Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

Destination ‘hundred fils shop’ in West Asia

Its a fun adventure inside a ‘hundred fils’ shop, a mini Arabic bazaar, abuzz with locals and a blur of colourful assorted kitsch....

One of the best things about a Gulf country has to be the ‘hundred fils’ shop which affords an amazing shopping experience. A complicated maze to begin with, with an assortment of irresistible kitsch and a wide cross-section of the population.

What makes this place so wonderful is that all the items come at the standard price of one hundred fils, which is one of the smallest units of currency. The quality and variety of the articles takes one by surprise, considering these don’t cost the Earth!

Stepping down into the basement store, which is the local ‘hundred fils’ Shop, one is struck by a blur of colour. The area around the cash counter is an ever-busy zone with weary shoppers sometimes hauling heavy shopping carts onto the counter. Neatly arranged and frequented by the locals and discerning expats, it takes some time to know your way around the myriad knick-knacks. Once you get the hang of it, you’re bound to be one of the regulars. National flags that can be hung in cars, small lanterns are displayed. Key chains of cultural symbols or plain trendy ones are hung in rows, besides sets of quaint gift wrapping paper rolls.

Start with the children’s area and make your pick of stickers, stamps, dolls, toy cars. A large Dora the Explorer pencil case meets Strawberry Shortcake and local brands as they dangle from the ceiling.

Vanity-bag shaped writing pads with black n’ white or pink and black polka dots complete with a beaded handle are fascinating finds. Hair bands or clips, sometimes shaped like delectable toffees, teddy bears, tiny hearts, stars are translucent, like hard-boiled candy! The stocks are often changed, adding to a fresh assortment each time. Then the primary school kid’s dream comes true: all-in-one pencil kits with an eraser, sharpener, ruler and sometimes a small pair of blunt scissors, with doll, animated or superhero characters to choose from. Plus dazzling purses in gold and silver.

Photo: Parvathy Menon

Bargain Knick knacks like these can be picked up at these outlets.

Well, if you were looking for some new nail-wear among the cosmetics and thought of buying based on your latest whim, this is just the place. Large stone-studded Arabic rings, bracelets, pendants, anklets besides danglers are for the funky-jewellery lovers.

Tattoos, henna designs... Stuff-of-dreams!

The stationery area is a good place to be in. Try scribbling with the pens beforehand though! Small writing pads, letter pads, sets of envelopes, glue sticks are available. The Arabic notebooks open from the back-cover and they are aligned differently.

The covers bear pretty names and cute designs. You get brush sets of different sizes sold in a single pack plus small watercolour or oil paint sets that are worth a buy.

Move on to a different aisle to find kitchenware, all neatly assorted – knives, napkins, towels, mortar and pestle, tableware, cutting boards etc. Hardware, locks, keys, torches are some other features. Delicate Japanese fans, umbrellas, attractive earthenware, walking sticks, massage kits... Curios, heavy wooden rose prints, decorative candles, craft items, some genuine looking trinkets make one’s visit worthwhile. Piles of stuff all around you, even on the floor.

So, on a weekend, when you’ve nothing much to do and don’t know how to spend some extra cash, head straight for the good old ‘hundred fils’ shop! A parent accompanying a child or the husband escorting the wife will not be hassled over the purse getting empty! Pop in twenty-odd items into your shopping cart and you shell out two dinars. You, the shopper, don’t suffer quality-wise, provided you cross-check the item before purchase.

Splurge on all those baubles, safety-pins and umbrellas, with real bang for buck! In these times of recession, shopaholics can indulge in retail-therapy without a care in the world! A concept worthy to be welcomed, back home!

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail