A Love-Hate Relationship

It has always been a love-hate relationship between Malaysia and Singapore. Being neighbours, we’re tied closely together in terms of geographic location, only separated by the Straits of Johor (Selat Tebrau), a mere 50km wide where a wanted terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari managed to swim across it with the help of an ‘improvised flotation device’ in his dash to freedom on 8 May 2009. So, that makes us, Malaysia and Singapore, really really close neighbours.

I love Singapore being my neighbour. It is my time of shopping extravagance whenever I go over for a visit. (at least once a year, usually year end) Who have not heard of Singapore’s infamous Pre-Christmas Sales and Boxing Day Sales? It’s quite fanatical, I’d say from personal experience. As a shopaholic, I think I gel into the atmosphere pretty decently.

In USA, New York City has its 5th Avenue: Gucci, Prada, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdoff Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Tiffany & Co, Cartier, BVLGARI, Armani, Fendi, Versace, Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Louis Vuitton and the rest of the world’s most exclusive, classy retail stores reign the most expensive street in the world, as it is ranked in Forbes magazine in 2008. As it is exclusive, posh, and classy, let’s not forget that it is p.r.i.c.e.y too. Nice to see, nice to hold, once broken, considered sold! I’ll be bankrupt if that ever happen to me over at any of the stores there. Well, I’m not sure I want to spend a couple of hundreds or thousands USD$ on a single item there anyway.

In another class of its own, Singapore has Orchard Road to boast, known as the retail and entertainment hub of this state-country. It opens its hands to the locals plus the throngs of foreign visitors everyday. The heavy human traffic on this shopping belt proves its popularity as the best shopping delight, I’d say! To me, if there’s class division in heaven, Orchard Road is the premium class shopping heaven! Instead of exclusive private luxury stores, Orchard Road has a zillion malls that will spoil you for choice. Ranging from the zany arrays of eccentric shoplets at Far East Plaza to the winner of tourism award for best shopping experience at Centre Point, where you’d find Robinson & Co., Orchard Road guarantees ever shopper its one-of-a-kind (the good kind) of shopping bliss, one that you can truly shop oh-so-joyfully with its wonderful exciting sales.

The Crowd @ Orchard

It is by no coincidence that June is fast approaching (in 5 days!) Singapore is changing its facet as it dresses itself up to welcome you to its mid-year island-wide mega sale with offers up to 70%. For a more thrilling shopping experience, join the Great Singapore Shopping Challenge where you may stand a chance to be crowned as the ULTIMATE Bargain-Hunter/ Huntress.

Don’t resist it, treat yourself and indulge in this irresistible offering of great bargains! It’s not sin for some self-pampering once awhile.

P.S. - If you don’t already know what I mean when I say there are a ‘zillion’ malls on Orchard Road, you can check it out here, and then book your trip with a click right over here.