2017 to 2018 Minimalist Achievements

Looking a few months' back to my journey to minimalism, I noticed I have quite a bunch of achievements! Here are they:

 

#1 Recycling, Giving away and actually wearing the clothes in my wardrobe.

 

This is something I have been working on and boy, did it took years! This year, I managed to get rid of two bags of clothes and gave away several pieces early this year while last year more so I'd say this is definitely an achievement. I'm glad my sis (albeit smaller size) can wear most of my brand new and unworn clothes.

#2 Cutting down on beauty hauls and to use up what I already have

  

There are things I am still working to reduce, especially in my beauty and body care department. I noticed I have just so many things for one purpose, such as my beauty products, body care products, hair care products and facial masks. I have no idea (now) why I need 3 bottles and 1 tube of body lotions, 2 shampoos, one hair conditioners, one hair mask, one hair oil and 2 leave-on treatment and over 50 facial masks. It may sound like nothing much but they are a lot for one person to use. I don't even use most of them!

 

#3 Cutting down on fashion hauls

 

I think I am doing a rather good job in this. In fact last CNY, I didn't get anything new but simply wear whatever I have in my wardrobe. This doesn't mean I do not care about my appearance _ I buy clothes that last and still make me look good or feel good about myself. Another approach I did was to wait. If I still want something a month later, I will get them. Sometimes I don't get everything I want. Sometimes I have second thoughts and ended up not buying.

 

#4  Reduce email subscriptions & retails memberships

 

This is easy peasy. All I needed to do was to unsubscribe and then wait to see if I miss any of the emails notification. 99.9% I don't. The remaining 0.01% is from TripAdvisor telling me how many people read my reviews LOL

 

 

#5 my minimalist approach on books

 

I try to make it a habit to read whatever books I have in hand before getting new titles. That meant no more purchasing books like nobody's business. Recently I am reading through two titles_ "How to be a Zillionaire" by Chelli Campbell and now-reading "The Cure to Money Madness" by Spenser Sherman, both of which I borrowed from my gal pal. They're not part of my dying-to-read books but books.

 

 

#6 One thing at a time

 

I want to do a hundred stuff! Blogging more, writing reviews on tripadvisors, maybe knitting a mermaid tail blanket, regrowing foodstuff, cooking, try a hundred cafes, making the most of my new DSLR and reorganize my bedroom. That's a lot to take in. While my hands are itching to get whatever I want (because I can), I try to calm myself down *meditates*

 

Only when I have achieved one thing do I get to the other. My goals now are just  to complete my 2017 Travelogues, learning about my DSLR and brushing up on Photoshop. The rest can wait.



Bali (Day 8 & Day 9): Kuta

My last two days in Bali, I spent just taking my time in Kuta town. Day 8 was mainly walking around Kuta town which got to be my favorite place ever. Aside from that, I discovered Matahari Department Store along the main street and spent the entire evening shopping for souvenirs! I would definitely recommend people to shop there because it is one of the places with the best prices. Another is the art market not too far from this department store.

~ ♡ ~

Day 9 was my last day in Bali therefore I headed towards the south to one of the mall I found via Google. I didn't spend much time in the mall as there wasn't much to see. However, I happen to come across this warung called Babi Guling Karya Rebo on Google Maps nearby so off I went.

Ordered the Babi Guling set obviously! Everything tasted great. This was about 70k if I remembered correctly but it was well worth the try.

After filling my stomach, it's time to explore Jimbaran Beach. Afternoon's not the best time to hang out here, it was so hot! There were several restaurants open but only a handful of tourists. I'm sure by evening there would be more crowd.

Later, I took an ojek to another nearby mall which similar to the first mall I visited was so quiet! What's up with malls in Bali, like really?

I didn't find anything interesting but here I did find Oleh Oleh Krishna, which sells affordable souvenirs. I would definitely recommend either Oleh Oleh Krishna, Matahari Department store and some Art Markets along Jalan Pantai Kuta for souvenirs shopping in Bali. Some art markets which doesn't display price tags have their prices marked up for unsuspecting tourists. So one thing to look out for.

By then I was bored and had enough of ojek rides, and decided to retreat to my familiar spot _ Matahari Department Store to help get souvenirs for dear bff. "You had too much of paradise," my bff concludes when I told her I have enough of vacation. I never did thought I will get bored in a foreign country but that happened LOL

Back at Kuta and having completed my shopping, I stopped by a warung and ordered Kopi Bali. I don't usually take coffee in the evening (just my thing) but I wanted to have Kopi Bali before I head home. I super love the coffee! It tasted very much like Malaysia's version of kopi o but less thick (or kao as we call that).

Last sunset at Kuta Beach before my flight!

Dinner was at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. I wouldn't advice travellers to have their meals here because a lot of restaurants here are expensive!

Next destination, Singapore!

~ ♦ ~

While I was in Kuta for the last two days, I spend most of my time shopping and just chilling, Mostly because I quite enjoy having to ride an ojek every single time I needed to head to a different destination. I guess I prefer vacaying at countries where destinations are more connected by trains or by foot so I'd rather just spend my time shopping in Kuta. I wouldn't mind too much if I have company, perhaps.

Another irk that annoys me as a solo traveller in Bali is how a lot of locals, particularly taxi drivers, unlicensed ojeks and souvenirs stall/shop owners in Bali Island would take advantage on tourists! A less than 10 minutes ride whether on ojek or taxi will cost you 100kRupees, what extortions! I had several unpleasant experiences with this unscrupulous people in Bali, one man took to stomping his foot and howling when I rejected his overpriced ojek ride. Don't even get me started on a car rental company who tricked and robbed me! Downright despicable! It also appears that this 'culture' is even practised by airport staffs! Supposedly "free porters" (it's stated behind their uniform) would shamelessly request for tips. It also didn't help that my luggage was mishandled so badly that when I arrived in Kuta, there was a hole in my luggage. When I took the flight to Singapore, my luggage had fell apart... Totally WTF.

On the other hand, I enjoyed my time tremendously in the Nusa islands, which is new to tourism and therefore locals are way-y kinder and genuine, which I am truly grateful for! On top of that, I always, always felt safe. I do wish from the bottom of my heart that with the increased of tourist won't taint the local's attitudes.