Have you ever noticed how some people always smell like they just did their fresh laundry? I recently figured out their secret recipe: they wash their clothes every time they wear them. My personal philosophy has been to invest in not-so-cheap items and use them for a lifetime. Consequently, I didn’t wash my clothes every time I wore them. Typically, I would wash them at the end of the season, resorting to dry-cleaning if necessary. The washing machine was reserved for items like pyjamas, workout clothes, towels, socks, and django items.
There are some favourite jeans of mine that I’ve never washed, and I don’t plan to anytime soon. It feels like a crossroads where I have to decide between buying less expensive items and washing them every time, smelling good but gradually ruining the clothes, or sticking to my current lifestyle of buying expensive garbage and hoping they last a lifetime. The reality, though, is that I often get tired of them after a season, and it becomes an excuse to keep buying more not-so-cheap rubbish, effectively wasting money.
Recently, I decided to declutter and donated some of my luxury items, including bags and a watch, to someone I know who appreciates lavish stuff. While sitting near the ice rink at Macquarie Centre, I observed numerous luxury bags, particularly the infamous Chanel classics, being worn by not-so-fashionable ladies. It seems like every Asian ajumma’s favourite choice – not rare and somewhat characterless, akin to brown-coloured nugget-shaped, curly-haired poodle-cross dogs in dog parks.
Taking a glance at the watch I haven’t worn since the early 20..13? – a gift – I noticed numerous nano scratches around the bezel. It’s a bit disappointing because if you’re wearing a 5k watch, it shouldn’t have any scratches, because an individual, who can afford this much, wouldn’t do something scratches their watch right? The leather strap was also slightly wrinkled, making it look like a peasant wears a good watch – irritatingly reminiscent of a peasant cosplays bourgeois. Luckily, since it was a gift and never truly felt like mine, I could easily part with it. However, I can’t deny a butthurt-ness, especially considering the watch’s price jumped 160% since I got it. I could have sold it, but without the receipt and things, selling it would have been challenging. Lesson learned: keep everything in case I decide to sell it later, although who buys things with the thought of selling them later, especially when it’s a gift?
Venting aside, today’s highlight was finally visiting Westwood Newtown, the infamous pizzeria that only takes walk-ins. We waited for 45 minutes to savour their n’duja and garlic+honey pizzas. The taste lived up to the hype, although I’m not a fan of waiting, making me question the no-booking policy. The place is small but bustling, and I might revisit if I happen to be in Newtown. However, considering the plethora of pizzerias to try, Gigi @ Balmain remains my number one choice. The dough sets it apart from all the pizzerias I’ve been to in Sydney – a unique experience worth trying!
Sometimes, the excessive curiosity from Koreans annoys the hell out of me. Why do they want to know what I’m wearing, where I live, how much I make, or if anyone is pretty, ugly, fat, or skinny? Yet, in situations like the lift, bushwalking, or at the bus stop, there’s often silence, and nobody says hi or anything, really.
On the flip side, Westerners tend to be nicer in day-to-day interactions, but they seem indifferent to others’ lives. What could be the reason behind this contrast? Could it be because Korea is a small country, and if you were to greet everyone you encounter while commuting, you’d practically exhaust yourself and collapse from tiredness? I just can’t wrap my head around it.
