Tag Archives: South Africa

Feb3

Magik Aroma – Yummy Smelling Packages :)

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Usually at the beginning or end of the year, or any other special Korean holiday like Chuseok (Thanksgiving) or Seollal (New Year), it is custom to take something small for the teachers at your school.  It doesn’t have to be expensive or dazzling or ooh-la-laaa – just a small token to say thanks.  I used to have stuff shipped here – Rooibos, and all kinds of random things, but that was until I discovered Magik Aroma.

Mila has been running Magik Aroma for a few years now and with great success.   They create the most amazing handmade soaps, candles and body products and have also recently added oils, candle holders and aroma burners to the list too.  All ingredients are organic and smell sooo great!   I just love the combinations!  From spicy citrus to vanilla, lavender, sandalwood and even apple and cinnamon.  These products make great gifts for co-teachers and are really affordable!

"It's gooood and cleeeaaan and fresh! tra-la-laaa!"

They also have special soap ranges for winter and summer as well as a very nice African range!  Soaps can also be custom made if you order 10 bars (1 kg).  Body products include lotion, bodybutters, shampoo & rinse, body wash and vitamin E oil which can either be applied directly, or added to your creams and lotions.

During Christmas time, Magik Aroma usually sell special star shaped soaps and all kinds of nifty gifts – even for children.

Yummmm~~~*

The crunchies are a HUGE hit!  They are the original South African crunchy cookies, made with oats, coconut, flour, sugar and butter!  The flavours are delicious and at only 12,000 – 13,500won for 32 crunchies, they are well worth it!  Crunchies are available in:

  • Cinnamon
  • Traditional
  • Choc-Chip
  • Peanut butter
  • Peanut butter & raisin
  • Choc-chip chilli (*new*)
Here are some more pics of my favourite things (aaahaha I feel like OPRAH!)

Candle holders <3

Aroma burners: Metal with glass bowl (left) and African themed gift set (right)

I now rely on Mila and MagikAroma when it comes to gifts for the teachers’ office.  My co-workers devour the crunchies in about 5 minutes and I am guilty of ordering too much just so I can keep some for myself… :)  If you’re wondering about what gifts to bring from home, save the luggage space and order from MagikAroma once you arrive.  Join the MagikAroma Facebook group for updates on specials and new products by clicking here.  To order, send an e-mail to Mila at metermila@yahoo.com

Soaps from the African range.

Nov7

Trolley Dashing

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In about 57 days my feet will touch SA ground for the first time in over a year.  My last visit was SO fast (4 days travel for a 5 day visit to attend a wedding… it took me 4 days to find something to wear…).  This time I will be in Sunny South Africa for 10 days (I still haven’t learned much from my mistakes but I’m getting there!!!)

There are so many things I miss about SA.  I can’t WAIT to go shopping for the silliest things, because not only will I have my own bag to fill – 23 kgs of STUFF! – but also my wonderful mother’s 23kilos, as she’s coming back to Korea with me for 2 weeks.  I’ve got it all planned out.  My mom is not allowed to pack socks, or stockings, or scarves. She will use mine.  I will buy extra and keep them in Korea for her.  One coat.  A few jeans.  Underwear.  That’s it.  No shampoos, soaps, face stuff, wrinkle cream, NOTHING!  Space is limited! hehe and reserved for meeee! :P

I need to prove myself this time though.  I wasted SO much time shopping last time, because I didn’t know what I wanted.  Well, I did sort of, but once you hit the wonder that is Pick & Pay, your heart melts.  You know that this is going to get out of hand, so you mumble to yourself “I am stronger than this” and you start at aisle 1 and work your way through, checking off items on your list.  The problem with ‘I-need-to-take-SA-back-with-me’-shopping is this:  I *never* leave with “just the list”.  Some conniving … employee… is out to get all expats, by placing all the “I’ve-forgotten-about” items between the items on your list.  So shopping goes like this:

We did good, Mom!

Aisle 1:  Soups and stews

Okay, I need to get white onion soup pow…OH MY WORD POTATO BAKE!!!! (grab 5)…der.  Maybe I should get brown onion too… Oh and it’s going to be winter soon… I’ll take Chicken to..AAAH GRAVY!

Aisle 2: Sauces and Condiments

Chutney of glad nie, waar is jy Mrs Balls? Aaaah kyk hoe kyk sy vir my!  Oh my word, 470g… that’s heavy… I’ll take the plastic one.. it’s 1.1kg but it’s plastic.. so more chutney…. less … glass. (Makes a lot of sense doesn’t it???)  OH MY WORD SPUUUUUUUUR SAUCE!  And that’s when you start hating the expat-hating employee.

So this time, I’m sticking to my list.  However, since I know what the Expat-hater’s plan is, I have decided to give myself 2 minutes to type whatever I want to buy on this post.  So here it is…    3…. 2….. 1!

toothpaste  chutney  tampons haha  WINE  spur sauce  koo apricot jam  amarula  ponchos  salt and vinegar chips   chicken spice  country herb and garlic spice potato spice worcestershire sauce (koreas is horrid)  guava rolls   more toothpaste   deodorant  huuuge towels   clothes and shoeeees   prestic  speckled eggs and jelly sweets  lots of SA candy for my students like sugus??   creme soda   mince mate hahahaha   lots of curries   passion fruit cordial  cocktail mix.  jungle  oats! milo  rooibos real coffee biltong – screw customs.

DONE!   Okay looking back at this unedited list, it’s rather funny!  Lots of JUNK FOOD so I should add diet pills haha!  But these are the things I miss sooo much!   It seems like I’m a drunk too!!! … I make myself feel better by reminding myself that these are the things I have stocked in a little cupboard in my kitchen.  And when I’m feeling homesick I take out one of my treasured items, get into bed, download a movie in 3 minutes and  just chill :) yeaaah!   LOL!   So this is my trolley dash.  :)

Thanks to Emile van Rooyen for the post idea!  To the old and new teachers, my question is this:  What can’t you live without?  What will you grab in your trolley dash?  (no, you can not bring steaks into the country!)  Click on comment and give yourself 2 minutes!! :)