Online Shopping: My Kind of Shopping

Yes, I'm into online shopping. All my close friends know that I practically buy anything online for the past 4 years, long before online shops started to trend in Indonesia. From cosmetics, cakes, clothing, shoes, books, music, CDs, electronics, even underwear, I purchase online.

My first online shopping experience was here around 7 years ago. I bought some books and CDs. Imported books were quite expensive at that time and not all books that I wanted to read were available in Indonesia. So I tried to purchase online and found out that the shipping fee was not so bad compared to purchasing the book at a bookstore here. Then I found another place to buy books, sometimes with free shipping, and I kept shopping until I had my Kindle 2 years ago and I ran out of space to keep my books, then I started purchasing e-books.

My fave place for underwear shopping is of course none other than this place. Again, the shipping fee is not as expensive you thought it would be. Well, depends on stuff that you buy also. I always buy stuff from the SALE section LOL much cheaper price, same models with the non-sale items, difference was just the pattern and the season. Sometimes I buy 2 leggings with the same size, same color, same model (Hey, it's only $12 each! And it's 100% cotton!). Even after the shipping fee to Jakarta, it costs me the same amount of money of nice other brands available in Jakarta, if not less. To be honest, I chose to buy them for reasonable reasons: sizing & material. It's a pain for me to shop for underwear in Jakarta! Even if they do have my size, I usually hate the material or the style! So why not spend a bit more for a much better one? And since they're unavailable in stores here, their online store is the best choice for me.

How about clothing & shoes? Am I not worry whether the size would fit me or not? No, because I only purchase the same brands for some stuff and I know exactly what size for which model suits me. For clothing I limit myself to jeans and t-shirts for online shopping. And surprisingly, most of the time the size chart on the web is pretty accurate so even if I purchase a new brand for the first time, it would still fit me. So far I have no complain. Early this year I bought a brand of shoes that I never purchased before, I just followed the size guide before I made the purchase and apparently it fit me perfectly. No complain, really.

And last but not least, cosmetics shopping!! This is where I purchase all my Korean cosmetics!! LOL Yes, some brands have the official store here in Jakarta, but the price is like 3-4 times the original! I understand shipping cost, I understand tax, but 3-4 times the original price is just ridiculous! Not to mention that a lot of time one product can be gone from the rack for a few months, "waiting for shipment from Korea", and I had to use another brand or another product, so annoying. A lot of the nice products are also unavailable in the official store here, so this place is where I run to to get what I need. Since I don't only shop for myself there, as well as for my friends who won't bother shopping online themselves (you know who you are!), instead of being a recommended seller, I'm a recommended buyer there ROFL I buy regularly from several buyers and the price is only like $1 - $2 more expensive than the originals, free shipping and lots of samples! Woohoo! ^^ Spending someone else's money feels great hahaha

Oh, by the way, this place is also where I purchase everything else. From audio cables, earphones, plush toys, batteries, basically anything that can be shipped to Jakarta :p

In the end, it comes down to time saving and money saving for me.

First: I don't have to spend time on traffic and finding a parking spot. Which lately has become such a pain.

Second: I spend money only for what I need. If I go to the mall, it's impossible for me to avoid a cup of coffee or snacking :) Not to mention parking fee which has gone up since early this year.

Third: I can get the most suitable product for me that's not available in this country. Online reviews are important, make sure to read before you buy them ;)

Four: I can send gifts for people I love abroad without spending a lot of money on postage / expedition. A reasonable shipping fee is acceptable enough.

Do I shop online locally? Yes, I do :)

I bought my mobile phone here because of a good discount upon release.

I bought my Skullcandy Hesh Paul Frank Headphones here, cause it's even cheaper than this place.

Those two places are mostly where I shop locally other than cake stores LOL They provide great customer service and I can always track my stuff and make sure they arrive safely and in good condition.

This doesn't mean that I never go out to the mall to shop anymore. Especially when this brand has its end of year sale ROFL Well, I still shop there even with regular prices since the cutting really fits me. I rarely has to do any fitting, especially for pants. Just find my size and pay hahaha

So yeah, I guess I'll still be doing online shopping for a long time... unless we have no more traffic anymore, my size available everywhere and the stores sell my stuff with reasonable prices. Which is... still in a long time :) Until then... don't die on me oh internet connection! Especially not when they're verifying my payment!

When I Have To Choose

Lately, I kept bumping into tough choices.

What I want and what I need.

What I need and what they need.

What's good for me and what's good for them.

And lately I've been thinking a lot about being selfish.

Perhaps this time I should pick my needs over theirs.

Perhaps this time it's them who should accept my decision instead of the other way around.

Perhaps this time I shouldn't care too much and just go ahead with my decision.

But every single time I just don't have the heart to be selfish or maybe I'm just afraid of the consequences. Or... maybe I'm just being a hypocrite and wants to look good in front of others.

I'm getting tired of this.

Can someone just decide and choose for me??? LOL

I Remember You

So a few weeks ago I had big dinner to celebrate Big Boss' birthday. Dinner was held in a restaurant located in an office building where I used to work until 7 years ago.

The office was based there for 7 years also, and moved from the 17th floor, to the 6th floor then eventually to the 2nd floor of the Annex building after the company slimmed down to only me and the boss. If other building used a Security Company for the guards, this building managed their own securities and guards; so during those 7 years I worked there I knew almost everyone from front to back. Sometimes they asked for a cup of coffee which I gladly provided them, cause then whenever I have to worked overtime until as late as 11pm, the guards would take turn in checking up on me and of course to find me a taxi to get home :)

Since the company moved out, I dropped by the building just twice or thrice, and occasionally found a familiar faces in the front desk / concierge or the parking lot. But that night, I was in for a big surprise.

As we finished dinner around 10pm, we had to go out of the restaurant and re-entered the building to take the elevator to the parking lot. I was laughing with the other guys and said goodbye when someone suddenly grabbed my hand and shouted: "It's been a long time since I saw you!!"

My friend was surprised but I was even more surprised cause it was actually one of the guard that I knew many years ago; holding my hand with a grin on his face! I couldn't hold my laughter and told him back: "Pak (Sir), it's been a long time indeed!! How did you even still recognize me?"

Then another guard came running to us with the same grin on his face and held my other hand, saying: "I knew it was you when you came in! You haven't changed at all!" Mind you, I changed a lot in my opinion! LOL So there I was, standing in the lobby with 2 old security guards holding my hands as if I was their long lost daughter!

We chatted for awhile, they asked me where I work now and stuff... Then I told them that it's late already and I really had to go home. One of them asked me: "You're going to the parking lot? Does it mean that you're driving your own car now?" I just nodded and he beamed: "I'm happy for you that you drive now!! You used to take the ojek (motorcycle taxi) or a taxi back then, but now you're driving your own car, I'm so proud of you!"

In that moment, I felt so touched with their attention and cares. There were some leftover deserts from the dinner that the boss asked me to pack, so I left those for them and told them "to enjoy it during their breaks in the night shift." They took me to the elevator, waited for it to arrive and waved at me until the door was closed.

I was still smiling and thinking about what just happened a few minutes ago. When I gave my parking ticket on the way out of the building, apparently there's another security guard inside the box with the parking person. He made a double take at me and smiled: "It's you! What brought you here? Long time no see!" I was in for another surprise! But it only took a minute or so to pay the parking fee and out of the building, so I shouted at him before I drove by: "I'm sorry I couldn't talk you for long, but I wish you take care of yourself. Goodnight!" He waved at me and yelled loudly: "Bye bye!!"

During the drive from the building to home I couldn't stop smiling and laughing by myself. I really felt grateful that those old men still remember me well even after 7 years. I was also happy to see that they are well, and I felt humble that someone like me was still remembered by them. They must've seen hundreds of people coming in and out of the building everyday and 7 years wasn't a short period, but somehow they didn't forget me.

The other guys who were waiting for their cars and saw what happened asked me later on, who were they. I told them they're the building's security guards and kind of remembered me from where I worked there. They raised their eyebrows: "They still remember you? What did you do back then?" I shrugged and just said: "Don't ask me, I have no idea, it still surprised me."

Whatever I did that made them remember me that way, I still couldn't forget the way they smiled at me and the warmth of their hands holding mine as if to welcome me back there.

Thank you for remembering me, Pak. I won't forget you too and I wish you stay healthy and safe at work. Next time I drop by, I hope to be able to say more to you.

I will remember you all, just like you have remembered me.

Missing You

Is it possible to miss someone that you only knew for a few days??

On my holiday to South Korea 2 year ago, I stayed at an apartment that belonged to a kind-hearted Uncle. He really cared about us, more than a host should and so did his family. Even though his wife didn't speak English, she still came down to check up on us and what we might run out in the fridge. When we said that we liked Kimchi, she sent some of her own home-made to us downstairs (the family lived in the 5th Floor while we stayed at the 1st).

On our last day in Seoul, we woke him up at 5am to take us to the bus station to take the shuttle to the airport. Somehow I became teary eyed and we hugged for a long time until the bus driver honked me to quickly get in so the bus can leave :) It was in October.

In December I sent him a framed picture of us together which we took at the apartment and somehow someway he found me in Kakao Talk and we started to communicate regularly. 

He sent me pictures of his hometown on Seollal, I sent him a picture of me being trapped in Jakarta's traffic jam. 

When I told him I was a little bit sick, he sent me a short prayer.

When I dyed my hair red and asked me how did I look? He told me I was pretty like a K-pop Idol :)

Somehow this morning I felt kind of missed him and sent him a "Hi, how are you?" He replied with: "I miss you so much." And suddenly I felt like crying. 

I told him I missed him and Seoul as well, he told me that he had plans to come to Jakarta and will call me.

I told him that I'm getting a new job and won't be able to go on vacation for a while. He sent me a picture of him and his wife by the beautiful sea and told me that if I ever return to Seoul he will take me to another holiday with his family.

I told him that now I really really really miss him. And he showed me of that framed picture of ours, hanging proudly in his living room wall along with his son's graduation picture.

So know I now that it's possible to miss someone that I only knew for a few days. Badly.

It's not how long you know someone to show that you care, it's in the heart. And I can't wait for another chance too see him and his family again. Hopefully soon.

I love you Uncle Sang Woo and hope to see you soon, be it in Jakarta or in Seoul v(^w^)v

The Life of a Fangirl

Most people who's not into idol-ship, always laugh at my face and says I'm too old for idol-shipping. But again and again I told them, "These are the things that make me happy and I don't ask for your money to fund my idol-shipping life-style, so why bother me?"

If you think that I have such a bad case of idol shipping, I'm telling you, "You ain't seen nothing yet, baby!" I'm not even like... 20% into it like many people that I know of. You wanna know some?

BAD CASE OF IDOL-SHIPPING

(1) Make a living out of following the idols wherever they go. They take pictures of them in concerts, airports, outside their agencies, etc. Compile the pictures in a hard cover book, sell them to other fangirls. And I'm telling you, they're not cheap.

(2) Buy every products the idols endorse. Be it skin care, clothing, accessories, name it! There are always hundreds of rich fangirls who would buy.

(3) Gift their idols with expensive and branded stuff. From Tiffany's necklace, Givenchy coat to Louis Vuitton purse. Yeah... I wish I could afford at least one of them LOL

(4) Buy every CDs & DVDs that the idols release. Yes, it's normal, I know. But not when the same CD is released in several types with different bonus and cover. Worse when you ship a group. If they have 5 members and release a CD with a random bonus of each member's photo, and you don't get the one that you want? Some fangirls would keep buying until they get what they want. At least others gave up at after 5 and just trade the photo online. Oh, bless the fandom!

(5) Attending the idols' concerts in every part of the world. Yes, there are some people who can afford it, believe it or not :)

Those are probably just half of the reality but they don't impress me less anyway. In fact, I don't do any of them. Heck, I can't even afford a new smartphone every year (every 2 years is the most) how the hell would I afford travelling around the world or purchase 10 different CDs & DVDs every 6 months!!

So you see, I'm just a normal fangirl in this idol-shipping world, just one ordinary fan in fandom. So what do I do to stay as a 'good fangirl' ?

MY CASE OF IDOL-SHIPPING

(1) Buy their new released CDs online through itunes as soon they're up for sale. It's not that I don't want the bonus or the photos, but like I said 'Bless the fandom', there are always kind-hearted people who would upload the bonus with subtitle and scan hi-res photos and provide them online for me to download T___T Oh, and of course, the never ending downloads of their performances and every variety shows they're in!

(2) I dyed my hair in the same shade of my favorite boys :) Well, I can afford this one for sure and it's not so damaging to my wallet.

(3) Contemplating over an hour of whether to buy or not to buy the new DVD that contains the boy's BTS video on their concerts, hotel rooms, rehearsals etc... with my fingers hovering over the PC's keyboard staring at DVDHeaven's website... and finally clicked 'Pre-Order Now' and wince over my credit card bills a month later. Oh, and shocked the whole office when I scream when the DVD arrives.

(4) Still at work and suddenly can't continue working after seeing Baekhyun's new hair color in livejournal -- possibly for the new album's concept. I mean, Baekhyun in black is just... I just cant! 

credit: as in picture

So I guess I'm just a normal girl who happens to like boybands and pretty boys, yes? Nothing out of the ordinary. And I don't care if you wanna judge me, they make me happy.

I spend only what I can afford, sing along to their songs, and laugh out loud over their idiocy in variety shows. Ah... the life of a fangirl :)

Pregnancy & Expectations

In case you're wondering if I'm pregnant... well, I'm not :) But someone close to me is. And I'd like to share this amazing journey of her pregnancy.

One thing I could also share is that I was never fond of pregnancy. Sure, I love babies, I love children, but only after they were born. I didn't like being close to a pregnant woman. I suddenly felt awkward, like I should at least make a comment but other than: "When is the baby due?" and "I hope you have a healthy pregnancy.", I completely had no idea what to say. 

If you think that's weird, I also couldn't stand being close to them, let alone touch the baby bump! I had a shiver down my spine when someone asked me to touch her baby bump many years ago. But finally... just finally... I fell in love with one special baby bump of my friend, Pitshu :)

I didn't know how and why, but when she told me that she was pregnant in July 6, 2013, I was a little overwhelmed. Something like, "Oh! It happens!" She also told me that I was one of the firsts to know, that made me feel a bit special but that's that. Then she asked me for reference to be her obgyn for this pregnancy. I was like: "Errr, I'm not married and I've never been pregnant, why are you asking me of all people?" LOL Of course I wasn't the only one that she asked for reference, but she trusted me, and that made me feel even more special and more into her pregnancy, especially since she chose the doctor that I recommended based on my other friends' recommendation.

From then on, the journey of expectations started, not just for her and her husband and also for me. I may never accompanied her to any of her visits (her schedules are always on weekdays and in the morning) but everytime she returned from the obgyn she would 'report' to me everything about the baby. From the size, the health, its position and finally its gender. IT'S A BOY! And I was laughing loudly when she announced! She asked me why I was so happy that it's a boy, and I replied to her: "Because then I could take him out to play with just a pair of shorts and T-shirt! I don't know what to do with girls, too much of a hassle!" And another expectations bloomed... I started to look forward for the development of the baby.

Know what's the biggest change in me? I love her baby bump & couldn't stop myself from touching and caressing it everytime we met! ROFL Finally... there's a pregnant woman that I could stand being close to and a baby bump I fell in love with.

I still have no idea how it happened... but I'm happy with this experience that my friend had kindly shared with me and let me be a part of it. Maybe because she tried to involve me into her pregnancy (unintended and unexpectedly) from day 1, or maybe just because we're close, but for whatever reason, she made me happy. And the (soon to be arriving) baby made me happy. Just like my friend and her husband have expectations for the baby, I also had mine. That I will see him growing up healthily, that one day I'll get to take him to play and watch movies, that I'll take him out for ice cream even when his parents say no :)

Pitshu is due in a couple of weeks... I wish her only the best in everything... and that the baby boy will be born safely and healthily. And here's a picture of the three of us last Saturday. BABY BOY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOU SOON!!!