Travelog: Just Arrived In Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport is situated about 10 km from the city centre. Basically although it stated as international airport, the airport is quite small compared to other UK international airport. But I like it because of the size, it easier to navigate yourself around the terminal - you don't have to walk far, less energy used :)

When you arrived, there are several options that you can opt to your next destination. The cheapest is taking the public bus; Lothian Buses Service 35 (from Stance 21) at £1.50 for adult and 70 pence for children 5-15 years old (as 24 March 2013) single way. This service will not go through Princes Street but will go through Grassmarket, Scottish National Museum (Chamber Street), Parliament, Hollyrood Palace and will end its service at Ocean Terminal - a shopping complex adjacent with now-decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia. The whole journey from Airport to Ocean Terminal will take approximately 11/2 hours depending on the traffic. The operational hour is from 5 am until midnight. If you're not sure, make sure that you ask the driver about your destination before putting in your money into the cash box as the driver cannot refund your money. Lothian Bus use the exact fare system for cash fares.

Stance 21

Welcome aboard...

Inside...

The second option, you can take the blue coloured express bus called Airlink Service 100 (in front of domestic arrival area - Stance 19) that will bring you direct to city centre; ends at Waverley Train Station / Princes Street. It cost £3.50 single adult and £2 for single children. You can buy open return ticket for £6 for adult and £3 for children. The journey takes around 20-30 minutes to city centre. After midnight, this Airlink service will be replaced by N22 (Night 22) - pink coloured bus. The Airlink bus is equipped with free wifi so you can update your status to people back home.  

Both services (35 and Airlink) have wide area and luggage racks fitted with CCTV for safety reasons. So, you don't have to worry to leave your bag downstairs if you want to sit at upper deck enjoying the view along the journey. The buses are buggy and wheelchair friendly.   

Lothian Bus 35 Route (Google Map)

The next one is taxi. Taxi stance is situated near the domestic arrival area. As usual, the rate is the most expensive and you have to pay airport surcharge. If arrive late at night or early in the morning, and not sure about taking the public bus, it is better to take the taxi. I once took the taxi back home at 9.30 pm. 5.5 miles journey cost me £15.50. 

If you're renting a car, there are several companies with a lot of choice situated about 5-10 minute walk from the terminal. You will pass the taxi stance and just follow the direction to the rental information kiosk. I suggest that you book your car before arriving to Edinburgh to secure the car that suit your need and budget. Don't worry, Edinburgh Airport is equipped with clear signboard and the staff is happy to help any inquires.  

There will be a tram services from the airport to city centre in the near future.

Travelog: Making Your Way Around Edinburgh...

Edinburgh is a beautiful city. As long that you have strong legs and the weather is fine, you can cover almost the all-major city attractions in 1 day. The trick is you must be travel savvy. There are clear signboards for you to navigate your way around Edinburgh, friendly pedestrian area but be careful with the cobbled road. A lot of people tripped due to uneven surface while their enjoying the view. Edinburgh is a pleasant place to walk around. The only enemy is the weather. If you have space in your luggage, bring a disposable raincoat. Edinburgh can be tricky when it comes to weather even in summer. You can experience 2-3 types of weather in 1 day... If you need a raincoat, you can buy cheap disposable raincoat at The Works; small shop next to Scottish Home Store (formerly British Home Store), in front of Royal Scottish Academy. The Works sells the cheapest fridge magnet offer in Princes Street. Umbrella is not really helpful due to the strong wind, as Edinburgh is situated near sea. And obviously, you don't want to 'loose' one hand on holding the umbrella while taking your precious pictures.

The most important place to start your holiday / sightseeing is from Princes Street. The best option is to stay in the city. So you can save time of travelling into the city centre. But this can be tricky because of the accommodation's rate around city centre is quite high especially during Edinburgh Festival even for Bed & Breakfast (B&B). What is not expensive during Edinburgh Festival? So, for you guys who planning to visit during Edinburgh Festival, prepare on overpriced drinks and every inch of city centre is filled with people. Well, more on that later. No frill hotel can cost nearly £80-100 per night during August compared to £20-30 per night during off season. There are Travelodge and Easy Hotel situated at Princes Street but I strongly advised you to book early. Way... Way... Way early! 

But if you're staying outside the city centre, afraid not as the bus services Lothian Bus has really good connections with affordable prices to suit your need. Click here for more information. There are several companies. Lothian Bus is the biggest company and owned by the Lothian's local authorities - covering almost all area in Edinburgh city; 70 services/routes with 650 buses. First Bus comes second; the fare depending on your distance and serves area outside the city centre. If you're going to Livingston Designer Outlet, you have to take First Bus (service number 27&28) from Princes Street- more on that later :)Most bus services will serve Princes Street. So, you can travel from your hotel/hostel and directly go to Princes Street. You can learn about the route and other services from the Lothian Bus pamphlet at the airport, railway station, Lothian Bus Travel Shop (at Hanover Street) or any shopping complex information kiosk. Ticket price as 24 March 2013 is £1.50 for adult single journey (any distance) and £3.50 for adult day ticket (unlimited journey). Lothian Bus use the exact fare system for cash fares; so be prepared. If you're staying longer, maybe more than 7 days, you can opt for RidaCard - a prepaid bus pass with unlimited journeys. Adult price cost £17 per week + £3 for the card. Students (including Edinburgh based university students only) cost £13. There is no group ticket for Lothian Bus :( The newest environmental friendly bus occupied with free wifi; so you can tweet, check in your FB status or post Instagram pictures while travelling. Before I forget, all tickets are only valid until midnight. If you're travelling after midnight, night bus ticket fare £3 will be applied - limited services.  

You know you're in Edinburgh / Scotland when you hear the sound of bag pipes. Apart from miles of high street shopping you can go to Princes Street Garden, Scottish Monument and National Gallery of Scotland. And then, make your way up to Royal Miles heading to Edinburgh Castle. Along the Royal Miles; there are a lot of cafes, bar, restaurant and souvenir shop (almost 80%). The price of the souvenir is mostly the same form one shop to another shop. There are also street performers. Previously they welcomed any amount of donation but lately they put a price of least £1 donation. Hurm... There is no harm of not donating of ignoring them, but it is a good gesture if you can donate some especially when you're taking their picture of taking picture with them. Just beware, if you're are in hurry, do not stay near the performer especially who doing magic trick because they will 'borrow' your thing like your shades, cap or your pen just to make you stay longer to watch their performance. I'm not into this magic trick things because they are really, really amateurs and they just spent a lot of time talking rather doing the trick. Sometime, they took nearly 20 minutes just to perform 1-2 tricks. I'm more into music as I really appreciate bag pipes musicians.

You can take the hop in hop off bus - a double-decker bus with open air upper deck. It cost £12 per adult, £5 for children £11 for student, £11 senior (60+) and £28 for family (maximum of 2 adults and 3 children) - unlimited travel during operational hours. If you're travelling alone or with partner, you can save by buying Lothian Bus day ticket and travel to the attractions by using public bus. It may increase your travelling time especially if you're going to Parliament and Holyrood's Palace (bus number 35 and 36). But public buses are in abundance amount and frequent around Edinburgh, it will not create any major problem. If it is too late or you're too tired to take the public bus, you can take the taxi/black cab situated next to Waverley Station. As anywhere in rest of the UK, this cab is expensive although all of them are using meter. So, plan your journey wisely. Or you can call private hire company; licensed normal car that operates like a taxi (they have proper plat number). This company offer cheaper rate (up to 30% off) from the taxi but because of this company services' based on passenger's request/calling, you might have to wait 10-15 minutes due to availability and you can't hail them like taxi.

Edinburgh City Private Hire: 0131 477 4000.

Travellers with car... It is not advisable to drive into the city centre. Not to mention the sky rocket parking charges (£3-4 per hour depending on location) but the traffic in the city is crazy due to tram construction. Not to mention people who tried to cross the road during red light. Parking summons cost £60. If you pay within 14 days from the issued date, you will have 50% off. You can pay on-line. There is no way you can dodge the penalty as the parking officer will take pictures of every inch of your car... There are free Park and Ride parking area. Travellers from south and motorway M8 can use Riccarton Park and Ride (next to Heriot-Watt University). 

Enjoy Edinburgh!

Longchamp Le Pliage Bag

Le Pliage was inspired by Japanese origami and become the must have accessory all over the world. They are absolutely everywhere! In various of sizes, colours and type. Although whether the bags are authentic or not, that is another question. I had tried very hard restraining myself from having this bag. On the surface, it just a simple folded nylon bag with astronomical price tag. I had this chance on 'experiencing' it up-close when my friend, Intan bought it. I 'inspected' the bag as I was quite embarrassed on doing it at the shop, not to mention the lingering eyes of the sales assistant.

So, after stalling the purchase for nearly a year, I had this chance on buying it (August 2012). The history started at the Heathrow Terminal 4 Airport! I was in hurry for boarding but the bag caught my eyes. I bought Le Pliage shoulder bag / LE PLIAGE 'SHOPPING' - MODELE DISPOSE in Navy. I think it is the biggest size; dimensions of 31x30x19 cm. The colours options were quite limited so I ended up on buying the safest colour. The RRP is £72 and the airport price is £60. What a bargain! I had to wait for another 18 hours before I can finally mingled my new best friend.

LE PLIAGE 'SHOPPING' - MODELE DISPOSE
Image from Longchamp UK

Although it looks simple but the bag is spacious because of the folding origami design. I can keep it in my travel bag, so that I can have an extra bag. I'm a person who will bring a lot of stuff in my bag - purse, coin purse, bus pass, iPhone, pens, small notebook, make-up bag, reading glass, passport, camera and once in a while, my iPad. Because of this bag is so light, I can save a few grams maybe a kilo burden on my shoulder. Early this year, I bought another one. This time was Le Pliage handbag (shorter handles) / LE PLIAGE TYPE M - MODELE DISPOSE in Camel. A dimension of 30x28x20 cm. Camel is one of the colours for S/S 2013. I bought it at Manchester Selfridge's with full retail price of £58.

LE PLIAGE TYPE M - MODELE DISPOSE
Image from Longchamp UK

Around Christmas, I saw this picture of Malaysian celebrity with the Le Pliage travel bag in Fir (dark green). I don’t know whether the colour or her stylishness that makes me wanted that bag. I stubbornly didn’t want to buy it from the high street and reckoned to buy it at the airport because of the free tax price (less 16% of RRP). I was unlucky because there was no travel bag in that colour. Adding to the heartbreak, I missed the chance on buying it at high street outlet after Christmas as all the Longchamp’s shelf at the high street outlet has been replaced by S/S 2013 colours. And it was still January! So, I bought the camel coloured bag instead. But… when I was at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 recently, I couldn't be happier than seeing the bag on the shelf of Rolling Luggage. Yahoo!!! Although I was looking for the biggest travel bag size (RRP £77), but I still happy settled for the medium size (RRP £67). I bought it for £55. Yeay!!! ♥♥♥

Apart from the flagship store in London and at the airport, you can buy Le Pliage at John Lewis, House of Fraser, Selfridge's and Harrod's (in store and on-line). But the designs and colours might be limited except for black and blue. Black and blue are available all year round. If you're buying on-line from the Longchamp's website, it might take you longer to receive the bag as the merchandise is sent from Paris. Through the website you can customize the design of your own bag. You can choose your own bag colour, the metal and you can imprint your initial at the top flap. But you have to wait and pay additional price of that... 

I strongly advise you not to buy from eBay or any third party website as fake Le Pliage might be sold to you with first class counterfeit standard. But one important info, previously Le Pliage was made in France. It was imprinted at the behind of the top flap. But now, the manufacturing has shifted to China. You can check it with the label inside the bag. Speaking about inside, bags with dark colour will have dark lining and bags with light colour will have white lining. Although the bag is durable to most situation, but remember, this bag is made from nylon and prone to breaking and tearing. This happened to my friend, Ban - Le Pliage has small hole at the bottom due to file's edges. I guess this goes to all type of bag; your 'friend' need love and tender... 

I'm planning to go to Paris later this year, I would like to check Longchamp there. Stay tune...

:)

Disclaimer: All images are from Longchamp UK website

Oriental Shop in Edinburgh - Matthew's Food

I would like to share about the largest oriental supermarket in Edinburgh; Matthew's Food. Coincidently and luckily, the store is just 10 minutes away from my house. So, coming from south east Asia (quite orient), I always go to this store to buy spices, sauces or even oriental vegetable - although the price obviously higher than UK's vegetables. 

Some might got confused while looking for this supermarket, only to see a Chinese restaurant, Imperial Palace Restaurant (with two big lion at the entrance) in between used car outlet. Afraid not, the supermarket is just below the  Imperial Palace Restaurant. Basically they are in the same building. Just people cannot properly see it from the road (below the road level). The restaurant serves dim sum and other Chinese dishes - tasty but expensive (more on that later). The restaurant is always full during weekend and Chinese New Year. There are ample parking spaces - up to 20 cars next to the supermarket, just enter though a small road next to used car outlet.

Picture from upper left: the small entrance from Inglis Garden Road (junction near to MKD Used Car), the view from car park. Lower pictures are the view inside the store.

Most of the products are imported from Thailand, Malaysia, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Vietnam  and Philippines. It's like mini East Asian food galore under one roof. This include fresh vegetables, variety of tofu, fresh poultry, frozen seafood and exotic fish, frozen dumpling, frozen fruits (including the king of the fruit - durian!), spices, sauces, ketchup, chilli sauces, cooking sauces, instant noodles, fragrant Thai rice, sushi rice, vermicelli, noodles, exotic Asian beverages (in can and bottle) and Oriental junk food. They also sell oriental cooking utensils like chopstick, knife, wok and tableware. If you are planning to buy fresh vegetable and fish, I suggest that you go there by 11 am. After that, the chances of getting the fresh goodies are slim... The store is also packed during weekend. For Malaysian, they sell brand such as Brahim's (cooking sauce), Hablal (soy sauce), Adabi (cooking sauce), Maggi (instant noodles and chilli sauce), Yeo's and Knorr. The closet thing to home cook, right? :)

You can pay with cash, debit card and credit card. You have to pay 5 pence per plastic bag, so bring your own bag if you want to save 5 pence. Or you can buy Matthew's Food bag for GBP 1.99. There are also empty boxes (depend on availability) that you can use to pack your goodies - FOC! You might see that some students just bring their luggage when shopping here; to justify their action, they buy a lot, have to walk to the bus stop and take the bus home... 

Happy shopping and cooking (later)!

How to get there;
Address: 36, Inglis Green Garden, Edinburgh EH14 2ER
Bus service: 34 and 20 (bus stop: Longstone Inn or Inglis Green Garden. Longstone Inn is nearer)
TEL: 0131 443 8686 FAX: 0141 332 1688
Opening time: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm (7 days a week)

I leave you guys with the lion dance from 2013 CNY celebration (the fire alarm was triggered by the smoke from the firecracker).

, 

Edinburgh - Edisi Membeli-Belah Barangan Runcit Halal

Kat mana nak beli barang dapur dan daging halal di Edinburgh?

Ini lah antara soalan utama yang berlegar2 dalam kepala bila mula2 sampai sini. Senang ke? Mudah ke? Murah ke? Jawapannya mudah dan harganya berpatutan.

Paling utama adalah kedai runcit di kawasan Edinburgh Central Mosque. Basically, ada 3 kedai runcit utama; Maqbool, Bismillah and satu lagi lupa apa nama kedainya. Nampak sangat yang ketiga tu kurang impak di kalangan Malaysian sbb yang selalu disebut2 adalah Maqbool dan Bismillah. 

Bismillah ni kedai runcit bersebelahan dengan Kebab Mahal. Kedainya kecil tapi lengkaplah kalau nak beli daging ayam, lembu dan kambing. Tentang harga, tak sure nak cakap sbb harga ikut pasaran, tapi yang utamanya harganya lebih murah daripada harga ayam di pasaraya (harga pada 20 March 2013 - whole chicken leg £1.59 sekilo). Dan boleh beli daging dalam kuantiti yang banyak. Yang istimewanya, kat papan tanda kedai ni ada tulisan Bahasa Melayu 'Di sini ada menjual daging........' :)

Kedai Runcit Bismillah

Kalau nak pilihan barang runcit yang lebih banyak, boleh ke Maqbool. Maqbool ni terletak bersebelahan dengan Masjid (pintu utama). Kedainya lebih besar and of course barangan yang dijual lebih banyak. Personally, saya lebih suka ke sini. Kedainya besar and lebih bersih dan teratur berbanding daripada kedai runcit yang berdekatan. Kat sini, pilihan frozen foodnya lebih banyak. Kalau nak bayar pakai debit card, memerlukan pembelian more than GBP5. Kat Maqbool ni ada juga perkhidmatan Pay Point.

Rahman Halal Meat di Gorgie; berdekatan dengan Sainsbury's Murrayfield. Kedai ni baru dibuka sekitar 2012. Mula2 kedai ni dibuka, harga poultry mmg murah tapi lepas tu jadi mahal pulak. Ikan talapia freash ada dijual tapi mahal. Kawan2 Bangladesh pun kata kedai ni mahal. Tak seperti harga waktu mula2 dibuka dulu.. Maybe dulu promosi lah kot...

Najaf Halal Meat di Leith. Alamat: Elm Row, Leith EH7 4 AQ.

Kedai2 runcit ni menawarkan perkhidmatan memotong daging. Disebabkan language barrier, bila minta potong tu, cakap terang supaya butcher tu faham apa yang kita nak. Takut nanti, tak faham, ayam hancur pulak. Sbbnya, saya ada juga pernah 'menonton wayang free' pergaduhan mulut antara butcher dengan pelanggan sbb masing2 tak faham apa yang mereka nak/cuba sampaikan... Mmg diaorg ni kurang mesra sikit. Tapi kalau dah jadi pelanggan tetap tu, okay kot. Lagi satu, extra charge untuk perkhidmatan buang kulit ayam. 

Rempah2 masakan juga boleh dibeli di sini tapi banyaknya rempah India/Pakistan lah... Ada juga jual sirap, tapi rasanya pelik sikit. Ada juga chicken/beef cube brand Maggi (halal) dijual tapi ianya diimport daripada India. Agak masin sikit. Same goes with Maggi cream mushroom soup... Masinnya!!! 

Kalau part sayur pulak, banyaknya sayur untuk masakan ala2 India/Pakistan lah.. Harga sayur mahal. Lebih baik beli di pasaraya macam Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco dan Morrison. Lebih murah dan segar. Yang murah adalah harga cili padi dan cili merah. 

Untuk kami yang study di HWU, kebanyakkannya shopping barang dapur di Asda Chesser. Di Asda, ada section kecil di kawasan poultry untuk ayam dan kambing (lamb and mutton) halal. Halal - green packaging / plastic box. Tapi pilihannya tak banyak dan harganya agak mahal sedikit (double the price). Tapi saya suka, sbb bahagian ayamnya lebih besar dari kedai runcit :) Di kawasan frozen, ada juga sausage, burger patty and other frozen processed food. Ada yang lebih murah dari kedai runcit. Again, bergantunglah kepada kelapangan masing2 bila shopping. Kalau ada masa, boleh lah travel to city untuk ke kedai runcit. Tapi yang tak de masa tu, beli kat Asda pun okay.

Selamat Membeli-belah :)

Edinburgh - Edisi Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan Part 2

Actually ada beberapa lagi tempat makan/restoren halal yang terdapat di Edinburgh selain di kawasan Nicolson Street. Antaranya Kebabish Original di Dalry dan beberapa restoren India/Bangladesh di kawasan Leith. Yang lainnya adalah take-away style.

Ada jugak tempat buffet yang terletak bersebelahan dengan Waverley Station Jimmy Chung's Chinese Buffet. Restoren ni menggunakan ayam halal dalam masakan mereka. Mereka ada sijil ayam halal tapi mereka tak tunjukkan di pintu utama. Simpan dalam laci. Alasannya, mereka takut omputih ni tak mahu masuk ke dalam restoren mereka kerana status halal tu. Jika ada pertanyaan, jgn segan2 tanya dulu status masakan diaorg ni. Masakannya sedap dan ada pelbagai pilihan/masakan. Ada juga desert and ice cream. Kalau pada waktu puncak (biasanya weekend), setiap pelanggan dihadkan makan dalam masa 2 jam jer. Harganya bergantung kepada lunch or dinner and ikut hari. Kalau lunch Mon-Thurs harganya GBP7.49 per person. Kalau dinner GBP 11.99 per person. Kalau hujung minggu, Fri-Sun, lunch is GBP 8.49 per person and dinner is 12.99 per person. Ulanglah ke meja buffet tu sebanyak mana pun selagi ada tempat dalam perut tu :)

Kalau nak ambiance yang relax di kawasan yang mewah, boleh cuba Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK). Restoren ni terletak di George Street. This restaurant as the name suggested, mainly serve burger. Burger ayamnya halal (panko bread crumbled chicken) - clearly stated in their website and menu. I suggest you all try Camembert & Cranberry Chicken Burger (9.25). Sosnya rasa manis. Nampak ajer simple, tapi puaslah makan. Kalau nak pedas sikit, boleh try Chicken Satay Burger (8.95). Kalau berminat, boleh order sekali milkshake. Strawberry and Banana are marvelous! Nyumnyum! Sambil tunggu makan tu, kita boleh ambil kacang and air kosong yang disediakan. Mudah jer...

Terdapat satu kedai kecil (take away shop) yang menjual ayam goreng. Lokasinya berdekatan dengan Nicolson Street. Namanya Chickies Fried Chicken (EH8 9JW). Kedai ini dibuka setiap hari dari pukul 12pm hingga 11pm. Kedai ni sangat kecil dan tiada tempat untuk makan di dalamnya. Tapi boleh order delivery through Just-Eat website or directly calling the shop.

Terdapat juga Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) halal di Edinburgh. Tapi lokasinya di luar city centre. KFC yang terdapat di Princess Mall dan di Nicolson Street tu tak halal.KFC halal ni terletak di Meadowbank Shopping Park. So, lepas makan, boleh shopping. Alamatnya: EH7 5TS. Boleh naik bas: 4, 5, 15, 19, 26, 34, 44 dan 44A.

Yang lain2, boleh rujuk kat post berlabel food/restaurant/travel. So, kepada pelancong2 Malaysian/Singaporean/Bruneian Muslim yang datang ke Edinburgh, jangan risau pasal part makan ni. Walaupun banyaknya akan ke kawasan Nicolson St. Yang penting, tepuk dada, tanya selera.

Enjoy Edinburgh!

How to get there;
Jimmy Chung's 17, Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1BQ
Gourmet Burger Kitchen 137, George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JY
KFC, Meadowbank Shopping Park, Edinburgh EH7 5TS
Chickies Fried Chicken, 13 West Crosscauseway, Edinburgh EH8 9JW   

Beauty: Yves Saint Laurent Blusher

I bought this blusher at Loreal Group Outlet at Livingston Designer Outlet (next to Ted Baker outlet). I was looking for natural shade and the closest shade that I could find is this one by Yves Saint Laurent (YSL). Powder Blush in Radiant Blush (number 7). I forgot how much this blusher cost but I reckon it was around 15-18 pound (outlet price not the RRP). At the outlet, because of the nature of the product, you cannot return the purchased item. So, make sure that you really, really, really sure with your choice of color :)

Yves Saint Laurent Powder Blush in Radiant Blush

As the brand suggested, the product itself is full of luxury. I came in small golden case with mirror along with velvet pouch and a small brush. I did try using the brush but I prefer using my blusher brush as the brush is bigger and more accurately blending the color. But I guess if you're going out and need touch-ups, I guess the wee brush might come handy.

This blusher only came with 2 colors; white and pink. But YSL arranged it as four quarter with diagonal setting. So you can get a good mixture of colors. Color-wise, it is not that natural although the color seemed to be a little bit pale - white+light pink! It is because blusher has glitter. I didn't realize it during the swatch test but when I opened it at home, I just noticed the shimmering effects. What?! But after carefully applying it on my face, the shimmering effect was not that loud... And instantly I fall in love with this blusher. I did try taking pictures just checking the how strong the color was, and the color excelled in flying colors! Yeay!!! So, I can wear this blusher during day time... The pearly white shade is also great for highlighting your nose and eyes. But don't apply to much as your face will shine as if you're having an oily face...

I'm not really recommended this product. Just so and so. You guys can get the same effects from another brand with cheaper option. I bough this simply because of the price slashed. Nevertheless, it is a fairly good blusher. 

My verdict:

Price : 3/5

Colour: 4/5

Application: 4/5

Reliability: 4.5/5

Overall experience: 3.5/5
*this verdict was based on the price of the outlet, not the RRP.