Handbags from Korea

I keep forgetting when and where I bought my things from.

Looking back at our travel memories, these are the 3 leather handbags that I bought in Korea during our trip back in 2023. Along with them, I picked up an orange purse, a matching orange coin purse, and a black card holder. Every single one is made of genuine leather and are Korean-brand.  Until today,  they are still in great condition.

My most unique and special item from Korea is a pair of olive-colored handmade Korean slip-on leather shoes.

Moving forward, I’m going to share my other handbag purchases and their origins before they all slip my mind. I want to hold onto these beautiful memories for as long as I can.

Shopping in London & Berlin

My shopping between London and Berlin, excludes food and souvenirs:

London: Harrods, Heathrow Terminal 5

• ON (Cloud) white sneakers

• Fun fact: Origin - Switzerland (Zurich), known for their "CloudTec" cushioning, ON has revolutionized performance with a distinct, minimalist Swiss aesthetic.

• Stanley Aerolight Tumbler

Berlin: Primark, Alexanderplatz

• Footwear: Green slip-ons and a pair of slippers.

• Apparel: Grey top and 2 black "Berlin" shirts.

• Luggage: black suitcase.

• Fun fact: Origin - Ireland (Dublin), founded in 1969 as "Penneys," it is the go-to for high-volume, affordable trend pieces and travel essentials.

Berlin: GALERIA Berlin Alexanderplatz

• Braun Büffel: Red leather handbag.

  • Fun Fact: Origin - Germany (Kirn), established in 1887, Braun Büffel is a world-renowned German leather house. The brand is synonymous with the "Buffalo" logo, representing strength, durability, and the exceptional quality of their leather tanning and stitching.

Berlin: Mall of Berlin

• Lloyd: Black leather shoes.

• Lloyd: Dark brown leather shoes.

  • Fun fact on Llyod: Origin - Germany (Bremen), a heritage German brand founded in 1888. They are famous for the "Red Stripe" on the heel, symbolizing high-quality craftsmanship and technical precision.

• Gabor: Blue suede leather heels.

• Fun fact on Gabor: Origin - Germany (Rosenheim), founded in 1949, Gabor is one of Germany’s most successful footwear manufacturers. They are highly regarded for their "Best Fitting" technology, ensuring that high heels remain comfortable for long-term wear.

Budi95

Ok, semalam 1st time pergi refill petrol guna Budi95.

Macam nie la receipt dia...

Total Pump RM89.70

Budi95 -RM21.05

So kena bayar RM68.65 je

Market Price RM2.60/L

Subsidy Price RM1.99/L

Previous Bal 300L

Remaining Bal 265.5L

Terima kasih Budi95.

Don't Get a Massage Just Because You Feel Like It

So here’s the story.

Last weekend, I decided to go for a massage. Not because I was feeling sore or anything  but simply because it had been a long time since my last one, and I thought it’d be nice to pamper myself a little.

Since I was quite free that day, I went all in and booked a 2-hour session. RM200 gone.

Before the massage, they asked me to fill out a form. I chose medium pressure, of course — nothing too intense. Even during the session, I reminded the therapist not to press too hard.

And off we went… the massage began. I could feel the pressure was a little strong at times, but still bearable.

The masseuse sounded like she was from the Philippines  judging by her accent, because she kept saying “Ma’am, ma’am” throughout. If she were Indonesian, she’d probably call me Kakak instead.

But here’s the twist: two days after the massage, my lower back started aching. I was so worried it was going to trigger my frozen shoulder again.

I tried to stay calm, took some BioNerv and slapped on a heat patch/koyok.

Thankfully, after four days, it improved a lot and the pain subsided.

So guys, don’t just go for a massage just because. If you’re not having any soreness, maybe you’re better off skipping it, save your money and avoid unnecessary aches later.

Two Shoes, One Habit

You know your style is way too consistent when you accidentally buy the same pair of shoes, twice.

Same pattern, same colour scheme... and I didn’t even realise it until I got home and saw the older pair sitting quietly in my shoe rack.

The first one was bought over a year ago, and the most recent one just this week. Nasib baik there's a slight difference in shade, otherwise I might’ve just thought the shoes magically cleaned themselves and came back looking new.

Moral of the story? Maybe I should start checking my wardrobe before shopping. Or maybe I’ve just found my signature style — who knows?

Taipei, Taiwan | Itinerary & Budget

Taipei, Taiwan 2024

Our actual itinerary:

Day 1:

Fly to KL, and overnight for 1 night

Day 2:

Fly to Taipei, shopping around Ximending area.

Tian Tian Li for dinner.

Day 3:
Ay Chung flour rice noodles for breakfast

9:45am English Mass Holy Family Catholic Church

Jianguo Flower Market
Jianguo Jade Market

Power Beef for lunch

Tian Tian Li and Ay Chung flour rice noodles for dinner.

Day 4:

From city streets to mountain heights to the ocean tides..

Ay Chung flour rice noodles for breakfast

Shifen Waterfall

Shifen Old Street

Jiufen Old Street

Buyan Pavilion

The Golden Waterfall (黃金瀑布 Huángjīn Pùbù), Jiufen, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan.

Yinyang Sea

Lao Shandong Homemade Beef Noodles, Ximending

Day 5:

Ay Chung flour rice noodle for breakfast

Taipei 101

Din Tai Fung

Breeze Center

Addiction Aquatic Development

Shots at Rainbow Six

Getting my hair washed

Day 6:

Ichiran Ramen

Songshan Road

Wu Fen Pu

Raohe night market

Day 7:

Shopping at Ximending.

Tian Tian Li for lunch.

Fly to KL

Day 8:

Reach KL

Shopping and movies at IOI Mall, Putrajaya.

Fly back to Kuching at night

To buy:

GU ❎

Dried scallops  ❎
Jade 

Local leather handbag 

Tea 

Onitsuka Tiger √
Wool cloth ❎

NET √
Sunglass  ❎
Leather sandal √

To eat:
Luroufan - wang’s broth  ❎, tian tian li √

Yuan Fang Guabao  ❎
Ay Chung flour rice noodle √
Din Tai Fung 101 √

Power beef √
Soya milk you tiaw for breakfast √
Addiction fish market √
Ichiran ramen√

Budget:
Air tickets RM3.5k

Hotels RM3.8k

AirAsia Taipei-KL Luggage RM198

Cash: RM1.5k + TWD1k + TWD1k (CC cash withdrawal fee RM70 + RM70)

1-day car rental with driver TWD7500

Our planned itinerary had to be adjusted due to Eugene not joining.

Friday, 29 Nov

• Fly to KL

Saturday, 30 Nov

• Visit Ximending and NET

Sunday, 1 Dec

• 9:45 AM: English Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church
• Jianguo Jade Market (Saturday/Sunday only, 9 AM - 6 PM)

Monday, 2 Dec

• Jiufen (train to Ruifang Station + Uber)
• Shifen
• Raohe Night Market

Tuesday, 3 Dec

• Astronomy Museum
• Addiction Fish Market
• Taipei 101

Wednesday, 4 Dec

• Yangmingshan

Thursday, 5 Dec

• Fly to KL

Maybank Premier 1 Account

How to transfer / withdraw money from Maybank Premier 1 Account?

Answer: Login to maybank2u Trade App and select ePayment from menu to withdraw the cash from this account to your savings account.

On the Maybank Trade App, go to Menu and select ePyaments.

Tab to Withdrawal, key in your amount, and select your Account to Credit, mine is to my Savings account.

Confirm on the Request.

And, Successfully transfer the fund from Premier 1 to Savings account, from Savings account, you know what to do..

Beli petrol di Shell, Pekan Bau

Aku kah yang bengong or Shell yang bengong.

Alkisahnya begini, hari Rabu, cuti Wesak, yang lepas saya bawa ayah pergi beli Diesel di Shell, Bau.  Isi dalam bekas (gelen) kecil jer. I beli guna CC di mesin kat luar tu.  Total RM9.05 je pun, tapi masa dah tekan nak receipt, tunggu-tunggu takda jugak receipt keluar.  Oklah, malas nak tunggu, orang ramai, hari hujan pulak tu, 9 hinggit je pun.

Sampai rumah I dapat notification dalam phone saying that I kena charge RM200 kat Shell station.  Mana tak bengang, beli RM9, kena charge RM200.

Dengan malas nya, start la engin kereta and pergi la balik ke Shell station tu, cashier jawap 'machine kat luar tu memang macam tu, itu charge dari bank, bukan dari kami, nanti 2-3 hari bank akan refund.  Semua shell pun macam tu.'

Eh apa pulak semua Shell macam tu, saya tiap minggu beli Petrol dari Shell in Kuching, tak pernah pun kena charge RM200.

Cashier: Shell station di Bau yang sana tu pun macam tu juga.

Me: Shell yang tu pun sama company korang kan?

Aihss naik angin jugak aku dibuatnya, petang ni dah nak balik Kuching, kalau tak lapor nanti bank cakap kena tak lapor awal.

Oklah, kita redho, tunggu 2-3 hari. Sabar, tak baik gaduh.

The next day, eh betul la, check balik CC amount, RM9.05

Aku ke yang bengong or Shell or Bank?

Aku tetap rasa kan.. kalau betul mmg biasa macam ni di Pekan Bau, buat la notice siap2, RM200 banyak bah, iboh gia, buang masa aku jak.

Shanghai + Sapporo | Itinerary & Budget

Our actual itinerary, trips to Shanghai, China and Sapporo, Japan in March 2024.

Shanghai

Day 1- 1st March - Friday

KIA - KLIA - Pudong

Checkin Pudong hotel

Day 2 - Saturday 

7am - Purchase luggage access at Spring Airlines counter, Pudong

9am - Took the Maglev to Shanghai city

Took a taxi to Atour Hotel, The Bund

Lunch at Nanjing Road

Took the train to Yu Yuyuan

Back to the hotel by Didi

Shopping at Nanjing Road

Dinner

9pm - The Bund

Day 3 - Sunday

Breakfast at hotel

Shopping at West Nanjing Road

11:30 Took Uber to St. Ignatius Cathedral

12noon English Mass at St. Ignatius Cathedral

2pm - lunch at Xujiahui Mall

3pm - Took the train from Xujiahui Station Park to Lujiazui station, TV Pearl Oriental.

5pm - Took Didi back to hotel

6pm - Shopping at West Nanjing Road

9pm - dinner at Grandma Restaurant

10pm - The Bund

Day 4 - Monday

7am - The Bund

8am - Breakfast at a Michelin guide restaurant near our hotel

9am - Took Didi to Qibao Water village, RMB55.44

2pm - Took Didi back to the hotel, RMB62.19

4pm - Took Uber to shop at Qipu Lu

Day 5 - Tuesday 

5am - Requested hotel staff to arrange for a taxi to Pudong airport

Sapporo

Day 1 - 5 March

Lunch - Omurice, Japanese Egg Rice

4pm - shopping at Tokyu Hands

Dinner - Ippudo Ramen

Day 2 - 6 March

Breakfast at hotel

Train to Otaru

Taxi from Otaru JR station to the canal

Kaisendon for lunch at Sansaku Fish Market

1pm - took the train back to Sapporo

4pm - took Uber to Mt Moiwa ski resort

6:45 - took the bus to Susukino train station, followed by train back to Sapporo station

Dinner - Butadon

Day 3 - 7 March

Shopping at Susukino and Second Street

Day 4 - 8 March

6am - JR train to New Chitose Airport

10pm - flight back to Kuching

Our planned itinerary, which we had to make some changes due to time and weather constraints.

Day 1 - 1st March - Friday

Klia

Checkin Pudong hotel

Day 2 - Saturday 

To Nanjing road

Shopping

Yu Yuyuan

Day 3 - Sunday 

12noon St. Ignatius Cathedral, Xujiahui Station Park

TV Pearl Oriental, Pudong 400y includes buffet/ boat. Lujiazui station

Day 4 - Monday

AM - Qibao Water village

By Metro - Take Metro Line 9 and get off at Qibao Station. Leave from Exit 2 and walk south for about ten minutes to the old town

PM - shopping Qipu Lu

Day 5 - Tuesday 

4am - Pudong airport

Sapporo

Day 1 - 5 March

Lunch - beef rice

PM - Otaru 

JR train - 750y per way/person  RM24

Sankaku

Naruto

Uber-Otaru Canal

Dinner pork rice

Day 2 - 6 March

Breakfast at hotel

Kokaisou ski resort, gate 17 bus 1.5 hours

Mt Moiwa ski resort, Uber

Lunch at Moiwa

Dinner Susukino

Sapporo tram

Day 3 - 7 March

Shopping - Tokyu Hands

Sapporo tram

Day 4 - 8 March

Airport

Our Budget for flights and hotels:

Flight tickets (AirAsia): Kuching - KL - Kuching RM3k+

Flight tickets (AirAsia): KL - Pudong, Shanghai RM5k+ 

Flight tickets (Spring Air, China) : Pudong, China - Chitose, Sapporo, Japan RM3k+

Flight tickets Chitose - KL (AirAsia) RM5k+

Pudong Hotel, Shanghai RM500

Atour Hotel, The Bund, Shanghai RM3400

Century Royal Hotel, Sapporo RM2700