Singapore Hotels & Malaysia Hotels
About Singapore Malaysia

BEST BUY 4

ORIENTAL RUGS Once you've walked on a hand-knotted Turkoman in your bare feet, trailed your fingers along the pile of an antique Heriz, or admired the sensuous colors of a Daghostani, you'll never look at broadloom again with the same forbearance. And best yet, they come in a range of sizes and prices to suit most any room and wallet. Think of your purchase as an investment-even the new carpets coming out of Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries increase in value. (Ask that of your wall-to-wall.) Still don't want to splurge? Check our the "minirugs," which measure about a foot square. They're very inexpensive, fit in vour luggage, and, once home, drape nicely over the arm of a sofa or look elegant on the hall table.

Many shops also carry kilims (woven carpets). These tribals lend a primitive elegant ambience to most any decorating scheme. Antique camel bags, tent door hangings (how did you think the nomads maintain their privacy?), and other colorful pieces are offered at reasonable prices.

Ask anyone in Singapore where to shop for carpets, and he'll send you to Hassan's Carpets, #03-01/06 Tanglin Shopping Centre (65/6737-5626), which has been a fixture in Singapore for generations with a stock of more than US$5 million worth of museum-quality carpets. Proprietor Suliman Hamid is the local authority on carpets, having advised on and supplied the carpets for the ~ rstoration of Raffles Hotel. He and his staff know the background of every rug md have wonderful stories to tell. They forego the hard sales pitch for more civilized discourse on carpet appreciation. It's an afternoon well spent.

If you still want to see more carpets, you can take a taxi out to Dempsey Road where you'll find a few warehouses filled with stock.

OUTLET SHOPPING I've found a couple of shops that sell clothing manufactured locally at prices that make outlet mall in the States seem overpricedmd they sell American sizes. At Export Fashions, #O1-144 Suntec City Mall 65/6333-6106), I've bought Talbots dresses, J. Crew and Ungaro skirts and CK tops for between S$17 and S$35 (US$ 10-US$20). At Pace Fashions Outlet, #03-64 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd. (65/6738-7160), I've gotten Ann Taylor, Saks, and Nordstrom originals-suits, separates, and dresses for anyhere between S$9 and S$61(US$5-US$35).

Cheap shoes are a real find here, you can get sandals and flats for under S$19 v US$1 1) and dress shoes for as low as S$29 (US$17), in tons of styles. Bargain ,hoe stores are everywhere, you can begin your search at Far East Plaza, Lucky Plaza and Suntec City.

Discount sporting goods are a find at Why Pay More?, #02-57 Suntec City `1all (65/6336-7568).
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