When you're in Japan, spend all your money on brands

Japan is really a branded country. Everywhere you go, it's all the big brand names. In the entire beijing, I think there are only 2 prada or gucci shops. In osaka, every shopping center (even though they're next to each other) has got ALL the branded boutique shops. And people are pouring into the shops like nobody's business, especially since everywhere was having sale for new year! It was so funny to see hordes of people queing outside daimaru at 9am as if everything inside was free. For me, i learnt so much about brands. And spent too much on them too. Like burberry has blue and black labels which are exclusive for Japan. Yes, japanese wear them like they were picked up from the pasar malam. And i bought both types of labels. Still, that wasn't the most expensive brand i bought. This is like the first, and hopefully last, time i splurge on unimportant things! Then again, most of the things were bought for other people in mind...

Oh, i really love the "lucky bag" concept in japan. It's only available during their new year season. They really should bring it back to singapore. For example, you go to the shop selling socks and buy their lucky bag for US$20. You have no clue what design is inside (i call it heng-suay), but for sure, what you get is worth more than what you pay. Maybe US$50 or more. Unfortunately, by the time i realise what lucky bag meant (you see, there's a slight communication problem..), all the ipods lucky bags in all the shopping centers were sold out! And they were only going for around US$58!! Next time, i'll go queue outside the apple shop at 8am. I've just checked out their latest products (japan always has the latest tech stuffs) and they're really cool. The next computer i get will definitely be a mac.

Although i'm back from osaka for like 6 hours already, i still refuse to replicate my office emails. The thought of working is killing me. Tomorrow noon will be a party for a selected group of staff in my dept. I still don't understand why they're celebrating when it's super super peak now till at least end feb. Anyway, i bought some things for tomorrow's gift exchange from the 100-yen shop in osaka. Aiyah, i didn't dare to spend too much in case the chinese staff throw all the jap stuffs away mah! Otherwise i would have bought Shiseido for them instead.. yeah right.