Why girls love Korea

One of them, may I say, would be because of COSMETICS!! Haha.

We can see many Korean beauty stores mushrooming in Malaysia for the past few years. It has been the latest craze in Malaysia and this is totally apt with Dr M "dasar pandang timur" years ago. Hehe. I foresee many will come soon (heard that one of my favourite brands - TONYMOLY is now available in M'sia but I have yet to go to one) and I can't wait for that to happen although it would never beat the products' prices in Korea because they are way waaay cheaper over there and the SA gives you heaps of samples you just won't be able to stop grinning from ear to ear once you walk out the store. The korean beauty stores in Malaysia are mostly, sad to say, quite stingy when it comes to giving away samples. Hmmphs.

If you're into LANEIGE (you can find them at parkson, jusco, etc - they are pretty much Korean's Estee Lauder and the likes), it would be a great decision to buy them over there because you could actually get a set of their products at the price of Skinfood items in Malaysia. I bought a set of their latest range, after seeing the commercial again and again on the telly in the hotel room. I'm an easy target. I know.

I love Korean beauty products because they are affordable and work well for me. They also come in cute packaging and as a sucker for anything cute, I'm totally sold. Here's some pictures of the beauty products that I bought on the first night we were at Seoul. Read : first night. There are more but I didn't take pictures of them because I don't want to be reminded of how crazy I went over there for all things vain. To mask my guilt for being out of control, I bought some for my husband too although God knows when will he use them for real (he likes to be pampered but only when I'm around. I love to play beautician by scrubbing his face, put on tissue mask on his face and dap dap dap lotion on it. Love!)

These are from Etude. I regretted not buying Perfect10 eye primer which is said to be as good as Urban Decay's.

These are from Skinfood. I spent about RM 150 and I walked out with heaps of stuff which would not be the case in Malaysia. tsk.

These are from TONYMOLY. Those tomato like thingy are brightening skin mask and they work like magic and totally live up to the name.

There are more from The Face Shop, Missha, Nature Republic, Aritaum, Bavi Phat, Holika Holika and also from Skinfood, Etude and Tonymoly (again!) but as I had mentioned earlier, I DON'T WANT TO BE REMINDED OF HOW CRAZY I WENT :-D

Cosmetics haul withdrawal symptom :- I still shudder from excitement every time I see Korean beauty shops in Malaysia and in a couple occasions, I had to force myself not to walk into them. It took a lot of courage and I am going to reward myself with some beauty products for being so adamant. Eh?

korean-ified.

We're back from south korea with heaps of memories for years to be reminisced as well as tonnes of cosmetics to last me for a very long time hee hee. Will probably blog more about it later just in case you are thinking of going there someday. I am however still affected by the post vacation blues and sometimes wish that I wake up in the hotel room in Itaewon, of course, with my husband by my side.

packing for dummies

I'm not good in packing as I always tend to over pack and more often than not, under pack which could totally be annoying as you would then be forced to go out and buy the things that you've forgotten to bring (which, of course, you wouldn't, had you prepared a checklist but I have never and I don't do checklist. Kinda allergic, may I say?)

Which was exactly what drove me to google up checklist for travelling as it has been donkey years since I went travelling overseas. It was about 2 years ago (I was being dramatic about that donkey years thingy but I have always wanted to put donkey years in one of my posts so yeah this is somekind of a personal achievement thank you).

We will be off to the land of honeymooners (or so they say but again, this is just me, exaggerating) really soon and I have been honoured to the packing so I would have to do it well. This is a very trying time. To see how competent I am at playing wife. Fiuhhh.

Here's a checklist that I managed to compile just in case you want something to refer to, in order to ensure that you got everything right.

Home Checklist

* Arrange for pet and plant care
* Stop routine deliveries
* Make your home seem lived-in while away by putting lights and a radio on
* Leave keys and itinerary with a friend
* Lock windows, garage, and doors

Before Leaving

* Guide books and maps
* Passport and visa(s)
* Foreign currency of your destination country
* Credit cards
* Travelers checks or ATM card
* Personal Identification
* Photocopies of documentation
* Marriage License (if necessary)

Basic Essentials

* Appropriate Luggage
* Luggage Locks & ID Tags
*Appropriate Clothing
* Comfortable Footwear
* Rain Protection
* Camera and Film (Place film in carry-on baggage)
* Small Flashlight
*Small Binoculars
*Reading Materials
*Playing Cards/Games
*Address Book

Maintenance Items

*Batteries for camera and flashlight
* Mini Sewing Kit (place in checked baggage)
* Travel Iron or Steamer
* Sink Stopper
* Folding Scissors (place in checked baggage)
* Laundry Soap Packets
* Laundry Bag
* Ziplock Plastic Bags

Medication

* First Aid Kit
* Aspirin/Pain Reliever
* Cold/Sinus Medication
* Diarrhea Medicine
* Laxative
* Insect Repellent
*Contact Lens Preparations
* Antibiotic Ointment
*Alcohol Wipes
*Sunscreen
* Motion Sickness Medicine
*Personal Hygiene Items
*Personal Prescriptions

Toiletries

* Comb/Brush
*Toothbrush/Paste
* Dental Floss
* Shampoo
* Blow Dryer
*Deodorant
*Lotions/Creams
*Cologne
*Lipbalm
* Towelettes
* Shaving Cream
* Towel/Washcloth

Naturally, there are some items that I deemed unnecessary and they are off the checklist. But it's a good idea to have this checklist prepared by other seasoned travellers, so that you could go refer to it every now and then, confirming that you have everything important. I forgot to buy some ziplock plastic bags to keep liquid items such as my lotions. I once spoiled one where the lid was accidentally opened (probably due to air pressure - or it could be the pressure from other things in the luggage) and had the unfortunate to discover it once I reached my destination and was about to pamper my jetlagged self. It was not a pretty scene. So yeah, WILL GET EM DARN ZIPLOCK PLASTIC BAGS!

Packing is a tedious chore and don't get me started on unpacking. The trick to pack happily? Picture those happy moments you are about to go through as your bones do all the hard work chucking- I mean arranging everything neatly in the luggage.

Here's to our honeymoon!