The GSS Is Back But...

The start of this year's GSS i.e. the Great Singapore Sale was yesterday, 23rd May, and I didn't bother about it. Singapore's not really my favourite place to shop, unfortunately. I live here, I WORK here, I have too many things to do and not much leisure time. Whatever time I have, I sit in my room and type silly articles like this one on my laptop. However, when I travel, and after determining within five munutes that our missionaries have been good little boys and girls (yes, of course they are!) since the last time we met, I have nothing else to do. :D
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I've had so many shopping adventures and misadventures in the region that perhaps I should start a new blog about it. Ok, no need lah, I'll write about it here.

First off, Cambodia, which I last visited two months ago. We were in Phnom Penh, the capital city and BEFORE any of us had any breakfast at all, we took a short walk to the shops. I didn't shop, although I was the one loaded with too much money. I took pictures instead.

I don't quite like the shopping in Cambodia for a few reasons - the cost of living there is actually quite high, and the possibility of parting with a few more US dollars than necessary was very real if I dare tackle the shops alone. I would thus prefer to have a native speaking friend along to bargain to 20% of the original asking prices.

Another thing - I've never yet stepped into an air-con mall anywhere in Cambodia, although I'm sure they have some of those. Their version of the best shopping is to enter the place known as the Russian Market, which was like an oven almost the whole year round, and two minutes was all I could stand in it (see picture at the top of this article). If you truly do not mind being baked, though, you can certainly find many great bargains inside the Russian Market. Just have a Khmer-speaking friend along; need not be a native Cambodian because our Filipino missionaries speak good Khmer, but at least you know they'll try their best to get the best prices for you.

I bought some T-shirts and a thick jacket (fit for zero degrees wintry China) several years ago when I was in Phnom Penh, but during this recent trip two months ago, I really didn't shop. Left it to the others in our team.

China - hitting the shops there often made me wish I had paid more attention to my second language when I was in school! I absolutely do not know how to bargain. What usually happened was like this -

Me: (pointing to the much desired goods) duo shao? (i.e. how much?)

Salesgirl: yi bai kuai (one hundred yuan)

Me: Er... san shi (thirty yuan)

Salesgirl: xx xxxx xxxx xxx xxxx xxx ... i.e. she started rattling off something which sounded rude or sarcastic or most probably both, and I may catch a word here, a word there but have no idea how to counter-attack. And if the said salesgirl stopped her rattling after five minutes (assuming I was still standing dumbly there), she would then be staring at a speechless me.

How does one buy anything at all in China??

Philippines - Some VERY important statistics: Third largest mall in the world: the SM Mall of Asia in Manila. Seventh largest mall in the world: SM Megamall in Manila. Eleventh largest mall in the world: SM City Cebu (pictured below). Need I say more?

Yes, I should say more. Firstly, they all speak English, whether in Manila or Cebu or Iloilo or even in a small town like Dumaguete. More importantly, though, Filipinos are truly polite, helpful, attentive and very sales-oriented. No rude or sarcastic rattling at you in Tagalog or any strange languages when you ask for assistance. If I have any grievances about the Filipino sales staff, it's this one - they are so easy-going and in absolutely no hurry at all, whereas I'm usually in a big hurry because Pastor Paul usually only gave me twenty minutes to buy up the whole mall. Well, that's only a small minus point.

Most importantly... ahhh, this is very important; the prices are just right for me, whether there was a sale or not.

I buy all my shoes in the Philippines (less than S$10/- a pair). I got a new batch of T-shirts for casual wear during my last trip four months ago, and they are around 100 pesos (about $3.50) each. I bought three new blouses, suitable for the wedding I attended there, as well as for Chinese New Year, right after I got back from the trip.

And so...this GSS, bah, not too interested. If I pass by Orchard Road and if I have the time, I might take a peek at the doorway to see if there are any crowds inside before I set a foot in. Meantime, I look forward to the next trip.

Where's your favourite place to shop? Do you wait for sales and do you know how to bargain? Do share your experiences!