Related posts in series:
Singapore Trip Day 3 Part 3 - Drummer Girls and a Guitar HeroSingapore Trip Day 4 Part 2 - Ikea and Akashi
Before we started on this trip, the thought of visiting Chinatown and checking out all the hobby centers was already on my mind. The thrill of hunting for that missing figure for your set, not knowing if you'll be able to find it or not and at what price. Like walking through a gallery as the store collection display their merchandise as these figures have gone beyond the level of mere plaything and have reached artwork status. Or even a museum for these nostalgic memorandum of the past.
I held back my anxiety as each day we had to bump Chinatown to give way to other activities... until at last, 26th July 2009 arrived and I need not wait any longer ^___^.
Deprived of sleep since the first day, the previous night was no different as Ji and I stayed with the college gang until the wee morning. I really really really wanted to stay in bed longer, but time is of the essence and I will have no regrets.
I can feel a headache coming on...
On this day, everybody (my folks and my cousins, aunt and uncle) are going with us to Chinatown. Although we planned to leave early, we were met with some delays due to a large group. Finally we arrived at the destination via MRT by 11:00am.
All those shops and sidewalk vendors are located right as you exit the subway. This area looks entirely different. I ♥ Chinatown even if the hobby centers are not located here!
Time to split up again to cover more ground, I doubt anybody else is interested with these figures except for Ji and Kat, Rache and Sab's sister who was not able to join our trip. Paui was quite hospitable by offering to wake up early and act as our tour guide ^_^, he saved us a lot of time and effort to search all the malls and buildings in the area. We hit the jackpot on the first building that Paui recommended, which also happened to be where TC got me my last batch of figures :).
Need to remember that exit number NE4-Chinatown, my folks went on the exact opposite direction, their exit is on the other side of this one.
The architecture here is entirely different. Gotta love that change in atmosphere.
With the use of the map at the station, we walked in one direction, all the way to reach the China Square Central
Once inside, almost instantly, my attention went to the display on the stores. There are two shops here that are noteworthy, Playbar and ToyNToys. Obviously most of the shop owners are Chinese, since we're in Chinatown but interestingly, the head person in Playbar is Indian. I found my prospected Andromeda God Cloth here for a relatively lower price, the shopkeeper wouldn't give me a discount stating that all prices are already fixed since there's no point in haggling - I wonder if that's true if you purchase multiple items. ToyNToys on the other hand is most noticeable due to its size.
There were also stalls in the center of the floor and just outside the stores. There's two floors to explore here and fortunately I found everything I was looking for!
And who says I was the only one who had fun... Ji found something that appeals to her and made some friends ^ ^.
Seems like Cinnamoroll at the back caught her eye and some hand bags.
Mission accomplished! It's already time to meet up with everybody as the clock strikes 1:00pm and discuss plans... we're supposed to finish all our personal business as we are near the end of this trip. Personally, I only made plans up to this point :p.
Related posts in series:
Singapore Trip Day 3 Part 3 - Drummer Girls and a Guitar HeroSingapore Trip Day 4 Part 2 - Ikea and Akashi
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