Being a person who travels rather frequently, shopping in Duty Free has become one of my favourite past-time (literally, till boarding time arrives).




Walking through the rows of fragrances, thinking about the new fragrance you want on your man, or how he would thrill at the sight of a little goodie bag with his name on it when he comes to pick you up at the airport, or simply the idea of being surrounded by cheaper priced goods compare to outside where things are taxed.




But for me, it's more than that. Being also a fragrance freak (believe me, I lost count of the bottles of fragrances I have back home, 20? 30?), I love just so many brands of fragrances and how they would make me feel when I spray them on, shopping here it's more than my purse can bear.




Nina Ricci. Marc Jacobs (Flora! omg I love Flora, just love it). Davidoff (not on me). CK. Juicy Couture. DKNY. Victoria Secret. Issey Miyake. Anna Sui. Moschino. Ralph Lauren. Carolina Herrera. J. Lo. Versace..... it goes on forever.

And then my recent obsession...




Harajuku Lovers.

So damn cute ok! There are five figures standing on the bottles, there can never be a cuter perfume bottle than this.




I wanted to get the LOVE series. It's the hippie looking girl with yellow headband (two photos above), but I disliked the figure, it's so ugly. T_T


So I went to for the cutest girl instead. G series.




It smelt like vanilla cupcake and I could totally imagine myself wearing it on a casual day to lure my bf to come bite me. :p LOL jk (though he might)

But because I already got one 100ml bottle of Davidoff for him (Rm256, CHEAP!),




I'd thought I get a much small bottle for myself. Don't really want to bust my budget.




Despite the size. The one I got was only 10ml, where else the ones you saw on display were of 30ml. Mainly because most of the bottles were the girls instead of the actual perfume.

But I love it! Don't care!


Then you walked to the other side of the fragrance section, you'll come to the most intensive array of heaven display one can ONLY and ONLY find in airports.

The Chocolates duty free section.




Hallelujah.

It's like.. like... swimming through paradise, and the only thing separating you and them is a credit card.




Okay. I'm talking like a Rebecca Bloomwood. Haha. No I'm not a shopaholic, but I want to be (like, who doesn't, if one can afford).


Chocolates in Duty Free are mostly imported, like Cadbury, which would be why they're normally more expensive than Cadbury bars sold in local supermarket, but they taste so much better! God knows due to the milk in Australia or UK or what.




I used to love Ferraro Roche when I was young, but somehow I grew out of it, or perhaps thanks to all my aunties from UK and cousins from Australia who always brought a dozen of them back for us as kids. I just didn't fancy them so much anymore.

My new crave, is this.





Yes yes. I can hear a few people sounding in agreement in the distance. Who doesn't like Kinder Bueno, they're the most delicious thing ever! I never knew hazelnut could taste so nice in a snack.

Anyway, enough duty free shopping. I'm utterly broke.

Happy. But broke.

But Happy.

It was time to board the plane and leave Penang Airport behind.

On the way to the boarding gate, don't forget to stop by Hot & Roll for a quick bite while you wait for your turn to board.




I learnt about this franchise a year ago and would always get one whenever I have a chance to.

I love the Savoury Crispy Chicken and Cheese flavour, without the chili sauce, just the mayo. Thanks.



\


YUM!

Oh, and finally, I just took this photo last night when I got back home.

My winning purchase for the day!




Totaled up to RM700++. *gulp*

(noticed the Victoria Secret perfumes I said I would get on the way back? :D)

After three hours of shopping and running around the airport, I have to do a pit stop at the loo.


typical toilet camwhore


By the time I came out, I was hungry so I proceeded to the only place in Penang Airport where I can savour some local delicacies!




Located at the roadside outside the airport was Pinang Kopitiam.

Hah!

Don't say I never try Char Kuey Tiao while in Penang!




Behold! My Penang Char Kuey Tiao at the airport!




The boss was so nice he gave me staff price for the food, I didn't even ask for it.

Maybe he pity me for sitting there all alone eating. T_T




Penang airport is not as expansive as KLIA, but it has its own charm.




With beautiful lined corridor where the boarding gates lined at the international duty free.




Despite its limited space, there are quite a few fast food restaurant in Penang Airport, popular ones like McDonald.




Coffee Bean.




And a really swanky Kenny Rogers.




After a satisfying lunch, I went back to my shopping frenzy!

It was this moment I discovered my favourite shop in the entire whole airport, well, except for the Coach bag shop.




Called Dayana.

They sell bohemian style dresses and bangles and all sorts of accessories.




It was my first major purchase at the airport. This colorful adoring dress cost me RM89. Totally worth it!

Then I grabbed three bangles - two silvers and one bronze to pair with the dress.




And alas, just before I submit my credit card, I spotted something hanging on the side at the hats area.




A leopard print french beret!

OMG. I love beret! Especially one that fits my head. Which was rare.




Don't you think it kinda matches my outfit today too?


Anyway, by now I have spent enough to gain me a free RM10 voucher, as told by one of the cashier, who passed me a form to fill clipped with the receipt.




As long as you spend up to RM250 in a single or up to a combination of three receipts, you get a RM10 voucher to spend more!



Now I found out about this a little too late as I didn't manage to collect the other receipts (double copy, cause I wanted to keep one for myself) from the purchases I made in between so I only got the RM10 voucher when I was almost done the day.




Just as I was thinking what I should spend on with the RM10. A light bulb emerged.




I spent it on a GCB meal dinner at McDonald. Brilliant way to end the perfect day.

Though it was so insanely crowded during dinner time that I have to share a table with another guy. Love the chairs in the McDonalds here though, super comfy!




Then while eating I bit on my gum three times on the same spot. FML.

After dinner, I finally retreated to Coffee Bean to have some quiet time with the internet.

In the next post, I will share with you what I have bought at Duty Free. :D

It was one of those crazy assignment I have to embark as a blogger, paying a visit to the Penang Airport for 12 hours and then fly back at night.

"What was I supposed to do there?" I wailed into my mobile when I first heard about it.

"Well, you're being sent there to experience and to shop." Came the reply.

"You mean, you're sending me on an assignment to fly somewhere to go on a shopping spree?"




God I love my job.

That how I ended up at the airport at 8am this morning with a return ticket to Penang on my lap.




Now there's one thing I love flying domestic in KLIA is that inside the domestic departure area of KLIA, after check-in gate, you'd find yourself right in front of the possible ONLY Victoria Secret counter in the whole of Malaysia.




I literally did not walk further than 10 steps after the check-in that my shopping bug has bitten my hard, I already had three items in mind that I would bagged on the way back this morning, before departing!

On the flight, I eagerly awaited for my great day to begin while I indulged in my Dan Brown book which I bought in England.


Got it at sales for 50 pence. That's like RM2.50. You just got to love England.


Getting off the airport, I proceeded with the procedure of obtaining myself one of those security passes I was granted, so I can roam freely in and out of the terminal at will, duty free and all.




Now I have never shop at Penang Airport before, so I didn't know what to expect.

So imagine how surprised I was when I saw there were massage centre and business centre where you can access the internet.




That would be nice, but I have work to do. I need to SHOP! :D

Other outlets around like Sembonia,
(being in a handbag obsession recently, I just couldn't resist starting my journey going through loads of bags)




Which coincidentally I've brought the same bag with me.




Love Sembonia bags, not as much as Gucci, but for a brand that started out as a street fashion, they've evolved impressively into a mid-luxury brand as of today. With each bag costing over RM500 and beyond.

Same with Bonia.




I walked into the store and found myself standing front of a patent leather bag that cost more than a thousand ringgit!




The lady was so nice to offer me a staff price, though it could have been the security pass I was wearing that gave her the impression I was a staff at the airport.


without flash



with flash


Saw a baby blue purse which I almost bought, loving the color from the window display.
RM300. Reasonable.




So I asked the assistant to take it down for me to have a look.



with flash


I didn't get it, deciding that the color wasn't for me afterall.

So waving goodbye to the very expensive patent leather red shiny Bonia bag, I adjourned to other shops.




Then suddenly I have to stop at this outlet called Fashion Gallery.




Bizarre name but the sight made me heart stopped.




COACH!!! EEk!!

Okay. I officially SO LOVE this bag. And it's only RM1025! So much cheaper than the Coach retailed in KL!




Until the lady told me it was duty free price. My heart sank. (I'm only a domestic passenger, which meant I wasn't entitled to duty free)

I adore the bag so much! Just look at the color!




Then the lady suddenly offered, in whisper, to give me duty free price. In her words: I'll see what I can do.

Are all penang-nites SO NICE?!!!


SHIT.

I wanted to buy, but I have to control my spending! (Been spending a lot recently *shy*)

After what seems like eons of struggle, I decided I would give it a 3-hour thought about it, it literally took every strength in my body to carry myself out of the store.

grrr...

Temptation is such a bad thing.


As I continue to browse along the rows of shops, I was planting seeds in my mind which items I should pick up today?

A fragrance? Some chocolate, oh definitely.




Some gadget padding? For my future's iPhone and baby's new iPad.




Well, I guess you'll just have to wait and see what I'll be buying.

Oh, I actually did buy something.







Muahaha! Uber cheap Bodyshop shower gel, almost half the price compared to the ones sold outside. RM19.90 each! For Passion Fruit flavour!