Daiso: The $2 Store

It’s 9th August 2023. Singapore’s 58th Birthday. We call it National Day just like you may call your country’s birthday Independence Day?

Anyhoo, when there’s a public holiday, my partner drives us out to a mall. It’s the norm here.

Malls have everything. Most importantly, air conditioning. This is a lifesaver for countries near the equator with the punishingly hot sun.

Being a public holiday, the mall was so crowded. Not my favourite thing. At least I could return some library books without having to lug them on the bus by myself on a weekday. I couldn’t borrow any books as the library closes on public holidays but thank goodness for the book drop.

I decided then to walk out and take this photo. The very apt skinny snowman. No snowman could survive our equatorial heat. This is truly a super snowman.

Across from this mall is an even tinier island that’s a part of Singapore called Sentosa. Many tourists take a tram over from the mall which is called VivoCity.

Ok, I’m done. Too hot now. And the glare is so great I can hardly see my iPhone screen as I snap this blindly.

My partner texts me that he’s queuing up for one of those $10 haircuts. I text him back.

Going to Daiso next

I’ve said that Singapore feels like it’s only for the rich. Daiso at least makes us feel like there are things we can afford. I just love this Japanese chain store and want to take you window shopping with me.

I usually hate shopping, prefer to have a coffee at a quiet cafe, or go to a book store or the library. If I do buy anything I’m in and out in minutes. I’m the opposite of what they stereotype women to be. In fact, my partner is the one that shops. Much like Olivia’s partner.

Made me also think of Adrian’s shopping day with mum. Side splitting.

I digress. I was excited to show you stuff I’ve bought. Usually it was for my nieces when they were preschoolers.

They love soft clay. Its texture is so much lovelier than play dough.

I also loved buying them stickers. Nanie Hurley 🌿 can attest to how precious stickers are to the little ones.

I use them myself if I want to make a plain birthday or Christmas card look more lively on the inside.

Also, crepe paper in pretty shades that you can easily craft into flowers. Such a fun activity.

Next lemme show you another fun activity for kids. This package comes with a pencil like wood stick and you use it to scrape off along markings to enhance the picture. Underneath it’s either all gold or a rainbow of sparkly shades.

The final picture is always so pretty. I haven’t done it myself, but it’s so satisfying to watch the children do this.

Next, we have pretty craft paper for origami. I’ve folded these to make tiny gift cards as well.

Now I’ll show you something that’s more for toddlers. Light plastic balls. Pastel shaded too.

More things for pretend play. I sure do miss those times. Such bliss. Nephews and nieces loved pretend play with themes like restaurant, hotel, shop, school and hospital. It really stretched my imagination to come up with scenarios.

Japanese things are so kawaii (cute) and well made, and I can see why Britt H.is a fan.

And I know it’s August but Halloween decor is here already. I love Halloween as I’ve witnessed the joy of the kiddos trick o’ treating. During the covid pandemic years, their fun was halted. Maybe this year we can celebrate again.

I love it also because November comes next and I like having my favourite little ones around when birthday month rolls around. Yes like for most people, without fail, those darn blues loom.

I love decorating for Halloween if the kids are coming over.

We also have storage boxes of all shapes and sizes. I like being organised although I always feel like I’m in a mess with too little storage space and too much stuff that I can’t possibly get rid of due to sentimental reasons. Often because they were gifted to me.

And other random things like spades if you like to garden, or sweets (candy). They have everything you can think of. Some things are a steal for $2.

Everything’s in Japanese though. But it’s ok often I don’t need to read the instructions and can figure it out.

Hope you enjoyed coming along with me. Snapped flowers I saw at the florist on the way out.

I didn’t spend a cent and now I hope I can earn a few from Medium.

Grateful that you spend your precious time with me.

Janet Daniels-Thomas , Adrian CDTPPW , Autistic Widower (“AJ”) , Bruce Coulter , Lynn L. Alexander , Nanie Hurley 🌿 , Tannille ⭐️ , TzeLin Sam , Linda Ng , Adrienne Beaumont , Keeley Schroder , Prasanna Srinath Subhasinghe , Mike Grindle , Mark Baquiran , John Welford , John Whye , bluesapphire , Supritha Kamalanathan , Doro Volkova , Britt H. , Charles Amemiya , Dave Gottlieb , Katy Lin , Claire Franky , Yana Bostongirl , William Michael Williamson , Olivia is typing…

Copyright: Shanti Chelliah, photos and words. All rights reserved.

I’m following suit as I see this done by other writers. Figuring it out as I go along. Learning from you.