Mar 02 2008
Shopping in Bangkok
It’s difficult to go on a shopping spree when:
1. You’re fat, and
2. You’re poor.
But it can’t be helped. I had to go shopping… IMMEDIATELY… and there’s no time to lose weight. The last time I went shopping was a year ago in Manila. My closet crisis is so bad that I’ve been wearing the same clothes everyday and the office driver changes outfits more often than I do.
Honestly, despite the privileges in Thailand, I would very much prefer to go shopping in Manila than in Bangkok. First, in Manila, there are Bayo, Forme, Kashieka, and Kamiseta (good reasonably-priced Philippine brands). Second, although I’m no Twiggy, I’m not Sumbo, the elephant here in Phnom Penh, either. And Thai women (and men for that matter) are ridiculously skinny. I mean… who wears a size 0? Sometimes, even their XL (pronounced ek-el) tops are too small for me (oh the shame!).
Furthermore, this trip is not only a shopping trip, but also a long-delayed pseudo-honeymoon (delayed due to chickenpox, Honey’s two-month detail to Manila, etc.). And if we went to Manila, what kind of honeymoon would it be if my Mommy and my Daddy and my Yayas are just next door? 
And of course, the airfare to Manila is more than double… even though we were flying budget.
So Bangkok, it was… for six glorious days of resting, shopping, and eating.
My first choice for going clothes shopping for myself was the Pratunam Market, a massive clothing outdoor market selling all kinds of designer clothes, jewelry, bags, shoes, and others. But our taxi from the airport passed through there and I saw the winding lanes of the market stalls, the crowds of people, and the asphyxiating heat and I backed out immediately even before I stepped inside.
Good thing, there is the newly-built Platinum Plaza, just across our hotel. They say that it’s like shopping in Pratunam… but in air-conditioned comfort.
Hundreds of stores and six floors of wholesale women’s clothing stores at amazing discount prices! It would make any girl go crazy! You have to buy at least three of the same items to get a discount. I was able to buy great tops ranging from THB150 to THG300 ($5-10) and dresses from THB600 to THB800 ($20-26).
If you’re going there though… be warned… fitting is not allowed (which is kind of weird to me… so I still prefer Greenhills). The vendors are also not much into bargaining… which is fine with me because I don’t know how to bargain anyway and the prices are reasonable enough.
Another problem I have (in addition to the small sizes) is that Thai women are such fashionistas and their clothes are much too fashionable for my taste. I had to really look far and wide to find a simple blouse. But I did give in and bought three of those really cute short dresses that you have to wear with short shorts which seems to be in vogue in the entire Kingdom of Thailand. (Question: is it also in fashion in Manila? I have no idea.). I also got a really nice leather purse for only THB800.
I was really surprised that there were so many Filipinos in the Platinum Fashion Mall (viajeras perhaps?). We could see and hear them left and right and Honey and I would just smile and observe them (we’re kind of suplado) and admire their bargaining (as well as their lait) skills. They talk loudly in front of us and even about us, probably not suspecting that we’re also Filipinos (I am very Chinese-looking and Honey looks Japanese).
I didn’t want to buy my slacks in Platinum because I always prefer to fit pants. So we went to the malls. One of the most popular and upscale malls in Bangkok is the Siam Paragon.
It was way too big for us though and we didn’t go shopping there as it was too overwhelming. Besides, the brands are too intimidating… Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo (yeah, they have Jimmy Choo). We did eat there with one of the Legal Manangs who work in Bangkok.
We did go shopping at the newly-renovated Central World, which is walking distance from the Platinum Mall (well, manageable if you’re wearing Crocs).
This is the mall we always frequent whenever we’re here in Bangkok. So even if its size is immense, because we’re familiar with its configuration, it wasn’t as intimidating to us and we knew exactly where we wanted to go. There are two big department stores… Isetan and Zen (like Rustan’s) and what seems like millions of stores and terrific restaurants in-between, including my favorite bookstore, Kinokuniya.
They were still celebrating Chinese New Year at that time so there were plenty of sales.
I managed to get really huge discounts (as much as 70%) at Pena House where I bought slacks and Hush Puppies for shoes. And of course, it was in Supersport where we bought our Crocs.
Naturally, Honey didn’t go shopping at the Platinum Fashion Mall… he only buys quality clothes that last him for years. 
When it comes to dressing up, Honey is like Charlie Brown. No silly…. he doesn’t wear a white shirt with a silly jagged stripe everyday. But he does have an entire closet of clothes and shoes which are exactly the same. He usually only buys two or three… but they are exactly the same.. kind, brand, etc.. Here in Bangkok, this is his favorite brand.
Jim Thompson is an American who introduced Thai silk to the world using them in modern fashion. He bought one shirt here (finished up his clothes budget in one go)… which costs as much as my entire new wardrobe which I got from the Platinum Fashion Mall.
Aaaaah… city-girl Toe is really at home in this urban jungle of Bangkok.
Technorati tags: Bangkok
Thailand
Pratunam Market
Platinum Fashion Mall
Centralworld Plaza
Jim Thompson
- Crocs Shoes
- Tourist Privileges in Thailand
- My Bangkok
- How to Detect Filipinos in Bangkok
- On Packing Clothes
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Off topic, did you know that the whereabouts of Jim Thompson — who mysteriously disappeared in the jungles of Thailand in the mid-60s — is still unknown up to this day?
BTW, Thailand is also the Pinoy viajeras’ favorite destination because their fashion is more updated and cheaper than in HK. Kaya yung mga nakita mong Pinoy malamang viajera ang mga yun…
i remember the last time i was in bangkok with some friends, i was only able to buy a grand total of two items in a span of about 4 hours: a sterling silver ring with engraved chinese characters and a mini skirt.
as for my friends, i think mga 4 pairs of jeans and some shirts.
says a lot about my shopping skills lol
You are really lucky to have a husband like yours… I wouldn’t even think of a shopping trip… even in my worst nightmares shopping is not happening!
wow shopping delight. Pratunam is such a popular destination in Thailand that everytime I have an officemate who would be traveling in Thailand (for official business) everyone will have their own pabili and you have to buy them only in Pratunam simply because it’s cheap, especially the shirts. I usually don’t fit my clothes when I bought my stuff there so I didn’t know na bawal pala, but thinking about it now, yea it was weird.
you’re not fat. why do you keep saying that? but well, compared to the Thais, we look fat. napansin ko din yun. Thais are really skinny. May nakita pa ako dating mga babae na naka-shoulder pads, kamusta naman yun!
yung shoes na binili ko sa tsangi dyan (forgot the place), hanggang ngayon nagagamit ko pa. matibay talaga siya, and to think i bought that for 200+ baht only. galing noh.
hahahahaha! you are so funny, Toe! And so right! Thais are super skinny! When I first came here, I was almost as skinny, so shopping was a delight! Now that I’ve grown older (and wider, why oh why???!), shopping at Pratunam and the sidewalks is agony!
the Pinoys you met in Platinum must really have been the viajeras unless you went shopping there on the weekend. Your Honey is wise you know, maybe we can learn a thing or two from him. His shirt may be very expensive compared to your loy-ha-sip (150 bht) clothes, but it will years longer naman.
i don’t think you will find difficulty at all since you are neither fat nor poor.
Snglguy, yes… ang dami ngang mga conspiracy theories about Jim Thompson. Whatever… he did a great job of bringing Thai silk to the world. Most of our male colleagues wear Jim Thompson shirts… especially if the attire calls for batik (batik used generically… meaning casual, not shirt and tie… the Indonesians, Malaysians, and Bruneians, wear the real Batik, Filipinos wear polo barong, Thais and Cambodians wear their silk shirts). They are really very nice and of good quality.
Yes, mga viajera nga siguro mga yon kc ang dami-daming binibili.
Carlotta, hehe… four hours lang naman… at sa totoo lang, yung mahahanap mo dito, parang mahahanap din sa’tin. Kaya lang dito ako nagsh-shopping kc mas malapit sa Phnom Penh.
shucks!!! ang daming malls! kakalula din!
Anyway I think short dresses are still IN here in PI…some are pairing it with leggings but leggings are so last fall already hehe
How I wish I can visit Thailand…someday soon maybe. But seeing the malls, parang shucks…kaya bang libutin yan ng 1 or 2 days? I know clothes and bags are really cheap there…mas maganda kasi mag shopping pag alam mo yung pupuntahan mo na. And no fitting??? jeez….
six floors of women’s clothing? hala. isang maliit na floor lang ang katumbas nun sa mga lalaki hehehe. why such a huge store for basically the same kind of shirts, pants and shoes? tapos tabi-tabi pa.
same lang yung shirt na nasa isang store tapos titingnan din yung nasa kabila? tapos babalikan yung naunang store kapag di masyadong maganda ang fit nung huli. aaaah!
hindi masyadong reklamador no? hehe
Hahaha… Sidney, you’re funny.
ah, both of you deserve this long overdue honeymoon! lol…sa rainforest din, di ako mahilig mag shopping ng clothes. di ko type saka mahal dun.
Bangkok is a haven for viajeras.
Hope you enjoyed your trip.
I went to Thailand for the World Universities Debating Championship and I must say Platinum is a dream. BANG FOR THE BUCK! I bought a lot of great coats there for 600 baht or less!
Rayts, tell your officemates to go to Platinum this time… it’s just as cheap daw… but air-conditioned.
Hehe… exactly… compared to the Thais and the Cambodians… makikilala mo talaga ang mga Pinoy kc mas mataba.
Ang ninipis talaga nila… kahit mga lalake… mas sexy sakin… hahaha! 
Baka sa Suan Lum yon or sa Chatuchak?
I love Suan Lum though we didn’t go there this time… too little time. But we love the street food there. 
IA, ano ba kinakain nila at ganon sila kanipis? Bakit ako, tuwing pumupunta akong Bangkok, tumataba ako kc ang sarap ng pagkain?
We were there on a Friday. They were viajeras, I guess. Though, I also met the wife of my former boss and she was definitely not a viajera. 
What’s the loy-hasip? 
Evi… hehe… a woman could never be too thin (especially around the skinny Thai women) nor too rich (who ever has enough money when on a shopping trip?).
Verns, kung malling lang… jan ka na lang sa’tin. I only go malling here because it’s much nearer than Manila.
There are other wonderful things to see in Thailand… pero ano ba tong sinasabi ko? Hindi pa nga ako nakakatour sa Bangkok kc panay mall lang pinupuntahan ko… hahaha! 
But anyway, maybe (maybe lang I’m not sure), Central World and Siam Paragone are probably like Mall of Asia. 
But there is no Kashieca (and other mid-range brands) which is my favorite brand in Manila.
Zherwin, oh no… iba’t-iba sila… so much variety to choose from. So you don’t have to canvass which is cheaper because they’re all different. It’s a regular girl’s heaven.
Hehe… you’re such a guy! 
Ipanema, rainforest… haha… that’s funny.
Thanks, we really enjoyed ourselves and we got ourselves rejuvenated. 
I heard nga that it’s expensive to Brunei and even the salesladies recommend to the buyers to buy in Singapore. 
Dito… wala talaga. 
Wow, galing Benj! You must be a wonderful debater! Yes, Honey saw some wonderful coats for about that price. He would have bought but we were flying budget and a coat would be too heavy. But we hope to go back and buy it.
Waittaminute! Fitting was allowed in the stores that I went to. :p
Well, the cheapo items weren’t allowed to be fitted – those under 100 — but i was allowed to fit really COOL shirts and coats. I should’ve bought more!
bangkok na tlga kyo?
mahihirapan din ako maghanap ng size. di ka bumili ng jimmy choo?
Benj, okay, okay…. you got me there… I’m a cheappo.
Sometimes, the salesladies would allow me to fit… but they would make a THB200 cost THB500 and I’d just move on to the next store. 
Well, you could always go back… there’s Cebu Pacific… that alone would only cost you half a coat from Rustan’s so it would be well worth it.
Hi Tin-Tin, oh no… we’re still in Phnom Penh. We were just vacationing in nearby Bangkok.
Oh no! Ang mahal ni Jimmy. 
Yung mga babaeng kasama namin pumasok sa Jimmy Choo. Pagpinagsama-sama namin yung pera naming 5, makakabili na kami ng isang pares ng sapatos nya. hahaha
Wow, sosyal naman ni Honey. I remember just oogling at the fine stuff at Jim Thompson. I so wanted to buy a scarf (kung saan ko isusuot, ewan ko lang) kaya lang medyo out of budget. Pang tiangge tiangge lang kasi ang laman ng aking wallet…hay buhay
Hey, the new shopping places look promising!! The last time we were there we stayed at the Pratunam area and I had a fantastic time making tawad tawad with the tinderas.
I noticed din that the sizes are kinda small. I couldn’t buy anything except shoes kasi I’m not exactly balingkinita. Amazona pa siguro. Walang magkasya sa akin. I ended up just buying shoes and decor
Wow, looks like you have a swell time in Thailand ! It does look like a shopper’s paradise
Same here, there is a large Asian (Chinese) mall with lots of cool clothes, mostly the lastest fashions from Hongkong and Taiwan and reasonably priced but problem is, they’re cut for the Asian women – aka thin. Slowly, slowly as the years go by, my wife is beginning to get disqualified size-wise in that mall hehe
Benj, yes, Jimmy Choo prices are crazy.
But he’s so well-known because of Sex and the City. 
Kongkong622, kaya nga yung budget niya for shopping… nauubos lang sa isang item sa Jim Thompson’s.
But it’s worth it naman because it lasts long.
Aren’t the sizes small in Thailand? All the women are so tiny.
Our hotel is also near Pratunam as well as Platinum… it’s great there because it’s so convenient and so many things to buy. 
BW, hehe… good she doesn’t read my blog or else, lagot ka.
Yes, it’s a shopper’s paradise… but I think so is the Philippines… it’s just that Bangkok is nearer.
But that’s good there’s a large Asian mall there. I suppose they sell not only clothes but also a lot of other goods from Asia.
when husband goes shopping, he knows where he wants to go, knows how much he wants to spend, and knows what he wants. And out of the mall, he goes.
Belle, aaaah… smart husband.
This post made me crave for Bangkok. Its one of the last bargain basements of the world. I suppose dami ding made in China. But the food …. bangkok food is simply the best. Gusto ko yung kakanin nila … beats ours ha. I have this long ago dream of studying thai kakanin cooking and then make a business of it here. But like most of my biz plans …. they remain ideas in my head until they languish to oblivion.
Annamanila, cge… if ever this biz idea is freed from your head, oorder ako ha.