Feed My Vanity

Everytime I’m in HK or Bangkok my wallet gets a spring cleaning. And spring cleaning is a must, just like detoxing don’t you think?

There are a great many things about the past four days I want to share with you my dear imaginary readers. My memories are hazy, but I only remember being in Hong Kong and emptying my wallet over and over again. Then I woke up and I had a suitcase full of new clothes, a new genuine leather wallet, the odd little tiny tiny sparks of regret here and there, and the delightful memory of finding a Cotton On branch in HK.

I’ve only shopped twice in Cotton On. Once in Singapore, and in HK recently. I love it for its simplicity and subtle edginess. Plus it’s cheap AND I had the luck to stumble on a branch that had a sale.

COTTON ON Accessories

Got these great bracelets for a great price. I’m not sure why the accessories are tagged as Rubi, but I guess that’s what they call their accessory line.

Rubi bracelets. From the top, Silver bangles (originally HK$35, on sale HK$10), silver and gold cuff bracelets (originally HK$69, on sale at HK$25 each)

AND

Belt originally HK$69, on sale for HK$15

AND

Sonny Pannel Dress originally HK$149, on sale at HK$75

The picture of the dress doesn’t do it any justice.

Anyway, my brother the Gremlin is stamping his hairy leathery foot because he wants to use the PC and pretend he’s studying. Will continue this post on my next entry.

Me loves Cotton On. This is a short, stupid but sweet entry. I don’t care, you’re imaginary anyway.

…in the world will you see something like this?

Picadilly

We spent most of our time just walking to and fro the tourist sights in London. Above is a view of Picadilly, one of the major roads of London that stretches from Hyde Park Corner and Picadilly Circus. Pretty pretty pretty. And if you’re in London, prettiness is common sight.

I am no stranger to traffic and gridlocks. No manileña is. It’s a hard-earned skill.

Picadilly Circus

Above is the Picadilly Circus as taken from a double decker. Popular as a place for meet-ups, Picadilly Circus as per Wiki, is a famous road junction and public space of London’s West End. The fountain is called Shaftesbury Monument Memorial Fountain commemoration to Lord Shaftesbury, a philanthropist.  The winged nude statue of an archer on top is by Alfred Gilbert and popularly known as Eros.

If Manila has billboards, London has nude monuments. Interestingly enough, our billboards are literally, and more often, figuratively speaking, dirtier.

London Underground, High Street Kensington Station

The headline is unfortunate. I was so giddy because it still hadn’t sunk in that I was in Europe. IN EUROPE! Thus the poser pic above and the joker-like grin. Also, it feels very surreal to be in the train and see stops such as “Wimbledon” and  ”Notting Hill” . *sigh*

Anyway, not five minutes from stepping out of the station and I found myself  carrying two tubs of Marks & Spencers chocolate. M&S is expensive in the Philippines and considered high-end. But in London? It’s just 7-eleven.

High Street Kensington is chock-a-bloc with retail brands such as H&M, ecco, Accessorize!, The Body Shop, Muji — all cheaper than in the Philippines since it’s locally made (Europe-based companies). I didn’t have time to shop much because it’s either Big Ben or shopping, but I did swing by H&M (OMG! Some of the dresses there were 6 pounds! Do the math, exchange rate is P67). 

I bought another necklace I do not need:

Heavy tribal H&M necklace, 7.99 pounds

Hell, the above would’ve cost me around P2000 to P3000 here. So I bought it, along with bronze eyeshadow for 1.99 pounds (no pic, will just update).

Yes, I love necklaces. I have abnormally small hands and wrists which my dad says are the culprits on why people think I’m thinner than I actually am. Anyway, rings, bracelets, and watches do not look good on me.

Til’ my next post (that is, if somebody is actually reading my blog) *sigh*, hello? hello?).