Bangkok, my shopping paradise.
To go or not to go. that was the inevitable question. I was brazen while Mr R was more cautious.
J: Who cares about the red shirts??
R: What do you mean who cares? Do you even know what’s going on??
J: Yahhh, the news makes too big a deal of things.
R: It might escalate at any point.
J: We’re not even staying in the area of the protest.
R: We’re *quite* close.
J: Bah, I can’t be bothered figuring out a new plan. Let’s just go.
Only thing is, the darn red shirts managed to create enough havoc to render the closure of all the shopping centers in the main shopping district. My shopping nirvana. Well, I didn’t see that coming. Our days were cut short too because the sky train stopped operating in the evenings after they threw a grenade into one of the stations.
So I had to find alternatives. My new finds were so awesome though that after this, I don’t think I can completely shop retail again.
Platinum Fashion Mall
BTS: Raichathewi then a 15 minute walk
From my research, this mall is the place where all boutique store owners in Asia get their stock from. And I can see why. This place is mind blowingly massive and if you’re planning to go there, I’d say go alone or with your girlfriends and not your other half. They will get very bored because there’s nothing else to occupy their time with and it’s just horrible for them. It’s 5 floors of hundreds of stores and I reckon you could spend an entire day there and still not be done with it. We did two floors before deciding that it was all too overwhelming. We still managed to find a tonne of jewellery and dresses for me and t-shirts for Mr R. Guess it wasn’t all that bad. Oh, I forgot to say too, the prices here are all wholesale prices. It’s awesome!!
Siam Square
BTS: Siam
This place was the sole reason why I wanted to come to Bangkok in the first place. Not the big shopping complexes but this section of soi’s contains tiny boutique clothes and accessories stores. As many amazing stores that are there, there is also plenty of cheap and tacky stuff but the beauty is in the exploration. You can spend hours going from shop to shop looking at everything, finding nothing and then something amazing. And after all that walking around, stop by Mango Tango on soi 4 for a refreshing mango dessert. They’re yum and the cafe looks really cool too!!!
Chatuchak Market
BTS: Mo Chit
This market is a maze. We spent literally 3 hours combing the whole market looking for the Dream Section which is the fashion area and was quite ready to give up before stumbling onto it. It is how it is, isn’t it? You don’t care anymore then it finds you. So here’s the tip to save you all that time if you’re heading there, either go by MRT because the exit pretty much leads directly into that section. And if you’re going by skytrain or get lost, get the map at the information booth at the front of the market and head to section 5 and 6 and you’re in the Dream Section.
