Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
172
off the bolt. B e sure to check out
Arab Street.
I adore the selection of silks fr om India,
Thailand, Japan, and E urope at
Poppy Fabric,
111 Arab S t. (
&
65/6296-6352
). Buy
modern batik fabrics at
Basharahil Bros.,
101 Arab St. (
&
65/6296-0432
), and be sure
to take a peek at their batik silks in the back—just gorgeous!
For other finds, a fe w shops along S erangoon R oad in Little I ndia hav e some fine
Indian silks. The largest selection is at
Mustafa Centre,
320 S erangoon Rd. (
&
65/
6295-5855
).
FINE ART
Singaporean interest in art has created a market far beyond its shores. The
island is now a center for trading fine pieces betw een East and West, so you'll find qual-
ity contemporary works from the most celebrated new artists from Southeast Asia, South
Asia, and East Asia.
Six galleries ar e packed into the
Artrium@MICA
( The M inistry of I nformation,
Communications, and The Arts), 140 H ill St., including
Gajah Gallery,
with r egional
fine arts (
&
65/6737-4202
), and
Soobin Gallery
(
&
65/6837-2777
).
Artfolio's
exhibits at #02-12
Raffles Hotel Arcade,
328 North Bridge Rd. (
&
65/
6334-4677
), always make me wish I were rich enough to collect. If you're in the market
for fine arts from the mainland (China, that is), this is the place to look.
Tanglin Shopping Centre
also has a ton of art galleries. For contemporary Southeast
Asian art, visit
Hakaren Art Gallery,
#02-43 Tanglin Shopping Centre (
&
65/6733-
3382
).
Kwan Hua Art Gallery,
#02-65 Tanglin Shopping Centre (
&
65/6735-5663
),
carries a collection of Chinese br ush paintings and oils.
JEWELRY
Jewelry can be a bargain. G old, which is sold at the day 's rate, is fashioned
into modern Western styles and into styles that suit Chinese and I ndian tastes.
Note:
Chinese and Indian jewelers work with only 18-karat quality and above, usually 22- and
24-karat designs—Chinese gold tends to be bright y ellow, while Indian gold has a r ed-
dish hue to it. Loose stones, either pr
8
ecious or semipr ecious, ar e abundant in many
reputable shops and can be set for y ou.
For contemporary upmarket jewels and settings, the most trusted dealer in Singapore
is
Larry Jewelry,
#01-12 Paragon S hopping Centr e, 290 O rchard Rd. (
&
65/6732-
3222
), but be prepared to drop some serious coin.
Peek in the windo w displays of the gold shops along S erangoon Road, and you'll see
all kinds of Indian-style gold necklaces and bangles. Each Indian ethnic group has its own
traditional patterns, all of them featuring intricate filigr ee. The selection at
Mustafa
Centre,
320 S erangoon Rd. (
&
65/6295-5855
), is absolutely mind-blo wing. I can 't
imagine the staggering v alue of all their mer chandise. Don't forget ther e are two lev els
here; the best stuff is do wnstairs.
For Chinese jade, try
Yue Hwa,
70 Eu Tong Sen St. (
&
65/6538-4222
). Jade is tough
for Westerners to buy, because it's hard to discern a good piece from a bad one. Yue Hwa
has fixed prices, but the quality is always dependable.
A unique gift or souvenir, a gold-plated orchid is something you don't find every day.
The process was developed in the 1970s and is ex clusive to Singapore. Different orchid
species make up brooches, earrings, and pendants at local jewelry designer
RISIS,
Singa-
pore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Rd. (
&
65/6475-5014
), with additional outlets at #01-
064 Suntec City M all, 3 Temasek Blvd. (
&
65/6338-8250
), and #01-40 Centr epoint
Shopping Centre, Orchard Road (
&
65/6235-0988
).
MEN'S TAILORING
There are some fine men's tailors for suits and slacks made to fit,
but beware touts along O rchard Road. If you can get a cheap price, chances ar e, you're
