OK, you must have wanted to slap me since I kept tweeting and updating my status, uber-excitedly saying that I got a Lomo Super Sampler as a gift from (ak.’sa.ra) bookstore! (see, I just did it again) 😀

But, the fact is, I am probably the kind of person the marketeers would love. I don’t redeem points, I lost the cards with all those purchase stamps that could actually offer me 20% discounts on all items, I forgot to use the gift vouchers handed to me at the cashier until I found it again somewhere—a year after it was expired. And I don’t usually fill in those lottery tickets or coupons you got after a certain purchase to win something. I always consider myself unlucky for such thing.

But—earlier this month I was visiting (ak’.sa.ra) bookstore in Pacific Place in search of a cute card and a naughty wedding gift for my bestfriend. I came up with this card, pretty cute, isn’t it? Neatly depicting how many girls/boys we met along the way (those heartbreaks!), until we finally found ‘the one’ 😀

And a pack of naughty Kiss & Tell cards! You would want to play this game with your spouse on bed, trust me 😀

I have always loved (ak.’sa.ra) bookstores (well, I used to fall for QB Books’ selections, but they’re out of business). I love their products, their cards, their display, and especially: their selection of books. I always drool over the sight of some classics with lovely illustrated covers, I have no idea how they actually spotted that beautiful edition at the first place! And where else in Indonesia could I find a complete selection of Yoshitomo Nara’s illustration books?

Well, back to the case of santaploding Lomo: when I got to the cashier with the card and the gift and Alain de Botton’s book, the girl behind the counter told me that (ak’.sa.ra) was having their Santa Wish List program for Christmas. So I needed to fill in a card, stating what I’d like to have for Christmas—but the gift I wish for should be something that is sold in (ak.’sa.ra). And there are no price-limit as to which products I’d like to put on my wish list.

Usually I would just shrugged it off, saying, “Naaah, no need to…”—but that day I was not in a hurry and well, I had been wanting that Lomo Super Sampler camera for 2 years, having a constant battle with myself whenever I saw that camera on display: don’t buy it. Don’t buy it. Don’t buy it. But I kept wanting it anyway, and had always spare some time to look at it on the shelf when I was at (ak.’sa.ra).

So, I simply wrote it down: I want a Lomo Super Sampler camera. Then I put my name and my phone number at the bottom of the card.

“We’ll draw the wish list on December 25! Good luck!” said the girl, waving as I left the store.

And so I waited, waited, and waited. On December 25 I kept on checking my handphone, expecting for a phone call, an SMS, a surprise: nothing. And I have kissed my Lomo goodbye, until I got a text message yesterday afternoon: Congratulations! You got a Lomo Super Sampler from our Santa Wish List! Please claim and pick up your gift.

At the time, I was in the middle of a chat with a friend at the front porch, and I was screaming at him: “I win a LOMO! I win a LOMO!!!” and I screamed, and screamed, and screamed. I was beaming with joy!!! 😀

And there she is, I’d like to introduce you to the Blue Belle:

Thank you, (ak.’sa.ra)! :’) And happy holiday to all of you! :*

—-

More about lomography please click here. And do follow those wonderful fellows at (ak.’sa.ra) bookstore on Twitter @Aksara_Store @Aksara_PP.