shopping in bangkok
Discussion
piquet said:
i'm going to be in bangkok in buisness for 24 hours, does anyone have any suggestions about what's worth bringing back from there, well apart from all the answers thta came out when i asked friends last night
pk
Fake Rolexes. They have Japanese automatic mechanisms so are better than the real thing. Barter hard.
bruciebabe said:Indeedy. There are some 'good' street stalls for stuff like that in the Sukhumvit Road, also try the Chatuchak (sometimes Jatujak) weekend market and Patpong night market if you can, depending on what day you're there and what times. Can't emphasise enough not to take the prices at face value, some hard haggling will get big reductions.
Fake Rolexes. They have Japanese automatic mechanisms so are better than the real thing. Barter hard.
In addition if you want something more trad, almost any tailor's shop including those in hotel lobbies will - again if you're prepared to haggle - make you a bespoke shirt, jacket, suit or whatever, at a crazy price compared to over here, and ready in less than half the time you're in BKK so still a possibility.
As for shopping malls you could try the Emporium Sukhumvit Soi 26, World Trade Centre / Central World Plaza, Siam Square, and the MBK Centre. Hopefully you won't be spending too much time on business...oh and if you take a two tone toyota taxi anywhere, just ask "Meter?" before getting in even if it says Taxi Meter on the roof, if it's no don't get in. Don't get in a tuk-tuk unless you want some 'experiences' and unexpected detours...
The Baht is weaker against the GB Pound than it has been in recent years, although not as favourable as a few months ago it's still a bonus.
>> Edited by turbobloke on Thursday 31st March 10:33
turbobloke said:
oh and if you take a two tone toyota taxi anywhere, just ask "Meter?" before getting in, if it's no don't get in. Don't get in a tuk-tuk unless you want some 'experiences' and unexpected detours...
I hated this about Bangkok. You couldn't ask anyone for directions - they'd lie to get you to visit some stall or other. It was a total ballache of a place to visit. Absolutely crap. Pickpocketing is rife on the streets and being a big white bloke makes you stand out as someone to continually harass for money.
Normally I love "exploring" and am quite adventurous. Visiting Bangkok again I'd go for the insulated, westernised experience, I'm afraid.
What's good about Bangkok is the amazing temples and palaces - well worth a visit. Get the hotel to arrange your travel to and from or even book you on a tour: a Water Taxi is a hoot! Remember when visiting religious sites to be respectful and avoid sitting with your feet towards Buddha, fold them in under you pointing away from Him.
Enjoy! But if, like me, you have little tolerance for the tourist exploiters plan on avoiding them.
You should be able to get fake Rolexes etc for 150-200 baht (about £2.50). I understand they use Sekonda 'Grade 2' mechanisms.
A good way to see the city is by boat. You can use one of the scheduled ferries at very little cost or you can hire a long-tail boat for a couple of hours for around 500 baht (for the boat, not the individual). And if you tell the driver to go faster then these boats really motor along - just ignore the slightly worrying creaking they make as they clatter over the waves.
A good way to see the city is by boat. You can use one of the scheduled ferries at very little cost or you can hire a long-tail boat for a couple of hours for around 500 baht (for the boat, not the individual). And if you tell the driver to go faster then these boats really motor along - just ignore the slightly worrying creaking they make as they clatter over the waves.
Agreed on the boat comment - the river is rather cool.
Agreed on the tuk-tuks, and (to a degree) the asking people for directions. Get a map, get in a taxi, ask for "meter" as has been said, then if in difficulty point to the map - the taxi drivers are all very honest, but don't speak much english. Whereas tuk-tuks...
...although one taxi we rode in had a blatent NOs switch in front of the gearstick!!!
Shopping:-
- 24hrs isn't enough for a reputable tailor to do a suit properly, so be careful there.
- The shopping centres along Sukhumvit Road are very good.
- The Patpong evening market is worth a look - can buy loads of stuff, but I found the watches rather more expensive...just watch the guys trying to lure you into the bars! (And DON'T read a "menu" that they offer you...it's got things like "ping-pong ball" on there!!! )
- If it's a weekend go up to Chatuchak (get on the Metro line heading north) - it's a HUGE market (>30,000 stalls at least, IIRC), can buy anything at all.
- silks are very cheap - ties, wraps/scarfes...
- DVDs and CDs are often cheap (DVDs will be different region, remember).
Where are you staying?
Agreed on the tuk-tuks, and (to a degree) the asking people for directions. Get a map, get in a taxi, ask for "meter" as has been said, then if in difficulty point to the map - the taxi drivers are all very honest, but don't speak much english. Whereas tuk-tuks...
...although one taxi we rode in had a blatent NOs switch in front of the gearstick!!!
Shopping:-
- 24hrs isn't enough for a reputable tailor to do a suit properly, so be careful there.
- The shopping centres along Sukhumvit Road are very good.
- The Patpong evening market is worth a look - can buy loads of stuff, but I found the watches rather more expensive...just watch the guys trying to lure you into the bars! (And DON'T read a "menu" that they offer you...it's got things like "ping-pong ball" on there!!!
) - If it's a weekend go up to Chatuchak (get on the Metro line heading north) - it's a HUGE market (>30,000 stalls at least, IIRC), can buy anything at all.
- silks are very cheap - ties, wraps/scarfes...
- DVDs and CDs are often cheap (DVDs will be different region, remember).
Where are you staying?
i don't know where i'm staying yet, they're on it, i just go where i'm sent
i've learnt the lesson with suits, i did a similar thing in singapore, they did all the measuremtns, did the fittings in the 24 hours i was there, and then sent them to me, and they don;t fit properley, i'm still waiting to be sent back there to get them altered
lol, so the ping pong is not a myth, hmmmm will be careful in my bar selection
thanks for your help guys
i've learnt the lesson with suits, i did a similar thing in singapore, they did all the measuremtns, did the fittings in the 24 hours i was there, and then sent them to me, and they don;t fit properley, i'm still waiting to be sent back there to get them altered
lol, so the ping pong is not a myth, hmmmm will be careful in my bar selection
thanks for your help guys
Can second the temples:-
Wat Phra Keo is amazing - can spend a couple of hours there easy.
Wat Po isn't quite as opulent, but the Big Buddha has to be seen to be believed, and it's got a massage school nearby (proper, NOT "massage") - I would recommend at least a foot-massage while you're there, but properly done Thai massage is worthwhile too...go where the locals go, don't pay the hotel prices. I think the massage school is reasonable.
Wat Arun is across the river but is very imposing...probably good enough to see that from the river, though.
Food-wise, I assume you're on expenses, so paying hotel rates isn't a problem. Otherwise, if you're anywhere near the Sukhumvit Road (LONG road, but business centre, so likely), a place called "Cabbages & Condoms" is worth a visit.
As for getting into the centre from the airport, be wary of people touting for taxis - they'll take you to a so-called "luxury cab" (often an old-ish Volvo) and charge you twice the price...outside the terminal is a taxi rank with a stall next to it - go up to the stall, say where you want to go, and they'll write it in Thai script on a piece of paper...but cabbies know the big hotels anyway. Expect to pay ~250B upwards for a taxi, esp. if rush-hour. Plus a bit for the toll-roads (worthwhile). But anything much over 400B is trying it on.
Wat Phra Keo is amazing - can spend a couple of hours there easy.
Wat Po isn't quite as opulent, but the Big Buddha has to be seen to be believed, and it's got a massage school nearby (proper, NOT "massage") - I would recommend at least a foot-massage while you're there, but properly done Thai massage is worthwhile too...go where the locals go, don't pay the hotel prices. I think the massage school is reasonable.
Wat Arun is across the river but is very imposing...probably good enough to see that from the river, though.
Food-wise, I assume you're on expenses, so paying hotel rates isn't a problem. Otherwise, if you're anywhere near the Sukhumvit Road (LONG road, but business centre, so likely), a place called "Cabbages & Condoms" is worth a visit.
As for getting into the centre from the airport, be wary of people touting for taxis - they'll take you to a so-called "luxury cab" (often an old-ish Volvo) and charge you twice the price...outside the terminal is a taxi rank with a stall next to it - go up to the stall, say where you want to go, and they'll write it in Thai script on a piece of paper...but cabbies know the big hotels anyway. Expect to pay ~250B upwards for a taxi, esp. if rush-hour. Plus a bit for the toll-roads (worthwhile). But anything much over 400B is trying it on.
look for the fake european tshirts.
not the fake fake rubbish - the fake ones from the factories where the real ones are made.
what happens is that a european fashion company will phone up and order 100,000 tshirts for the European/US market. the factory will gear up for 120,000. The order will be deleivered, and 20,000 go onto the Bangkok markets.
you then pay 3quid for a high quality tshirt that is totally original - even the correct label that is onsale in Europe for £30+.
i bought loads back in 1999 and its only this year that they are being thrown away as they are finally worn out.
you can tell the real fakes by the fact that they have much thicker material than the fake fakes.
not the fake fake rubbish - the fake ones from the factories where the real ones are made.
what happens is that a european fashion company will phone up and order 100,000 tshirts for the European/US market. the factory will gear up for 120,000. The order will be deleivered, and 20,000 go onto the Bangkok markets.
you then pay 3quid for a high quality tshirt that is totally original - even the correct label that is onsale in Europe for £30+.
i bought loads back in 1999 and its only this year that they are being thrown away as they are finally worn out.
you can tell the real fakes by the fact that they have much thicker material than the fake fakes.
rich1231 said:Hope nobody spoils it for you with a detailed description on here, just wait and see when you touch down! As for food, the resort(s) near your beach should have places to try, and there's the usual mix of delicious to barely edible food available if you visit local eateries, go a bit later rather than earlier and see where others dine out.
ahh soo its a bit laid back and low tech? Staying on the beach, dont mind the heat. As long as there are lots of good places to eat
Amazing place, one of the few I've been to that I really didn't want to leave, although the company helped - that's company as in companion, not business btw...
tinman0 said:Amen - came back with a few myself...and they almost certainly are the real deal...except 15% of the UK price!
look for the fake european tshirts.
Samui...yep, went there too! Stayed top-end of Chaweng beach (quieter, bit less Blackpool!).
Great Italian restaurant (Prego) at the Amari hotel...in fact, the main restaurant upstairs was pretty good, too (better than most along the main drag in central Chaweng). And breakfast at the Amari was AMAZING!!! Never seen so much choice, even in the USA!!!
Also go visit the Big Buddha if you get a chance, and there's a couple of nice waterfalls at the south of the island (wear decent walking shoes - uneven path up!)...for 2, unless you want a full-day guided tour, it's cheaper to get the hotel to hire you a taxi for a few hours...but get the price agreed first - Samui taxis NEVER put the meter on!!!
Further afield, was told good things about an island called Ko Tao about 1hr sail north...there's a bay (with reef, I'm told!) which is up to 5 or 6ft deep the whole way out, perfect for snorkeling, esp if you're a less-confident swimmer. But it's supposed to be very basic on the island...may want to make it a day-trip. Check it out though.
Have to say we're definitely going back to Thailand - best holiday yet, by a long way - the people are really friendly and welcoming, and walking around Bangkok at night you never felt in danger (!compare to UK cities!). On a side-note, Cambodia is ... different, but very special. Very poor country, but with one of the Wonders of the World in it. People as friendly as the Thai's, but more innocent - no guile or side to any of them, so refreshing after Europe. The poverty and land-mine victims are hard on the heart though...
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