Thailand is known for its lush silks and elaborate textiles, but in Bangkok proper, cheap and trendy clothing abounds. As we can see from Bangkok’s haunted mall and airport terminal, shopping is a bit of cultural obsession, one that is highly contagious. You can’t avoid shopping in Bangkok even if you try: opportunities for snapping … read the full post

Walking down any Bangkok street, you’ll be bombarded with vats of pork soup and made-to-order som tam. So many options; how do you choose? For a mouthwatering Thai lunch, I avoid the obvious tourist traps and do as Bangkokians do: eat in a “tent”. Around business districts, like Phloen Chit, Silom and Asok, lunch spots … read the full post

Chatuchak market (pronounced jat-u-jak), or “JJ” for short, is packed with items to buy — from refurbished vintage dresses through to Yorkshire terriers and quite a bit in between. JJ is not a made-for-tourists destination; gaggles of locals make a pilgrimage to this outdoor market each weekend. For some, JJ is a shopping heaven, and … read the full post

Stuck in an airport, even one that feels like outer space, can be a claustrophobic experience, verging on the traumatic. If you have some serious time to kill before you’re heading home, or you’re in Suvarnabhumi Airport on a layover, you can peruse through the duty-free section for “authentic” Thai souvenirs; just because you didn’t … read the full post

We now know what you need to consider bringing to Bangkok. But besides the standard Thai souvenirs, what should you buy in Bangkok rather than at home? Here’s a list of items you may have assumed are not readily available on this side of the world and may even save some cash picking up here. … read the full post

File this under “World’s Weirdest Shopping Malls.” That Bangkok has a love affair with shopping malls is not a secret. It’s a destructive trend at times, such as when they city decides to get rid of a wildly popular and fun market (RIP Suan Lum Night Market) so that yet another department store/hotel combination can … read the full post

When planning a trip to Thailand, one might envision elephant rides, street food stalls, and white sandy beaches. But if you really want to live as the Thais do, go shopping. Shopping is the unofficial national pastime of Thailand, and in the capital, shopping malls tower over every soi. Singapore may win for the number … read the full post

Visiting friends and family members often have very similar queries when they land in Bangkok. “What are Bangkok must-sees?” Here are a few. “What is some food I’ve just gotta try?” How about these. And, “where do you suggest I buy fabric?” I have a few thoughts on that as well. Thai silk has become … read the full post

Wet markets in Thailand are easy to come across — gigantic Khlong Toei simmers in the south of Bangkok near the river and Hwai Kwang bubbles and brews in Ratchada — but orderly Or Tor Kor is a real treat in the north. Or Tor Kor (actually pronounced Aw Taw Kaw, every syllable rhyming with … read the full post

As much as a complimentary foot massage, free cookies, and a wide screen at Siam Paragon sound appealing, sometimes you just want to watch a DVD from the comfort of your own bed. There is no Blockbuster, Netflix, or Hulu in Thailand, and WiFi, even at its prime, can be as slow as a food … read the full post