If you are into shopping, and no matter what you are looking for, Bangkok is THE place on this planet where you should be! Here, you simply can find just anything, from the cheapest souvenirs to Haute Couture, from old telephone spare parts to Ferrari cars, from illegal copies of the last movies to the latest laptop computer.
The venues are beyond limits: you can walk your feet sore in the innumerous ultra-modern, beautiful, air-conditioned Shopping Centers. On Sukhumvit, near Siam Square, there are so many of them you can walk a mile almost without leaving an air conditioned complex. If shopping centers happen to be across the street from each other, they are connected by an overpass. The high temple of consumerism is Paragon, with prices that were just way over our limit. The famous MBK we found rather full of cheap stuff and so big that it was overwhelming. We loved Robinson, just the right size, quality and prices.
If that was not enough, this is also the city of tailors. Of course, they all aggressively advertise the craziest offers, like two suits plus two shirts plus two ties for 179 USD! We resisted a few days, but then gave in. Heidi found a shop with superb silk fashion, whereas Gilles, by chance, stumbled upon a Bangkok institution, Harry’s Boss Collection. This tailor shop is run by two brothers, Sikhs, who have an excellent sense of humor and very likable. So who could resist them?
Actually we wanted to have a drink in the Shangri La Hotel, but they had no roof top bar. So we wandered around and found this shop. What drew our attention was a hand written poster outside that said quality has its price, a good suit cannot be tailored in 12 hours and it does need at least one fitting. Thus the owners will not try to attract customers by such crazy offers. Besides we knew in countries like Thailand, the most expensive part is the material. So Gilles left with a suit and four shirts, all with a monogram in the cuff, “GB”.
Last but not least, for those who can stand the heat and the crowds, the Chatuchak Weekend Market is a must. You will be one of 200.000 visitors daily, a great place to buy souvenirs for friends, family and yourself.
Yes and there the huge Phanthip Plaza, four or five stories of only IT stuff. This was our very first destination in Bangkok, because our laptop had attracted a very nasty virus that Gilles could not get rid off. Two young sales assistant did so within three hours for 10 Euros.
We gave almost all our clothes to beggars in the last few days, because they were just used off after one year of traveling and needed space for the newly acquired merchandise!
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