Shopping craze!

I didn't know i have this craze in me...until i reach this shopping paradise called Williamsburg (I know...weird name)

The day started off pretty interestingly...so basically 4 of us went to get the cars. Zhi Chuan and Alex were the driver...Erlisa was the point of contact and I guard the dorm's reserves (basically...credit card holder).

The car i'm primary in and drove the next day

So off we went to pick up the rest of the group. The initial drive back to the dorm was pretty dangerous. The cars were like in the middle of the road cos everyone was quite unsure abt the road orientation. Alex nearly got into a head-on collision for being on the wrong side of the road, Zhichuan's car skidded a little. Went to the petrol station and spent some time learning how to top-up petrol. After that, it was my turn to get onto the driver's seat...only drove for like 200m and got into my first near accident. Missed a turn and tried to turn in, causing the car to skid and crash into the bushes (heng ah). Quite terrified of driving after that...dun wan to jeopardize the lives of the passengers in the car.

It was pretty squeezy in the car., 5 in each, and off we went to Williamsburg. it's abt an hour and a half drive away. So Zhichuan and Ah Seng took over the steering wheel. We had a GPS and both car reached Williamsburg smoothly at around 12pm

The 3 girls decided to shop first (as expected) while the guys went to have lunch (kinda expected as well). Decided to meet at 3 for Ben & Jerry's at 3pm and then leave at 7pm. The range of outlets is pretty much everything top American brand. There's Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Kate Spade, Coach, Fossil, Oakley, Nike, Adidas, Converse, Crocodile, Lacoste, Hush Puppy among many others. If i'm not wrong, there are abt 40 different outlets there.

Some of the signboards showing the factory outlets...easily over 30 of them...all very established brands

Was done with my shopping at abt 3pm...spent abt $200 USD and was very very guilty abt it. It's a very conflicted feeling. U will feel very happy getting all of them at such a bargain, but u can't help feeling guilty for buying so much. So conflicted!!! Anyway, got to Ben & Jerry's with Ah Seng and Zhi chuan. Needless to say, no one else was there.

So we continued to shop...was getting very exhausted and sick of all these boutiques (i take my hat off for the female population for such stamina). The 3 of us decided to go for a drive...went to top up some petrol and wanted to visit a museum (ripley's) but it cost $15 so we decide to give it a miss and head back. Eventually, we concluded that everyone is likely to be late, so we took a short snooze in the car.

Ah Seng and Zhi Chuan at the petrol station

The two cars...in the evening

Everyone was pretty much slghtly late, but i was so relieved to hear that Jia Pei and Cassandra spend over $600 on themselves. At least now i can answer to my parents...i spent $250, but there were these bunch of ladies who spent like over $600 each. We managed to leave Williamsburg by 730, with Jia Pei whacking me throughout the ride for gloating over her expenditure. Guess where we are headed to...

THE VILLAGE CAFE (if u dun remember, it's the place where i had the milkshake). I think my puking incident left a very strong mark in everyone. They wanted to try the milkshake for themselves so we went there for dinner. The portions was pretty ridiculous...i could only finish half my pasta. We end up playing open numbers with food. So a bowl was passed around and everyone added some ingredients or sauces into it and the loser will have to eat it. Play for a few rounds, was lucky that i didn't have to eat any (although i volunteered and eat a small mouthful on the last round...sounds crazy but i just have to try it:) That's me!)

My pasta at the village cafe. See that coin over there? It's about the size of a 20 cent Singapore coin...crazy portion

I volunteered to help my friend with this...cos it was one whole piece of bread. The sour cream taste was overwhelming

So we drove back after dinner...on the way back, we passed by a cinema...and somehow, the car directed itself towards it. Only X-men first class was available and we caught the 11pm time slot. The movie ended around around 130am. X-Men first class is a pretty darn good movie, but i still hold my opinion that it is not an X-Men movie. Reach back around 230am, took a quick shower and headed to bed around 330.

The Cinema

The Movie ticket...apparently, it's free seating in Virginia

Reveille was at 630am cos we need to return the car by 9am. Left the dorm at 715 and went to topup petrol. I was driving with ZC in my car with Alex on the other wheel and Ben in his car. Alex is a crazy driver...turning into the wrong roads, going in the wrong direction. He turned into a major road but in the opp direction and did a U-turn while i was waiting for him on the other side of the road. He came over, and off he went. I shifted my gear, tap on my accelerator, look in front of me, and his car was no where to be found! HE HAS THE GPS!!! So it was basically just me and zhichuan in the car, finding our way based on memory. Had to stop and get down to ask for directions a couple of times. A 15 mins drive became a 1 hr drive...but i admit i enjoyed the drive...a bit anxious because we are lost, but regained the passion of driving and reveling in the adrenaline from the speed!

So there I was, haven driven a car in 1 year, drove at 150km/h, "hor landed" in a foreign land, with a left hand drive car and roads in opposite directiom...perfect recipe for a car accident. But luckily, i discovered that i was still a pretty competent driver after all these time...afterall, i was the one who managed to locate the rental company. So there Alex and Ben was, waiting for us in their car...gave them a short chiding for abandoning us...apparently, they were driving at 100 miles/hr...abt 160km/h.

So all in all, it was a pretty happening and crazy day, spent money like crazy, ate dinner like crazy and drove like crazy...really having the time of my life here!!!

Mark the Tai Tai

PS: If anyone is stil concern abt my nutrition, fret not. Been starting to eat well since we got to know each other better. 5 guys in the kitchen cooking is actually a lot of fun...had spaghetti, marinated chicken, corn, carrot and pork soup, mushroom, strawberries and root beer for dinner. It's really a nice feeling, everyone coming out of their dorms with a little something, and then proceeding to the kitchen to see wat we can do with the little things everyone has.