My encounter with Sky Fruit (向天果)

This was one of the more traditional "supplements" that I was consuming when I had my acne episode earlier this year. At the same time that I started Acne.org, a family friend recommended that I try this "miracle seed" that she had her maid try when the maid had skin problems.

Well, I was skeptical at first. Two seeds per day and my acne will be gone? Tipu (lying) la. Where got so powerful wan? Admittedly around that time I kinda lost heart about all these consumed pills and what-nots already after my previous experience with antibiotics and stuff from my dermatologist in Ipoh (read here).

So my lovely daddy got one coconut-like ball of the "fruit" from the family, processed it for me and put all the seeds into a container specially reserved for me.

Yup, all that for me. And it's not the only container that I got! Daddy was very enthusiastic about these seeds and went to get so much more for me that when I stopped consuming the seeds I had about two huge containers left :/

It was only yesterday that after I went with the sistah and mummy to visit the family friend again and her making such a fuss over my healed and kononnya glowing skin that I went to google the Chinese name, "向天果". It's English name is called Sky Fruit and it has SO MANY medicinal benefits!

Lowers cholesterol, good for glucose levels, anti-carcinogen (cancer), good for sperms, heals asthma, promotes healthy blood circulation, anti-inflammatory, reduces risk of heart disease, and only a minor part about skin problems, and it worked so well for me!

Guess what? I'm back to consuming the seeds already *grin

So here's how you consume the "seeds" or fruit:

Take 2 seeds every morning (some links recommend a couple every morning, noon and night but I only took it once a day) and prepare some water handy. Trust me, you need it handy!

Make a clean break through the middle of the seed and pop out the white seed. 

Now you have 2 seeds in your hands. The shell breaks easily and cleanly. 

Smash it into little pieces, pop them into your mouth, grab water, and swallow!

Try not to drag out the process because it is really really bitter. If you're feeling brave, chew the seeds instead of breaking them beforehand. I DARE YOU.

Cheers!

Showing off my skin <3

How to pay Customs Taxes

Had one of my most annoyed moments a couple of weeks ago.

Well, when you're gonna be dealing with government or official branches somehow you already know you're going to be wasting alot of time and paper and somehow still get screwed -.-

All for this box:

Uuuurgh. So the story goes like this--I ordered the Acne.org products by myself for the first time (read to find out why I order Acne.org), and I wasn't familiar with shopping overseas so I can give you quite some tips now from all the blunders that I made. For example, if the website cannot process your card, it is most likely because:

1) You did not activate your card for overseas expenditure. Call your bank and they'll fix this.

2) You did not alter your spending limits. What to do, Malaysian ringgit so small mah, so overseas currency tend to be much higher than our average spending. Go to your ATM and adjust your limit.

SO I received a text from my sister telling me that my package got held at Customs *extremely glum face. Went online and found that there is this such thing where Customs hold your parcels, especially those they find heavy and undeclared so that they can charge you taxes. *glum glum glum

The dreaded letter

You can either:
1) Drive yourself and get your parcel all the way from KLIA
or
2) appoint an officer to do it for you (most likely a PosMalaysia officer)
-doing so you will be charged the taxes you have to pay for your parcel + RM50 for their "hard work"

Do bring:
1) The letter you received;
2) Your shopping invoice and
3) enough cash to pay for whatever taxes they charge you (most likely 10 percent of your total bill)
-last one's the most important because I saw a guy who did not have enough money and they told him to drive to KLIA/ LCCT to find an ATM and the parking was crayyyyyyzy

My invoice

So I bravely decided to get it myself. Loverboy drove me to KLIA (took an hour, went on Friday afternoon) and we parked at the Mail & Courier Center nearby Tune Hotel. Don't go to the wrong one cuz there's a post office nearby too. You won't miss this one because there's a HUGE sign saying "MAIL & COURIER" on the building.

The sequence was pretty much this:
Counter 2 - Counter 1 - Counter 6 - Counter 2 - Payment counter - Counter 6 - Pharmacy building - Counter 6 - Counter 2 - Counter 6 - Counter 1 - leave

Yup, in that order.

Counter 2's where you get processed, the paper counter where all the forms are filled and filed in. You'll end up there at least 3 times, if you're lucky.

Counter 1's where you get your parcel back and your visitor pass held. You can't leave the place without your visitor's pass, that's how they make sure you don't run off without paying your taxes. (trust me it's for safeguarding against people like me, they know how long their paperwork takes)

Counter 6's where you open your parcel in front of Custom officers and they check and hold your parcel until you pay your taxes.

Only people who bought cosmetics had to go to the pharmacy building (super tall building next door, 5th floor) to be cleared; though it is easy as pie, they just make sure you don't buy products for more than 3 month's usage. 

Luckily I only had to pay RM18 (for paper fees -.-) because my items were considered cosmetics and facial creams, which are non-taxable. Be sure to check whether you need to pay for your items or not; it can range from 10% to 30%.

 

Last but not least, CLEARED!

DO make sure that you have time to spend when you go, I went around 2.30pm and left just before 5 :/

Cheers!

trying out a new hairstyle; verdict: LOVE!