day one, Friday
headed down town, Sukhumvit
where all the major shopping malls
like Central World, Siam Paragon are located
you name it, all the familiar brands are available
these luxurious shopping malls
are catered mostly to the middle-upper class locals
young ladies queuing up in Zara
and there ain’t any sales at all
1st stop: Naraya
the local bag specialist
well-known for the their
design variety, good quality and affordability
one of the must-buy from Bangkok
there were so many shoppers in there
basketful of loots
conversing in the familiar languages and slangs
mostly Singaporean, Taiwanese and Hongki
for them
these bags are crazily cheap
there’s one Naraya store at Vivo City, Singapore
never check out the prices before
but I believe that it would at least cost 50% cheaper
to grab these bags at Bangkok
and these bags make good souvenirs too
affordable and practical
but for us
it’s merely okay
not as great as to the point
to grab like four of the same designs
just look at the young lady in the photo
can I grab one of the shopping basket instead
the children collection
and the gingham collection on display
after going round and round
waiting for my mates
finally I grabbed two as well
well.. as souvenirs
that’s the trap
if you don’t buy
just leave the shop and wait outside
or out of no reasons
you will ultimately end up buying too
walkway shopping
there are vendors everywhere
but it’s up to you to judge the quality of the goods
and whether you have made a good bargain
just like this one,
3 for 100 baht tank tops
MBK
hosting hundreds or even up to a thousands of small shops
around the middle price range
it is a maze of small shops
and it’s not difficult to bump into
two shops or even more
which sell exactly the same clothes
not too sure if you will shop till drop at Bangkok
for me, I didn’t
but for sure
walking in these shopping district
shuttling among the crowd, under the hot sun
is a very good experience indeed
to tone your leg muscle with a tinge of burnt
last stop
Khao San Road
not exactly a shopping district
but more of a night market
Western backpackers’ favourite hang-outs
Havaianas imitation
various designs tee shirts
for 150 baht, or lower perhaps
all up to your negotiation power
this is the one thing I hate, negotiation
not a very fair trade, isn’t it
happily walking down the street
you will find another vendor, offering the exact shirt
for lower price, with more fanciful design
or the other way round
you give up something really nice
thinking you would have found it round the corner
but once missed, it’s gone
awwww… how irritating is that
during the last day
my mates travelled down to Chatuchak market
I gave up, hanging around at airport instead
it’s not worth it to hunt for petty bargain
ending up all sweaty and dusty
and rushing to go abroad the flight
had a good sleep and breakfast..
heaving a sigh of relief
this is how Sunday morning should always be
final sum-up
all the loots over the weekend
#1 Naraya hand pouch
I am not too sure why am I buying Naraya
just in case as souvenir
if no “in case” then it would be mine
reluctantly, unwillingly be mine
#2 Naraya 3-in-1 detachable multi-purpose cases
#3 tank tops, 100 baht per set
#4 Polka dot short pants with bow, 99 baht
#5 high-waist denim short pants, 120 baht
love love baby blue denim
#6 nautical bikini set, 190 baht
not too sure why am I buying this,
nautical print is just too irresistible
hoping to get cheaper one at Phuket then
#7 headbands, 100 baht per set
the price is like 1/6 of what Zara is selling
I need the black one desperately for my balding forehead
#8 tank tops, 100 baht each
okay just confess it
I am so vain to buy Lacoste imitations
so I got 6 tank tops in total,
and the one without the fake logo costs 1/3 of these
and the original one in Lacoste store would cost at least USD 30
I hate comparisons…
plain, ordinary stuffs I got there, huh?
the purpose of the trip
is not for shopping
therefore it comes to no surprises
just as a stepping stone for
further back-packing trips to come
and Malaysia and Thailand are just neighbours
running at the similar development stage and pace
therefore things can be relatively cheaper
but definitely can’t make you shop till drop
frankly speaking
this is not really my type of shopping
I hate uncertain, all fake-up negotiations