Bangkok, a veritable shoppers' paradise

Er Audy Zandri ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Bangkok   |  Mon, 09/15/2008 10:12 AM  |  Supplement

The best advice for someone departing for Bangkok would be either; "buy them all", or "save some bucks for a ticket home". And it's hard to resist the temptation to buy things when a jungle of high quality products is thrown directly at you, with relatively low price tags.

Proclaiming itself a shoppers' paradise, the Bangkok we know today sells almost everything at every corner; there is no street beyond the reach of street vendors.

The people of Bangkok realize that tourism is one of the main drivers of the country's thriving economy, and opening a kiosk on the sidewalk is a popular way to squeeze something out of it.

Like heaven and earth, shopaholics categorize shopping sites in Bangkok into two; the affordable and the ridiculously expensive.

Located in the vicinity of Lumphini Park, the Suan Lum Night Bazaar is reachable by Skytrain and definitely a shoppers paradise for those looking for low-end high quality products.

With a vast network of outdoor market blocks and nearly 3,700 stalls, the night bazaar is open from 6 p.m. until midnight. It specializes in modern Thai souvenirs, designer T-shirts, handicrafts, handmade jewelry, handbags and furniture.

If you are dragged into this shopping arena it can result in you spending all your money, especially with the absence of a shopping budget. In addition, the baht's disparity with other currencies often clouds the judgment of buyers in terms of how expensive a product is. Local people still consider the district an expensive shopping spot that aims to attract tourists.

Comparable to Suan Lum is the MBK or Mahboonkrong. Located in the shopping district of Siam Square, this huge and wildly packed shopping mall has become a magnet for Bangkok residents who want to be hip and fashionably attired. Go to the second floor for all types of fixed price T-shirts and clothing. Explore the mall and take the elevators to the rest of the floors for cell phones, accessories, watches, shoes, and even kitchenware.

Though the fourth floor is packed with digital products like cellular phones, cameras and computer hardware, the prices are no lower than those available in Mangga Dua and Roxi Mas. Some of the stores, on the other hand, might provide more options.

Due to their quality and design, most of the T-shirts on the second floor -- selling at 200 baht (Rp 55,000) -- are often purchased and resold in other countries. Different shops in Ambasador Mall here in Indonesia, for example, openly sell the same T-shirts from Thailand at double the price. So if you feel you are the first to discover the idea of importing T-shirts to sell back home; you're wrong.

Different people enjoy different treats. Some prefer Suan Lum for the chance to bargain, though due to the casual style of most Thais, we often end up paying too much for a product. Yet, regular MBK visitors find the fixed prices, air-conditioning and the variety of junk food plus points.

On a much larger scale is the massive Chatuchak weekend market. A focal point for all types of markets scattered around Bangkok, vendors crowd the place along with their lights, Pepsi umbrellas and nasty stereos. The so-called JJ has more than 15,000 stalls that open every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to feed the hunger of both local and international buyers for products at slightly reduced prices.

Imagine the sweat, the heat, and din of visitors trying to bargain and sellers yelling to attract buyers' attention. Dominated by clothing the market boasts 24 segments and is located near Mo Chit, Skytrain's last station, and remains one of Bangkok's main attractions.

The second genre of these districts is of course the exclusive malls that display products with four and five digit prices. Under the magnifying glass, Siam Square would be the center for extreme shopping.

With its streets linked by Siam BTS Station, the area transfers visitors into a completely different reality from other parts of Bangkok.

Students with funky hairdos and teenagers sporting miniskirts are a common sight. Fashion-conscious shoppers can also be seen walking from Siam Paragon to Central World Plaza, Erawan Bangkok, and Gaysorn Plaza via the Sky Walk, an elevated walkway linking Siam to Chit Lom BTS station.

Siam Paragon is definitely the most ostentatious mega-mall in the city. Sprawling over a 500,000 square meter area, its collection of luxury brands is bewildering with a spectacular aquarium called the Siam Ocean World available underground.

Siam Square, combining Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center, signifies Bangkok's new generation swiftly running toward modernity, feeding the whims and passions of both local and international shoppers coming to the city, with around 15.5 million tourists this year alone.

Central World Plaza can also satisfy those looking to window shop. Said to be the biggest mall in Southeast Asia with an enclosed area of over 830,000 sq meters, the strategically located seven-story mall is known for its domestic brands like Playground and Qconceptstore.

You will also find the flagship mall of Central Chidlom, (a chain of malls by that name across the city) in Ploenchit as the largest and the flashiest in Thailand. Its collections of shoes and apparel from renowned brands like Adidas and Nike, including expensive streetwear are available to suit international taste. The cosmetic section on the first floor is also a treat.

You are bound to find whatever you're looking for in Bangkok. It could be spotted just around the corner, or hidden within a maze of street stalls on a hot Sunday afternoon or found when you are looking casually at a window display on the third floor of a mega-mall. But whatever you're craving for, be sensible and remember to "save some bucks for a ticket home".

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