Singapore - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 688

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Zouk 17 Jiak Kim St W zoukclub.com; Tiong Bahru MRT;
map pp.680-681. Still going strong after 22 years and
one of Singapore's trendiest venues, Zouk features
different-themed sub-clubs. DJs from Europe and the US
often appear here, as well as other local live acts. Cover
charge from S$25 (includes 2 drinks). Happy hour 11pm-
midnight. Tues-Sat 10pm-3am.

of seven percent, but tourists can claim a refund on
purchases at retailers displaying a blue and grey Tax-Free
Shopping sticker.
Books Kinokuniya, #03-10/15 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard
Rd, is the island's biggest bookshop.
Clothes Here you're spoiled for choice, since you can
find any designer you want in Orchard Street's malls. For
something quirkier, try the local designers along Haji
Lane in the Arab Street area. Also, check out bYSI at #B1-33
Citylink Mall for affordable luxury for women, or Frü Frü
& Tigerlily at 19 Jalan Pisang (Bugis MRT) for playful
jewellery and creative items of clothing.
Electronic equipment The intersection of Bencoolen St
and Rochor Rd is known for electrical goods; Sim Lim
Square at 1 Rocher Canal Rd is a gadget nerd's wonderland.
Fabrics and silk On Arab St (see p.682), you'll find
exquisite textiles and batiks, and some good deals on
jewellery. From here, make a beeline for the silk stores and
goldsmiths of Little India (see p.682).
Music Singapore's biggest music retailer is That CD Shop,
#01-01 Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Rd.
Souvenirs Eng Tiang Huat, 284 River Valley Rd, for
Oriental musical instruments, wayang costumes and
props. Singapore Handicraft Centre, Chinatown Point, 133
New Bridge Rd, has around fifty souvenir shops under one
roof. If you're looking for something unique, purple gold
creations are available from Aspial, Lee Hwa Jewellery and
Goldheart Jewellery at #01-37 41 Wisma Atria. TWG Tea
Company at ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, specializes in
more than 800 brands of tea, including the rare-as-gold-
dust Sakura! Sakura!

LIVE MUSIC
Check out the latest live music gigs on W sideshow.sg, the
website of an events company who organize parties at a
number of offbeat venues around town.
Blu Jaz 12 Bali Lane W blujaz.net; map p.683. Mellow jazz
café serving reasonably priced beer. There's live music
most nights - check the website for listings. Mon-Thurs
noon-1am, Fri noon-2am, Sat 4pm-2am.
Timbre @ The Arts House 1 Old Parliament Lane
#01-04 W timbregroup.asia; map pp.680-681. Set in a
historical building by Boat Quay and the Singapore River,
this popular joint is a good spot to sit back and enjoy some
live tunes. There are nightly bands - check the website for
what's on. Mon-Thurs 6pm-1am, Fri & Sat 6pm-2am.

ENTERTAINMENT
CINEMA
Singapore has more than fifty cinemas so you should have
no trouble finding one if you're in need of a movie fix. The
following cinemas show films in English:
Cathay Cineplex Cineleisure Orchard 8 Grange Rd
W cathaycineplexes.com.sg; S$11.
Screening Room 12 Ang Siang Rd W screeningroom
.com.sg; free although there's a minimum spend of S$15
on food and drink at the bar.

CHINESE OPERA
If you walk around Singapore's streets for
long enough, you're likely to come across
a wayang , or Chinese opera, played out
on tumbledown outdoor stages that
spring up overnight next to temples and
markets, or just at the side of the road.
Wayangs are highly dramatic and stylized
affairs, in which garishly made-up and
costumed characters enact popular
Chinese legends to the accompaniment
of the crashes of cymbals and gongs. They
take place throughout the year, but the
best time to catch one is during the
Festival of the Hungry Ghosts (see p.674)
when they are held to entertain passing
spooks. An alternative is to pop along to
the Chinese opera teahouse at 5 Smith
St, near the Chinatown Complex ( T 6323
4862, W ctcopera.com), where S$25 buys
you Chinese tea, snacks, desserts and an
opera performance with English subtitles.

THEATRE
Esplanade Theatres on the Bay 1 Esplanade Drive
T 6828 8377, W esplanade.com. With more than eight
venues within the two domes, there is something going
on every night, including plays from Europe, Australia and
other parts of Asia.
Repertory Theatre DBS Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Rd, near
Clarke Quay W srt.com.sg. This understated, refurbished
warehouse shows some of the best international and
local plays in Singapore.

SHOPPING
Singapore is synonymous with shopping, though prices
aren't rock bottom across the board. Good deals can be
found on watches, cameras, electrical equipment, fabrics
and antiques; however, many other items offer no
substantial savings. The free monthly Where Singapore
(available in coffee shops, large hotels and MRT stations),
has plenty of suggestions as to what you can buy and
where. Note that there is a goods and services tax (GST)