Suburban Shopping

JUNCTION 8

9 Bishan Place

Tel: (65) 6354 9282

Nearest MRT station: Bishan (NS17)

At Bishan, the hive of activity centres around the Junction 8 Shopping Centre, a shopping and entertainment mall located in close proximity to the MRT station. Here, among the numerous fashion and gifts outlets, you’ll find the award-winning Giordano store with its excellent service and a Golden Village Cineplex.

JURONG POINT

1 Jurong West Central 2

Tel: (65) 6792 5662

Nearest MRT station: Boon Lay (EW27)

This huge 6-level shopping centre offers a good variety of stores, ranging from fashion, electronics, home furnishing, sporting equipment to bargain stores. You will also find food outlets which boast a gastronomic spread for all. Besides being a good place to enjoy great shopping in a suburban setting, it is also where the latest movies are not to be missed, at the large cineplex occupying the top level.

LOT 1 SHOPPERS’ MALL

21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4

Tel: (65) 6762 3590

Nearest MRT station: Choa Chu Kang (NS4)

Japanese department store, Seiyu, is the anchor tenant and it shares this 5-storey complex with fashion boutiques, jewellery shops, food outlets, gift shops and a cineplex on the top level.

NORTHPOINT

930 Yishun Avenue 2

Tel: (65) 6754 2300

Nearest MRT station: Yishun (NS13)

A convenient hop across from the Yishun MRT station, the shopping centre boasts a 10-cinema cineplex as well as a wide variety of apparel, jewellry, shoes and food outlets.

NOVENA SQUARE

238 Thomson Road

Tel: (65) 6358 0700

Nearest MRT station: Novena (NS20)

Taking centrestage in a new commercial hub, Novena Square is located directly above Novena MRT Station. It spans over three levels with more than 80 shops featuring a range of products including fashion, jewellery, sportswear, cosmetics and home furnishings. Savour local delicacies at Singapore’s first Zen ambience food court or take your pick at the numerous food and beverage outlets located here, including a fully-stocked supermarket.

TAMPINES MALL

4 Tampines Central 5

Tel: (65) 6788 8370

Nearest MRT station: Tampines (EW2)

With the Japanese department store Isetan as the anchor tenant and a host of stores selling children’s apparel, ladies fashion, electrical goods, books and sports equipment, Tampines Mall has something for everyone in the family. It is also not short of food outlets to pamper your tastebuds!

TIONG BAHRU PLAZA

302 Tiong Bahru Road

Tel: (65) 6276 4686

Nearest MRT station: Tiong Bahru (NW17)

This 6-level complex above Tiong Bahru MRT station contains a cineplex, food court, Cold Storage as well as a number of Western food outlets and dozens of small specialty shops.

Suburban Shopping

If you’re prepared to venture further afield, you can combine shopping with a little off-the-beaten track sightseeing as well. In fact, you’ll discover some of the best bargains where most Singaporeans live, eat and shop – out in the heartlands of Singapore.

These suburban shopping centres offer a surprisingly comprehensive range of items from branded to electronic goods at prices to delight the value-conscious and determined bargain hunter.

Business hours vary from shop to shop but as a general guide, most shops are open from 11am to 9pm.

Town centres in the larger estates of Tampines and Bishan are easily accessible by MRT. Shopping at these bustling town centres is a fascinating experience, providing insight into the local lifestyle and a chance to mingle with Singaporeans at their most comfortable.

You also reap another benefit – the opportunity to tuck in “local style” at the numerous food centres and informal coffee shops!

CAUSEWAY POINT

1 Woodlands Square

Tel: (65) 6894 2237

Nearest MRT station: Woodlands (NS9)

Causeway Point Shopping Centre is located in the heart of Woodlands Regional Centre, next to the Woodlands MRT station. This large mall has about 250 shops and food outlets, including anchor tenants like Cathay Cineplex, Cold Storage, Horizon Food Mall, Metro and Courts.

CENTURY SQUARE

2 Tampines Central 5

Tel: (65) 6789 6261

Nearest MRT station: Tampines (EW2)

Closer to Changi Airport in Tampines are Century Square and Tampines Mall, firm favourites with residents nearby. With close proximity to the MRT station, Century Square is easily accessible from downtown and it is a great place to observe local activity. Local department store Metro, electrical appliances giant Best Denki, a cineplex and a large food court are located here, amongst other popular fashion stores.

CHANGI VILLAGE

Nearest MRT station: Tanah Merah (EW4) and take SBS bus No. 2.

You’d hardly think such a place existed in bustling Singapore – but it does. For a slightly different type of suburban shopping experience, Changi Village is the place to go for laid-back quiet surroundings. It offers a quaint charm of its own, away from the crowds and traffic for a more relaxed ambience for shopping.

Expect to find plenty of bargains for T-shirts, fishing equipment, electronics, Indian cotton clothing, batik dresses and all types of table linen.

Round off the day like everyone else who visits the village with a trip to Charlie’s for a swig of beer and some food in a rustic outdoor setting.

HOLLAND VILLAGE

Nearest MRT station: Buona Vista (EW21) and take SBS 200.

Alternatively, take SBS buses 7 or 106 from Orchard Road

Although it still has the feel of a village about it, Holland Village is one of the favourite haunts of the expatriate community and Singapore’s young and trendy.

This charming little enclave away from town has developed into a fascinating microcosm of Singaporean life. This is reflected in its curious mix of old coffee shops and ritzy wine bars; its colourful blend of foreign shops and local mixed trade as well as its many ethnic restaurants and fast-food outlets. Here you’ll find an eclectic collection of goods from straw brooms to valuable antiques and movie memorabilia. Not to be missed are its discount shops of clothes for men, women and children.

The only shopping complex, Holland Road Shopping Centre, is alive with shops selling Asian arts and crafts to electronic goods and mid-range fashionable clothes.

Previous posts in the series:

• A Shopper’s Guide to Singapore. PART 3
• A Shopper’s Guide to Singapore. PART 2
• A Shopper’s Guide to Singapore. PART 1

City & Fringe Shopping

Great shopping in Singapore isn’t confined to just Orchard Road and its surroundings. Quality goods at prices that won’t burn a hole in your pocket can be found in lots of places around the city centre. The Riverside area by River Valley Road is home to both some of the newest as well as the oldest shops in Singapore.

CLARKE QUAY

3 River Valley Road

Tel: (65) 6337 3292

Nearest MRT station: Clarke Quay (NE5) or Raffles Place (EW14/NS26) or alternatively, take SBS bus 32 or 195 from City Hall MRT Station (EW13/NS25).

Clarke Quay is the place to shop, eat and sight-see, all at one go. More than 150 air-conditioned shops in restored godowns and shophouses along the Singapore River sell clothes, souvenirs., silk-wear, home furnishing and accessories. Pushcarts selling unique pottery, jewellery and woodcraft knick-knacks add to the friendly, festive atmosphere. Flea markets on Sunday are worth checking out. Numerous factory outlets make shopping here worthwhile.

GREAT WORLD CITY

1 Kim Seng Promenade

Tel: (65) 6737 3855

SBS bus 16 from Orchard Road will get you there.

This sprawling complex which used to be a favourite entertainment centre in the sixties is the latest shopping “city” in Singapore. Anchor tenants include OG, Cold Storage supermarket and GV Grand Cineplex. A stone’s throw from Orchard Road, the shopping centre also provides a free shuttle trolley service on The Singapore Trolley from the Marriott Hotel, Lucky Plaza and The Paragon in Orchard Road.

Read more…

Straits Times, Apr 6, 2010 – Man held over plane threat

SINGAPORE police are questioning a Qantas passenger after he threatened to bring down a plane with the ‘power of his mind’, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Tuesday.

The man, believed by other passengers to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, was detained on Monday evening after arriving on a flight from Sydney.

An ABC reporter, who was also on Flight QF31, said the man also had religious delusions.

The man was restrained in his chair after he threatened to use mind power to bring down the Boeing 747, five hours into the 7 1/2-hour flight.

A Qantas spokesman said the man behaved in a ‘threatening and disruptive manner’. He was removed from the plane when it landed at Changi Airport just before midnight, the ABC reported.

A police spokesman said the man was being held for investigation.

The incident occurred on the same day as another Qantas plane was grounded in Melbourne, after a cockpit window cracked during a flight from Los Angeles.

Meanwhile a Qantas Boeing 747 from Bangkok to London returned to the Thai capital after a surge in one of its engines. Some 335 passengers were due to leave on a replacement plane at 1150 GMT (7.50pm Singapore time).

A similar problem forced a Qantas flight to be aborted last Tuesday, and a day later an Airbus A380 operated by the carrier damaged tyres on landing in Sydney, showering sparks and flames.

A faulty wing flap and an engine wiring problem have also delayed flights in recent days, but the spokesman said there was no safety problem at the Australian flag-carrier, AFP reported.

The title may sound like an oxymoron, I mean, how happy can you be when travelling, if you don’t own your own personal jet or eye-candy stewards to serve you freshly squeezed juice, and centre filled chocolates with a gentle shoulder rub thrown in for good measure?

But funnily and also thankfully enough, airports have realised that an unhappy traveller comes a close second, to a plane full of screaming babies, hence the recent shift towards travel friendly airports.

Since I am currently based in Singapore I shall talk about the airport that I am most familiar with. Changi Airport offers free wifi at all four of their terminals. Now travellers can surf the net, log on to their office network, if they are suddenly overcome with love for their jobs, or more realistically, check their personal email, update their blogs, Facebook account and register and update their ArrivedOK account. With over 400 free internet kiosks and 80 laptop Ethernet access points located throughout the terminal lounges and transit areas, Changi Airport offers everyone in the vicinity wireless broadband, keeping us happy and connected.

This shift towards being contact-able on the go is great news. There used to be a time when I would have to lug a whole bag of coins to call home while waiting the requisite three hours before boarding. On days that I forgot my bag of change, I used to stare at the worn out linoleum on the floor until my eyes crossed and vision blurred. Thankfully now there are much more constructive things for travellers to do with their time. Of course the luxury of free wifi and air-conditioning is still a foreign concept in some countries, so if you have any horror or happy airport experiences to share, please do, because I would love to have a list of airports I should avoid or at least come armed with an arsenal of entertainment, so as not to go crazy with boredom.

As the saying goes about too much of a good thing…., Its now come to a point, that airports have become such wonderful places to be at, that non travellers seem to prefer to while away their free-time napping or reading magazines while sipping coffee, making it no longer a place no longer exclusive to those of us toting boarding passes.

If this trend continues, one day genuine travellers will no longer have anywhere to hangout at during the three excruciatingly long hours until boarding, what with all the seats taken up by the non travelling riff-raff surfing the net on the mobile phones while sipping their cup of expresso!