Anyone who has travelled has no doubt had an interesting souvenir experience. From kangaroo scrotum lucky pouches to Chairman Mao watches to the more serious Mickey Mouse ears and Egyptian papyrus drawings, we have all had some fantastic souvenir experiences, some whacky souvenir experiences and some we would just rather forget. Sometimes the souvenir experience can even become the highlight of the trip like when I bought gems in Thailand.

Until now, however, I wonder if your souvenirs have been able to make you $1000?

To celebrate souvenirs and the interesting role they can play in the travel experience, Where’s Sharon and Visa want to see your best travel souvenirs and hear the stories behind them. The best part about this? Well apart from all of us getting to see your treasured finds, one lucky reader is going to win an AUD$1000 Visa Prepaid card. Who knew that tacky souvenir could be worth so much?!

Who hasn’t been sucked into an I love somewhere souvenir at some point?

So what do you need to do to win? It’s easy:

1. Get on Instagram or Twitter and upload a photo of your favourite souvenir.
2. Tell us the story behind your souvenir – the better, stranger or more unbelievable the story the better.
3. Add the hashtag #SouvenirStories MAKE SURE YOU GET THIS RIGHT!!
   
4. Tag me – @WheresSharon.

You need to do this by next Thursday, 18/12, 12 noon Australian Eastern Standard Time. Then come and check out Where’s Sharon on Friday, 19/12, to see all the finalists and the grand prize winner. I will be judging the winner. I am looking for the best souvenir with the most interesting story. Bonus points if you can make me smile.

Imagine lugging this home from Hawaii! Photo Credit: Tim

If you need some inspiration, check out Visa’s Well Travelled Travellers campaign. There are certainly some interesting souvenirs on there.

So go through your souvenirs and share your favourite. An extra $1000 would make for an awesome Christmas present!

Who doesn’t love a space money? Photo Credit: Anna Parker

Please note: The Visa Prepaid card is in Australian dollars. However since it is a Visa card, it is very easy to use it anywhere in the world where you see the Visa logo. This means that you can go to a local ATM and withdraw the cash in your local currency if you are not in Australia. On the 10/12, AUD$1000 = USD$832.

• Promotion commences from the 11/12/2014 and closes on 18/12/2014 12 noon.
• Entry is open to anyone who visits WheresSharon.com.
• You may enter more than once.
• By entering this competition, you are giving permission for your photo to be published on WheresSharon.com, Facebook, retweeted or reposted on Instagram. Photo credit will be given.
• The winner will be published on WheresSharon.com on 19/12/2014. The winner will also be contacted via Twitter or Instagram.
• The winner will be required to give their name, address and contact details to WheresSharon.com.
• The Judge’s decision is final in relation to any aspect of the competition and no correspondence will be entered into. The prizes are not transferable or exchangeable. The competition is a game of skill with a photo to be supplied and a question to be answered.
• The prize will be sent to the winner within 14 days from the close of promotion. The prize will be sent from Australia so please allow time for the prize to reach you if located internationally.
• The promoter is not responsible for prizes once they have been dispatched to the winner.
• The promoter is WheresSharon.com, ABN: 46 342 954 339 and Visa.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I not only bought one of these in Cairo, but it went through many house moves and even into storage for awhile.

What is your best souvenir? I can’t wait to see your souvenirs and read your stories!

This competition is over. Check out the winner here.