Shopping Extravaganza - Bangkok - Things To Do Reviews

Bangkok has to be one of the most interesting places to shop.  It can be as easy as visiting an extravagant mall to something as intense as the JJ Weekend Market or even shopping off the streets.  If you love to shop then you've found your paradise - kind of.  Don't let all the sale signs and screaming vendors deter you though.  Things aren't always as great as one would think.

We'll start by exploring some of the malls first.  One thing you need to know is that there are different types of malls.  They range from places like Emporium and Siam Paragon where Dior, Gucci, Hermes, and boutiques of this nature are expected to be seen to places like MBK which is like a 7 story market with a roof and air conditioning.  If you are looking for high end stores and a lavish shopping experience then look no further than Siam Paragon.  This luxe mall just opened up at the end of 2005 and offers a great department store, a wonderful book shop, and many high end boutiques as mentioned above.  It is easily accessible off of the BTS at the Siam stop.  They also have the only IMAX theatre in Bangkok along with a regular style movie theatre and a first class movie theatre.  If you are interested in this topic please see my other review of movie theatres.  Siam Paragon is located right next to two other malls - Siam Square and Siam Discovery.  They both offer mid-level boutiques and Siam Discovery has a regular as well as first class movie theatre.  If you are looking for MAC Cosmetics, Siam Discovery is the only mall around that has an actual MAC shop in it which offers more than the MAC counters in the local department stores.  All three of these malls offer some great food options for whatever you may have a taste for but Siam Paragon's Food Court area is by far the largest and is well worth a look.

There is also another shopping mall that is worth a visit - Emporium right off of the Phrom Phong BTS stop.  This 5 story mall has a newly refurbished food court as well as some high end stores like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Hermes, Cartier, etc.  On the top floor there is a regular movie theatre, coffee shop, and an area that has special features like Japanese Cultural influences on fashion, etc.  It's a very nice, western style mall that is more laid back than Paragon mentioned above.  At all of these malls mentioned the stores are very much like western stores - you don't haggle about the price which brings me to a rather interesting mall next.

MBK.....ah, the wonders of MBK.  Well, here is an interesting mall.  There is a department store there - Tokyu.  There are also some great shoe stores, a food court, and a movie theatre.  What is interesting about this mall is that you can haggle at some of the places.  The brand name stores, etc. you wouldn't bargain for the price but there are many places here where you do bargain for the merchandise.  If you're in the market for fake handbags, fake watches, fake DVD's, fake CD's, etc. you are in the right place.  There are a few standards though.  There is a floor, the top floor before the movie theatre, that offers numerous Thai products.  This is where you'll find copied DVD's, computer software, etc.  The running price on DVD's, at any of the shops is 100 Baht (about $2.50 USD) and computer software rund 120 to 150 Baht ($3 to $3.75 USD).  You usually can't get below these prices.  Also, you'll know just by looking around and assessing the shop if it is a place you can haggle or not.

Now we come to lunch markets.  These are local and run Monday through Friday from around 1100 - 1400.  Most of these are local around town and you are either told about them by friends and colleagues or you just find them.  There are usually a set of vendors assigned for each day and you would see that the same vendors are there on a Monday and a different set is there every Tuesday, etc.  You get the picture.  This is where know a bit of Thai comes in handy.  Usually, if you can speak Thai or atleast know your numbers and how to ask "How Much?" you'll be good to go.  A few things to keep in mind:  Most clothes are Thai sized meaning that they are nothing like western sizes so make sure you know your measurements.  Another thing to keep in mind is that most clothes out here shrink when they are washed.  Very few fabrics are prewashed.  Lunch markets are also a great place to pick up food, faux jewellry, pens, pencils, etc.  They are truly an experience that a shopaholic should not miss even if you don't buy anything.

This leads us to shopping on the streets.  There are constantly vendors that walk the streets selling anything from Buddha offerings, to food, to toys, etc.  You name it, you'll probably see it.  Same rules apply for shopping on the street as they do for lunch markets (mentioned above).

Now on to the mother of all mother shopping experiences.  JJ Market.  It is a legend in itself and is only fully opened on Saturdays and Sundays from early morning until around 6 P.M.  It is also opened on Friday but not all of the shops are fully operational Fridays - only about 1/2 of them.  You can get everything from paintings, to clothes, to DVD's, to CD's, to home decor items, etc.  Here again, it is almost essential to speak Thai.  Bargaining is almost a necessity.  Whatever price they first offer cut it in half and then go from there.

Cheers to all of you shopping fanatics!!