the singapura shopping experience part one
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
it's a war zone out there. definitely not the place for the weak and the slow - and boy, we had to keep up.
world cup mania, rain, and aching joints and muscles aside, the whole Great Singapore Sale experience was something i would gladly relive every year, if shopping allowance permits. of course, it helped that our hotel was just lovely - we had no worries of any sort at all.
we were billeted at the Sheraton Towers along Scotts Road- although not along Orchard Road as we hoped, we were just 2 minutes walking distance from the Newton MRT station, and the Orchard station was just one stop away.
after checking in in a breeze, settling in our cozy rooms and taking our brief lunch at Takashimaya Food Village, we were off at around 4 pm to our first business of our 4 day stay: Ikea along Alexandra Road.cameras are not allowed inside the 2-level store area, but just take a look at the directory, and trust me when i say that you could just spend your whole day here. the place is pure heaven, even for you men!
for those of you who still don't know, Ikea, a European brand, offers wide ranging, well-designed functional home furnishing products at super-affordable prices. Ikea's home is Sweden, having established the concept in 1958, while the Singapore store opened in 1978.
entering the store, you must remember to bring these important items: the cart, of course, and a pen and a paper to write down the details you see on the tags of the items in the various showrooms. isn't that neat!
*sigh* if only i wasn't thinking too much of the possible excess baggage or the inconvenience of lugging around boxes and plastic bags, i wouldn't have minded spending everything i had here...
we were dog-tired but still giddy when we were done at around 7 pm.
we went back to the hotel to drop off our things and rest a little. after dinner at the Newton Food Centre, we were off to the only 24-hour shopping centre that i have known in my entire life: the Mustafa Centre in Little India.
at 11:15 pm, the place was packed with people and smell of all sorts, so forgive me if i was not able to take any picture.
we were out (and in a hurry, i think you know why) after 45 minutes, and we decided to cap the night off, initially with coffee.
we ended up eating ice cream at Swensen's along Orchard Road. at 12:15 in the morning.
the shops were closed, but a lot of people were still out and about.
aaaah, singapore.
what a day. what a start!
(i'll be posting separately on my food-trip trips! in the meantime, i hope you enjoy the ride!)
12 Comments:
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At 9:26 PM, June 13, 2006,
said...
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ooh Singapore shopping frenzy lah. Thanks for the comment lah.
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At 9:27 PM, June 13, 2006,
said...
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Now you know why I never go to S'pore during the great sale. I hate shopping in crowded places. Besides, I only window shop, hehe.
Actually, I stay only a day or two in the city state before I cross the border to Johore, Malaysia to visit my Malaysian relatives. :-) -
At 3:46 AM, June 14, 2006,
said...
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I love everything IKEA. It's trendy and cheap. I do hope we have them in the Philippines. Like HK, it works for the locals since the size of flats around here are very limited, IKEA is the best shop to buy drawers & bulk beds.
BTW, thank you for visiting my blog and supporting on my Quit Smoking Campaign. We should trade links.
Nice posts. -
At 6:52 AM, June 14, 2006,
said...
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wow shopping! I love sales. I remember the time when I was in Finland and I had to wake up around 5 am so I can accompany my aunt in this Spring sale in which a Canon camera that costs 500 euros became around 200 euro and my aunt wants it badly. I agree that stuff from IKEA are the best. They are cheap and also very modern.
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At 2:42 PM, June 14, 2006,
vina said...
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hello IANUARIUS! what a frenzy indeed! thanks for dropping by, as well, lah!
hi SNGLGUY. oo nga, grabe talaga ang tao. i never imagined it to be like that during the GSS.
you have malaysian relatives? -
At 2:44 PM, June 14, 2006,
vina said...
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hi K! ang ganda talaga! lula ako inside the store. funny you mentioned HK. i found out just yesterday that may ikea nga rin doon.
we're planning to go next to HK sometime august naman for the HK sale, and we'll definitely drop by ikea. i'll prepare myself for that!
i already linked you up! -
At 2:46 PM, June 14, 2006,
vina said...
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hi CHAS! so nice of you naman to accompany your aunt. pero kung ganyan nga talaga na rock bottom ang price drop, then go, di ba? you could always just sleep again when you get home.
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At 4:25 PM, June 14, 2006,
tin-tin said...
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looks like you really enjoyed your stay there. and the SALE! hehe. 24hours shopping mall? haven for shopaholics. hehehe
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At 4:48 PM, June 14, 2006,
vina said...
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hi TIN. yung 24 hours shopping mall is more like a department store. pero well, as long as you can stand the ehem, smell, ok lang, since it's in little india, and of course, the place is swarming with ehem, indians.
meron dun sana mura mga toiletries. for example, 6 pcs na Lux soap for an equivalent of P40 lang yata! -
At 7:50 PM, June 14, 2006,
said...
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Re M'sian relatives: Yes, on my Mom's side. Actually, they're M'sian Chinese.
You know naman us Chinese, we're everywhere! LOL :-D
As for your Aug HK trip. Be sure to bring a raincoat. Madalas umulan pag gabi. -
At 3:09 AM, June 16, 2006,
rainbow angeles said...
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woohoo, vina! singapore sale!!! so how was it? u bought lotsa stuff?? i was supposed to go nxt wk for work but now, no more :(
*sigh* -
At 10:42 AM, June 16, 2006,
vina said...
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hello SNGLGUY. oh yes, you chinese people you...you are definitely everywhere!
hi ANGEL! there were lots and lots of people...i never imagined it to be like that. i think i was quite reasonable and responsible with my purchases, i only bought necessary personal items that both my sister and i could use!
aaaw, too bad your trip didn't push through.
