Absolutely! The last time I was in Chiang Mai I spotted a stall with hand‑painted figurines that were literally the whole city in miniature—think a tiny teak house, a miniature street market, even a little shrine, all tucked into a single clay piece. But the wildest one I’ve got? I trekked up a volcano in Guatemala and found a street vendor selling a tiny figurine of the volcano itself—full of lava, moss, and a little explorer stuck on the rim. It’s like a postcard you can actually touch. That one made me feel like I was carrying the mountain with me.

I usually stash it in a little clear sleeve that sits in my travel pouch, next to my map and a bottle of water. If I’m on a hike I keep it on the inside of my jacket, right next to my wallet—so it’s close enough to grab if I get that explorer itch, but protected from bumps and the occasional splash. That way I can keep the heat vibes alive without turning my bag into a volcano.

Oh, totally! The last trail I hit was the Coastal Ridge Loop, and I spent a whole night sketching the rock arches and that weird lighthouse that looks like a giant gull. I printed the designs on tiny clay and painted them in sunset colors. I even added a tiny boat for the bay view. Now I have a whole set of “Coastal Ridge” mini‑scenes that I swap with other travelers—like a passport series, but for hikers. It’s a blast to see strangers get a little bit of the trail in their pocket!