I’m back at Changi, this time waiting for my ride back to Manila. Between the first Notes from Changi Airport and this post, there were only two posts, one I even had to force myself to finish.
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Popularity: 3% [?]

Kultura, since its launch several years ago, have been a favorite haunt of my sisters and I. Selling different kinds of Filipiniana items, they stock more than the usual tacky tourist souvenirs. There are a lot of chic homegrown products made with indigenous materials that made Kultura a favorite stop of ours whenever we’re shopping for gifts to give to friends and relatives abroad, or even for those living in the Philippines.

Eco bags from Kultura

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Savers, is what we’d call in the Philippines as an ukay-ukay – a secondhand shop. Unlike the ukay-ukay in the Philippines, which are cramped and sometimes found in the sidewalk, Savers has a spacious interior. The clothes are grouped by type, size and color, which makes it easier to look for something that might fit you.

Apart from clothes for men, women and children, Savers also sell accessories like bags, scarves and shoes. There are household items like cups and saucers, plates and serving dishes, couches and chairs, even draperies for your windows. Inside the bins at the cashier’s booth are DVDs and videos in VHS. There’s also a number of music CDs available for sale, starting at 0.99 cents each.

My favorite section at Savers though, is the corner where all the books are. I’ve bought more than a couple of books from Savers, priced usually at $2.99 or $3.99 each. Today was no exception. Amongst a stack of coffee table books, I see one Loney Planet title:

Time and Tide by Peter Bennetts and Tony Wheeler, like new.

Inside are a beautiful collection of pictures, and quite possibly, a nice collection of words as well (I’ve yet to start reading it). On the title page though, I find this:

The best bit? The price.

Oh yes, only $2.99.

Popularity: 18% [?]

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you’d know that I am a bit of a shopaholic and a sucker for bargains. My recent addiction though, are travel books.

Now, I love to read. I love books. However, I’m not as fond about buying them. For one thing, I am not the most careful book owner. Secondly, I go through phases where I’d go crazy over one author, buy or borrow all his/her books and read nothing but their work for months. That’s why I hesitate to buy books that goes beyond a certain price.

My first travel book (apart from guide books) was Vroom with a View by Peter Moore. I found it at this record store in Yarraville that has a table with a bunch of brand new books at discounted prices. My second find was my first Bill Bryson book, Down Under. It was in good condition, though it was second hand. A pretty good find for a hardbound book at AU$3.99. From then on, I was always on the lookout for familiar names, hoping to get another good find. I did found another Peter Moore, The Full Montezuma. It was well worn, to say the least, but at only AU$0.50, I’m not complaining. I was also able to find Come Fly with Me, a collection of travel stories from around the world, edited by Sarah MacDonald.

During my stopover in Singapore, I fully intented to just stock up on Pinkies and Mangas. In my quest to get to my goal, I managed to stumble upon a couple of stores selling second hand books. Aside from a must-visit place for toy collectors, China Square Central also have a weekend bazaar where independent sellers can rent a booth to sell their goods. Apart from the toys, the clothes and accessories, there are also stalls that sell second hand books. It was in one of the hobby stores though where I found Holy Cow! by Sarah MacDonald, a book about her adventures in India, for only SG$10.

While hunting down the last couple of volumes to complete my Ouran High Host Club loot, I went to the biggest (?) Popular bookstore in Singapore; the one in the Bras Basah Complex. It turns out that this place is also home to more than a couple second hand bookstores. It started raining heavily while I was browsing inside Popular, and it still haven’t let up after I paid for my books. To pass up the time, I browsed through the other stores and found By the Seat of My Pants: Humorous Tales Of Travel And Misadventure from Lonely Planet for only SG$9.90.

Unfortunately, Manila bookstores have very limited selection of travel books. Not only that, they’re past the price I’m willing to pay. Last week though, while waiting for the Shroud of Turin tour to start, I felt something calling out to me, the same feeling I get when I know I’m going to find something good inside trift shops. True enough I chanced upon Frances Maye’s Under the Tuscan Sun AND Bill Bryson’s Notes from a Small Island. Save for a crease or two, both books are in pretty good condition. And the price? Php110 (approximately US$2.40). Not bad, eh?

Booksale at the Mall of Asia probably has the best selection of books. I’m a frequent browser at their SM North Edsa branch and occasionally at Megamall, but this has to be the first time I saw these authors inside their store. They have a great variety of titles, and the best condition of second hand books. Oh, and they also have a number of smutty books for only Php45. *koff koff*

Starting your travel book library doesn’t have to be expensive. If you know where to look, the authors to look for, and with a little bit of luck, you will be starting your collection in no time!

Popularity: 16% [?]

Though I shopped a LOT in Melbourne, I made sure to set aside money for my Singapore stopover. Aside from the fact that I’m too old to get baon (allowance) from my brothers, I have specific items in my shopping list: Pinky Street dolls and manga.

Both these items are available in the Philippines, so why am I buying here?

Well, for one, they are cheaper. You could argue that with my airfare factored in, it’s not worth it. BUT, my airfare was paid for by my sister, and my transport card provided by my brother so I don’t have any transportation expense.
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Popularity: 30% [?]

Now THIS is news!

If your heart starts palpitating at the mere sight of “sale” sign, or if you’ve been known to elbow another shopper out of the way — if she’s getting between you and the boots you covet — or if you plan all of your vacations with retail therapy built in, this list is for you. We’ve rounded up the ten best cities in the world for your next shopping excursion — and whether you’re in the market for high fashion, fancy baubles, or even an unusual pet, we’ve got a destination for you. So pay off some credit card debt and hit the road — but don’t blame us when the bills come in.

Among the cities in the list are Bangkok and Hong Kong in Asia, London and Paris in Europe, New York and Los Angeles in North America.

I wholeheartedly agree with Bangkok. There are a lot of great locally made stuff from art and home decors to clothes and bags, and there are also brands from overseas that are priced even lower than in Manila.

Though I haven’t been to Hong Kong yet (preposterous, isn’t it?), a lot of shopaholics in the Philippines make annual (or more) pilgrimage to this vibrant city to indulge in their favorite pastime.

While Manila has awesome prices, most of the stuff here are from Bangkok, Hong Kong and China. Even though the goods we will see in these cities will pretty much be the same with what’s available in Greenhills or Divisoria and the additional cost of transportation and accomodation, nothing beats shopping overseas.

What do you think? Do you agree with their list or do you know of a city they missed?

Popularity: 10% [?]

The National T-Shirt

Now these are tourist shirts I wouldn’t mind wearing.

Out with the tacky “My xxx went to xxx and all I got was this lousy shirt” shirts!

Popularity: 14% [?]

It’s practically a part of Filipino tradition that you bring home a boxfull of pasalubongs (souvenir/gift) after a trip. Inside the Mactan International Airport, souvenir shops like these line both the check-in and boarding area. More than a dozen souvenir shops and not one Internet Cafe. Hmph.

Popularity: 10% [?]