Around the World Bounty hunt in Lion City By Rennie Loh	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
買い物天国シンガポール シンガポールは香港やバンコクと並ぶアジアの買い物天国。日本からも、大勢の観光客がショッピング目的で訪れます。特に6月に開催される「グレート・シンガポール・セール」の期間中は、国中のショッピングセンターがバーゲンや特別なイベントを展開するので、買い物客の購買欲はひとしお高まります。

Prepare for a credit card meltdown when in Singapore, which is hailed as a shopping paradise for its myriad of shops, large-scale shopping malls and open-air markets. The shopping diversity is comparable to other major destinations in Asia, such as Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

One of the most popular leisure activities on this sunny island state, shopping attracts the well-heeled and the budget-conscious alike; from the fashion-conscious "tai tai" (ladies of leisure) crowd and deep-pocketed tourists to those on bargain hunts.

Ask anyone on the street for suggestions on where to shop, and you will hear the unanimous reply, "Orchard Road!" This upscale stretch had humble beginnings. Its name is derived from the many nutmeg and pepper plantations that lined the wide avenue during the 1840s. It was thinly populated then, the only residents being plantation owners like Scotts, Cairnhills and Cuppages, whose names are familiar as streets today.

The Orchard Road of today is a far cry from that of a century ago. Entertainment complexes, mammoth malls and office towers line the street that used to feature mud tracks. Now an upbeat lifestyle hub, this vibrant, tree-lined boulevard offers an exhilarating mix of shopping, dining and nocturnal activities.

Singapore is gradually losing its reputation and appeal as a place to buy cheap merchandise like clothes and electronics. Most of the malls on Orchard Road are awash with international brands like Gucci, Fendi, Prada and Louis Vuitton.

Though Singapore offers the glitz and glamour of the great European shopping capitals, inexpensive finds are still readily available away from Orchard Road, providing amazing value for money — if one just knows where to look.

Suburban shopping centers situated in the residential centers of Tampines and Bishan sell their merchandise 10 to 20 percent cheaper than on Orchard Road. A five-minute taxi ride from Orchard Road takes you to Holland Village, a quaint shopping area that has become popular among expatriates and locals alike. Besides retail outlets, the area also boasts an array of food outlets, ranging from Japanese sushi to American burgers and succulent steaks to Hong Kong noodles and dim sum.

Shopping is such a way of life in the Lion City that there's actually a shopping calendar of events. An annual fashion festival is staged in March to showcase the best in pret-a-porter. In June, shoppers can enjoy incredible savings during the Great Singapore Sale (GSS), when practically everything in town is discounted.

The GSS was organized to encourage spending. According to the Singapore Retailers' Association (SRA), last year's GSS saw a 20 percent increase in sales over 1999. Last year, visitor arrivals in June exceeded 608,000, and each tourist spent an average of Singapore $1,450 (¥98,600).

Into its eighth year, this year's GSS, which took place from May 25 to July 8, offered six staggering weeks of major discounts and deals at hundreds of participating stores. Throngs of tourists like the Japanese have come to Singapore to hunt for their favorite designer-label items such as the Louis Vuitton monogramme handbags.

All major department stores held GSS events, ranging from the conventional, such as Takashimaya's Great Household & Interior Sale; to the quirky, like Tangs' celebrity makeovers (where shoppers get styled by local celebrities, as well as win a new outfit and MAC makeup); to the spectacular, like Chinese acrobatic stunts at Chinatown Point.

At the GSS, "Shop till you drop" was not the only mantra to chant. Shopaholics welcomed events and promotions at the malls, which invariably enhanced their shopping experience. Movie-making workshops and puppet shows were organized for families. There were also themed contests such as the Final Fantasy Aki look-alike and J-Pop stars look-alike contests.

Though the GSS means bargains galore, and is undeniably the time to bag the best bargains, it also means that shoppers have to be on the alert to avoid picking up a purchase they may regret. With all the alluring promotions, discounts and lucky draws, the extent of one's shopping spree depends on one's stamina and the elasticity of one's credit limit.

Shukan ST: July 27, 2001

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