Other shopping in Asia
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Mehrotra Silk Facto
Tucked away down a tiny alleyway near the Varanasi Junction train station, this pocket-sized, fixed-priced shop is a fun place to buy good-quality silk scarves (from Rs250), saris (from Rs1500) and bedspread sets (from Rs5000). Turn right out of the station, take the first major left turn, then turn left just before the iway Internet cafe and it’s down a small alleyway on your left.
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Lotus Jewellery
If you’re interested in jewellery beyond the bits and bobs sold in souvenir shops, try Lotus Jewellery, which has very affordable and attractive pieces from all over Asia.
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Subhash Emporium
This expensive but honest marble-carving shop has been knocking up quality pieces for more than 35 years. Watch artisans at work in the entranceway before delving into the stock out the back.
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Hari Om Jewellers
Following the famous footsteps of Hari Om, Roop Kishore Soni is a silversmith who makes delicate silver rings and bracelets. Visitors have commissioned personalised wedding rings here. There’s also a shop inside the fort, or visit this home address.
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E
Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre
The Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre has a good selection of local lacquerwork, brassware and other craft items in a colonial-era showroom covered in a patina of age (see above). There are some craftspeople working on the spot.
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Nickermann’s Tailor
Corporate ladies rave about Nickermann’s tailor-made power suits: pants and jackets that suit curves and busts. Formal ball gowns are another area of expertise.
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Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is one of the city’s main night-time attractions, especially for families, and is the modern legacy of the original Yunnanese trading caravans that stopped here along the ancient trade route between Simao (in China) and Mawlamyaing (on Myanmar’s Gulf of Martaban coast). Today the night bazaar sells the usual tourist souvenirs, like what you’ll find at Bangkok’s street markets. In true market fashion, vendors form a gauntlet along the footpath of Th Chang Khlan from Th Tha Phae to Th Loi Kroh. In between are dedicated shopping buildings: the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar Building is filled mainly with antique and handicraft stores. Across the street is th…
reviewed
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Diamond Plaza
If you’re pressed for time, several shopping centres are reliable one-stop destinations, including the sleek, high-end Diamond Plaza. A good shopping journey is at the gallery-and boutique-lined Ð Dong Khoi and the streets that intersect with it. This is also the place to look for high-quality handicrafts. Better deals can be found in Pham Ngu Lao, although the selection is less extensive.
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Jalan Petaling
The commercial heart of Chinatown is one of the most colourful and busiest shopping parades in KL, particularly at night when stalls cram the covered street. It offers everything from fresh fruit and cheap clothes and shoes to copies of brand-name watches and handbags, and pirated CDs and DVDs. Be prepared to bargain hard.
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Classic Model
Bold geometric patterns define this clothing brand from fashion designer Sumate Phunkaew, a native of Nan Province. Certainly, the boy-from-the-province success story is heartwarming, but the clothes have a high frump factor. If you flip through the racks with enough concentration though you might find some suitable ‘teacher’ wear.
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Hauz Khas Village
This arty little enclave is packed with designer Indian-clothing boutiques, art galleries and furniture shops. It’s a great place to find superb old Bollywood posters. Try Country Collection for antique and new furniture (they’ll post overseas), and Cotton Curios for handprinted kameez, and soft furnishings.
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Shrujan
Selling the intricate embroidery work of women in 114 villages in Kutch, Gujarat, the nonprofit Shrujan aims to help women earn a livelihood while preserving the spectacular embroidery traditions of the area. The sophisticated clothing, wall hangings and purses make great gifts.
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L’Etranger Books & Tea
New and used books about Laos and Southeast Asia, plus book rental and books bought for cash or trade credit. Art is showcased on the 2nd floor, which doubles as a tea lounge.
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Silk Market
Contains a string of silk shops and clothing stores on and around Xijiankang Lu ( 西健康路 ), just north of Fengqi Lu ( 凤起路 ).
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Old Propaganda Poster
For communist-propaganda art posters there are several good places on Hang Bac in the Old Quarter, including Old Propaganda Poster.
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Green Shop
The Keystone Foundation runs the Green Shop, which sells honey and organic produce harvested by local and indigenous farmers.
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Hyderabad Perfumers
The family-run Hyderabad Perfumers, which has been in business for four generations, can whip something up for you on the spot.
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Polar Arts Of Asia
Polar Arts of Asia is a bizarre conglomeration of artefacts, skulls and tribal jewellery among golf shops.
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Studio Foto Max
Studio Foto Max does film developing and processing, and will burn pictures to a CD for Rs50.
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Khadi Ashram
Homespun textiles and herbal beauty products (soaps include water-lily, aloe-vera and mint).
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Rupayana
This bookshop has a friendly owner with an unusual selection of books on India.
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Phulkari
Government of Punjab emporium with everything from handicrafts to jootis.
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Damnoen Saduak
The most heavily promoted floating market is Damnoen Saduak, 104km southwest of Bangkok between Nakhon Pathom and Samut Songkhram. Though little more than a souvenir market catering to tourists, it is one of the most accessible markets from Bangkok and is ideal for those who haven’t yet filled their suitcases with touristy gifts. Air-con buses 78 and 996 go direct from the Southern bus terminal in Thonburi to Damnoen Saduak (80B, two hours, every 20 minutes from 6am to 9pm). Most buses will drop tourists off directly at the piers that line Th Sukhaphiban 1, which is the land route to the floating market area. The going rate for boat hire is about 300B per person per hour.…
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