Bangkok is just great for bargain hunts, birds' nest, massages and tom yam!
my trip with yam and yx is more like a gourmet cum shopping trip so there's hardly any sight-seeing that we have done over there. shopping over there is unique experience as some of the places are seriously overpriced and it is a real test of your bargaining skills against stall owners. But they do have high end shopping belts as well that cater to the rich and famous there.
so for this entry, i will just try to briefly guide you virtually or maybe verbally, through the shopping belts in Bangkok for what's hot and what's not over there. And have you tingling with that shopping itch.
So below are the recommended go-see places to check out your good buys before you bid goodbye with your bahts.
Platinum Mall resembles Korea's DongDaeMun and a larger version of Singapore's Far East. they have allocated each level to the different types of apparels and accessories, for example Jeans at basement, Men's apparels at 3rd floor and so on. This place does wholesale but do sell individual pieces. So be expected to be charged very differently for the quantities you are buying. good tip is to ask for wholesale prices before you start your bargaining.
Siam Square is just like our bugis belt where all the hip youngsters hang out and let loose. on the friday that we went, there was even a flea going on and the whole place was so crowded by the female students. they are serious supporters of indie art and fashion. a must-see for those first-timers to bangkok. and there is a highly recommended thai cafe to drop by.
Somtum Nua. We went back there the second day 'cause the fried chicken wings and that "wickedly spicy" tomyam soup just left us hooked.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is quoted as the largest weekend market in the world. All tourist would visit and that's the best place to pit your bargaining skills. this place do sell good and unique things it's just where you are looking at. Flooded with tshirt designs copied from Threadless. So in case your favourite threadless designs have been sold out, you can still hunt for the designs there. this is the place the 3 of us totally cnotributed to the Thai economy. they should build us a monument for that. this place is hot, stuffy and beware of pickpockets!
Suan Lum Night Market is the night version of Chatuchak, except smaller and it's much cooler. check out the rows of stalls selling art pieces, designer furnitures and clocks. I even bought a clock by
Francesco Cappucio - an Italian designer based in Thailand. Though it's not exactly cheap, at least it should be relatively comparable to Molecule.
Retro hunters should visit here! yam and yx bought these awesome pullovers for only S$24! what a steal! too bad they do not have my size.
Basically
MBK is just plainly overhyped and the products overpriced. there are few good catches though, such as cheap fake RayBan or Gucci shades at 150 baht (around S$7 plus), amongst the dry and repetitive stalls (selling red bull singlets and those "i-pood" parody tshirts) that lined there.
flea at Siam Sq patronised by local schoolgirls
sarong-partying, their unique way to trying your new jeans or pants. oh i bought my washout slimcut jeans here!
big shades for the big attitude!
Kar khun-karp!
