Shopping, Bangkok

4 more images

Favorite thing: One thing that I've noticed while travelling in these three countries is that they have the tendency to sell quite a number of same or similar items like assorted silk related products like silk bags, silk shirts, silk ties and a lot of other items that are not made of silk like lacquer ware, table linens, table cloth, bed linens and more. They practically have the same design patterns and weavings in the items and you would notice it more so at the silk bags (see my pictures of them from chatuchak market in Bangkok, benh thanh market in saigon and at the old market in Siem Reap). Which leads to the question of who mass produces these stuffs? is it thailand or vietnam or cambodia and they just shipped them to the other countries who buy them whole sale for sale to willing tourists like us.

Fondest memory: I bought several pieces of ladies bags as gifts for my lady friends and they have the same items in all countries (the price depends on your haggling skills)

1 more image

Favorite thing: This guy was on his way to the airport from the hotel. Look at his baqs.
His wife had a huge load as well.
A family of 3 people hired 3 taxis to take them to the airport as there was not enough space for all the shopping.
I have been told over and over again, "Take nothing" - "You will get it all in Bangkok"
I never learn, and we end up buying extra bags to bring all the shopping home.

Favorite thing: A shopping paradise?

Fondest memory: I've more and mores visitors inquire me about where in Bangkok they can shop until they drop. Then, I found VT would be a good place to share all these to other people too.

- The most popular place for foreigner would be Jatujak market, Take sky train and get off "Mochit" station or MRT "kampangphet" station (NOTE : this station is closer to the market than jatujak station) you can find everything you need there ....cloths, accessories, foods, home decorations, souvenir and it's cheap. (you can find everything as long as it's not an aeroplane!) ; open Sat-Sun around 10.00 am-17.00 am. few shop open on weekday but very few, not worth going during the weekday

- SuanLum night bazaar ; take MRT and get off at Lumpini station ; it's like Jatujak "night version" I prefer to take my visitor to this market than jatujak as it's open everyday at night "I don't have to soak and squeez with million people like in jatujak. But its a pity. Soon, this market will be demolish and replaced by huge complex

- Banglumpoo : Backpacker places "kaosarn road" It's quite a nice shopping for foreign visitors, you'll be able to find your "thai momentos" and cheap cloths. Oh one more thing, many tour agents and it's quite competitive. Enjoy your bargain. This is also close to many attractions like grand palace, marble temple, boxing stadium etc.

- Woman shopping, "soi lalaisap" : Take the sky train and get off "Chong Nonsi" station, or any bus that pass "silom road" this shopping lane is beside Bangkok Bank's head office. I recommend this market if you wanna buy local snacks, cloths, rather suit women shopping than men

- Patunam : " rather cheap cloth market" but design and quality is what you pay

Favorite thing: Actually when I first walked on along streets of Bangkok, i was pretty darn excited about the shopping. Just like Hongkong, bkk is the place for shopping, where they had little booths set up along the streets selling items from great souvenirs to pirated DVD's/CDs, u would be amazed to what u can pick up. But all the booths on silom soi and patong soi aren't set up until 9pm. So be sure to head out at night if u want to more variety.. It's definitely alive on the streets of silom at night.....actually it's crowded on the streets almost every single nite I was there, but more so on weds/fridays/sats.
Now if u want air-cond shopping, then i suggest MBK, all u have to do is take the train from SALA DAENG which is on silom soi to National stadium, MBK is right there.
But remember to have ur runners on, because this mall is 7 floors huge, packed with electronics to funky shirts, u name it...i'm sure u can find it in that mall.
And if that's not enough, u can try your bargaining skills at the weekend market (located at the Mo Chit station). Alot of great deals, from shirts and jeans, to bowls, pets and plants can be found in the premise.
Hope this helps......have fun!

Fondest memory: One of the most memorable moments in bkk would have to be the restaurant where i ate at. It's located at khao san rd. Almost half way down the road. It's this thai cuisine open patio restaurant which u will have to enter from a small side walkway. I don't remember what the restaurant is called, but there's not too many thai restaurants with an open patio concept. on that street. So try asking around or do a little searching. The nite i was there, i was seated right in front of the live band who played numerous of Beatles songs. Great food, and amazing atmosphere....one of if not the best dining experience i had in thailand.

Favorite thing: Bangkok is all time hot & humid, even at night. Walking in about 5 minutes always make me sweat and feel thirsty. But the lovely part of Bangkok is there are many 7-11 in the city. You can normally spot one within five minutes walking distance. There were three outside the hotel I stayed, and I visit it more than frequent. Unlike in my country where the goods sold in 7-11 always more expensive than other, the 7-11 in Bangkok offers a very competitive price. I bought a lot of drinks & snacks food/

Favorite thing: Siam Square is next door to Chulalongkorn University and is home to a number of language schools, so don't be surprised to see lots of students in this area. It's a semi-pedestrianised area with lots and lots of small shops, just over the road from the MBK and Siam Center shopping malls.

It's a bit hot in the daytime, but if you're looking for shops that are a little bit different to those in the malls, this could be the place to come. As well as lots of shops, there are cinemas and restaurants - including the Hard Rock Cafe on Soi 11.

It's all just south of the Siam (Central) Skytrain station, and if you want to stay here, there is a Novotel right on Siam Square Soi 6.

Favorite thing: Bargaining seems to be a national sport, so it's nice if you know some Thai numbers. To make sure, take a small calculator with you.
At the nightmarket in Patpong, every street vendor has one to facilitate the communication with the tourists.

Favorite thing: It seems that anymore you'll never be very far from a 7-11. I'm not sure what year they were introduced to Thailand but they are there in full force! They are a decent place to pick up soft drinks , water or if you're feeling like eating a candy bar they are available too! As I've been travelling the last 3 trips to Bangkok with my son...everytime we pass a 7-11 he thinks he needs an ice cream cup!! I'm usually thirsty and they have very cold bottled water!

Favorite thing: There are many floating markets in and around Bangkok but we insisted on going to the famous one in Damnoen Saduak.

Fondest memory: I would have enjoyed it more if I had a hat and I was prepared for the heat with sunblock but since I wasn't, I was in the boat but anxious to get out of the hot sun. Most people we saw hired a motorized boat but we wanted a rowboat so we could go slow and take pictures. I'm glad we did. Motorized boats, although faster, are also noisy. The best part was buying fruit and food from the vendors in their own boats, too. We had coconut pancakes (yummy) and noodle soup, pomelo, sticky rice cooked inside bamboo. I would do it again...and if you get a chance to do it, don't miss it.

Favorite thing: Thai word to know – thank you – khapt kung cop
-shopping
-massages, massages
-Ratchaprarop Road - Pratunam Market clothes market
-The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo ). Walk across the river to Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). Take the river bus upstream to the Royal Barges.
-ROSE GARDEN & THAI VILLAGE SHOW

-The Rose Garden Country Resort (Tel. 2953261-4) West of Bangkok on the bank of the Thachin river. It boasts large, beautiful and well- maintained gardens and is ideal for a picnic. In the resort there is a Thai cultural village showing Thai folk dancing, Thai boxing, sword fighting demonstrations and elephant show, Buddhist ordination, fingernail dance, hill tribe dance, wedding ceremony.

-Visit Chinatown and Pahurat – Chinese and Indian market districts