Two of my very close friends in Singapore, 乱火さん and 不思議少年さん opened their new online store selling T-shirts from Japan, and I wish to show my support towards their new venture with a belated promotion here. 頑張って下さいね！I think this is a great way for anyone to source these unique T-shirts from overseas at a reasonable price, so please feel free to browse and purchase on their site. They are really friendly and responsible guys, so you do not have to be afraid of being cheated on the internet.The best thing is that you will never be caught dead walking into your classroom, office or a gathering wearing the same thing as someone else. Just click on the link and shop away! 
If you understand me well, then you know that I will never pay big bucks for branded clothing. Nothing against people who do, but I was brought up in a middle income family, and the only time we bought new clothes was for Chinese New Year. If we bought them early, then Mum would insist that we keep it for a special occasion or for Chinese New Year. We shopped mainly at Metro, Isetan or OG because those were the places that had sales. As we grew older, when we could finally afford some disposable income of our own, we adopted this same policy of being frugal. After all, isn't it more important to look good in the clothes rather than blindly following fashion?
Nowadays, I just don't spend as much on clothes as I used to, when I was back in Singapore. I usually shop for clothes now when I return to Singapore, because almost all sizes fit me, and I like to get stuff that no one else will be able to source when I am wearing them in Sydney. So, when my other friend asked me the best places to shop in Singapore, I was a little gobsmacked.
Singapore is a shopper's paradise but how do you recommend your shopping tastes to others? Would they prefer branded goods, which I have faint idea about where to source except the big shopping malls? Or would they be bargain hunters like me, sourcing for cheaper creations of trendy clothing, which a friend once described as "an excuse to get more when that is worn".
Following the trend of this blog, I will seek to introduce some places for good clothing bargains.
There are two South American brands that I like, and thankfully, they are not as pricey as your D&Gs, Armani but more towards the middle income group. They are "Pull and Bear" and "ZARA". The former has nice fabric and good trendy cuts while the latter (especially the womens' wear) takes inspiration from classic French cutting. They are both exquisite and not overpriced, so I was most impressed with it.There is only one ZARA outlet in Singapore and it is located at Vivo City, which is all the way out from Orchard Road at HarbourFront Shopping Complex. Located in the same shopping mall is "Pull and Bear" but there is another more city friendly store at Wisma Atria. Shopping on Orchard Road is the best, and you can spend an entire day there walking around CD shops, boutiques, shopping malls, eating places etc.This is my shopping guide:(1) Far East Plaza - you can start from here and make your way down Orchard Road to Plaza Singapura and then all the way from there to City Hall and then Suntec City and Marina Square. This used to be playground because you just go crazy with all the eating and shopping. Retail therapy, even if it is just a big dose of window shopping, always helps to brighten up the day.On the basement to Level 4 of the Far East Plaza which is not very crowded because it is not as fancy as other shopping malls, there are many small boutique stalls of Singaporean independent designers. They are relatively cheap and competitively priced, so it is a great place to shop for stuff that you will never see anyone else wearing in our part of the world because it is not promoted on tourist guides as a shopping destination. I have bought quite a few lovely pieces of clothing there and have gotten quite a few queries about where I sourced them from.(2) Boutiques that have sizes or cutting that fit me well - the usual U2, G2000, Zara, Pull and Bear (another South American and favourite - though a little more pricey but not too much - nothing over $70 for a shirt for me) etc. You will find all of them at Takashimaya(3) The shopping malls like Metro (Paragon), Takashimaya, Tangs, Isetan and Robinsons are all good for underwear shopping and they have great deals too specially during the Sale season. You will find them all sprinkled on Orchard Road.(4) Heeran - where HMV is. There are interesting stores all around for clothes and has Singaporean designer boutiques as well. There is a "New Urban Male" boutique on Level 4, which is very gay. Cute Asian boys there all the time acting metrosexual but we know are gay.(5) Plaza Singapura - a few good CD stores, food outlets, Singaporean designer boutiques etc on the lower levels. There is also a Japanese $2 shop, which I love, love love! None of that crap that you find here. Really good quality stuff from Japan, because they have a 100 yen store there, which most of these stuff are imported from.(6) Suntec City, Marina Square - many stores in there like Takashimaya. More for families but the amount of different stores make for good shopping.
(7) Bugis Markets - I covered this before in my previous post. I haven't found anything during my last trip that I fancied, but I did fall in love with my "Superman" belt buckle, which has garnered much praise.
If you are looking for branded goods, then the places to visit will be Takashimaya, Milena Walk and the Western end of Orchard Road nearer towards Tanglin Road.
For the third consecutive year, John and I chose to celebrate our anniversary in lovely Melbourne. Unlike Sydney where the city "just happened", Melbourne was planned with the streets designed in a grid-like structure. The efficiencies of trams and Victorian beauty still stands today as many ancient buildings and structures were preserved, unlike Sydney who underwent a "restructuring" phase where new architectural fads took over, in a blaze of no return. Unfortunately, these fads which seemed like good ideas at that time have faded, making Sydney look like a mishmash of eclectic errors, while Melbourne can be mistaken for a city in Europe on any day.
I love the streets of Melbourne, especially the laneways, which always manage to surprise even on a return trip. It is a well designed feature that makes full use of every possible avenue and space. In place of dirty and smelly backstreets, one might find designer boutiques or little treasures tucked away where the locals mainly visit, making Melbourne an adventure, as their always elegant ads suggests.
John and I had a fabulous time as usual, casting our daily worries to the wind, and just enjoy the sense of being. We went to our favourite haunt, Centre Place, a lane tucked away opposite the library, where an interesting mix of worldly cafes and restaurants grace our presence. Good food and a faux European ambience is always a good mix for pleasure and we always enjoy our time experimenting with new food on the different menus. I also managed to sneak past the routine of having sandwiches during our holiday lunches, and enjoyed some of my "home-town" fanfare in three separate restaurant/eating houses - Singaporean, Indonesian and Hong Kong. I had my missed fried fish noodle soup, fried Indonesian ginger chicken and definitely one of the best claypot rices I ever had at Claypot King, a true surprise.
Other than that, there are plenty of beautiful parks, streets of shopping and markets where rows of shops display a delicious display of cold meats, antipasto or cakes to entice any passerby. John bought his first suit ever and I have to say he never looked more resplendent, and I had one of my most exciting shopping adventures ever, which I will share now with you.
On our first day in Melbourne, a Friday, we made a decision to explore the new DFO (I believe it represents "Design Fashion Outlet" mall at the Southern Cross Terminal, where an array of fashion warehouses are housed in this complex. Not a big fan of brands, I passed by the Timberland store and a shelf of "discounted mens shoes" at $99 caught my eye. Being a bit of a sucker for good bargains, I couldn't resist walking into the store and picked up a understated pair of elegant black dress shoes. Strangely, they displayed both shoes and as I was trying on the left, a guy next to me picked up the right and started inspecting it too. The shoes fit and felt so comfortable, which is an important decision factor for me after some bad decisions last year to compromise fashion for comfort. However, it was difficult for me to decide on a confrontation because I hate them. As I was debating and observing his intention pattern, he turned to me and remarked "Pretty good deal eh, mate". At this, my heart sank and my will to fight this shopping battle gave way, signifying my "virgin" status at shopping wars, and I slowly placed the left shoe back onto the shelf. Still keeping an eye and praying in my mind for a miracle, he took the shoe I returned, and after some deliberation, walked to the counter and asked for the price. The price was $120, higher than the advertised, but maybe it was "From $99", and since John had already walked away, I willed myself out to join in, with my heart dragged along.
We proceeded onto the "Essential Men" fashion outlet where John tried on a couple of long sleeved T-shirts, and I grabbed the opportunity to run back and see if my luck had shifted. He was still at the counter as I circled the same shelf, with one eye on a high cut boot version of the same shoe, and the other on the conversation he was still having with the store salespeople. He eventually walked out of the shop but he asked the salespeople to place the shoes on the back counter before he left. Thinking that he probably walked out to get money, I left slightly dejected but resigned to fate and joined John back at the store. After 15 minutes and a couple of purchases, we walked past Timberland again, and I proceeded to try on the boots for John who concluded that they were not as nice. At this moment, I noticed that the shoes were still sitting on the back counter, and on John's prompting, asked them if it was reserved or for sale.
To my surprise, they replied "It's yours if you want it". Overcome with mixed emotions of surprise and relief, I felt like Cinderella trying on both pairs this time, and did a mini catwalk (minus the mince). Just as I was "parading", the same guy walked in, and I was again caught in the web of disbelief. I turned to John for his opinion for the umpteenth time, and he said "You are probably not that interested in it", to which I rebutted "Why?". He said "You would have gotten it by now", and without disclosing my decision, I took off the new shoes, and with them in my hands walked straight to the counter in my originals. "I'll take them", I said sheepishly in slight fear of hurting the other guy's feelings and felt the heat rush into my head, because I was aware that he had probably made a final decision to buy them.
To my surprise, he let out his right hand, and said "Congratulations, mate. You won". He was really good natured about it all and the sequence of events turned dreamlike, as I shook his hand and said Thank you. He made his final exit out as I paid, to both salespeople behind the counter having a slight snicker at the turn of the events and said "He took too long to decide".
I have related this "incident" to my colleagues, mostly female, and all of them concluded that:
(1) I am too nice
(2) I should have the "right to purchase" in the first place since I tried the shoes first
(3) They were never going to let go of the left shoe, like I did, and will put up a fight if needed
Which prompted me to think of how I might react if I am caught in the same position again? Am I too nice or are men generally less feisty and prone to conflict when it comes to shopping purchases?
Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience and a fun afterthought. I will endear to share more photos of our trips though they will be mostly architectural rather than of people, the flavour of Melbourne and a trip always to remember.
