Posts Tagged ‘shopping’

This would be it, Seiko Automatic Scuba Divers SBDC001, 6R15 Caliber powered, with manual and self-winding mechanism, unilateral bezel movement and water resistance rated to 200m. It is versatile yet flexible enough to be use on top of my wetsuit arms, or inside my cotton cuff. Truly a watch for a man of all season.

Remember that I had a Parker Jotter fountain pen ? The one that has faithfully accompany me for the last one year or so ? I lost it. It was with me in the morning, and wasn’t anymore by the afternoon. It was sad affair, for I lost a great pen who have had contribution in promoting my career. One way or another.

Anyway, ever since the day I lost it, I’ve been looking my replacement. And for that I’ve been roaming various Gramedia store around the city, to no avail, until a week a go, and its not Gramedia. It’s in fact Office 2000, at Setiabudi, not far from my place. And it’s a Vector.

Vector, is a pen with more than 20 years of history, and of all the Parker line, its one of the cheapest, second only to Jotter. Anyway, cut the history short, I acquired the pen, have it engraved with my name (with the hope that I can retrieved, or have it returned if I misplaced it), and commissioned it to my office needs, replacing my Jotter.

It is, with all respect of its limitation, is a good pen. Like my old Jotten, it’s a stainless steel, but unlike my Jotter, it came with fine nib (tip), and slighly heavier. It doesn’t exude the look of luxury (or snobbery) unlike the Mont Blanc,  yet still have some uniqueness and personality.

Anyway, I manage to grab a couple of pics of it. Have a look and let me know what you think.

My working pen. Notice the "R. Rachman" engraved at the cap of the pen ?

The Pen Nib. It looks cheap, simple and fairly straight forward. It foot print is thin. Personally, I would prefer a bold medium nib instead.

Today is Friday, and the office felt less formal in many sense. People are more laid-back, some even came few minutes later than the usual schedule, and then there are colorful combinations of shirt, skirt jeans and trousers. Polo shirt being the most popular, spotting wide array of color variation and patterns, jeans are almost an obligation, and snickers were spotted along the way.

Obviously, some are trying to present or rather impose their self perceived image of cool, laid back, relaxed and unique which expressed through combination of polo-shirt, jeans, and snickers. What they don’t realized though, there is nothing unique by wearing colorful shirt, if anyone else wearing that too, on Friday. At the end you ended up with being majority.

The question, how do you go through the dress down Friday without being trapped into mediocrity all over again ?

The answer lies to your self believes, that dress down Friday is not a window of opportunity to get slack and loose your sharpness. Here is how

1. Avoid sneakers, this is the big no-no in the dress down Friday. If you I have to pinpoint a single style component that have sudden impact if throwing you into a pack mediocrity this is the one. Sneakers, should only be use when you jog, walk, gym, run or any other sports. It may be ok to be use on your weekend walk in the park session, but it’s never a good choice when you wore it to the office
2. Avoid black shoes too. The odd is you wear black four out of five working days in a week. So why do you so intent to wear black with your jeans. Sure it still work but fine. But please think about the feeling of your other shoes, the brown wingtip or the grey suede monk-strap for example. Dress down Friday is the perfect opportunity to express your fashion preferences, so do try different colors or material. My personal take, plain shirt (in blue, white), jeans, and dark brown semi brogue wing-tip
3. Forget flannel, what are you ? Cowboy ?
4. No chain please. Linen jacket and chain could not be sighted at the same place together, and so is the khaki, loafer, or any other respectable fashion elements. Leave your chain on your gates, door or dog
5. Try to jacket. Really the easiest trick to upgrade your appearances and facade is to done jacket. And by definition of jacket here is a blazer or suit upper, with two buttons, nice fit and avoid any synthetic. Forget your winter jacket, parachute, mountain or leather jacket.
6. Finally be your self. I mean if you are 30 or 40 something, do not pampered your self with teenage gigs. Looking young and energize is not about what you wear, but very much about how you carry yourself, and being unique and differentiated, doesn’t mean you have to resort to the utter and casual slackness

You see, it’s not so hard really. What you need to do is try your best to relax, put up a serious self confidence, and remember that how you look very much depends on how you feel. Surely the subject of self confidence is an entirely different matters. But this would mean that you have to start as soon possible, and by as soon possible, I mean like…now.

I’ve been driving since I a Junior in college, the was roughly about 11 year ago, with a green, beaten down, but superbly reliable Isuzu Panther. After that, there were the 99 Gold Isuzu, the ’93 Blue Mitsubishi Magna, the ’03 Black Toyota Vios and the latest, is the newly acquired the ’10 Black Chevy Cruze.

I got in sometimes in August, and it should be galloping its forst 10k sometimes next month. So how does it like to run an American in a street of Jakarta.

Fuel consumption wise ? Not fun. My Cruze gulped about 7-8km/liter, in-town. For a car with 1.8 liter engine, thats more than what its competitors i.e. Honda Civic or Toyota Altis drunk for the same distance. But good news bound to come if you drive the out-town. Its fuel efficient can almost double. I’ve the opportunity to drive it to Jogja some months ago, thats a total of 1100k return, and it only needs to full tanks refill, that approximately 15km/liter fuel efficiency.

If it’s a very thirsty car, what about the power ? I have to admit, driving Cruze traffic is rather moot point. The car, the way it came as it was, has so much energy potential, sadly, this potential are not those that useful in the hectic, crowded and raring traffic of Jakarta. But try to take it out at the night or early morning and Cruze some of the Jakarta sprawling highway at the the city outskirt. It is going to be a total fun.

The 0-100km/h in less then 10 secs, and than you can easily climb the speed up yo 180km, in almost no time. Never tried till 200km/h though, as the road is way too wavy to drive in such a speed. Driving the Cruze on that particular intensity is total joy. The suspension hold the car swell, not as hard as Civic, but much more stable than Altis. It balance the needs of convenience against stability.

Maneuvering the car also easy and fun to do. The steering wheel is responsive, and it holds well, while you jerked alternatingly. While the brakes are sufficiently responsive, even in a wet condition. Press it light and the system will adjust slowly, helped by the automatic engine brake, press it hard, the brake will manage themselves to have the car slowing down in steady but rapid manner.

And while the exhaust system is standard, you can hear the silent engine roared, as you press the pedal on, trying to get any accelerations. The sound are satisfying at the very least, and kinda making me wonder, what will happens, if you change the exhaust system, and changes the muffler too.

Interior wise ? I have nothing to complaint about. My auto version comes with the 6 CD Changers, leather seat, and aux audio in. The inside is silent, and the music flows unperturbed.

So really, I don’t have much complain about the car, the exterior looks cool, its interior is comfortable, and the power does not disappoint. Sure the fuel consumption could be better, but thats really depend on how you handle your right feet.

Bottom, line, the Cruze is good as it is, and if I don’t really have many wish list to improve it. For now I’m content with just upgrading the rims from 16” to 18” (and thats not even big enough). But in the near future, I’ve got some ideas already.

Rear lips diffuser, double exhaust and muffler, tweak the engine a little, and add upgrade the rim to 19”. Then I’m set.

Surely not, Zara is a full fledged fashion label producing hundreds of new line and model creating trends every seasons in and out. Muji ? Hardly, we usually go to Muji for all sort of needs, stationary, domestic needs, and other necessities. But one rarely go to Muji for fashion items, and deservedly so, because in terms of originality, Muji clothes are offering not much. So what the hell am I doing here, comparing Muji with Zara ?

Yesterday, just mere yesterday, I happened to visit one of the Muji store in Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta. It was casual visit, not a purposeful shopping. But what we’ve witnessed yesterday and what were eventually purchased were saying otherwise.

Look at the two short sleeve shirts that my friends finally acquired, one in pale navy blue, the other is light whitish grey, with linen like texture, both reasonably priced at IDR200k something (USD25), way cheaper than Zara, or G2000, except when both were in sale seasons, in which finding your size is an ultimate challenge.

The other tempting stock, is two button light brown sport jacket in cotton, cut slim and tight, with working cuff button, a detail usual found in bespoke or high street brand. Needless to say is the jacket will also work as a perfect combination for your linen like shirt, short or long sleeve alike, and this only comes with a price tag of IDR700k, way cheaper than any comparable items I found in Zara, or G2000.

If that is not enough, refer to a brown or navy blue lining less linen jacket, priced at IDR800k, roughly quarter of my bespoke navy blue linen jacket that takes 2 months to commission.

All I’m saying is, regardless what the store looks like and other products that are being sold in the same store, Muji clothes and dresses are worth to look, the materials are nice, and the detail and workmanship looks ok (haven’t got a chance to have one my self). And much importantly, is affordable and not a cent overpriced.

If you think Zara is awesome, try Muji !!!