Note To Self 19052013

FABSPY.com at Markets Bazaar, Jaya One

Wow, it has been a crazy year indeed and within that time, so many things happened along the way. I've been busy with work and traveling a little here and there and I know I haven't talked so much about work but here I am now, and we're finally ready to make a public appearance. 

For those who have figured it out, I'm currently working on Fabspy.com, an online retailer that strives to push individual styles and well of course, sell things I'd wear myself =P

I'll talk more about work when I'm a little free cause right now we're currently pretty busy considering that we'll be making an appearance at Markets this Saturday, 18th May 2013 from 11am to 6pm so if you're going to be there, drop by at FABSPY booth, say hi, take some photos and enter our instagram contest and grab a couple of vouchers for your next online purchase. 

RSVP here

For you boys, ask us about our Mens booth as we're going to be selling all the mens goods at Markets with major discounts as we're revamping that division. 

Here are my favorite things from the current collection:

If you drop by at Markets, you'll be able to preview our new collection in person, touch and see it for yourself before you make any purchase! Here are some sneak peek from the upcoming collection we're bringing to Markets

Help us share our behind-the-scenes video too! I shot this not too long ago featuring the spunky Alicia A, our May 2013 model and edited by point8cam (cause I forced him to help me out haha)

It's pretty late and I have to sort things out before I head to bed but please do check out these links:


Website: http://fabspy.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/fabspydotcom
Twitter: http://twitter.com/fabspydotcom
Instagram: http://instagram.com/fabspy
Blog: http://blog.fabspy.com

What I Wore - Teatime Weekend

Tea time dates to me now are precious gems as point8cam and I are currently super swarmed with work - me handling fabspy.com while point8cam is doing post-production on his upcoming KK Skate Film short. 

We managed to take a little bit of time off last weekend as I wanted to bring him to TWG Tea in Pavilion while we looked for Mother's Day gifts. Actually, I just needed my caramel tea and scones fix. I even managed to get point8cam hooked on it since we've stopped drinking coffee like we used to.

I didn't plan on wearing any particular look on that day but I managed to throw on a few things for a look that even I'm not sure what to categorize it under.

Top - Zalora Malaysia

Shirt - Urban Outfitters

Shorts - Fabspy

Bag - Sometime Asia

Shoes - Clarks

What do you usually do on weekends? 

Suggest me places to check out where we can chill around Kuala Lumpur.

A Slice of Bali: Introduction, Journey and Budget

My Bali trip was a very challenging one. It was supposed to be a gift for point8cam's birthday last year, but we had to skip the trip as my grandmother had a stroke and the family needed me in those difficult times and work came along not too long after. However, even as the year moved quickly to the end, my dream of bringing point8cam to Bali never died down so we tried re-planning to end our year with a bang. Fortunately, Bali happened and I can safely say that it was one of the best trips I've ever had.

14 days of Bali took a lot of people I know by surprise. Like, what do you do in Bali until you need 14 days? That's one thing about most Asians - going on a holiday for more than two weeks is considered unconventional. We're so used to going on tours, or a quick holiday as long as we can say that we've stepped foot on the destination and take a few touristy photos. I never liked the rush. If I were to travel on my own, I'd like to take my time. And trust me, 14 days in Bali wasn't enough to cover much. We only managed to touch the tip of the iceberg. Imagine doing the typical touristy 5 days and you can only cover the tourist hotspots. It's usually enough for most people but if you want to do a little more than that, I would suggest at least 8 days. 

I planned my route to cover the top spots on of the East and South Bali. To not waste unnecessary time on the journey, we would stop in each town and have day excursions nearby. At the same time, we planned our time carefully so point8cam would be able to shoot and take his time if he needed to. Timing-wise, they were planned in a way where we would be there during the best or peak hours to get the best shots. 

Our trip shot out with a crazy start - point8cam's passport was 5 months into expiry so he was held at the check-in counter. We had to separate, where I went on the flight and he and a friend ran to the nearest immigration office in Putrajaya to renew his passport on the spot and took the next flight out with a penalty. I reached at 1pm and waited at the airport until about 8pm when he reached, took our ride straight to Ubud and had late dinner before knocking out for the day. 

Our 14-day Schedule:

Day 1 - Airport > Ubud (Free & Easy)
Day 2 - Ubud > Monkey Forest (Free & Easy)
Day 3 - Ubud> Bedugul> Tegalalang> Tirta Empul/Tampak Siring> Ubud
Day 4 - Ubud> Rest Day
Day 5 - Ubud> Tulamben
Day 6 - Tulamben> USS Shipwreck Dive
Day 7 - Tulamben> Legian
Day 8 - Legian> Kuta
Day 9 - Legian> Uluwatu> Jimbaran
Day 10 - Legian> Lovina
Day 11 - Lovina> Singaraja Dolphin> Mount Batur> Kintamani Hot Springs> Lovina
Day 12 - Lovina> Tanah Lot> Canggu (Free & Easy)
Day 13 - Canggu Surf
Day 14 - Canggu> Kuta> Airport

Rough Budget

Accommodation

Each hotel was budgeted around RM90-150 per night for two people. There are definitely hostels at lower prices but I would not recommend hostels, especially if you're staying around Kuta or Legian. There are too many schoolies (Australian or European kids that just finished high school and are celebrating it with tons of boozing nights in town). RM100 a night could get you a luxurious 3 star hotel with the comfort of air-conditioning, proper beds, hot shower and other facilities such as a swimming pool etc if not the beach. The only thing I found that most of the hotels were lacking, as a girl, was a hairdryer. I ended up air-drying my hair, which was healthier but it made my hair all frizzy. 

The rates for accomodation may vary according to season. If you're on a tight budget, off-peak seasons are the best time (year-end to March). It's rainy season but the rain does not last for too long and the showers are usually short. Avoid April during Hari Nyepi as everything would be closed and everyone will be staying indoors. Peak season would be the best time to go, around June to end April but flight and hotel would be most expensive. Here are the names of each hotel/resort that I was staying in. 

Ubud - Areklo Villa
Lovina - Puri Saron Beach Resort
Tulamben - Puri Wirata Resort & Spa
Legian - Tune Hotels, Double Six
Canggu - Echoland Bed & Breakfast

Rates may also vary according to websites, and I booked all of them through different sites that offered the best prices comparatively. Do NOT book your hotel on the first site that you end up on. Compare with a few sites like Agoda, Bookings, AsiaRooms and the hotel's own website and you will find that the rates are different.

Food

We budgeted food to be around RM50 a day for two people if we opt for local or street food, unless we decide to splurge a little bit more on a meal, the most would come up to RM100. Food in Indonesia is relatively cheap and easy to find, including Halal food. However, be prepared for a Bali Belly if you're have a sensitive tummy. Bring charcoal pills or anything that would help if you have diarrhea from dirty food. If you're still skeptical, stick to vegetarian food. They have plenty of vegetarian food, especially when you're in holistic centers like Ubud. 

I will write more about restaurants that we visited in Bali on the next fews posts so keep on the lookout for 'A Slice of Bali' posts on my blog. 

Transportation 

Motorbike - If you plan to stay within one place, best way to get to places (especially if you have a driving license) is to rent a motorbike. The traffic can be crazy at times but most of the time, you'll be able to ride to anywhere unless you're hopeless on an automatic bike or you just have no sense of direction at all. Motorbike rentals are roughly around IDR 50, 000 (RM 15/ USD 5) per day, and all you need is your international license (although it might not be legal). Petrol would be around IDR 10, 000 (RM 3.50/ USD 1) for a full tank. Make sure you wear your helmet and avoid any police confrontation. 

Drivers in Bali honk a lot, although it may be a rude thing to do in our country, it's very common there to honk to communicate on the road. It's sort of like a sign to give way, or to ask for someone to give you way. If all else fails, just use hand gestures and don't get angry. Tolerance is key as traffic during peak hours may be a bitch especially in main town areas. 

Car Rental (with drivers) - We opted for car rentals to travel to in between our destinations. The drivers know their way very well (including back roads) and would be best if you want to catch up on a nap in that 3-4 hours ride. Other than that, if you're nice enough with your driver, you can ask them about interesting places you can visit in between your journey and they're usually accommodating enough to stop in between (they could use a break too). You, on the other hand could kill two birds with one stone, as they're charged for 8 hours (sometimes a full day but tip them some extras, they'll thank you for it). You pretty much can tell them to stop or detour wherever you want to so if you need to go to a lot of places in one day, this is the best option. 

Car rentals with a driver are usually around IDR 350,000 (RM 100/ USD 25) for a full-day and most of them drive a 4WD so you can split the cost up to four - five people. 


Phone & Internet

I'd recommend for you to get a prepaid card for your phone and get internet on it. You may visit any phone stores and ask them for the best plan for the length of your stay. It doesn't cost much compared to roaming, and you're definitely going to need internet to google for places to go, or at least use the maps to find your way around town. 

If you're using an iPhone, do let the phone seller know. Microsim phones are not big in Bali, so they will use a cutter to cut the normal sized sim into a microsim. Ask the prepaid seller to also help you with the registration and setting up the activation as it will be in Bahasa Indonesia. 

Most hotels would have Wifi, at least in their common area or lobby but having a connection on your phone would save you from the hassle, in case if you encounter Wifi-less places. 


Banks & Money Exchangers 

There's Mandiri ATMs everywhere, please check with your respective banks on the extra charges of withdrawing money. If you're using Maybank, there are some Maybank ATMs in bigger towns that would not charge you extra but keep in mind that it's not common to find this ATM. Credit cards are acceptable in most places but cash will be your common trading commodity. 

Exchanging money in Bali might seem like an easy thing as you will find money exchangers everywhere. However, based on our experience and other friends, it's best if you find legit counters or bank approved ones. Those independent money exchangers would always have a catch, even when they say "no commission". I ended up paying more than I expected, and one guy tried to cheat our money when counting the cash on the counter. Luckily, point8cam found some discrepancies and the guy eventually gave up trying to take our money. 

Our friends weren't that lucky, as while they were counting the cash in front of them there were some notes that dropped. It's like some illusion trick that will make it seems as if they gave you the correct amount when they don't. 


Alcohol, Drugs & Parties

Alcohol can be found everywhere in Bali, but please avoid homemade liquor, or best known as Arak. I've heard stories where they put methanol to give it a kick and it might be fatal to the drinkers. Stick to bottled ones if you want to. 

There will be tons of people on the streets that will try to sell Shrooms to you. Avoid at all cost.

Kuta is the best place to party cheap especially on Legian Road, while Seminyak has better upscale nightlife. If you see a lot of kupu-kupu malam (term used to describe local girls who works as an escort) you might be in a bar where it could get a little sleazy. We didn't go to any nightlife spots on this trip but heard that Rock Bar, Potato Head and a few more are the current 'in' places to go. Double Six road in Legian was supposed to be happening but it was dead when we stayed there. I guess everyone moved elsewhere around Seminyak and Kuta area (around Embargoe) for better crowd.


Conclusion

Enjoy Bali, stay clean and safe and take in the culture, the beautiful places and the opportunity to discover. I wish you a safe and amazing journey ahead! If you missed out on it, watch this video done by point8cam to recap on our whole Bali journey below! =)

Reebonz Mother's Day Gift Ideas and Store Credit Giveaway

Buying gifts have always been my forte cause I'd like to think that I always choose good gifts for most people. Maybe people have just been nice to say that they like it lol but regardless, the joy of giving is definitely a rush, especially to those who are closest to you. To see them smile, and their eyes light up when they open up a gift is a wonderful feeling.

It's probably a way to show your appreciation to someone once in a while. Mother's Day is definitely a good excuse to celebrate your mother annually. She's been there for you for every day in your life so buying a gift is a small thing. I've been trying to crack my head on gift options for my mum this year and I decided to have a look at Reebonz for their collection of designer items at a lower price than the ones in stores.

So what is Reebonz?

Reebonz is a site where they sell designer luxury items at a discounted price swim in a world of private sales as their deals are exclusive to members of Reebonz. They have a wide range of luxury goods - from handbags, accessories, shoes and even timepieces. Membership is free and open to anyone but to purchase, you would need to be a member first. You may read their FAQ here to find out more about their policies and system. Here is also a video to elaborate further on how to shop on Reebonz.com:

Anyways, that's not why I wrote this post. My objective was to give you ideas on items that might suit your mother, or even yourself if you're a mother. I definitely think mothers deserve to treat themselves too, complete with a pat on the back, and a wide smile for being mothers.

By the way, before I show you more photos, I just want to let you know that I'll be giving out RM78 online shopping credits for my readers at the end of this post! You're welcome! =P

I went through the site for their available items, and with my *ahem* decent knowledge on bags (cause I have a wardrobe full of them), I came up with different mom personalities and bags that might suit them. If you're interested to find out more about the bag, just click on the bag name below the photo.

Ok, shall we start?

CORPORATE MOMS

Corporate moms would need bags that are both practical and professional looking. Size are usually large and colors are usually neutral or earth toned. Bright colors are fine, just make sure they're bold enough to make a statement. The bag has to convey one message: Sleek, stylish and serious.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Globetrotter Calamity Rei

 Gucci Scarlett Medium Shoulder Bag 

Vintage Pre-Owned Chanel Caviar Tote

Mulberry Maisie Clipper Silky

Prada Saffiano Lux Bauletto

SOCIALITE MOMS

Socialite moms are usually the glamourous moms, always seen at events with their bags that looks like a million dollars. Socialite moms are all about confidence, elegance and classic beauty. Clutches with ornaments are usually the best choices. Socialite moms are anything but frumpy thus elegant bags in palm-sizes are just perfect.

Bottega Veneta Intreccio Impero Ayers Knot Clutch

Prada Raso Stones Pochette 

Bottega Veneta Intreccio Impero Ayers Knot Clutch

Prasa Raso Stones Clutch

CASUAL MOMS

Casual moms are the easiest. They're fuss-free (although not entirely) and they usually go for comfort over style. But you have to make sure your mum does not compromise on style even when they go for more laid-back and comfortable looks. Totes are my go-to on casual days. They're usually big enough to fit my things in (including a diaper or two) and always look good with jeans and a blouse. Even my mom loves her totes.

Coach Legacy Leather Mini Duffle

Loewe Paseo Bag

Marc by Marc Jacobs Burg Boxer Tote

Marc by Marc Jacobs Too Hot To Handle Hobo

Prada Vitello Daino Sacca

FASHION MOMS

Fashion moms are the kind of moms I'd like to be someday! Fashion moms are usually youths who found their fashion niche and KNOWS what they would look good in. This could also be a difficult thing as fashion moms might be a little fussy with their accessories and clothing. But if there's one thing that fashion moms cannot resist, it would be statement pieces that are either one-of-a-kind, or something that would turn heads.

Mulberry Alexa

Coach Legacy Metallic Leather Penny Shoulder Purse

Mulberry Alexa Woven Trim

Vintage Pre-Owned Chanel Shoulder Bag

Dsquared2 Leather Satchel

YOU, ON A BUDGET

However, if you're on a tight budget these items would be perfect and they're still designer items! =P

Coach Leather Legacy Slim Envelope Wallet

 Marc Jacobs Card Case

Marc Jacobs iPad Folder

Kate Spade Horseshoe Cove Fynn

Furla Chantilly Wristlet

All bag availability are subject to event dates and their promotion period. For more items, please visit their website at Reebonz.com.

Okay, so as promised, I'm giving out RM78 online shopping credit on Reebonz and it will be granted to you if you register via this link:

Reebonz RM78 credit via Hanie Hidayah

It's never too late to buy a gift for mum, or you may keep it for her birthday instead. You can even pay some items BY INSTALLMENTS. Like, I'm not even kidding about that. 

Last thing, what category of mom do you think you fit in, or if you're not a mom yet, which one would you want to be? 

Leave me comments, I wanna read em!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!