Overseas shopping and shipping!

We always say that the world is becoming smaller because travelling and importing of items are made way more accessible compared to 10 years ago.

I remember how it was almost a dream for anyone to travel anywhere out of their own country or even to just the neighbouring countries, but now, travelling across continent is a norm. Buying of things from halfway across the world is a norm. But yet, we still constantly seek for the best, the fastest and the cheapest way to ship something across the earth.

As not all online sites provides free international shipping option, we will still need to search out for companies who does shipping for us.

In the past, i use to purchase things through Vpost where they offer shopping from USA, EUROPE, JAPAN and CHINA.

 Their charges was one of the best at that point with a base charge depending on the location, weigh and fuel charge that are based on the weigh or volume of item.

However, i found a better way and it's way cheaper! 65daigou ships for you from USA, TAIWAN and CHINA.

Their rates are based on weigh only. There are no additional base charges or fuel charges. That makes it a lot cheaper to ship something from USA or China, to Singapore.

Of course the location wise does matters because if you are purchasing from Europe, then you will still have to use Vpost for now.

These sites too have a "buy for me" option where you do not have to coordinate the shipping options of the various sites and ensure the parcels arrive and coordinate for the items to be shipped to you. You can purchase you item through the site by keying in the URL of the item from the shopping sites. However, do note that they charge a service fees of 4-8% of your spending, meaning the more you spend, the more you are charged for the service.

But the good part about using this function is, they will be responsible for coordinating with the sellers and ensure that your items are received and sent out to you in good condition. Hence, they work as a meditator to ensure shopping satisfactory.

Hope this gives you a better and easier way to shop and ship! ;)

Looking beyond

Looking beyond what meets the eye...

Today is the 9th day of my Europe trip... The past few days traveling through Barcelona to Madrid and now in Paris, cause me to think a lot..

The rich culture and art from the places inspire me to start designing again and motivated to make my designs appear when I visit Paris again next year!

Being on this trip with a combination of interesting people cause me to think... What do I want in life? And what is it that I'm trying to achieve...?

On this trip, there are the rich who do not flash their wealth; there's the rich whom I don't know if they are really rich cause they hang their riches on their lips..

There was a lady whom I thought she was quite indifferent and do not want to talk to anyone, but to discover that she is very warm and friendly but was sensitive to people calling them mainland china Chinese..

A group whom I knew of before the trip but never had the chance to really know them.. Thought they are bossy people but to realize how friend and sincere they are..

There's also one whom I always thought was a really nice person even before the trip, and got to know her better during the trip.. And realize the pride that is subtle but yet sharp...

I haven't been perfect either.. I tried my best and prayed really hard that I will not end up judging.. But just simply observing people.. Throughout the trip, I prayed that I will be a good testimony and not judge anyone for their actions or words.. And that God will open up doors for me to know them in a different way...

Most of them are quite well off and like any other Europe trip... Combing the brands are like a ritual that cannot be missed.. Then the comparing begins as they see who could afford a more expensive branded item.. The comparison kinda irritates but I choose not to be affected nor to be part of this rat race.. It is inevitable for them to compare but I just don't care.. Not that I don't have, but I choose not to depend on these branded items to define my self worth and value.. Though I admit, thoughts do run through my mind, on where will I be in 5 years time...

Today we went on a business dinner on cruise. It was suppose to be a very class and fine dining experience where we got dressed up for.. Then a group started singing and talking and laughing loudly... Then another loud roar of laughter from another table.... And then people start getting drunk from yet another table... At the beginning the embarrassment was overwhelming.. But then I saw the sorrows in their laughter and smile.. And I realized.. They may have everything they need or want but they are not truly happy.. They have wealth and riches but they do not have true joy and peace.. Their pacing up and down with more cigarettes and more alcohol only reveals their deepest sorrows.. Speaking very much of the opposite of what they are going through...

Sitting there... I understand that yes they may seems to have all that they want and could afford anything.. But true joy and peace only comes from above...

A few days back, our tour guide shared with us a story:
There was once he was at the hospital waiting for his turn to visit the doctor with one of his cilent. On his left was a Aunty scolding and shouting at the top of her voice in Spanish.. Not understanding what she is saying, he just assumed she was scolding the husband, who walked passed her and patiently went to the public phone to make a phone call.. Everyone was looking at her but no one went up to her.. A policeman nearby just gently say "Aunty be patient".. Feeling annoyed like everyone, he just continued using his phone.. Suddenly when he looked up, the Aunty was sitting right in front of him and he realized that she was actually blind.. She is shouting because she could not see the husband..

Sometimes things may seems like one thing from the back and a completely different thing from the front..

Best of Rome, Italy Part 1

Recently people have been asking me about my Europe trip and it brought back so much beautiful memories! So i decided to post up some of the photos i took at the various places i visited over a few series.

Leaving for my bangkok trip this sunday! so will be bringing back more photos, in the meanwhile enjoy photos of my Europe trip!

Trevi Fountain

Famous Gelato store near the Trevi Fountain

Spanish Steps

Colosseum, originally known as Flavian Amphitheatre

Photographer: Ivan Yeo (Husband) & Me!

Best of Rome, Italy Part 2

St Peter's Basilica

Photographer: Ivan Yeo (Husband) & Me!

If you are a Christian or a Catholic, you will love this place and everything has a significance to your faith. However, even if you are not one, but if you love art you will this! Everything you see around from the entrance of the door, to every tile that your feet track upon to the wall and ceiling, they are so full of details that your camera will never be able to fully capture its beauty. Beyond words.

Photographer: Me!

The morning sky before leaving the hotel next morning! Is the sky always nearer on the other side of the world?