Safety in Shopping Malls And Streets

The world has many fabulous shopping malls. Jewel at Changi Airport, Singapore, has a multi-storey waterfall in the centre.

With winter weather affecting many cities, and Christmas coming, many of us will be going into malls.  You are protected from the weather and traffic. I know many wonderful malls. In the centre of Singapore Orchard road underground railway links you to department stores and shopping malls containing shops, offices, cinemas an aquariums and a fountains. 

Ion Mall, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

 Ion is impressive. A basement walkway leads you under Orchard Road, past an aquarium, under other shopping malls, ending by a fountain and the wonderful Takashimaya in impressive Ngee Ann City. But how safe is a shopping trip. London has Brent Cross and Watford and other areas have more magnificent malls. 

America has malls with theme parks attached. 

In Singapore and South Africa you can stay in hotels attached to shopping malls, sheltered from the weather.

What about safety? I always wonder how to get out of large malls in a fire.

1 Malls should be designed so that you can escape quickly in a fire,

2  And not fall or be thrown off a balcony, internal wall or escalator. 

In Singapore we had an accident from a boy who jumped onto what looked like a marble ledge but it was trompe l'oeuil. In the UK and the USA we have had children thrown over walls by strangers. Architects please take note. With millions of people in malls every day, somebody somewhere will be drunk, sit on a ledge or low wall, sit a child on a ledge, throw themselves off a ledge, or throw off somebody else. It is predictable and preventable. How can you rectify the problem? Install glass walls, barriers, stepped atriums, awnings or hammock style nets under all ledges and low walls. 

Andorra Mall, previous Xmas. Sharot family photo.

Jurong Point Shopping Mall, Singapore.

Safety Tips

Don't put your wallet in your back pocket.

Know the exits.

Be aware of people around you.

When possible stand with your back to a wall and not looking over a balcony.

Consolidate multiple bags into one or two.

Have your car key ready so you don't stop to look for it in a car park.

Useful Websites

Dangers

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11505367/Mall-America-settles-lawsuit-family-boy-5-thrown-balcony.html#newcomment

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046333/Grandmother-guilty-throwing-toddler-death-bridge-shopping-mall.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/06/teenager-jonty-bravery-who-threw-child-from-tate-modern-balcony-admits-attempted-murder

Safety Precautions

https://www.cornwallsecurity.com/safety-tips-parking-lots-shopping-malls/#:~:text=In%20the%20Mall,friends%20or%20family%20whenever%20possible.

https://stmartinsheriff.org/safety-tips-mall-shopping/

Child Escape From Stalker - Into Shop

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/woman-boy-pennsylvania-escape-abduction-b2227144.html

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Penthouse Restaurant Atico above Ion

Angela in Atico at the Argentinian restaurant. Notice the triple towers in the window to the right of Angela in the picture.

More Photos shortly 

For a stunning view over Singapore you can ride on the Singapore Flyer - or right in the centre of Singapore's bustling shopping area, book a table at the 55th floor restaurants at the top of Ion. More penthouse than attic. 

The Japanese restaurant,

The lift brought me out at the Japanese restaurant with a stunning view. Atico.

Or high tea at the lounge. 

You have a choice of the Argentinian restaurant right at the top, up a few stairs looking out over the triple towers of Marina Bay Sands, 

Happy hour prices. 

To get there

Go up to the fourth floor. Walk around the corner from the main lifts to another lift. 

Useful Websites

https://www.1-atico.sg/

https://www.1-atico.sg/atico-lounge/

Violet Oon Restaurants at Jewel, Singapore, Clarke Quay, National Gallery, Singapore - just watch the opening and serving hours

Entrance to the Violet Oon restaurant in Clarke Quay. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

We were looking for somewhere to eat after a film show in the Warehouse at Clarke Quay. 

We liked the look of the Violet Oon Restaurant in Clarke Quay, Singapore. Satay bar and grill, just what we wanted. 

I later looked up Oon to see who the Oons were, where they came from and what the name means. The Chinese name Oon is popular in Malaysia and Singapore (once both part of Malaya). The name means warm, soft or tender. A suitable name for a restaurant. I have friends named Oon as a family name (followed by the two one syllable first names). I am glad I looked that up.

We were shown to a lovely table for two by the window. Perfect.

Table for two at Violet Oon restaurant, Clarke Quay. Photo by Angela Lansbury

However, before we could order, the waiter told us, "I am so sorry. We are  that serving only desserts and coffee." 

Desserts 

Now, I am a desserts person. Typical British, with a sweet tooth, from years of eating Cadbury's chocolate every day, not knowing that daily sweets, or sweets several times a day, is bad for teeth. The Swedes have known that for a long time and have a sweets only on Saturday policy. They sell huge volumes of sweets on Saturdays, yet have perfect teeth, according to a recent report. 

I have since looked up the desserts. The set menu which you must order days in advance costs well over 100 dollars!  So a chance to sit in a swanky restaurant and to try just a dessert at 10 or 15 dollars plus plus would have been a bargain. For ten dollars I could have had coconut ice cream. With cashew nut crumble. Does that mean crumbled cashew nuts, or a crumble with scattered cashew nuts? Either suits me. I love coconut. I love cashew nuts. Other desserts, of which I saw four listed, feature Gula melaka (sugar syrup). Yum.

However, meanwhile, my husband was intent on the kebab promised in the name of the restaurant. Clarke Quay has so many places. So he immediately jumped up to depart.

Alas, we have to try them another time. We and you, if you are ever anywhere in Singapore, have lots of opportunity, as they have branches at Ion, Orchard, right in the centre, by Orchard MRT station, and the National Kitchen  in the National Gallery, 1 St Andrews Road.

Now that I know the meaning of the name I shall find it easy to remember them. Oon, like on, the O and the N in Ion, and O for Orchard. O for soothing. Oo, oon, soothing, soon.

I recall the good old days in Hatch End in North West London, England, when the little Italian restaurants were owner operated. If they closed for lunch at 2.30 pm or 3, but you were lunching and sat there drinking up your coffee, or ordering another cup, you could continue doing so. They never shut until the customer left. The same in the evening. Arrive early, sit by the bar and choose your drinks and order food. Ask for food which was not on the set menu, they would cook if for you, or suggest something similar, also off the menu. Sit beyond 11 pm or even midnight, the owner would stay, the chef would stay, you would get a free drink and the owner would, if you asked him, sit down at the table and talk. 

I think that things have changed worldwide. Staff want to go home. Licensing hours are restricted. Workplace hours and rules have changed. Unionised thinking of that's my job or not my job has imposed a mindset. Or maybe I am used to effusive staff in Italy, England and the USA, rather than the Japanese and Chinese style of 

I must say that the staff at this branch were prompt to approach us, told us what we needed to know immediately, and were polite and apologetic.

Despite this disruption, I did well out of my foray. Two venues in one hour. I love seeing new places. We found another outlet, Warehouse, which you can read about in my subsequent post. And still Violet Oon outlets to look forward to.

Violet Oon Opening times at Clarke Quay

6.00 to 10.30 pm. 

Last orders for food 9.30 pm. Last orders for drinks, 10 pm.

Useful Website

www.violetoon.com

https://violetoon.com/festive-offerings/

I like the look of the white coconut log cake. If price were no object. 68 Sing dollars. 

Come back soon to see more photos.

About the Author

About the author of this blog

About the Author of this blog, Author Angela Lansbury

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books, including: Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time 

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

I  also have a blog on comic poems.

 Please share links to your favourite posts. 

Bargain Shopping in Asia

JAPAN
Mitsui outlet malls near Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kobe, Nagashima, Yokohama.

MALAYSIA
Mitsui mall in Selangor. Also check for Asics.

SINGAPORE
Daiso in Ion and other locations.
Zalora in Ion mall, Orchard MRT, Singapore. Clothes for men and women. Also online.

http://thesmartlocal.com/read/factory-outlets-wholesale-stores

See my posts on Japan Home and other cheap fashion shops in Singapore.

Author
Angela Lansbury

Rain and greenery in sunny, rainy Singapore

The rain in England and Ireland and Singapore and on one side of a mountain in many countries results in a luxurious cover of green trees, shrubs and flowers on the wild and cultivated land.

In Singapore you have jungle, a mass mixture of trees and shrubs and climbers, palm trees and all kinds of trees.

The cultivated trees and plants in condominiums and public areas are also a constant delight.

The lower two pictures are taken in the centre of Singapore, at the crossroads of Orchard Road and Scotts, facing the modern Ion shopping mall building covered in greenery, over the central Orchard MRT underground railway station, and the more tradition tower over Tangs department store.
Photos by Angela Lansbury copyright.

Light Delight in Orchard Road, Singapore

Every trip around a city, day or night, reveals something new. Here are exciting lights near Orchard MRT, on Orchard Road in the centre of Singapore. I took a photo of the blue lights. I delayed to listen to a sinter. I turned around and realised the lights had changed colour. The lights are on steps where you can sit.

Lights on steps seemed to be blue.

I turned back and the steps' lights changed to pink.

Statues Photo Opportunity by the Ion multi-storey underground shopping mall linked to Orchard MRT stationed Wisma Atria

Video of lights at night.

Statues on the steps provided a photo opportunity for tourists wanting to pose next to the statues.

Photos of lights in Orchard Road, photos by Angela Lansbury, copyright.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Valentine's Day Heart Shaped Treats

Armchair travelling the Web

Heart shape pendant

Heart shape toast, using a heard shape cutout (or fold the bread and use a piece of paper as a template).

Heart shape crumpet sold in supermarket.

Heart shape crumpet white plate.

Sainsbury's website had some great ideas for heart-shape foods. My favourites are:
1 Fried egg cooked in a heart-shape hole cut in toast.
2 Lightly boiled egg squeezed into heart shape by pressing base into v-shape card, and making an  indentation on top with a chopstick, washed pencil or similar
3 Heart shape bread for biscuit with red topping. (Savoury eg beetroot or sweet eg jam (called jelly in the USA), jelly (called Jello which is a brand name in the USA) and/ or red squashed or pureed fruit.

Travelling the UK
If you are travelling around before Valentine's day, look for some special dinners in restaurants, themed pubs, and heart shape crockery displays in department stores.

After Valentine's day look for discounts on the heart-shape crockery. In Brent Cross shopping centre try Fenwicks department store crockery department.

Travelling In Singapore
If you are planning a trip which takes place before or during Valentine's Day, you can spend time during your rest at the airport or on the plane noting down in your diary some Happy Valentine's Day stories.

Toastmasters International Clubs
If you go to a speakers' club in Singapore not just on Valentine's Day but during the month of February, meetings will have the themes Love and Valentines. You may be asked:
What will you do on Valentine's Day?
What do you do if you don't have a Valentine?
What was your best Valentine's Day.
What was your best present?(Given received, seen in shops.)
What was your worst present? (Given, received, seen in shops.)

If you are looking for something on a budget, try Daeso, Valu, or even the pharmacies such as Guardian and Watson.

Popular bookstore has items such as heart-shape notebooks or Post-its. Now everybody seems to be in on the festival of love, not just courting couples but married couples, children and teachers, children and parents, brothers and sisters. You can buy not only cards showing hugging bears but pairs of hugging stuffed toys.

Daiso Stores
Here's a heart shape espresso cup and saucer I bought in Daeso in Singapore for only two (Singapore) dollars, the same price charged for every item in Daeso.

Daiso is a Japanese brand store, everything the same price. I found branches in Ion in the centre of Singapore and in the mall a couple of blocks away from the last stop going north at the end of the Downtown line, Bukit Panjang. You can see two malls, Junction 10 and Bukit Panjang Plaza.

In Daeso I saw a set of cookie cutters in the four playing card shapes, clubs, diamonds, spades and hearts. I think they also sold a set of three heart shape cutters in varying sizes, nesting inside each other.

UK - Lakeland stores
In the UK the place to find this sort of thing is Lakeland cookery utensil stores. They have a branch in Watford and a website. They stock a huge variety of cookie cutters as well as seasonal items.

https://www.homemadebyyou.co.uk/articles/tips/4-hopelessly-romantic-breakfasts-for-valentines-day

Angela Lansbury travel writer and photographer.

Living Abroad or Holidaying - shopping cheap and quick

Would you believe it - you can shop from John Lewis in the UK anywhere in the world, for about £10 delivery charge on those items which say available for international shipping. I had looked for John Lewis and the system saw my computer was logging on from overseas and up popped sg.johnlewis, but when I hunted for the store no such place existed in Singapore, it was all online.

I was looking for heatproof table mats. You arrive in your second home or rented apartment and suddenly decide you must have some item you have six of at home like coasters and table mats. The trick to searching online is to know what terms to use.

Here's what I discovered:

DAESO
Japanese company, selling items for only two dollars (Singapore dollars) found all over the world:
China, Japan, HK, Macau. Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand.
I went to the branch in the centre of Singapore on basement 4 B4 at Ion, Singapore's equivalent of Piccadilly Circus. For two Singapore dollars I could buy
Bookends (I think it was for one bookend, so $4 for the pair, but still a great price;

At the sales desk I found the cashiers accepted only cash or NETS which is the local debit card.  They had the items I'd been looking for: pads to go under furniture so it doesn't scratch the floors, zips to make my jacket pockets more secure, hangers, floor mops.

UK
In the UK Poundland (Harrow and elsewhere) now take credit cards. (So does Primark, selling cheap clothing store, which usually has gloves and socks for £1, t-shirts and vests for about £5 upwards, often a rummage box of flip flops for £1 or £2, and a sale rail or bargains.

Singapore
DAESO
fishpond.com.sg (free shipping worldwide)
Mustafa Centre (huge 24 hour store) online I couldn't even check the MRT (nearest train station or bus), but I could read about the company.
Qoolo
Spotlight

UK
99p stores
BHS
Poundland
Pound stretcher
Poundworld
Primark
Online:
Amazon free shipping if you join Prime; Ebay (prices and shipping vary; lots of clothes and products from China offering free shipping); Etsy (USA and worldwide; prices and shipping varies).

USA & Canada
Dollar Tree
Dollar Stretcher
Etsy

Australia
Daiso

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

When to visit Singapore and Asia: bargains, decorations, no haze and no rain

Good Time
Time to visit: any major event or festival (unless you hate crowds). My favourite time in Singapore is Christmas because every shopping mall is dramatically decorated with giant plays, sometimes animated. So are the major shopping streets such as Orchard Road. Sale time - Singapore sale. If you can't make the sale, go to Mohammed Mustafa department store. Part of it is open 24 hours.

Bad Time
Monsoon or rainy season. Roads are awash. Floods in major areas and highways. Rain not just an hour in the afternoon but for three days solid. Sandals shipping water. Photographs a waste of time. Boat trips cancelled. On the other hand, two major Singapore activities are still available. Food and shopping.

Tips For Shopping In The Rain
Any advantages to rainy season? This is when your hotels offer bargains. Great time if you are visiting family, indoor museums, restaurants and indoor shopping malls.  Think of what you have saved on hotels. More money to spend on shopping.

Trick to shopping indoors? Find basement malls which link one area to another. For example, half of Orchard Road is linked between Orchard MRT and ION along the south side of Orchard Road to Ngee Ann City towers. Two levels of shopping streets at Basement one and Basement two.

Hot or Not
If you are too hot, stay indoors. Indoor shopping malls. Indoor restaurants. Drink lots of iced water.

The locals drink warm water. Women are told that cold water gives you stomach cramps when you have your period and warm water helps relax your tummy. So Singaporean girls and women often ask for warm water. Your waiter will ask if you want warm water or iced water.

In India I was told that Indians like hot drinks such as tea because hot food and drink makes you perspire which cools you down.

Hay Fever, Pollution and Haze
If you suffer from hay fever, allergic reaction to pollen, in England or elsewhere, in spring, get away from it all in Singapore.

Singapore's haze is worst June to September. Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong suffer from polluted skies. Check weather reports. If the locals are wearing masks, either it's a flu or medical epidemic, or haze.

Haze - cause and effect
What causes the haze? Read the local papers and see what they say. Indonesia is blamed for forest fires started deliberately to clear forests to plant crops, eg for oil. At one point the Indonesians were claiming the cause was Singapore. At first it sounded a bizarre case of the pot calling the kettle black.

But I kept reading. One of the companies involved had its HQ in Singapore within sight of where I was then on holiday.

I wish the problem could be solved. Regardless of who is to blame, what can you do as a tourist?

Where can you buy a mask? At a pharmacy. But masks come in two qualities. The cheaper masks are only good for a few hours. You can buy a pack of three.

Will the haze affect you if you are only on holiday a short time? From a photographer's point of view, the sky is white instead of blue. Distant views of mountains are faded and blurred.

When the haze is at its worst, the schools and colleges shut. The staff at outdoor events have to be sent home. The elderly are told not to do strenuous exercise outdoors. Even indoor events are cancelled because the building cannot operate without staff working outside (cleaners, parking attendants, gate security etc).

Children cannot use outdoor playgrounds at school and outdoor walkways linking buildings nor outdoor food courts. Staff who don't have a maid, nanny or granny to take care of children have to go home to mind the children.

Hospitals are extra busy because of those who are ill. Also those who are old or sick must be checked as a precaution if they suddenly have breathing or other problems.

You might come down with a sore throat. No fun if you are speaking at an event.

When your Singaporean friends who are affluent or have family in Australia decide to leave Singapore for Australia, maybe it's time to shorten you outbound stopover at Singapore and plan to stay longer on the way back instead. Or maybe time to plan that Xmas trip. Flights are busy and often fully booked for major holidays such as Xmas and Chinese New Year. So check your calendar and plan the best time for your trip, taking into account budget, seasonal weather and festivities.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.