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SINGAPORE SHOPPING 2

Even to outsiders, Orchard Road is a drug; however, most of the clothing and accessories shops sell Western imports, and while the prices may be bargain-basement for Japanese visitors, the rest of us will find that the prices of Western brand-name fashions are no less expensive than at home. And it's all the same stuff you can get at home, too. I tried to find a unique gift to bring for a Singaporean friend, something she could not get in Singapore, so I went to the gift shop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Sure enough, as soon as I got back to Singapore I found that the Met had opened two outlets on Orchard Road.

In the seventies, before the malls, Singapore was truly a shopping heaven. Local and regional handicrafts were skillfully made by local artisans, who by now have almost all been squeezed out of their quaint shops by rising real estate prices. And who can forget Thieves' Market, a sprawling series of awning-covered back alleys that teemed on weekends with table displays of antique finds from the region; brass and gems from Thailand; jade and ivory from China; batiks from Indonesia; and knock-off luggage, clothing, watches, leather goods, and pirate recordings, all for a bargain.

The government shut down the place I, the late eighties when drugs started ~ take the place of other goods sold, and as the government became more aware of copyright violation practices.
Nostalgia aside, there are still some nifty shopping areas around, like the places on Arab Street, the night mar1,t out at Bugis Street, and at the small flea market in Chinatown, where you can pick up odd items for bargains. Anybody who's been around Singapore long enough will tell you that most of the really juicy bargains went the way of the dodo when the huge shopping malls came to town, but if you know the prices of certain items that you'd like, some comparison shopping may save you a little money. In this singapore & malaysia websection, I'll give you some tips on where to find the better merchandise, competitive prices, and memorable shopping experiences.
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