Singapore Chronicles - 05

Date : 23 May 06
Time : 12:25 H

The electronics mecca of Singapore, Sim Lim Square. Everything electronic they have it here: digital camera, next generation consoles, portable dvd players, digital music format players, plasma television, sex toys, mobile phones, and tons of accessories! Just kidding about the sex toys part though.

Although compared to prices in Virra Mall / Shopsville, the prices are only a bit cheaper if not equal. And nothing compares to the second hand bargain shit that we have here at our home country (only to have it broken without reason after three days, but that's a different matter altogether). What you get here is the diverse selection and the guarantee you're not going to get ripped off (much). Singapore Tourism lists in their guides shops that are notorious for ripping off customers (most from this list are shops from Lucky Plaza), and Sim Lim somehow comes out well and clean.

It's several floors tall full of digital showcase. The games, you can try out the latest for free. They were featuring XBox 360 games when I was there. You can even print for free a few digital photos you may have with you on shops that cater to digital photography. Optical media compares to what we have back home, but still, CDR King pwns Sim Lim. XD

When it comes to portable electronics, it's no big advantage to buy your stuff here since you can sometimes get better deals back home. And when dealing with custom-built pc's, don't, it's much more expensive in Singapore. Stick to Gilmore and Virra Mall. One thing to take avantage of is the GST refund for semi-large purchases before you fly back home via Changi Airport.

Sim Lim is situated in the corner of Bencoolen and Rochor Canal Road. You can get there by MRT using the Little India (across Rochor Canal) and Bugis (look for Bugis street market and just follow Albert market road into Bencoolen) stations.