For five weeks every year, Singapore is transformed into a madhouse of festivity, consumerism, bargain-hunting and wanton gluttony. No one can ever leave disappointed from the Great Singapore Sale & Singapore Food Festival.

Singapore has long been revered as the Mecca of consumerism in the Far East. Hordes of satisfied consumers have sworn by the quality and variety of merchandise available, often at bargain prices. No matter what you're looking for or where in the world it's made, you're sure to find it in Singapore. Over the years, Singapore's consumerist allure has been complemented by a host of attractions. From museums to amusement parks, theatres and concerts, there's something for everyone. Including a few islands completely dedicated to keeping Singapore's visitors clamouring for more.

Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures and nowhere is it more apparent than in its varied cuisine. This is one country where food isn't a necessity; it's an obsession. One which the local Indian, Malay, Thai and Chinese restaurateurs keep falling over themselves to satisfy. Hawker zones abound, each with a unique culinary flavour and ambience. While restaurants serving Western cuisine compete with smaller eateries, giving the Singaporeans a veritable buffet of offerings to chose from. And believe me, they make the most of it!

The Singaporeans are as fanatical about their shopping expeditions as they are about their culinary ones. So it should come as no surprise that the Great Singapore Sale , now in its fifth year, has become a permanent feature on the country's tourist calendar. This year the festival will commence with great fanfare on the 19th of June and will sizzle along for five weeks, closing shop with a bang on the 26th of July. For five weeks, this otherwise peaceful city will be consumed by an orgy of shopping, eating and revelry, the likes of which the world has never seen.

The Great Singapore Sale will be launched on the 19th of June, amid much pomp and pageantry. A 25 minute, high-voltage, haute couture extravaganza, or in simple terms, a fashion show displaying local creations will kick start the Sale. Next on stage, Hong Kong's latest heartthrob Daniel Chan will rock Orchard road for all it's worth. And this is just the beginning. So, grab your credit cards, shopping carts and off we go!

The first three days of the Sale are packed with special treats, surprises and unimaginable bargains. For instance, for two hours on the 20^th, you'll be able to purchase products for a fraction of their original cost. So, pick up what you can, for this is one race that has a time limit, but no finishing line. There's a special treat for the kids too as Bugs Bunny will be having a Birthday bash along with his pals Daffy Duck, Tweety and Sylvester. There'll be lots of dancing, games and surprise prizes to keep the little ones enchanted. And the big kids will be kept enthralled by a special open-air performance by the Singapore Armed Forces Music & Drama Company. Feeling restless, slip on your dancing shoes and boogie the night away under a canopy of stars, with his from the 70's and Singapore's very own darling, Kit Chan, crooning her melodies for you.

The festivities continue on the 21^st, with the inauguration phase being conclude by a fashion-show that's guaranteed to take your breath away. The show, specially choreographed for the occasion will depict the changing fashions in Singapore, over the centuries, with ancient and modern backdrops being used for effect. A spectacle that's sure to win your heart and set the ball rolling for the rest of the Sale.

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