Page 41 - TICA Membership Directory 2016-2017

SHOP LIKE A LOCAL

Thailand is a country where you can truly ‘shop until
you drop’. It is not only in the high-end shopping malls
and department stores, but also in the wide range of
fascinating and exciting markets to explore when you
want to relax before a meeting, or unwind after one.

Arguably the most famous in the Kingdom is
Chatuchak Weekend Market, in Bangkok and
incidentally, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
This is an open-air, jampacked market with stalls
selling antiques, food, pets, furniture, in fact just about
anything you can think of. Aim to spend a day there
and arrive early to beat both the heat and the crowds.
It may all look chaotic at first glance, but the market is
separated into distinctive sections. For example there
are antiques, handicrafts and souvenirs in one area
and clothing and accessories in another.
If you want to step back in time then explore Talad
Rod Fai in Bangkok which is devoted to retro goods
and has a remarkable array of items on sale from
second hand motorbikes to enamel platters. There
are mobile food sellers, VW van-based bars and even
some solid grounded pubs making it more than a
simple shopping destination.

For clothes, clothes and more clothes there is
Pratunam Market close to the city centre. Move over
to the Patpong area of Bangkok and you will find the
eponymously named market. Set in the heart of the
leisure district of Silom, it sells clothing and souvenirs
every night until early morning.
Travel to the north of the country to visit the city of
Chiang Mai which has a historic reputation for the
high quality of its handicrafts. The Chiang Mai Night
Bazaar is the place to go for a mix of traditional and
modern handicrafts and souvenirs.

There is also an information centre, ATMs and foreign
exchange booths at the Chatuchak Park Office which
is situated close to the northern end of the market’s
Sois 1, 2 and 3.

Khaosan Road Market would also noisily compete for
the title of most recognised market, set in the main
guesthouse strip in Banglamphu and renowned as a
key destination in the capital for generations of back
packers and those on a tight budget. It is a virtual
24/7 shopping bazaar filled with trendy purses, hemp
clothing, fake ID cards and copied designer wear etc.

39

TICA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY 2016 - 2017