Singapore's TidbiTs

From household to beauty products, we have heard of Daiso, the $2 stores that sell almost everything under the sun. From clothes hangers, to drinking glasses and cups, cleaning products, kitchen and home accessories, flashlight, stationeries, travel accessories, yard tools, arts and crafts products, beauty products, smartphone cables and all other knick-knacks all for $2 each. Even long-distance reading glasses sell for only $2. But of course, if you are to buy several items the cost will add up. In fairness you can sometimes get some items cheaper at neighbourhood Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats stores, so maybe you want to browse around the neighbourhood as well. At some stores in the neighbourhood they sell many items for only $1 each. You may also want to check out IKEA that sell clothes hangers for a $1 each. Daiso However, Daiso may offer varieties such as gardening tools where you can get garden fences, nets, pots of all shapes and sizes and other accessories for $2 e...

Bugis Village also known as Bugis Street Market is a good place for tourists and locals alike to pick up a souvenir or two such as fridge magnets and keychains. It is not a flea market, but more of the street's night market concept stores with fixed price,though you can also bargain for higher value items like a luggage bag. You can find 'I love Singapore' or 'Singapore is a Fine City' T-shirts that go for three pieces for $10. But of course, it must look lame for locals to wear these T-shirts here or elsewhere. Not that we are not patriotic. I think one would look pretty hilarious too, wearing a 'no chewing gum' t-shirt. You cannot find chewing gum at Bugis Market or elsewhere in Singapore. So, do I miss chewing the sugary gum? Sometimes, but it is what it is. Snowman at the roof of busy Bugis Market If you are looking for inexpensive watches, you can get a $5 watch at Bugis Market. These are not fake branded watches like those found in some alleys in Bang...

At Pasar Malam, you can find many stalls selling the familiar and perennial crowd favourites of deep-fried street snacks or food such as 'Ramly' burger, roti john , Indian vadai or wadai, banana and tapioca fritters, fried fish crackers, otak-otak (ground fish meat with spices wrapped in palm or attap leaves) steamed buns and peanuts, kebabs, coconut juices and ice-creams, fried noodles, nasi lemak, chendols and roasted chestnuts. And of course, knick-knacks like smartphone accessories and clothes. The flea-market style pasar malam or night market opens during broad daylight too. 'Pasar' is a Malay word which means market. Maybe during the olden days, they used to only operate in the evenings when it is a bit cooler given the tropical weather here, that is why they called it Pasar Malam. The vibe in the evenings tend to be better too. During the festive season such as during the fasting month of Ramadan, pasar malam is turned into bazaar such as at Geylang Serai. Pasa...