I admit, after six years staying in Singapore, the hardest part when going back to my hometown is to bring an array of ‘oleh-oleh’ or gifts or souvenirs to many eager relatives, neighbors and many other non-related strangers. In short, bringing oleh-oleh has been one of the agonizing rituals for foreign students… at least for me.

I am not talking about monetary expenditure involved in acquiring the items - but more to the difficulty of choosing and drag those carefully selected items through meandering security protocol of a typical international airport.

The chosen items must of course be reasonably priced (better if its heavily discounted, otherwise it is ‘ok’ for me). In addition, to make sure the souvenirs are well appreciated, it must be available in my home town. Thanks to rapid globalisation, rise of China as the world’s cheapest workshop and many “flatteners“, most of the stuff that people could only get in Singapore can be obtained easily - and maybe cheaper in Jakarta. Maybe it is just me, but every time I visit many malls in Jakarta, I feel a tinge of Dejavu - thinking of myself being brought back to Singapore.

Thus, I normally resort to finding items that is cheaper in Singapore. A job that has become increasingly difficult as the exchange rate between SGD and Rupiah is getting more and more… insane.

Forget Breadtalk and Bee Cheng Hiang, here are some of my favorite items I normally buy since its much cheaper here in Singapore - and can be bought last minute in Changi.

1. Giordano apparels - its much cheaper than Jakarta, by FAR (tips: just buy various size at one go. There is bound to be one or two piece that match)
2. Various dry seaweed snacks - my mother love the one with wasabi flavor.
3. Soft confectionery, wine gums, gumdrops - apparently my little brother loves it so much
4. Ten Year Series (gaaaa!)- in case my secondary school teacher’s ask for it
5. Various assorted books
6. …

Any more idea?

In any case, despite all the difficulty, I enjoy bringing back something for people I care. :p

Dugh… my brain has been polluted by all of those buy-me campaign.