You will be dazzled by a bulk of almost all souvenirs that you can imagine. Almost anything can be bought here and at better prices than elsewhere in Bangkok.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the world's largest weekend markets with more than 5,000 booths selling goods from all over Thailand. I remember I came across something I like, but I didn't buy it immediately. So, it was hardly possible for me to walk back and buy it after observing the whole sections of these markets. Dress comfortable as this excursion can last all day!
We reached Chatuchak Weekend Market (CWM) at about 1030am. CWM tends to be rather crowded, esp in the afternoons, so it would be unwise to stash your money in a backpack slung behind you. We were advised by the local people that we have to take care our important belongings during shoping in CWM.
Departing from our hotel. Tuk Tuk is provided by our hotel.
Chatukchak Market (or the Weekend Wet Market)or จตุจัก. Easily the largest Market in South East Asia, and possible the world, is a 35 acres market consists of 15,000 stalls receiving more 200k to 300k of visitors every Saturday and Sunday. Many people used to call it as “you name it, they have it” market.
It takes a lot of energy and determination to shop at CWM because this market is way bigger than what everyone tells you, and they have probably already told you that it is huge. The joy of CWM lies in the selection of items, the dirt-cheap prices, and the occasional shop that excites you enough to have you scrambling from shop to shop just to find it. I saw so many amazing things that had my jaw dropping. If you wanna cover all the areas, you probably need to spend a week there, pheeeww~
I've always enjoyed walking in bazaar or night market, there're always a lot of nice things to see, even though you can't always afford them. But you sure will work damn hard to get them the next round! It's one of the best therapies. (Unless of course you find something that you really really like and god forbid for the love of your life cannot afford it). But you most probably won't face this kinda problem when you shop at CWM. Coz everything is super mad cheap! We got lost inside. But it’s a fun journey getting lost inside. I always seem to spot things that thrills me.
How to get there: Take the skytrain (BTS) to Mo Chit station and exit down the right-hand stairs, follow the crowd for a five-minute walk, and you're there. Another option is to take the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park station, and follow thesignage directives. For the plant and flower section, get off at Kampheng Phet MRT station (exit 3).
Ah ma is doing her business along the street here.
Beautiful souvenirs to bring home.
Nice home decor also can get it here.
So many nice t-shirts with beautiful design
Even M.A.C, Clinique and many more make up brands can get from here. I bought a M.A.C eyeliner and Clinique super extension mascara. Only RM10 each! Love it!
Busy crowd
Kid is preforming show middle of the street and hoping to get some pocket money from the pedestrian. So kesian! *cry*
Virtually all the food is good and cheap. But as this is Bangkok, obviously the seafood is great. I love Thai food. Some of the food is not spicy by Thai standards, but sometimes it nearly takes my head off!
We stopped shopping after a while and started on food. Came to this restaurant for some local euthentic Thai foods at CWM.
It was so crowded. Gotto Q up and wait for the seat.
I forgot what is the name of this. When first served, i don't really keen of eating it. It is some veggies mixed with salted fish and crab. Kinda disgusting? NO, you are totally wrong! It tastes super duper yummy! Trust me. ;)
Thai sauce fried chicken. Quite similar like ours.
Craving for some local dessert, we stopped by an ice cream vendor that I knew sold really nice coconut ice creams at 10baht per cup. we were given a coconut each as welcome drinks. Plus points for hospitality.
Best coconut ice creams. Check!
RM1 each. Where in the world can you still find yummy RM1 ice cream. I was so happy! :D
We took a cab and got con! F**K!! The whole real story is like this: We flagged a meter cab from Chatucak Weekend Market and showed the map of our hotel to the cabbie (very near to Platinum Fashion Mall). The stupid Thai cabbie told us that he knows the place.
Steven realized that something going wrong after a while after we got into the cab. The stupid cabbie brought us to somewhere we don’t know and then we said ‘NO’ then he said ‘Sorry’ and continued the ride and again he brought us to another unfamiliar place. Steven was pretty aggro this time coz we we’re meeting with our tour guide at 8pm for Thai Girl show, hehe (I’ll share the story later) and it seemed like we’re getting late, but I managed to cool him down.
Very obviously that the cabbie was trying to con us. Everybody in Thailand, even we know about Platinum Fashion Mall in Bangkok, right? Right? Do you think he really don’t know the way to this super famous mall here? I don’t believe lor. He think we are dumb ass is it? Please la! If like this better don’t become a taxi driver then!
Finally we reached the hotel. This time is the correct one. Haha! We asked him how much we should pay. He said Thai Bath 130. We negotiated with him because he brought us to wrong directions. He said ‘No. No. No!!’ and then started like want to fight with Steven. Our nice bellboy helped us to negotiate the price, but failed. To avoid causing more unhappiness in other people’s country, we just paid him whatever he asked for. So mad!! 130 Thai Bath from Chacutak to Pratunam.. The distance is roughly about 5km or less.
Despite on that, we still checked with our hotel staffs about the rate. They mentioned it is definitely less than what we paid just now. Mad! Mad! Mad!
The night we went to Pratunam Market.
Conveniently located at the corner near the hotel, there's a small pathway link to Pratunam Market. Brightly lighted, it is impossible to miss, and also the first reason it caught my attention on the way here. Tucked into a maze of surrounding concrete this is the garment trade centre of Bangkok, with both retail and wholesale outlets.
It’s not unusual to see buyers from India and othe sub continent countries working on the latest negotiations amongst the crowds of locals and tourists.
Prices are not set in stone by any means, so bargaining is standard practice here.
There are stalls and more stalls selling all manner of clothing, but there also places to buy Thai crafts, music and films DVD’s or CD’s, jewelry and bags.
It is all here in a mass of selling and bartering. Needless to say, it requires some stamina to work through the market, but there are plenty of food vendors selling barbecued food, drinks and fruit.
To find the market take the Skytrain to Ratchethewi on the Sukhumvit line, and then a tuk tuk or taxi to Pratanum Centre. The market is close by. It is walkable from the BTS station but somewhere in the region of 10 to 15 minutes along a less than perfect pavement. Arriving at the market already hot and tired from the walk is not a good thing since all that energy is needed for the market.
Unlike Chatuchak Weekend Market, Pratunam Market on open at night everyday.
Beautiful accesorries. I love all!!!
Good malls. Check!
I feel myself very modern when standing in front of Siam Paragon! :P *blush* Coz this place is having everything IN.
Siam Paragon Thai: สยามพารากอน, Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Siam Paragon includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theatre, Siam Ocean World aquarium, an exhibition hall, The Thai Art Gallery and also an opera concert hall. It also has a large bowling alley and karaoke centre.
This shopping and entertainment complex is an upmarket, five-storey colossus with 500,000 square metres of retail space. The gleaming, modern mall opened in December 2005, and is home to more than 250 famed international and local luxury brands.
From a sporty yellow Ferrari to a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes straight from the set of Sex and the City, Siam Paragon is a shopping mall without rival in Southeast Asia when it comes to luxury goods.
Siam Paragon floor directory:
BF - Oceanarium
GF – Gourmet Paradise
MF – The Luxury
1F – Fashion Avenue
2F – Lifestyle & Leisure
3F – Living & Technology
4F – Paragon Passage & IT World
5F and 6F – The Global Entertaiment
Modern design of Siam Paragon
The Food Hall is divided into three different zones: Food Hall Food Court, Food Hall Gallery, and Food Hall Take Home covering a good half of the mall's huge ground floor.
Food Hall Food Court is arranged in a crescent-like fashion with a sizeable aquarium standing in the middle. Taking a walk around here is an experience in itself, and determining what to have for lunch is nothing less than a daunting task you're faced with.
Further away from the Food Court is the Food Hall Gallery, a slightly more up-scale food venue with a chic setting and a cornucopia of culinary delights. The procedure here is just a tad different because, upon entering the venue, you'll be given a card to be used like a credit card. Food Hall Gallery offers only the best of local and international cuisines all in one place.
The Gourmet Market is an internationally oriented grocery store on the ground level of the shopping center, it carries a vast selection of top imported competing brands and foodstuff items from various nations in Europe, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia, as well as quality exotic brands such as those from Sri Lanka. Domestic Thailand produced items carried often have different flavours or are speciality brands which are not usually stocked elsewhere in Thailand. The sheer number of unique items here is among the most diverse in Thailand, with many expatriot chefs creating their own local brands. The front half of the store is oriented to trial tasting of wide variety of items, and a fresh market with freshness and presentation not typical of Thai supermarkets. It is adjacent to a food court and bread shops area that has a wide range of restaurants and food stalls.
I love books! So i went in to Kinokuniya Book Shop in Siam Paragon for a quick check. :)
The Paragon Cineplex comprises a 14-screen multiplex movie theatre, including smaller Ultra Screen cinemas with reclining seats and the Enigma members-only lounge, as well as an IMAX theatre and the Siam Pavalai, a 1,200-seat theatre suitable for theatrical and musical performances.
Siam Ocean World first opened for business in December of 2005. The aquarium boasts 10,000 square meters of space holding more than 4 million liters of water. Within these waters you’ll find over 30,000 different marine life species, ranging from fish and crabs to sting rays and penguins.
The aquarium is split into 7 distinct themed sections, each featuring marine species unique to the area. These include:
- Weird and Wonderful, which features Pharoah Cuttlefish, Horseshoe Crabs, and the Weedy Seadragon
- Open Ocean, which features the Golden Trevally, the Cow Nosed Eagle Ray, and the Slender Suckerfish
- Deep Reef, featuring the Three-Spot Angelfish, the Long-nosed Unicornfish, and the Humphead Maori Wrasse
- Rainforest, including the Mekong Giant Catfish, the Oriental Small-clawed Otter, and the Arapaima
- Rocky Shore, which houses the Spotted Seal, the Red Sea Star, and the Spotted Eagle Ray
Living Ocean, featuring the colorful Mantis Shrimp, the Stonefish, and the Sargassum Anglerfish and - Sea Jellies, which features the Lagoon Jelly, the Moon Jelly, and the Blue Blubber Jelly.
I am standing in front of Siam Ocean World, BKK
Siam Ocean World is located in the Siam Paragon Shopping center in Bangkok. The aquarium is open daily from 10:00am until 8:00pm. The cost for entrance is 850 Baht per adult and 650 Baht per child. Special dives and activities cost extra.
A trip to the aquarium should be on the top of your itinerary when preparing for a trip to Bangkok. Don’t miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the awesome beauty of a collection of marine life like no other. You may never see some of these incredible species anywhere else on the planet!
How to get there?Reaching at Siam Paragon Mall is very easy as it is centrally located and located right in front of Siam stop, hop on BTS (sky train) from any of the located stations and you are there and because it’s a famous destination which makes it one of the biggest landmarks of Bangkok so hiring a cab from any part of Bangkok and just letting the cab driver know Siam Paragon will lead you there but due to traffic congestion it is better and time consuming to come by BTS.
So what did I think of Bangkok? Crowded, overrun with backpackers and hippy westerners, and pretty much what I was expecting. Having said that, it's a pretty huge city, and I'm ashamed to say that other than the odd trip out, we didn't venture much further. Had we done so, it may have been a different experience. But I was ready to leave, and see some more 'real' Thailand. Bring it on.
Leaving Bangkok. At Suvanabhumi Airport - Bangkok... Bye, beautiful Bangkok... 'Till we meet again! ;)
Kop Khun Ka~
No comments:
Post a Comment