I don't believe in Hermes

I was freezing from the AC when an associate whom I had a meeting with lent me a piece of scarf. It was off white-base with bright summer colors and adorned with motifs that caught my eyes - bicycles, hot air balloons and orange ribbons. It felt silky soft when I put it around my neck. It's so pretty that I couldn't keep my eyes off its reflection.

"Where is it from?", I asked her. "Hermes", she replied. I was dazzled.
For days after the meeting, I couldn't forget about the prettiest scarf I ever wrapped myself with. 

Among the classic high end brands, I never thought much of Hermes nor did I bother to learn the correct pronunciation of the brand. I heard that you need to buy smaller items like dining sets or scarfs before the brand lets you own a bag. Whatever. I have not had the intention to own one. But I couldn't get the scarf off my mind....

My sister once attended a workshop by an Italian branding guru. He said "People don't need luxury goods. But they desire luxury goods. They want to be part of the history. They want to be part of the story." It sounded stupid. And I'm guilty as charged.

So when I found myself strolling on the shopping belt of Cannes, I know where I wanted to go. Eghmesz. That's how the French say it.

The good looking shop attendants and security guards greeted us, "Bonjour madame, welcome".

I looked around and felt a bit intimidated by the posh ambiance. I saw an Indonesian lady (her batik and kerudung gave it away) sitting mighty on the other end of the shop. A store assistant was attending to her and her daughter was translating for her. Like a highlander sensing another member of the clan, the lady turned around, looked at me and gave a nodding smile. In my head she was saying "Go ahead. You deserve it".

The shop assistant patiently parading all the scarfs to us, explaining the details, giving recommendations and talked about 10 designers who worked on different designs, and how they each signed on the scarf. I settled on the one that taken my breath away the most - an "Ex-Libris En Kimonos" (I never knew scarf has a title). It's bright with spring-in-the-orient theme. 

I felt complete as I paid for it. A beautiful person deserves only the most beautiful things. 

I will always remember the beaming smile on my mother's face when I presented the scarf to her.

Ex-Libris En Kimonos 

Home Coming. Mom posed in front of  a Hermes' statue at The Museum of Jakarta in her Ex-Libris En Kimonos

Living Out of a Suitcase

I spent 6 months of 2012 living out of my trustee red Samsonite suitcase. That includes the months living in Lao, the transition period when I shifted apartments in Singapore and when I was travelling throughout December.

The packing-unpacking process, trying to fit my life in to just one suitcase, taught me important life lessons.

1. Letting go 
Packing is like moving on in life. You have to leave behind stuff that are less important to make space for the really important ones. You are only allowed 23 kg on Lao Airline. If you insist to carry everything with you - you have to pay the fines and carry extra baggage wherever you go.

2. Make your choice and stick with it
If I could have my way, I'd travel with 3 suitcases; one for clothes, one for accessories and footwear and a 'comfort suitcase' filled with my fave stuff ie.water bottle, frying pan, reading light, my gingerbread man doll....

But I hardly have my way. I have to choose what I needed the most and fit them in one luggage. When I thought of my red platform shoes that I left in Singapore, and how it would look great with my outfits in Vientiane, I told myself "You've decided to leave those shoes behind.So work with what you have".

What's done is done. Just look ahead of you.

3. Simplify your life
I normally have about 5 choices of working shoes, and more for play. And don't get me started about body care. I use different moisturizer for different parts of the body. I counted more than 10 products that I regularly applied between shower and stepping out of the house.
But for months, I managed to rotate 3 pairs of shoes - to work and play. I opted for multi-function products to cut down baggage weight. I realize I can live without a lot of things if I want to. IF I WANT TO. 

4. Invest in a really good suitcase
You need one good suitcase that is: 

• large enough to fit all your important belongings 
• light enough so it doesn't  take up your baggage allowance or when you have to climb up and down the merciless staircases of London underground
• ergonomic enough so it runs with you when you're late for your flight/train/bus/ship/tuk-tuk
• sturdy enough to walk through the potholes of Vientiane or the cobble stones streets of Marseille. Or when it gets thrown about inside a Damri from Cengkareng
• presentable enough to stroll through the lobby of a posh building