Other shopping in Thailand
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A
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.
reviewed
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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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B
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.
reviewed
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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.…
reviewed
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Taling Chan
This is a close descendant of the original floating markets. On the access road to Khlong Bangkok Noi, Taling Chan looks like any other fresh food market busy with produce vendors from nearby farms. But the twist emerges at the canal where several floating docks serve as informal dining rooms, and the kitchens are canoes tethered to the docks. Many local Thai families come to feast on grilled shrimp and noodles, all produced aboard a bobbing boat. Taling Chan is in Thonburi and can be reached from Bangkok’s Th Ratchadamnoen Klang or Th Ratchaprasong via air-con bus 79 (16B, 25 minutes). Long-tail boats from any large Bangkok pier can also be hired for a trip to Taling Cha…
reviewed
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C
Thai Knowledge Park
Spanning eight stories of more than 500 shops and 100 restaurants, Central World is one of Southeast Asia’s largest shopping centres. But it suffered a huge setback in May 2010 when its centrepiece Zen department store was torched by fleeing protesters (for details on the 2010 political unrest, see p35). Other parts of the complex were largely unaffected, but at press time the specifics of the reconstruction had yet to be announced. We hope that, in addition to a new Zen, the mall’s funky F section and Thai Knowledge Park, a multimedia library meant to cultivate reading and learning habits in children, will be operating as normal by the time you read this.
reviewed
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Talat Mai
Nudge your way deep into one of Chinatown’s famous capillaries, where vendors sell dried goods, half-alive filleted fish and vats of unidentifiable pickled things. The soi ’s (lane’s) poetic finale is lined with stalls selling elaborate funeral offerings and ‘passports to heaven’ that include paper houses and cars to take loved ones into the next life. You’ll find all the action in Soi 6, also known as Trok Itsaranuphap, off Th Yaowarat.
reviewed
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Chili Antiques & Arts
A great concentration of stores can be found in Ban Wan on Th Thakhilek, the first left turn after Talat Hang Dong. A cluster of stores near the intersection sells antique reproductions using new wood; in times past they used salvaged teak but most of that is now gone. Further down the road is Chili Antiques & Arts, a massive showroom of bronze and wooden Buddhas, sculptures, wood carvings and fine decor.
reviewed
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Talat Ton Phayom
This place acts as both a local market and a souvenir stop for Thais visiting from other provinces. Take a look at the packaged food area to see the kinds of edible gifts (like bags of kâap mŏo and sâi òo·a ) that make a visit to Chiang Mai complete. Because CMU students make up a good portion of the clientele, prices tend to be low.
reviewed
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Tuesday Morning Market
Chiang Dao town isn’t much but a dusty crossroads that hosts a colourful Tuesday morning market, when hill tribes come to sell their wares. The more charming part of town is 5km west along the road that leads to Tham Chiang Dao (Chiang Dao Cave). The surrounding village and guesthouses are smack up against the mountain.
reviewed
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Freedom Wheel Chairs Workshop
At Freedom Wheel Chairs Workshop you can purchase a wheelchair (9500B) that will be donated to a disabled person who cannot afford such an expense. Run by a Thai survivor of polio and her husband, the workshop purchases and customises wheelchairs and mobility aids for needy recipients.
reviewed
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Lifestyle Consultant
In addition to shops, Gaysorn also offers a Lifestyle Consultant. Available by appointment, but free of charge, the service consists of two ‘experts’, a local fashion designer and a makeup artist, whose goal is to guide you to that perfect outfit, shade of mascara, or spa treatment.
reviewed
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D
Sun Gallery
Na Chanok Siemmai (nicknamed ‘Sun’) runs this friendly art gallery, where you can poke around without being a heavyweight collector. He displays his own pieces as well as his friends’ works, ranging from abstract to 3D collages. And if you’re a miniature aficionado, there are also photo postcards.
reviewed
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Soi 16
This ancient fresh market splays along the cramped alley between Th Yaowarat and Th Charoen Krung. It’s fascinating, but anyone who suffers even the mildest form of claustrophobia should not contemplate it. North of Th Charoen Krung funerary items for ritual burnings dominate the open-air stalls.
reviewed
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E
Naem Laplae
You can follow the pungent aromas to this old-school Isan food store (if you’ve got a cold, look out for the bright yellow-and-red shopfront), one of several in this area. This and the others sell everything from sweets to sausages, most notably gun chee·ang (red pork sausages).
reviewed
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F
Night Bazaar
Most of the vendors next to Sai Ngam are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and serve Thai and Isan basics, including pàt phimai, which is basically similar to pàt mèe koh râht but always uses handmade noodles. Phimai also has a small night bazaar.
reviewed
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G
Mae Ubol Market
This market has two shifts. In the morning, head to the warehouse, where you can see a bustling fresh market hard at haggle. It’s an entertaining scene. At 5pm the night market opens for business, meaning you can eat good Thai food and fresh seafood all night long if you want to.
reviewed
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Kaat Jiang Hai Ramleuk
If you’re around on a Saturday evening be sure not to miss the Kaat Jiang Hai Ramleuk, an expansive street market focusing on all things Chiang Rai, from handicrafts to local dishes. The market spans Th Thanalai from the Hilltribe Museum to the morning market.
reviewed
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Pak Khlong Market
Get up early or stay out late to catch this 24-hour flower market, where the city stocks up on orchids, lilies and other tropical flowers. Pak Khlong is also one of Bangkok’s biggest fresh fruit and vegie markets. Located near Saphan Phut (also known as Memorial Bridge).
reviewed
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Or Tor Kor Market
Across the street from Chatuchak Market, Or Tor Kor is Bangkok’s most upscale fresh market, selling what many swear are the tastiest pomelos around. Next to the produce vendors are food stalls that earn equal veneration for duck curries and other street treats.
reviewed
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H
Thai Sweets Market
The Thai sweets market is directly north of Khao Wang. Two of the most famous sweets on offer include môr gaang (an egg and coconut-milk custard) and kà·nŏm đahn (bright-yellow steamed buns sweetened with sugar-palm kernels).
reviewed
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Dor Dek Gallery
This Gallery sells the craft projects of street children employed by the Volunteers for Children Development Foundation. The profits from sales are divided among the child artist, the program’s educational fund and future supply purchases.
reviewed
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Gàht Farang
The shops along Rte 108 in Hang Dong are impossible to explore on foot and still a bit of a pain in a car. The high-end Gàht Farang walking mall has attempted to remedy the problem of access, but it may never be filled to capacity.
reviewed
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I
Maneerat
Maneerat is one of the well-stocked souvenir shops here. It features an extensive array of Shan and Burmese clothing, as well as Burmese lacquerware boxes. It can be found near the southern end of Th Khunlum Praphat
reviewed
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Chatuchak
Imagine all the city’s markets fused together in one great big market-style concentration camp. Now add a little artistic flair, a sauna-like climate and bargaining crowds and you’ve got a rough sketch of Chatuchak.
reviewed
