Things and Places Not To Be Missed in Singapore: Shopping

The Merlion

Truth be told, I’ve heard a couple of people I know complain about how boring Singapore is. One even said this just after a day of roaming the city! I find myself disagreeing with them however. Being a constant visitor of the Lion City, there are still a bunch of places that I haven’t been to but I’m keen on seeing.

That being said, there are places and other attractions that I highly recommend seeing (or in some cases, eating) which may or may not be seen prominently in the more popular guides to Singapore.

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Shopping is one of the main reasons people visit Singapore. There are certain items that are less expensive when bought here (which may surprise some since most stuff are costly). And there are stores here which do not have branches in the Philippines.

My favorites:

• Kinokuniya is a big ass bookstore located inside Takashimaya Shopping Center in Orchard Road. Their graphic novels section is a sight to behold. And don’t get me started on their art / design section. Other than books, they also carry Moleskines, DVDs, LOMO cameras as well as art and school supplies. I spotted Makoto Shinkai’s Voices of a Distant Star sold around S$ 24. And I nearly cried when I saw LARGE Moleskines (almost the same size as half of a cartolina!). There are a couple of branches in the city but I recommend going to the main branch in Takashimaya, it being the largest. They even have maps in the customer service area to guide you inside the store!

MUJI store in Bugis Junction

• MUJI is a Japanese retail store that sells a variety of things from household items, clothes and food items as well. There are currently four branches in Singapore. What makes this store special, I think, is mainly their minimalist design. As a person averse to silky things (and similar materials), their clothes made of organic cotton are heaven-sent. Plus, their notebooks are awesome.

• Uniqlo is a Japanese clothing store that debuted this year in Singapore. Their first store is in Tampines One mall and another branch in the newly-opened ION Orchard. They offer unique graphic and statement tees as well as other basic clothing items such as jeans and underthings. Their prices are quite affordable as I found out later on. I remember seeing a massive queue outside waiting for their turn to go inside the store during their first week of opening. A friend even said that one of his colleagues filed for a leave just to visit the store. Wow.

• HMV is no stranger to people from UK and Canada. HMV (which stands for His Master’s Voice, a painting by Francis Barraud, A.R.A. of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone, according to Wikipedia) is a store that sells a wide selection of music and movie CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs. They also have other offerings such as shirts, some books and headphones and music paraphernalia. The main branch in Heeren Mall in Orchard spans three floors! There is another branch at the City Link Mall near City Hall MRT, where I got my copy of Say Anything and Grandma’s Boy.

Swedish meatballs, chicken wings and rice

• IKEA. IS. AWESOME. It is a Swedish company that sells household items and pieces of furniture which are flat-packed and sold at an affordable price. I like that they have several furnished areas to highlight how the items work together and how they maximize the space. And another thing that I love about IKEA is their cafeteria which serves yummy Swedish meatballs and other European fare. And look, they have Akevitt!

• Anchorpoint Mall is located in front of the IKEA branch in Alexandra Road. What makes this mall special is that it houses several outlet stores which may appeal to the shopaholic. The boyps’ mother and sister had a blast going through the items in the Charles and Keith here because the shoes and bags are cheap(er than in Manila). Shoes and bags can cost from S$ 12 -30. The catch however is that there are limited sizes and stocks. If you prefer newer designs, I suggest going to the City Link Mall branch. Other stores in Anchorpoint are Billabong, G2000 and Giordano. Again, not a lot of styles and sizes to choose from but if you’re patient enough, you might find some great bargains.

Oh, don’t forget that as a tourist, you are entitled to get a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the items that have been purchased from shops that participate in the Tourist Refund Scheme. You will need to request a form from the said shops which you will then fill-up and submit at the GST Refund counters located at Changi Airport. A S$ 100 minimum purchase from the participating shop on a single day is required to be eligible for the refund. This can be a single receipt or at the most, three receipts which amount to S$100. More details regarding GST Refund and Tourist Refund Scheme can be found here.

When I shop, the world gets better, and the world is better, but then it’s not, and I need to do it again. -Rebecca Bloomwood