I love my Tumi carry-on roller luggage. It's six years old. It's been to all corners of the globe, well not quite all but it has taken a lot of abuse. It usually fits nicely in airplanes' overhead compartment. But there are times when it has to sit alone down in the baggage compartment - especially when I want to take bottles of wine or shochu with me or when my contact lens solution doesn't quite fit nicely in a 3oz bottle.
Yes, it was expensive compared to similar sized roller luggage, but I thought "why not"? I look good with a Tumi; and besides, I've always wanted to be a cool frequent traveler with my Tumi luggage dutifully following me quietly behind me as I walk through famous airport terminals of the world - the likes of Changi, Heathrow, JFK, Charles de Gaulle, Incheon, Narita, and O'Hare.
So I was very disappointed and distraught when coming back from our vacation last summer from Florida, the airline temporarily borrowed my Tumi for a couple of days and had the nerve to return it to me (no pun intended) with pieces missing. That's right, my Tumi had one of its wheels torn out and missing. To make matters worse, by the time I discovered the damage it was past the 24-hour window the airline allowed o report and file a claim - 24 hours since the luggage was delivered to the concierge in our apartment building. Believe me I called and tried but with no avail. That was
The damage didn't look that bad. Perhaps all I have to do was to replace the wheels. So I dropped in at the Tumi store near our apartment and explained what happened. They said to bring in my Tumi and they'll send it to the main repair facility somewhere down in the South. The repair center will assess the damage and give me an estimate of the cost. That was last fall and I never got around to actually lugging (note: the wheel is missing) my damaged Tumi to the store.
Finally, I got around to taking my damaged Tumi to the store last month. The clerk assessed the damaged, filled out the work order, and asked for $20 (handling and shipping). I should get it back in 2 to 3 weeks. Well, it was actually more like 5 weeks. I called the repair center (at the number the Tumi store gave me) to check on the status. The parts were delayed so it took longer than usual - but its not fixed and my Tumi is on its way back to New York. Oh, and by the way, its no charge to me. That's right, I don't have to pay anything to get this fixed (except for the $20 handling fee I paid the Tumi store).
My Tumi arrived last week. All fixed up with a new set of wheels and a new handle. It gave me good six yeas and now I can get another six years out of my Tumi.
Products from top brand name do cost more. But you get "something" in return for the premium you pay. It could be excellent customer service, it could be unbelievable support, it could be the quality of the product, it could be the best overall customer experience, or a lifelong relationship. For many (although may not admit it) it could simply be the conspicuous showing of your wealth. Whatever that "something" is for a particular consumer, its worth the premium to purchase the good because the customer see the value of the "BRAND". The more consumers see that value, the more valuable the "BRAND" gets. It takes investment of time and money to build up the value of the "BRAND"; and requires continuous investment to protect that value because it can easily be devalued. There are brand owners who see the importance of investment; then there are also many brand owners who do not see that importance.
As a consumer, I pay the premium for the "BRAND" because I'm investing in the "BRAND" so that over time, I get that "something" in return. The tough part (as in any investment) is to discern what brands are worth investing in.
... or maybe I pay the premium because, damn it, I can and I just want to flaunt my wealth.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Aureole: New York
Search for a restaurant for our first date night began only after we secured a baby sitter. We didn't want a restaurant that was far from our apartment; yet, we didn't want a place too close (although there are many within walking distance). The search got even narrower when we went to OpenTable to look for restaurants with available tables on the particular date and time our baby sitter is available. So began our first date night adventure.
We narrowed it down to Aureole: New York - the flagship restaurant of Charlie Palmer. I had lunch there once at the Bar Room and recall thinking that I needed to come back for dinner. The restaurant moved here from their former Madison Avenue location when One Bryant Park opened summer of 2009. The location is prime - a block from Times Square and Bryant Park with never ending foot traffic.
The space is separated into the Bar Room and the Dining Room - a set up that you see in most high end restaurants these days. In the front of the house is the the vibrant Bar Room - an open space with high ceiling which probably helped to absorb the noise; and floor-to-ceiling window facing the 42nd Street. Then in the back is the Dining Room. Lower ceiling and dimmed lighting made it cozy but with sufficient noise to feel the energy.
We went for the 5-course Dinner Tasting.
First Course - HAWAIIAN HAMACHI
avocado, pineapple, yuzu citrus, baby red shiso
Second Course - SCOTTISH LANGOUSTINE
basque peppers, potato gnocchi, sauce bouillabaisse
Third Course - BLACK BASS
mussels, purple potatoes, mustard greens, tomato
Fourth Course - PRIME NY STRIP
leeks, hens of the woods, potato puree, natural beef jus
Dessert - PINEAPPLE BAKED ALASKA
coconut, mango, passion fruit
The bouillabaisse sauce in the second course was quite memorable - you can taste the vastness of the ocean all squeezed into a couple of spoonful sauce on the plate.
Black bass was cooked to perfection - the skin side charred just the right amount so that you can feel the crunch when you bite into the skin; yet the meat was moist with the broth from the mussels.
Potato puree with the beef dish had a hint of wasabi, reminded me of Japanese style beef steak with wasabi soy sauce. They go quite well together - wasabi and beef. Maitake mushrooms (or also know as hens of the woods) on the plate added to the aromatic experience of the dish.
I couldn't quite figure out what the dessert was. I didn't know what a baked Alaska was - so I had to look it up when I got home. According to Wikipedia, "Baked Alaska (also known as glace au four, omelette à la norvégienne, Norwegian omelette and omelette surprise) is a dessert made of ice cream placed in a pie dish lined with slices of sponge cake or Christmas pudding and topped with meringue. The entire dessert is then placed in an extremely hot oven for just long enough to firm the meringue." I actually enjoyed the contrast in the creamy texture of the ice cream and the fluff meringue.
Overall, the portions were just about right for a tasting menu. Each course had solid base; but with touches of Asian flavors to lighten the dishes.
The Dining Room was full when we were seated, I suspect with the theater crowd. When we left, it was probably 1/3 full. Not sure if it got full again with late crowd.
Very much enjoyed the dining experience. The food was not extraordinary; but it was not forgettable either. I'm sure to come back again, if not for dinner, for lunch.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Rat Race in NYC - Extrovert v Introvert
Some of us really enjoy the lifestyle that NYC has to offer. Living in the center of global activities and one of the biggest (if not the biggest) metropolitan cities in the world. Then there are some of us who would never think of living in a city like NYC. Perhaps visiting the city once every five years to take in the sights, enjoy a show or two, dine/wine at a 4-star restaurant, and indulge in shopping; but one week is enough and would rather go back to the slower and quieter lifestyle.
There's no doubt in my mind that to live and survive in NYC, you have to participate in the rat race - whether at work, in the neighborhood, within the play date circle, or with the social circuit. It can be tiring and can wear you out.
I was reflecting back on a client dinner I had, as I walked back to my office today. It's always fun to get together with clients over drinks, dinner, or lunch. Gets me energized to take on more challenges. Its the same when I'm with friends on the weekends. Whether its drinks at a scotch bar, wine party at home, roof top hang out, I do enjoy spending time with people and it energizes me.
So what does it have to do with rat race? I'm entertaining the idea that my survival in NYC has something to do with the fact that I'm actually an extrovert. The reason that I'm still enjoying the NYC after over six years must be because I enjoy being with people and it energizes me to helps me survive the rat race. I have always thought of myself as an introvert. But if "extrovert" is defined as "a person who's energized by being around other people," then there's definitely a part of me that is an extrovert; and that's the secret of my success.
I'm not suggesting that if you don't like the lifestyle in NYC, you are an introvert. But being an extrovert does help to adjust to the fast paced rat race that NYC is.
... or maybe its just the alcohol that's doing its magic to ease the pain and suffering from the race. ... no, I do really enjoy the life that NYC has to offer.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A Moment in the Life of ...
Birth of a child will completely change your perspective on life; my friends reminded me repeatedly during the 10 months leading up to the birth. Conceptually, I understood what they were saying. But it never really hit you until you come home from the hospital with the little precious baby who is barely learning how to breath on her own.
My life has always been about living my life for what I want it to be - to achieve success at work, with family, and every other ways the world defines success. Blame it on ambition, motivation, drive for success, or peers. How has it changed? I come to realize that there's another perspective on life - that it is okay to live my life for what it is. What's the use if in the pursuit of happiness, I miss the moments that make life it self. It's all about living the life for what it is; and experience, enjoy and take in every moment. Then and only then will I achieve the life that I want it to be.
I began writing blogs back in 2006, although not updating diligently as I would have liked to or should have. Back then, it was all about the life of wine and dine in NYC. But its now time for me to re-launch my blog with expanded scope - to reflect my new perspective on life. If I discipline myself to write to captures those moments, it will help me to experience and enjoy the same.
So here we go.
A moment in the life of me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
