JSC is what you might call “detail-oriented.” Maybe that’s an understatement. We’re all about the little things you see when you pick up a charm and the even littler things you see after you’ve been wearing it for months! While you probably can spot the Eiffel Tower or New York City skyline a mile away, there are tons of other obscure signs and symbols just waiting to be discovered that tell the inside story of destinations near and far. Get up close and personal with some of our favorite not-so-obvious features you’ll find on JSC Luggage Tags
1. SIGHTSEEING
The must-see stops and landmarks you see on your insider bus or walking tour.
At nearly 40 feet high, it’s hard to miss Koh Samui’s golden Big Buddha shrine IRL.
Widely known as the “Portland Oregon Sign," this bright beacon of the White Stag Building illuminates the downtown area.
The Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga keeps people connected! It’s one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world.
Siem Reap's Angkor Wat means the “City of Temples” and it’s not just a catchy name! Over 400 acres and 9 centuries old. Wow!
Love the LOVE statue in Philly’s LOVE Park? We love it, too!
2. LORE
The myths, legends, and folktales that makes everything so much more magical.
Ever heard a thunder clap so loud it could be a dragon’s roar? So goes the Bhutanese myth that gave birth to the Thunder Dragon known as a “Thunder Druk.”
Your entrée might just save your life one day. A popular Portuguese folk tale tells the story of a wrongly accused man proven innocent when a roasted rooster begins to crow.
It’s canary like Canariae as in dogs not birds. It’s said that early inhabitants of the Canary Islands once worshipped dogs which were pretty massive and pretty much everywhere.
3. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
You can talk the talk when you know the local language.
You can talk the talk when you know the local language.
The official language of Cambodia is Khmer spoken by 16 million people and named after an empire of yesteryear.
Spoken by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, Sinhala is a 58 letter language that sounds as beautiful as it looks.
Maka Goemcho mog asa! That means “I love Goa" in the Indian state’s official language, Konkani.
4. THE ARTS
Give props to the creative things these destinations are famous for.
It should come as no surprise that New Orleans, Louisiana is the birthplace of both jazz and trumpet-player extraordinaire, Louis Armstrong himself!
Cinephiles flock to the French Riviera each year for the Cannes Film Festival--one of the top film festivals on the planet.
Luggage tags, but make it fashion! This pair of pumps gives a nod to Milan's claim to fame as the global capital of fashion and design.
One charm to rule them all! True Tolkien fans know the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed right here in Auckland, New Zealand.
5. NATURE
Be one with nature and all the unique plants and animals it has to offer.
There’s only one place in the whole wide world where you can find lemurs in the wild and that’s the island of Madagascar.
The Coconut Palm is found everywhere and in everything in the Maldives including food, medicine, fashion, furniture, art, and more. Talk about multipurpose!
The five petaled hibiscus is the state flower for Hawaii and says a lot more than you may think according to local tradition! When you wear the flower behind the left ear, it means you’re taken. Behind the right means you're looking for love.
Another super exclusive, the silver fern is found only in New Zealand. For the Māori people, the fern stands for strength, peace, and always finding your way back home.
6. SYMBOLS
Those little things are everywhere but what do they really mean?
The Giglio of Florence is, you guessed it, a stylized iris flower and it’s become pretty much synonymous with the city itself.
Knot all Irish symbols are the same! The Celtic love knot is a series of interlaced links and is exchanged between couples.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the German Bundesadler. Known as the Federal Eagle, it’s the centerpiece of the oldest coat of arms in Europe going back to the time of the Holy Roman Empire.