Singapore Souvenirs

[bramblesteen]

I have a friend from Chongqing who is returning home in a few weeks and wants to give her family and friends back home some things from Singapore. However, she is out of ideas as she wants something Singaporean and nothing 'made in China'. So she asked me.

I'm just as clueless as she is, but I did promise her to ask around for ideas and suggestions. She's thinking of giving makeup to her mother and coffee to her dad, but pretty much anything goes because she's getting desperate. Her family and friends have never been to Singapore before. Her family don't smoke or drink.

Anyone know good brands of coffee, makeup, and basically anything Singaporean that her family in China would like?

[taxico]

there aren't much "made in singapore" stuff other than most food... how about local barbequed dried pork? (aka "bak kwa")

i like the one from bee hock guan - one store at chinatown (new bridge road) and one at ang mo kio central (behind the bus interchange).

mmm... dried pork.

[QRM]

How about those creative mp3 players they are singapore based?

OSIM? I suspect all made in china though

[yoongf]

Bee Cheng Hiang prawn rolls.

3 in 1 Coffeemix or Teh Tarek mixes.

Bengawan Solo Kueh Lapis

Assuming Customs there do not have an issue with bringing in foodstuffs.

[durain]

pineapple tart? durian cake (mmmmnnnn)? chicken rice starter pack? orchid (can get from airport)? kopi? kaya?

[Plavt]

Assuming Customs there do not have an issue with bringing in foodstuffs.

They often do depending on the foodstuff and the country involved. Best check the relevant website.

[hei guess what]

(1) Lah T-shirts, i.e. T-shirts with Singlish phrases printed on them . . .

(2) DVDs of S’pore Movies

The Leap Years (2008)
http://www.mediacorpraintree.com/tly/

Perth (2004); Dir: Djinn
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/perth-2004-movie-review/


Movies by Director: Jack Neo

Money No Enough (1998);
I Not Stupid (2002) http://www.mediacorpraintree.com/ins/ins_story.htm
Homerun (2003) http://www.mediacorpraintree.com/homerun/

http://www.jteam.com.sg/aboutus/jackneo.asp
http://www.moviexclusive.com/article/10 ... enough.htm
http://www.mediacorpraintree.com/movies/movies.htm

[Matney]

Books about Singapore, there are several available.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Book Suggestions:

The Singapore story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew: The Man and His Ideas

[Jeppo]

Book Suggestions:

The Singapore story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew: The Man and His Ideas

But what if they're not interested in fiction?

[Matney]

I was thinking more on the line of coffee 'table books', with lots of photographs. I remember one on the Botanic Gardens and another on the black and white houses.

SMS's suggestions are good, but not everyone would enjoy reading such 'thick' books. I have and would recommend them as well.

[Saint]

I got a wife

[bramblesteen]

First of all, thank you all so much for finding the time to post here!

Firstly, for the food, I have no idea about the regulations involved, but maybe I'll check on that later.

As for the rest, well, I'm not sure her family and friends will accept the books, unless there are Chinese editions available somewhere out there. Are there, anyway?

I'm very grateful for these suggestions and I'm saying thank you a second time for my friend's behalf as well.

One thing about a suggestion by my mother, do you think her family will like batik?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Most people like batik but it's not really a Singapore product but an Indonesian or Malaysian one. Still it makes a nice gift. I've done that many times over the years.

[durain]

a plastic model of the singapore airline airbus A380? thats truly singapore?