I'm home!

Finally, I'm home! Wow! Unpacking my things was so fast! Anyway, I'm super grateful that I'm living in Penang and not in KL. Sigh... I wouldn't have survived the traffic jams there and to take the monorail and trains to get to places everyday and not being able to enjoy driving will make me depressed... but I guess I will adapt to the lifestyle too if I'm being deported there. What did I do in KL? Other than conventions, lectures, talks.... I went shopping and came back..empty handed. Not really, I did buy books! Of course I had to visit Kinokuniya and wonder why aren't they opening up a branch in Penang. Then we went to every shopping centre available in KL, and still ended up empty handed..... I was supposed to do my CNY shopping! And I got more books instead...

Secondly, I had the most painful body massage ever!! My back still aches now!!! That was like 3 days ago! I thought my lumbar disc almost popped out when she elbowed me. And oh yes, I almost got molested had not my supervisor spotted the idiot and elbowed him in his chest, HARD! Served him right!! Thank God we were all safe. He ran away fast after he got elbowed.... Other than that, the pillows in Concorde Hotel were horrible! They were not fluffy, instead they sank! My neck still is stiff now. Stiff neck plus painful back = lazy me... That's a really good excuse.

But my trips to places like the Pavilion and Starhill Gallery made me think. In times of economic hardships like now, are they really able to survive, or is it true as what the experts say, that Asia will replace USA as the market with the biggest buying power?? Are we Asians really that not affected by the economic downturn? I think that buying a watch for RM200,000 in times like these, is pretty silly. But looking at the news, fashion giants like Dior and LV aren't the least worried by the horrible economy. Instead they now target Asia as most sales are coming from us Asians! It is indeed true that the west was hit the hardest by the economic crisis (unless Obamy does something), and everyone is tightening their belts, but it looks like Asian countries are still spending.

Perhaps it's not fair to say that all Asians are big spenders. I'm sure there are people who will now think twice before purchasing luxury items. Although it's pretty silly, but I think middle-income families will thrive better than anyone. I'm not sure why but, I think these families have grown up knowing how to spend in moderation and how to make the best of everything.

Anyhow, I shall not go further. I ain't a professor in this area. I am truly grateful that I have a job and is still drawing a pay home every month. In previous times, some people will say, "what?!! your salary is only xxxx??!!!". But come to think of it, I am grateful and satisfied. I give 3/4 of it to my family and still have a nice sum to spend (of course I'm not into LV and everything luxurious) on food and some lovely little shopping. So to those who loves to change your mobile every month and is still living on your parents' money... HAH!!!

Cheers!!