UK/Singapore Gift and shopping list

[jsc20]

not sure if right location as its not strictly a relocation or living in singapore question.(mods feel free to move if necessary)

im an expat from UK working in singapore and going back to UK for a personal trip, as its being paid for by company i have a generous baggage allowance (over 120kg for 2 people) that i would like to make use of. Im trying to come up with ideas on what to bring back for family in the UK and what to bring back for myself to use in singapore.

I know this is all subjective and personal but would like to hear other peoples ideas? im a food nut so hence the skew towards edible goodies.....!

so far

bringing to UK from singapore

various chilli sauces
cant think of anything else

bringing to singapore from UK

Colmans mustard
PG tips
Cheese (hard smoked and french)
Smoked fish
Hot dogs
Pork pies
Maple syrup
Salami/cured meats
Strawberry seeds
Nespresso coffee machine
designer homeware like ralph lauren,Alessi, Michael Aram, swarovski etc

[carteki]

clothing that actually fits?

[nakatago]

clothing that actually fits?

+1

[Barnsley]

not sure if right location as its not strictly a relocation or living in singapore question.(mods feel free to move if necessary)

im an expat from UK working in singapore and going back to UK for a personal trip, as its being paid for by company i have a generous baggage allowance (over 120kg for 2 people) that i would like to make use of. Im trying to come up with ideas on what to bring back for family in the UK and what to bring back for myself to use in singapore.

I know this is all subjective and personal but would like to hear other peoples ideas? im a food nut so hence the skew towards edible goodies.....!

so far

bringing to UK from singapore

various chilli sauces
cant think of anything else

bringing to singapore from UK

Colmans mustard
PG tips
Cheese (hard smoked and french)
Smoked fish
Hot dogs
Pork pies
Maple syrup
Salami/cured meats
Strawberry seeds
Nespresso coffee machine
designer homeware like ralph lauren,Alessi, Michael Aram, swarovski etc

Clothes and Jaffa Cakes

[jsc20]

yes, i forget to put that down although its always in the back of my mind, i will be checking out the latest sartorial trends with keen enthusiasm! Decent work shirts just impossible to find here
will be spending a day at Bicester.....absolute bliss!

[jsc20]

Clothes and Jaffa Cakes

im trying to keep off the sweet and fatty stuff, otherwise chocolates/biscuits(club)/crisps(seabrooks) would have featured prominently, even so the cheeses will remain as a treat!

im also going to stock up on hollands pies and black puddings from m and s, so have got my cooler bags ready!

[Wind In My Hair]

bringing to UK from singapore

various chilli sauces
cant think of anything else

Teak furniture? Or a mahjong set and table

[Brah]

Every time I visit Japan, where it is customary to bring souvenirs, usually food, to coworkers there I struggle with this.

I'm usually at a loss of what to bring so I always bring the same thing, bak kwa. Most like it, some don't.

Although I don't even eat pork.

For what to bring from the UK is easy - same as with the States or Japan - all those things that are double the price or and/or of lesser quality here. I usually have an overfull suitcase of supplies.

[jsc20]

For what to bring from the UK is easy - same as with the States or Japan - all those things that are double the price or and/or of lesser quality here. I usually have an overfull suitcase of supplies.

yeah thats the general idea....but identifying what, is the tricky part
for me (and most others i assume) would be food related, but clothes and homewares are also high on the list.

[BillyB]

Take back the game, bau cua ca (not technically Singaporean - but I got introduced to it in Asia). If you have kids or young relatives it will entertain them for hours. It's also a funny drinking game.

Bring back chocolate, air fresheners, books, magazines etc.

[jsc20]

thanks BillyB

will be also stocking up on books and DVD's of old UK classics (at least the ones i cant find "ahem" torrents for!)

jsc

[nakatago]

thanks BillyB

will be also stocking up on books and DVD's of old UK classics (at least the ones i cant find "ahem" torrents for!)

jsc

Note the MDA guidelines for "importing" DVD's, though anecdotal evidences suggest a number of us have gone in with out discs with no drama.

[morenangpinay]

Kaya bread spread, ready made food mix of Singapore dishes.?

[x9200]

Amaze the customs. Bring durian (I did it once). Normally what I bring to Europe (not always the whole set of course):
- mango, coconut, other wood crafts (vases, candle holders, cutlery etc)
- other touristic stuff from places like Lims (lucky cats, chopstic sets, fabrics)
- some local paintings/drawings
- modern Chinese/zen-like ceramic - i.e. there is a pretty new shop opened at the top floor of the HV mall - lots of nice (at least for me) and inexpensive stuff. Generally HV is a good place for this kind of shopping - what I buy is not for the connoisseurs anyway.
- various sauces/pastes, not only chilli - Nonya, Redang etc
- fruits (longans, rambutans, salak, drago fruit etc.)
- kaya paste
- with 120kg allowance I would probably bring some small Chinese furniture like this one:


It is ~30x20x15cm.