Saturday Shopping Extraordinaire!

It has come to my conclusion, after a day's first hand observation and hands-on participation of Saturday Shopping that such an activity should only be undertaken if one is of unsound mind and wish for a tortuous death. One, in fact, may also coincidentally meet up with one's distant relations. However, such an incident may or may not count as a proper coincidence, given the physical constraints of our sunny island. While such an experience can be described by some as a somewhat pleasing experience, others say otherwise. The latter's reaction can only be attributed as a natural reaction to the infamous polite interrogation that distant relations are known for, seemingly worldwide. However, I digress. The endeavour that I've undertaken is in fact dedicated to a clinical analysis of shopping in Orchard Road on Saturday.

One of my first observations of the occasion is that of Queueing. Our first stop of the day was lunch at Far East Plaza. It is noted that we would need the sustenance for this rather exhaustive affair. The first thing that was observed was that upon arrival at the Japanese restaurant (of which I had absolutely no hand in coming to such a decision), we were immediately follow by an ever increasing crowd that promptly formed itself into an impromtu queue line outside the restaurant, which only opens at 12 noon. We enjoyed a lunch that would miraculously last the terrors of the afternoon. The rest of the afternoon can only be described as being spent being pushed, trodded on and trampled flat by the excited crowd.

Allow me to retrace our steps after the lunch. We walked round most of Far East Plaza, at which I seized the opportunity to purchase a nice jacket and dress. We then made our way to Tangs which provided THE season's decor - a walkway of lingerie decked dummies with artisically enhanced feather masks - for that extra....seasonality, and which converged into a finale in the form of an "Arabian Nights" (how apt and unique!) curtained tent for the relieving of anguished souls and tired feet, complete with MORE lingerie clad dummies. However, with every pro there is the con - everyone's tastes differ.

On a personal NOTE: It honestly looked nice, except for the festive lingerie.

The rest of the time was spent at Paragon where we met the said distant relations and had tea with them, and then on across the road (a mad dash!) to Takashimaya where the crowd was the worst, before moving on to Food Republic @ Wisma, which was worse than worst.

Here, we have the second observation of the day. When shopping, particularly at the end of a long, dreary and tiring Saturday, one is particularly susceptible to hunger pangs. By now, the world weary Shopping veteran would adopt a more patient "wait and see" stance. However, this by no means is a sign of slowing down. On the other hand, this "wait and see" strategy is not to be executed by those with slower reaction speeds. One must at all times remain alert for a vacant seat, and act with choice decisiveness and appropriate aggressiveness. By now, tired and hungry, most are teetering to their ends and would do what they can to snare a seat. This form of behaviour, is not without it's fair imitation in the world of animals - in fact there is a startling likeness to the behaviour of an unruly pack of vultures on the verge of starvation.

The way home was nondescript. We even got seats on the train.

The experience of Saturday Shopping in the heart of Shopping here can be concluded as thus: the undertaking of such an activity should be left to those of unsound mind or the foolhardy. This has been said before, but there is no harm in repeating these words of caution.

I bid you good night and happy times ahead, especially for the hoilday season.
Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men (and women). Merry Xmas. Tis a week away