When we travel around the world, we tend to think about souvenirs, either for ourselves or for others. Indeed, we cannot buy memories but this is the closest we can get to remember the moments. Often, finding a souvenir is always challenging for me. As much as I want, I wouldn't want to stick to the typical keychains and magnets. I remember dedicating one day of my itinerary just to accommodate in finding souvenirs.
As we all know, the traveling ban will be eased soon. Singapore will soon be opening its border to other countries and welcome its visitors. As such, let us list down the souvenirs that you can find in Singapore. It's not the typical keychains and magnets, but these are the items that spell Uniquely Singapore.
Image Credit: Naiise
Forget about the Merlion statue and get the Merlion plushie instead! This mythical creature with a lion's head and fish's body is Singapore's national symbol, thus making it a Uniquely Singapore souvenir.
Head down to Naiise to get your hands on these cute little furry plushies. They have several collections of the Merlion Plushies, which make you want to sweep them off the shelves because of their cuteness.
Image Credit: Prima Taste
I am not talking about just any instant food but I am referring to Singapore's flavor here. There might be some flavors that are unique in Singapore, like Chili Crab and Laksa. How about bringing these flavors back home to share with your family and friends? Or maybe, savor them on one of those days that you missed the taste of Singapore.
Instant noodle brands like Prima Taste or Myojo have an array of Singapore flavors that you can savor and the best thing is that they are Halal-certified. You can find flavors like Thai Tom Yum and Mee Soto Ayam. Another Halal instant noodle or food brands that you can look out for is Koka. Buying instant noodles and food is not that difficult as you can pop by any supermarket to get them. The only thing you need to worry about is the bulky packaging and if they can fit in your luggage.
Image Credit: Hai's Website
If you feel that instant food and noodle is too bulky and will take up space in your luggage, how about some local sauce or paste? These ready-to-cook sauces are hassle-free and let you achieve authentic flavors.
Similar to instant noodles, you can get these local sauces in any supermarket. Brands like Hai's have ready-to-cook sauces and instant pastes. What's more, Hai's is certified Halal. Once you're back home, you will never have to miss the flavor of Singapore with the availability of Laksa and Chili Crab flavor in their products.
Image Credit: shopback
It is no doubt that certain sweets and snacks bring about nostalgia. When I was younger, I always munched on that Animal Biscuit or ripped the sugar icing off the Ais Gem biscuit, leaving the biscuit aside. These snacks made up part of our childhood, and it's what makes it Uniquely Singapore. You may be lucky to find any of these snacks at any convenience store but I believe you can only find them at certain stores.
Biscuit King is one of the stores that you can head down to. Located along Upper Thomson Road, it's worth visiting to get your snacks and get the taste of nostalgia. You can also find sweets and preserved fruits apart from assorted biscuits. According to their websites, the listed snacks are certified Halal. Do check on the specified snacks before purchasing.
Image Credit: Golden Duck on Facebook
While we are still on the topic of snacks, let me introduce you to the snacks that have been raving in Singapore. If you are already familiar, the salted egg yolk trend is still booming in Singapore. With most delicacies and food being fused with salted egg yolk, it is no surprise that you can see them everywhere.
Golden Duck has produced very addicting snacks and that as the Salted Egg Fishskin and the Salted Egg Potato Ridges. You might also be tempted to try their Sichuan Mala flavor and Chili Crab flavor. It is easy to spot the Golden Duck brands on the shelves of any supermarket and the best thing is that they are certified Halal.
Image Credit: Kai Pilger on Unsplash
Being a multinational country, you will be able to experience the uniqueness of each culture in Singapore. When we talk about culture, we can definitely not forget about their traditional dresses. Walk along Chinatown and you will be able to find Cheongsam. Head down to Little India and you will be able to get Saree. If you want to find Baju Kurung or Baju Melayu, Geylang has an array of collections that can leave you spoilt for choices.
Getting a traditional dress might be a little off the budget but I feel that it is a great souvenir item, either for yourself or someone close to you. The textiles and materials are representing the culture back in the country. Therefore, making it a unique and meaningful collection of souvenirs.
Image Credit: Singapore Botanic Gardens Shop
Vanda Miss Joaquim is known to be the national flower of Singapore. It is a hybrid orchid, also known as the Singapore Orchid. Of course, getting your hands on any Vanda Miss Joaquim products will serve as the perfect memorabilia of Singapore.
You can find a wide range of Vanda Miss Joaquim products in the Garden Shop at Singapore Botanical Garden. You can find scarves, cushion covers, and even umbrellas with the Vanda Miss Joaquim prints. Don't forget to check out the collections of Orchid teas too!
Image Credit: Starbucks Singapore
Okay, let's be real. Sometimes, you just ran out of ideas, or you just ran out of time to get your souvenirs. To be honest, I am a keychain collector and I find that it is nice to have a keychain display of every country that I visited before.
If getting a keychain with just a 'Singapore' word printed onto it is mainstream, how about a miniature Merlion keychain? Head down to any Starbucks outlets in Singapore to get your hand on their cute Merlion Bearista keychain. This keychain is sculptured to the Merlion's shape, making it unique from other keychains that you can buy elsewhere.
There you have it! 8 ideas for souvenirs that you can find in Singapore. These souvenirs are totally Uniquely Singapore and will definitely be the perfect memorabilia for your trip to Singapore.
