Brands or bargains! Next things to do in Nex Shopping Mall, Singapore: Food, luxury lipstick, bargain brollies and masks, bargains for the house

 We started by meeting in Food Republic.

Food Republic

Food republic has chicken rice and tofu. Last time I had chicken which was boiled. This time I chose roast chicken, which was dry. A mistake. The tofu seemed dry and overcooked as well.

Look up and you will see the hanging plants. I liked the quotation:

Flowers Feed the soul.

The back wall is glass looking out on the path outside and the grass, with buildings beyond.

Food Junction

Upstairs is another food court, Food Junction. One area has windows from up high looking down.

This is where we will meet with our toastmasters International club, Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Club committee for tea and chat. 

I must admit I liked the idea of macaroons at ten dollars. And a juice bar.

After lunch we went shopping. 

Masks

I saw red paper concertina disposable masks. But I wanted fabric reusable washable masks.

I looked at masks. One mask for about two and a half (or three or three fifty). Five masks for ten dollars, which is two dollars each or one extra mask free. I chose fabric masks with tiny imitation crystals, in black and red and wine.  Another mask with small rainbow coloured stripes of sequins for an evening.

We wanted a tape measure or ruler cheaply and went upstairs to bargain store Value. My friend likes to buy cleaning materials. But I was more interested in novelties. I saw socklets in various colours.

Then umbrellas. 

Lipsticks in Sephora 

My friend had bought me a beautiful lipstick for my birthday. An elegant case. Brand Givenchy. From the shop Sephora, upstairs in Nex shopping mall.

The assistant had known it was for somebody else, for a gift, and a birthday, so she gave a coloured mesh bag. I was really pleased.

Since I had already had a purchase from there, I simply photographed the outside of the shop so I could find it again, and we hurried on looking for clothes and accessories.

Socklets

Socklets at around two dollars seemed handy for when my toe nail vanish is getting chipped. Or my strappy shoes are catching on a toe.

Umbrellas

I bought two umbrellas, green and patterned green. Another option was pink.

Useful Websites (alphabetically)

Givenchy

https://www.givenchy.com/

Japan Home

https://japanhome.com.sg/

Nex

https://www.nex.com.sg/Directory/Shop

Food Junction

Food Republic, Basement 2 (same level as the Serangoon bus interchange -  in the UK we would say bus station)

(Cold Storage supermarket is the same level) and Selfix DIY

Basement 1 has a Jollibee (Philippine), and Five Guys and Selfix DIY

Level 1 has Isetan, H & M, Bata, Cotton on, Uniqlo 

Level 2 Courts, Watsons, Giordano

Level 3 Fairprice Xtra, Pizza Hut

Level 4 Food Junction, K Shoes, Japan Home, Valu$, Popular, Shaw Theatre

Level 4R has the public library

https://www.nex.com.sg/NexRewards

Sephora

https://www.facebook.com/sephorasingapore

Valu$ (also written as ValuDollar)

https://www.radhaexports.com/

Many more locations including Clementi, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Changi City Point basement by the MRT exit, and many more.

 

Mask distribution, the army and airline staff in Singapore

The news worldwide shows that the rich and poor, known and unknown, are affected by COVID-19.
US flag


In the USA, President Donald Trump is affected

In the UK, Prime Minister Boris affected.  HM The Queen of England is affected.

In Europe several countries have been badly affected. France, Italy, Spain.


Spanish flag.


Over in Asia, South Korea has been affected.


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Singapore flag

Singapore is now distributing a new type of mask, a reusable mask, in Singapore. To help residents locate the correct distribution centre, enquiry lines have been set up.

Those workers given new jobs to answer the phone lines and distribute masks include members of the armed forces, including those who have just finished their training and been released, as well as airline staff.

A member of my family in Singapore commented,
"That sounds reasonable and good. Airline staff are trained in first aid, have security clearance, and PR training for dealing with the public, and I'm sure they are relaly grateful to have a job."

Previously every household in Singapore was given disposable masks. The new masks are reusable. That means fewer have to be distributed repeatedly and it is good for the environment.

I read that masks come in gey black and possibly other colours. I would opt for black. which is easier for me to co-ordinate. Grey is the world's least favourite colour.

My family fell about laughing. "Mum is worried about co-ordinating the colours of her mask!"

Yes, indeed. When you are seeing yourself in the mirror, and appearing face only online in conference calls, these things matter. Also colour affects your mood.



Flag of China

China
Meanwhile, news from Wuhan is that they are returning to normal life. If in three months we are out of this lockdown, late summer holidays will go ahead.

Meanwhile, new events daily.

Stay well, stay home, stay safe.

You can collect a mask with your NRIC (national identity card) or any document showing your place of residence and a barcode (so not a passport which does not show place of residence).

 Mask Distribution hotline (1800 333 9999), which is open daily from 9am to 9pm.

Useful Websites
https://maskgowhere.sg/faq
go.gov.sg/circuitbreaker
https://www.gov.sg/article/when-should-i-wear-a-mask
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Health_(Singapore)

Angela Lansbury
Travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.