I found out about these from Mythbusters (the episode where they tried to answer the question: "Can you put a shine on sh*t?" Turns out, that if it's handled properly, you can, though usually it's a shine put on MUD! For examples and a how-to, see Dorodango.com and for more information Google "dorodango" or "japanese shiny mud balls." It seems that dorodango are the Japanese equivalent of Mud Pies (literal translation: mud dumplings), only in Japan, you don't have to out grow it. They seem to be an interesting thing to keep kids busy, and if you're hard up for a souvenir, it could provide you with a dirt-cheap (though time consuming) reminder of some of the places you've been.

I am going to have to make one. Or maybe more than one, if it's cool enough.