?

 

Re: What are the things you usually buy in India on your vacation and get it back to

I stock up on cotton tops to wear in summer, from Anokhi and Fab India. Anokhi is expensive but great quality. I also usually get some quilts or embroidered fabrics for the house. And some handicrafts to give as gifts for friends' birthdays and Christmas.
I don't wear gold so I pick up some silver jewelry.
Grand Sweets in Chennai is a compulsory stop. I get some 'bakshanams' but I love their powders and pastes. And I stock up on Everest masalas. Sometimes I will get some interesting cooking utensils, but my mom discourages this as she says I have way too much kitchen stuff already. I also love going to the bookstore and getting the latest Indian cookbooks.

 

Re: What are the things you usually buy in India on your vacation and get it back to

- all kinds of ethnic wear
- imp books / documents papers - hard or their soft copies
- Kitchen stuff
- cosmetic stuff which we are irreplaceable
- traditional imitation jewellery which we can't get in usa, ear rings / toe rings etc

 

Re: What are the things you usually buy in India on your vacation and get it back to

I don't bring food from India - it's too much of a hassle with Customs, plus we get everything here.

I've mostly brought clothes (salwar kameez), leather purses/jackets/footwear, jewelry.

On one trip I brought thalis, katoris, etc.

Also movies and music.

 

Re: What are the things you usually buy in India on your vacation and get it back to

I usually donkey load myself and later I see everything dumped in corners or bags for year untouched..
I bring 1-2 indian wears .. I never wear here, mostly because of weight changes and weather. I buy in india to wear at my ILs .

Many times my mom will give 1-2 bedsheets, or buys pressure cooker .
my MIL packs pickles but I do not prefer for leaking, customs , extra pay for baggage all kind of risks.

 

Re: What are the things you usually buy in India on your vacation and get it back to

Homemade masalas, ethnic wears (leggings, kameez, kurtis, sarees, etc) imitation jewllery, steel cooking pots, plates, etc. herbal facepacks, hairwash (shikakai), homeopathic medicines, ayurvedic medicines, kadhas, cotton bedsheets, religious/pooja items, some literature like magazines, storybooks in my mother-tongue, CDs, Scanned photos from childhood (that's a must!)

 

For me and my household, following things are must. I listed them according to their importance and priority
1. Important documents- either soft copies or hardcopies
2. homeopathic medicines,
3. ayurvedic medicines, kadhas
4. Bach flower remedies
5. Homemade masalas, Haldi, Red chilli powder (my mom makes huge quantity both for me and sis. I just can not get the good taste in my food without the touch of my mom's carefully selected spices. I am forever grateful to her. and now i am missing her
6. stainless steel utensils/ cooking pots- i try to get dual purpose good quality stainless steel, which I can use for cooking and storing food
7. religious/pooja items
8. Kalnirnay
9. La opala cup and saucer set ( of 6)
10. Ready stitched blouses for saries
11. Cotton kurties, pajamas, chudidars etc ( only if i have some space left. Else, mom and my sis always keep buying new clothes for me and i have to overpack and pay extra for added weight. I dont like to say no, otherwise they courier everything from India to here). So essentially, I start packing with priority items first and then weigh other stuff to see how much i can bring with me. Always remember to carry your doctor's prescription for any medicines are you carrying with you. Hope it helps!