KoolHaus

Useful Maps around Bangkok, Thailand

2006-01-30T02:51:00.001-08:00

Here's the map of Patpong showing all the A Go Go bars and massage parlours : http://www.nanadisco.com/Maps/patpong.html

Another map of Patpong : http://www.mensasia.com/Travel/Thail.../Patpong2.html

Overall location of Patpong :

http://www.mensasia.com/Travel/Thail.../Patpong1.html

http://www.mensasia.com/Travel/Thail...ngkokmaps.html

Here's the Bangkok River Taxi Map : http://www.mensasia.com/Travel/Thail...Rivertaxi.html

BTS Syktrain : http://www.mensasia.com/Travel/Thail.../Skytrain.html

Lumpini Park, Bangkok

2006-01-30T02:51:00.000-08:00

If you intend to spend 3 or more days in Bangkok, I suggest that you take some time off from your shopping and other activities to visit the famous 58-hectares Lumpini Park ( at Rama IV Road) to 'recharge your batteries'

Lumpini Park web-sites :-

http://www.bangkoksite.com/Parks/LumpiniPark1.htm

http://bangkok.thailandtoday.com/lei...mpinipark.html

PROFILE OF LUMPINI PARK :
Named after the Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, this is Bangkok's largest and most popular park. The park is bordered by Rama IV Road to the South, Sarasin Road to the North, Witthayu Road to the East and Ratchadamri Road to the West, with entrance gates on all sides. A large artificial lake in the center is surrounded by broad, well-tended lawns, wooded areas and walking paths. In other words, it is the best outdoor escape from Bangkok without leaving town.

This 360-rai (58 hectare) plot of land was formerly known as the Sala Deang field, and was the private property of King Rama VI. In 1925, the King donated the land to the nation to be used as a public and fair ground. The Siamrath Phiphithapan Trade Fair held here to promote Thai producta among Thais and forigners was discontinued after the death of the King Rama VI.

One of the best times to visit the park is in the early morning. Suan Lumpini is a place of moods rather than sights. In the morning it's full of people exercising. More striking and graceful than the joggers are Chinese tai chi groups, making slow movements to music. Along the gates, vendors set up tables to dispense fresh snake blood and bile considered a health tonic by many Thais and Chinese. Rowing boats and puddle boats can be rented at the lake. A weight-lifting area in one section becomes a miniature "muscle beach" on the weekends. Other facilities include a snack bar, several areas with tables and benches for picnics and a couple of tables where ladies serve Chinese tea. Rest rooms are placed at intervals throughout the park.

Koh Loy or Floating Island
King Rama VI arranged for example of native plants from all regions of the country to be planted here for the education of the people.

Royal Monument of King Rama VI
Located at the park's main entrance. Alumni of Vajiravudh College built the memorial with the additional funding from the government of F.M. Plaek Pibulsongkram and public donations.

Clock Tower
This Chinese style structure was built in 1925 as preparations for the Siamrath Phiphitthapan Trade Fair.

Public Library
This is the first public library in Thailand. It has 30,000 books and has opened audio and visual educational services, promotions to encourage reading, and book exhibitions etc.

OPENING HOURS:
Daily 4:30am-8pm

COST:
Free of Charge
Boat Rental at Bht30/Half Hr.

FEATURE:
- Bangkok's largest and most popular park
- Koh Loy or Floating Island
- Royal Monument of King Rama VI
- Clock Tower
- Public Library

GETTING THERE:
BUS
- 4, 13, 14, 15, 17, 25, 45, 46, 47, 62, 67, 74, 76, 106, 109, 115, 116, 149, AC4, AC5, AC15, AC62, AC67, AC76, MC14, MC17
BTS - Sala Daeng Station

DO & DON'T:
- Do join in an early morning exercise of "Tai Chi"
- If you dare, do try fresh snake blood and bile

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS / FACILITIES :
Accommodation »
- Dusit Thani
- Pan Pacific Bangkok
- The Sukhothai Bangkok

Food & Restaurants
- Soi Polo BBQ Chicken
- Anna Cafe

Nightlife & Entertainment
- Patpong
- Lung Suan Pubs

Shopping
- Robinson Department Store
- Silom Complex
- Jim Thompson Silk Shop

Sightseeing
- Lumpini Thai Boxing Stadium
- Snake Farm

Additional info :-

Lumpini Park, Bangkok

Lumpini Park is the biggest park in the central business district and is a favourite amongst office workers for early morning jogging and early evening aerobics (an instructor leads an aerobics session every evening around 17:00-17:30). The park is also popular with ethnic Chinese who practice ‘Tai Chi’ – a curious slow motion exercise derived from the martial arts. The park has a huge central lake with paddle boats and is sometimes the venue for musical performances. A trip to the park can be combined with a visit to the statue of King Chulalongkorn as well as a trip to the Lumpini Night Bazaar. You can also purchase snake blood and bile from vendors in the park – highly regarded as health tonics amongst ethnic Chinese.

Details: The park is open daily from 05:00 to 20:00. Admission to the park is free.

How to get there: Lumpini Park has entrances on Rama IV Road, Ratchadamri Road and Witthayu (Wireless) Road and is within easy walk of Silom Road. The nearest BTS station is Saladang and the nearest MRT Silom/Lumpini. MRT is probably the easiest way to get there. A taxi fare from the centre should cost around 40 Baht.

The following buses will get you there:

Air-conditioned bus: 4, 547

Bus number: 14, 17, 46, 47, 50, 115

Some more info :-

Named after the Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, Lumpini Park is Bangkok's largest and most popular park. The park is bordered by Rama IV Road to the South, Sarasin Road to the North, Witthayu Road to the East and Ratchadamri Road to the West, with entrance gates on all sides. A large artificial lake in the center is surrounded by broad, well-tended lawns, wooded areas and walking paths. In other words, it is the best outdoor escape from Bangkok without leaving town.

One of the best times to visit the park is in the early morning. Suan (Park) Lumpini is a place of moods rather than sights. In the morning it is full of people exercising. More striking and graceful than the joggers are Chinese Tai Chi groups, making slow movements to music. The practitioners of Tai Chi who can be seen in Lumpini Park every early morning (around 5 AM-7:AM) put less strain on their bodies' circulation. Tai Chi is a rather soft Chinese form of exercise, healthy not only for the body but allegedly also for the mind.

Along the gates, vendors set up tables to dispense fresh snake blood and bile considered a health tonic by many Thais and Chinese. Rowing boats and puddle boats can be rented at the lake.

A weight-lifting area in one section becomes a miniature " music beach" on the weekends. Other facilities include a snack bar, several areas with tables and benches for picnics and a couple of tables where ladies serve Chinese tea. Rest rooms are placed at intervals throughout the park.

Musical shows are sometimes held in this spacious park. The park which is enclosed by a high wall and locked overnight.. It can be argued whether the joggers serve their health by doing their practice there as the surrounding part of town is heavily polluted. Nevertheless, the elaborate jogging track, complete with stops for weight lifting and special gymnastics, is in use all day, especially in the early mornings and late afternoons

Thailand: Shopping by the Rules

2006-01-30T02:48:00.000-08:00

Shopping by the Rules

When you shop in Thailand, set aside your traditional approach to shopping. Our guidelines below will help you seek out treasures in the most pleasurable way, with the least amount of wear and tear on you.

1. The most important shopping areas are concentrated in the central business districts and a few outlying suburban areas. We recommend staying at a hotel in close proximity to the main shopping streets in the center of town.

2. Concentrate your shopping on a few shopping areas within close proximity of each other each day.

3. Prepare to walk a great deal within each shopping area, but use transportation to go from one shopping area to another.

4. Use the Skytrain, taxis, or hotel cars when traveling within or between shopping areas.

Our rule of thumb: If we must walk more than one kilometer, we take the Skytrain, taxi, or boat, or we rent a hotel car and driver by the hour, half-day, or day.

5. Take your rain and sun gear with you whenever you go out. Thailand's hot, humid weather can be unpredictable!

6. Expect to shop in two very different shopping cultures which require different shopping skills. The world of fixed prices is familiar to visitors from the West, but the second shopping culture consists of shophouses, markets, and hawkers, tending to be disorganized and require bargaining.

7. The day and night markets can be colorful and fun to shop in, but only if you are open to sights, sounds, and smells not normally found in other shopping sites.

8. Most department stores and some shopping centers primarily cater to the shopping preferences of local residents rather than to foreign tourists. You won't find a lot of quality products in these places, although there are a few exceptional shopping centers in Bangkok that target foreign visitors and Thailand's upper class.

9. The best quality products are invariably found in the major hotel shopping arcades and a few shopping centers with a reputation for quality.

10. Expect to get the best prices on locally produced items that use inexpensive labor.

11. Don't expect to get something for nothing.

12. Ask for assistance whenever you feel you need it.

13. Don't be surprised if some shopkeepers take a lot of your time in developing a personal and long-term relationship with you. Business in Thailand is still a set of personal relations.

Shopping Guide - Where to find things in Bangkok

2006-01-30T02:47:00.000-08:00

P A R T 1

We are living in the Sukhumvit area, and can give some advice regarding good locations to buy your groceries and things you may need while living in Bangkok. Now, we will not compare prices at all locations (except supermarkets), but concentrate on those venues that can be easily used by public transport (that is the skytrain and the subway), or on foot. This is not exactly what most tourists need, but may be of help to those who stay in Bangkok for a longer time.

Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
Along Sukhumvit road there is ample choice as to where to buy your groceries and daily necessities.

The best choice by far to do this is at Foodland in soi 5. It is open 24 hours a day, and actually busy at most times. The reason for being a best choice, is that you can find most necessary items and food here at lower prices than about anywhere else (except of course local markets) There is also a quiet busy restaurant counter for a quick reasonable lunch or dinner. It is located close to the entrance of the soi, and the only thing against it, is that the local environment is not optimal, that is, there are prostitutes and people who seem to loiter around (doing what exactly?) in abundance around the area, giving it somehow the appearance of semi-criminality. If you do your groceries, and have to take a taxi back to your hotel or apartment, you will still be better off than being things closer to home.

Tops Supermarket (at Robinson Department Store, soi 19) is more fancy, has a foodcourt, but prices inside the supermarket are much more than you would pay at Foodland. In effect, even when discounts or promotions are given, prices are still usually higher than at Foodland. Of course, you are at Robinson, and can do some shopping inside the department store.

You can get a membercard at Tops and will be asked to present it each time you buy things. There are regular discounts for members only (some discounts are borderline, but sometimes there are some really good deals). Furthermore what you spend is tallied, and after spending a certain amount, you will get a discount voucher.
We noticed something somewhat disconcerting during one of our last visits to Robinson. We felt the need to express our opinion about services in the 'fresh vegetables' section. Unfortunately, even after asking few of the employees, we could not find any mailbox where customers could mail their suggestions or complaints for the store. This seems almost inappropriate, since any major business or shopping center can learn a lot from listening to its customers.

Villa Market around soi 33, is the original supermarket in the area, and popular mainly with foreigners. It is expensive though, but you can find some items here that are not easily found at other supermarkets, even though the store itself is not especially large. The have a large bagel collection for one thing, and also a large wine collection on the second floor.

Closeby on the upper floors of Emporium Department Store (connected to the skytrain) is a rather fancy supermarket offering lots of attractive wares, especially a large collection of fruits and vegetables, and Thai food, you do not find easily elsewhere. It is not as expensive as one would expect (in view of its location at Emporium) but possibly build as an afterthought, since getting your things from the upper floors to street level and Sukhumvit Road is a chore, if you do not have a car parket in the basement.

Hypermarkets, offering cheaper goods, sometimes in bulk, and also cheap clothes and other necessities can be found when taking the subway. Tesco-Lotus is located at Rama 9 station, while Carrefour (and also a Robinson Department Store) is located at the next station, at Thailand Cultural Center.

Emporium (at Phrompong Skytrain Station) is an upperscale shopping center with many fashion and designer brands. It also houses a department store, supermarket and movie theatres.

Seven Elevens are ubiquitous in Bangkok and can be found at the beginning of most sois, and on the main streets. We think there are about 2,000 of these stores in Bangkok alone, and most are doing a good trade. Wares are somewhat higher than in supermarkets, but the shops are quite convenient when you need only a few items like cola drinks or a beer.

Department Stores
Central Chitlom is easily reached (connected with the skytrain station at Chitlom) and offers a lot of fashionable clothes and toiletries. As most other department stores, there seem to be continuous promotions and discounts (instead of lowering the prices the whole year, as would be more appropriate). It has also a Tops supermarket connected to it on the first floor, and as most Centrals it also includes Super Buy (electronic goods), and a large collection of sporting goods.

Emporium (located at skytrain station) is even more upmarket if possible, and offers a lot of shops besides its department store. The place is large, but has the advantage of having a lot of space to walk and hang around, which is what a lot of people actually do.
Siam Square offers more like a large collection of smaller shops (a lot of clothes outlets), besides a lot of fast food restaurants. It is the place to go if you want to see 'cute' Thai girls (and metrosexual boys), who dress up just within acceptable levels. This is where you will find the largest collection of girls who are hanging around, displaying invariably parts of their buttocks (low cut trousers), when making the slightest movement. Please do not make the assumption that this has actually anything to do with 'availability', it is just being cool and showing off.

P A R T 2

Going to Chatuchak weekend market

Both the skytrain and the subway can bring you all the way to Chatuchak nowadays, and going there is certainly a must if you are interested in Thai artefacts. You will find lots of cute things there to decorate your house at modest prices, besides cheap clothing. The place is also (in)famous for its trade in pets and animals with all that is connected to it, like pet food and accessories. But take your bottles of water with you, it can be really hot out there, and there are masses of people around. It is open during weekend days only.

Computers : Hardware and Software

If you want to check out computer outlets in Central Bangkok, we can recommend two major centers :
1) Pantip Plaza
Pantip Plaza is located a 5 minutes walk from Ratchathewi skytrain station

2) Fortune Town
Fortune Town is located at the Subway station called Rama IX
(computer shops on the third and fourth floors)

In both centers, you will find lots of computer hardware and accessories, as well as supplies of software and games. Both centers are famous for having pirated computer software of about everything, but the last year or two, there has been a well intended crackdown on pirated software. Nevertheless, while we certainly do not recommend buying it, there seems still to be a regular supply of software at 150 baht a disk. The best deals may be the compilation disks of mostly freeware and shareware, that can contain tens and tens of useful items on one CD. We recommend fullheartedly to buy the games that are available for instance at Zest. Popular computer games (legal version, only to be sold in Thailand) can be had for 350-600 baht, a real bargain.

At both Fortune Town (4th Floor) and Panthip Plaza (upper Floor) we recommend a visit to IT City outlets, where you can find most things you are looking for (except software) under one roof.

Hardware Stores
There are two important hardware stores around town : HomePro and Homeworks (this one associated with Central Group).

An HomePro outlet is located at Wave Place, conveniently connected with the Phloenchit skytrain station. There are both a HomePro and Homeworks (in Robinson store) located close to Thailand Cultural Center subway station. At that area you will also find a Carrefour and Robinson Department Store, so it is actually a big shopping area, but you will not find many foreigners there, even though it is quite easily reached nowadays.

At both HomePro and Home Works, you will find lots of 'do-it-yourself' equipment, bathrooms, kitchens, tiles, garden equipment, construction equipment, electrical hardware and the like. If you buy a sufficient amount (for instance to install or redecorate your bathroom), they will also provide service in checking thing out, and providing you with the labor to do it at nominal or low costs.

Furniture
For the newcomer to Bangkok who is looking for new furniture, we would suggest you visit MBK- Center (formerly known as Mahboonkrong). On the fifth floor you will find ample choice of both cheap and upmarket furniture. As far as we know, this is the largest collection in Central Bangkok you will find. 10% discounts on the suggested price seems to be standard. MBK center can easily be reached by skytrain, a little walk from Siam Square. Best is to take the connection to National Stadium, and take the walkway into MBK from there.
(this is NOT an advertisement, just free advice)
Pathumwan Princess hotel is located at MBK-Center.[room rates starting from 75 USS]

Mobile Phones
If you need anything done on your mobile phone, want to buy one, or need any mobile phone accessories, we suggest you wander around MBK Center and check things out at the different outlets there. The fourth floor seems to have tens of shops where you can be helped. Possibly you will be better off if you can speak the language, but you can try to get around in English.
MBK center can easily be reached by skytrain, a little walk from Siam Square. Best is to take the connection to National Stadium, and take the walkway into MBK from there.

Another place where there are a lot of phone outlets, is at Fortune Tower (lower floors), located at Rama 9 subway station (closeby on the upper floors lots of computer hardware and software, as well as a Tesco-Lotus hypermarket)

Sportswear :
Sportswear both cheap and expensive is widely available throughout Bangkok. For large stores, you can visit virtually any Central Department Store or Robinson Store, and head for the SuperSports section, where you will find all kinds of apparel sportswear, tennis and golf equipment, sneakers from all major brands like Nike and Adidas.

At Fortune Town (on the basement floor), there is a large store called Sports World, with also a big choice of the above goods, although we did not see a Nike section on our last visit.

Fortune Town is located at the Rama 9 station of the MRTA subway. Around Nana, next to the entry to the skytrain (on Sukhumvit on the side with the uneven numbered sois), you will find two stores that sell shirts from famous soccer clubs. Whether they are original or faked, we do not know. Prices in those shops may be a little bit high, so walk around on Sukhumvit in the adjacent area, and you may find some street vendors selling the same outfits at a price of around 300-400 baht a piece. In the past we have bought these soccer shirts from some young relatives, and found them to be of good quality.

P A R T 3

Fast food, bread and the like :
McDonald's can be found all around town. Other burger fast food restaurants have not fully developed, so you will have to stick with this one. Prices are in our opinion extremely low. Example, one hamburger + one cheeseburger + medium French fries goes for about 85 baht.

There are many Pizza outlets around town, the two most available being Pizza Hut and The Pizza Company. Their wares are very similar, and when compared to McDonald's their prizes are higher.

Finding reasonable bread in Bangkok is difficult. As far as we know there are no proper bakeries anywhere to purchase standard 'usual' fresh bread. Most bread you can buy is industrially made and tastes as such. Furthermore, standard bread bought in supermarkets is usually sweetened, sometimes with honey. You can find somehow acceptable bread at the 'Boulange' bakeries available in most Tops supermarkets.

The best bagels in town are at Au Bon Pain outlets. The outlets however are not widely scattered around town. There is one somewhere in the back at the ground floor of Discovery Center (Siam Square), and one at Bumrungrad hospital. The branch that is most conveniently located is close to the exit of the Silom station of the subway. But our experience indicates that now regularly bagels are sold out at most times of day. Possibly best to get them as early as they open in the morning.

Reasonable, but somewhat sweetened bagels can be found at Villa Market (close to Phromphong skytrain station).

Pretzels can be found at Foodland (Sukhumvit soi 5), and if you can find them also at the 'Boulange' bakeries of Tops supermarkets.

Danish rolls and baked goods are a clear disaster. Just looking at the contraptions will make you loose your appetite. Somehow though, they seem to be popular with Thai people. You will find Danish with mayonnaise spread out on top, if that is something you favor.

Subway has opened a few outlets in Bangkok and they are available close to Nana on both sides of Sukhumvit road, and at the beginning of soi 23, Sukhumvit road. Now, Subway seems to position itself as providing healthy food, but while we enjoy their sandwiches once in a while, we also understand that they are partly to blame for overall obesity in the U.S.A. This in view of the size of their servings. For some reason also, there are no basic ham or cheese sandwiches available. Instead, cheese is added to any bread you order, adding another 150-200 unnecessary calories. Maybe our American friends do not know better, but in our opinion the six different breads to choose from all basically taste the same, and have the same texture. The bread is obviously designed for eating without chewing first, and that way is perfectly suitable for edentates. Possible at least one choice of bread should be just a little bit chewy.

Actually the best fresh bread can be found at Indian and Arab restaurants. If you are not islamophobic we can recommend one restaurants where you can buy freshly baked flat Arab bread made in front of your eyes. It is located in soi 3/1 (a small soi in between soi 3, which is the wide road at Nana intersection, and soi 5 Sukhumvit Road, where Foodland is located). Just walk into the soi, and after about 50 meters on the left you will find Petra Restaurants. It looks like a back entrance to the restaurants, but as far as we know, it is the front entrance. Order a few flat breads, it will be done in a few minutes. Then get one or two portions of hummus, and you will have a very decent healthy meal (maybe you can ask not to put olive oil on top, and use your own oil at home, just to avoid spilling the oil while going home).

Bangkok - Shopping Areas

2006-01-30T02:45:00.000-08:00

Siam Square - Siam Center - Siam Discovery Center
Restaurants, theaters and shopping, shopping and more shopping. The air-condition is refreshing after a walk in this busy city. Cinema tickets are often a little more expensive than elsewhere in this country, but the seats are extremely comfortable. Go to Siam Square by taxi, tuk-tuk or by sky train (named BTS - Bangkok Mass Transit) to Siam station.

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MBK - Mah Boon Krong
Next to Siam Center and Siam Square. This shopping center has some of the lowest prices you can find in Bangkok. Everything from mobile (cellular) phones to clothes and even food can be bought here. Absolutely a store that we recommend. Go there by sky train to Siam Station or by taxi or tuk-tuk.
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Chinatown
Markets, food and all kind of businesses is what you will find in Bangkok's Chinatown. Chinatown is one of the oldest areas in Bangkok and the Chinese settled down here about 1780. Yaowarat Road is one of the streets that we recommend you to visit. The Thieves Market, or Nakhon Kasem, has good prices on antiques, second hand, electronics and many other products and goods. Go there by taxi, tuk-tuk or boat on Chao Praya river.
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Pantip Plaza
The largest computer store in Bangkok. All equipment and accessories you might possibly need for your computer. Or why not buy a new PC, Mac or laptop. There are often very reasonable prices. Just mind that the warranty is maybe only valid in Thailand. Located on Thanon Phetburi (Phetburi Road) rather close to Siam Square.
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The Emporium
The store you should visit if you are into luxury, fashion and "quality shopping". There is no problem to find your Versace suit and a Cartier watch here. But window shopping or purchasing less expensive items can also be an alternative if your wallet aren't that big. The Emporium is located on Sukhumvit Road, Soi 26. Go by taxi, tuk-tuk or sky train to Phrom Phong Station.
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Khao San Road
This street used to be the backpacking "Mecca" of South-East Asia, and to some extent it still is, even if you find all "type" of tourists here nowadays. Here you will find clothes, bags, cd's, tourist agencies, silver and a lot of "souvenirs" etc. Do not forget to bargain.
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Markets
We recommend Bobe Market and Pratunam Market if you want to buy cheap clothes. The Bobe market is reachable by canal taxi boat, taxi or tuk-tuk. Pratuam is close to Amari Watergate hotel. Take a taxi, tuk-tuk or the sky train to Chit Lom Station to get there. Do also read about the Thieves Market in Chinatown above.
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P A R T 1

Chao Phraya Tower Shopping Arcade

Offers designer boutiques, leather shops, Thai silk shops and art galleries. Opens daily from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. It is located at 23 Rongnamkhaeng Lane (next to the Shangri-La). Telephone 237-0077.

Mah Boon Krong Center

Built in 1986, this 7-story high and 300 meters long complex was the biggest shopping center in Bangkok. Mah Boon Krong Center (MBK), next to Siam Square, is a window on popular culture. (Not that you'll find much to buy, unless you're looking for plastic shoes, polyester dresses and counterfeit watches.) It's very Thai and always bustling, while the upscale malls seem to echo. On the upper floors, dozens of shops are dedicated to the second-most-important status symbol - the mobile phone (the first being Mercedes).

Nowadays, it's still one of the busiest. You can find almost anything you can imagine here ranging from cheap clothing to the pricey home furniture in the market-style atmosphere in air-conditioned comfort. With newly opened entertainment center on the seventh floor, where you can find 7 movie theaters and 40 lanes bowling alley, all thse make MBK the one stop destination. New look for the new millenium has been added to both interior and exterior.

MBK center is open daily from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. It is located on the Southwest corner of Phyathai and Rama I Road. Teophone 217-9111.

Oriental Plaza

Exclusive with international fashions, art galleries and jewelry. Daily 10 am-6 pm. It is located at 301 Charoenkrung Soi 38, New Rd. (next to the Oriental Hotel). Telephone 236-0411.

Pantip Plaza

The ultimate source for computers, pirated CDs, electronics. It is a five-story mall with shop after shop selling computers and electronic gear. Usually there's nothing (except pirated software) that can't be found cheaper in Hong Kong and much cheaper in the U.S., but because of the Baht devaluation, computers and printers are temporarily at bargain prices. This is the place to go to get all the computer stuff you need - Hardware, Software, video games, MP3 music, VCD and DVD movies. If what you want is a cheap CD packed with a bunch of new software application, you have come to the right place. Known to the Thai computer lovers as a place you can buy cheap pirated software, Pantip Plaza is also the ultimate source for electronics. Five-story mall with floor after floor of computers and electronic gear. If you can't find any computer product you want here, it probably won't exist.

Take a taxi there. Most shops open around 10:30 A.M, and although they are open unitl 8:00 P.M., don't go later than 3 P.M. unless you want to spend hours in a traffic gridlock. It is located on New Petchburi Road between Phyathai and Ratchaparop Roads (close to Pratuunam Market and Amari Watergate Hotel).

Seacon Square

Seacon Square, Asia's largest Shopping and Entertainment Complex and one of the world's five largest, opened on Srinakarin Road of eastern Bangkok. One of the most outstanding and eye-catching of the city's shopping complexes, Seacon Square with a total building are of 500,000 square meter, a facing running 700 metres along Srinakarin Road, equivalent to 96 football fields.

The city zone incorporates the bright and lively colors of the busy shopping complexes. The Main Atrium is a meeting place, completed with greenery, a bubbling fountain and statues; while the nature zone's decoration and design exemplifies the natural environment.

Seacon Square is for the whole family to enjoy with a whole host of diversified attractions including Robinson Department Store, Lotus Supercenter, amusement theme park "Yoyo Land", multiplex cinema "Seacon 14", International Book Forum, DK Books - reputedly the biggest bookstore in Thailand. Thailand's first motion simulation theatre "The Simulator", an 18-hole miniature golf course, international food court and 400 leading brand name shops.

Few will want to waste an entire day battling traffic in order to visit this remote, American-style mall. It's not far from the BITEC convention center. It is located at 904 Srinakarin Road. Telephone 721-8888. For more information, click here or visit "www.seaconsquare.com"

Siam Square

This square is the cluster of Sois (alleys) jammed with independent shops and stalls selling music, fashions, clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. The area also has several book-stores stocking leading publications and plenty of restaurants. The plaza converted from parking lot, Center Point, is now the hot spot where the youngsters come to see and to be seen. Along Rama I road, you can find 3 movie theaters in which one named Scala still plays movie in the 1000-seat grand theater style.

It is the area on Rama I between Phaya Thai and Henri Dunant Road.

Siam Center

Near the Siam Inter-Continental and Siam Square, is Siam Center, a huge complex filled with restaurants, flower shops, movie theatres and such famous names as Gucci, Lanvin and Polo. One of the very first shopping center in Bangkok, Siam Center was a place where teenagers came to hang out with friends. Nowaday, it is still a place where the young and young-at-heart go for trendy fashions. Top local fashion designers and brand name labels can be found here.
The Siam Square District - Bangkok's shopping and entertainment hub, bursts with excitement day and night. Here you will find some of the city's most vibrant shopping centers including the new Siam Discovery and World Trade Center, cinemas, restaurant and nightclubs, all within walking distance. Siam Square is also conveniently located close to the city's two major Silom and Sukhumvit Roads business districts, Chulalongkorn University and major tourist attractions such as Jim Thompson's House and the Erawan Shrine. It's the very pulse of energetic Bangkok. It is open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. Located at 965 Rama I Road. Telephone 251-1890.

Siam Discovery Center

Siam Discovery Center is situated at Pathumwan intersection, one of the busiest shopping and leisure area in Bangkok, next to the Sky Train BTS station and 15+ public bus routes with 2,500 cars parking facility. Located on the 6th and 7th floor of Siam Discovery Center is Grand EGV, the most comfortable, grandiose and up-to-date movie theater in Thailand. Grand EGV also has a 1,600 sq.m. of retail spaces called 'Movie Walk'. The area provides the space for over 50 retail stores under the 'Movie Art Gallery Theme'.

It is located at 989 Rama I Road and open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Telephone - 6581000-19.

P A R T 2

World Trade Center

The World Trade Center encompasses many shops, restaurants and an ice-skating rink. A 330,000 square meter shopping mall with 2 prestige department stores (Isetan and Zen), 300 plus retailing stores selling almost everything from designer clothes and expensive jewelry and watches to rare antiques and brand new automobiles. Jim Thompson's silk shop is also located here. The Thailand duty free shops are located on the 7th floor. Other facilities include a 1,800 sqare meter world-class ice skating ring and 11 mini movie theaters.
There is a Japanese department store, Isetan.

It is open daily from 10:00 A.M to 9:00 P.M. It is located at 4 Rajdamri Road. Telephone 255-9400.

Peninsula Plaza

This French-style multi-storey building is one of a very first upscale shopping plaza in Bangkok. Located between Grand Hyatt Erawan and The regent Bangkok, The Peninsula plaza houses imported brand name labels, jewelleries, top local fashion designers and gourmet shops.

It is located on 153 Ratchadamri Road and open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Telephone - 2539672-3.

Amarin Plaza

Once a popular shopping plaza among Thai shoppers and foreigners, Amarin Plaza is a location of the first McDonald in Thailand. Radio Shack and Starbucks also have their presence here. Sogo Department Store presents its Japanese-inspired goods in modern glitter.

It is located at 494 Phloen Chit Road and open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Telephone - 255-0831.

Gaysorn Plaza

Gaysorn Plaza is an international level shopping centre located in the heart of Bangkok's shopping and leisure district. Surrounded by over 11 luxury hotels, over 500,000 square metres of office space, and numerous department stores and shopping centres. Open in December 1994, Gaysorn Plaza is a seven floor complex with a total built area of 42,000 square metres - three floors of executive offices on top of four and a half storey retail podium ( 12,500 sq.m.), and two and a half floors of parking for 415 cars. Planet Hollywood in located in Gaysorn Plaza and it is just beside Narayana Phand.

It is located at corner of Phloen Chit and Ratchadamri (Ratchaprasong intersection) and is open daily from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Telephone - 656-1149.

Old Siam Plaza

This shopping center is located near Wang Burapa and Pahurat and very close to Chalerm Krung Theater. The shops in this complex are quite modern and products of all kinds are sold here. There are also many restaurants, fast food outlets serving delicious Thai cuisine and Thai sweets. A lot of shops selling guns, pistols and ammunition are located in this plaza and in the area around this building.

River City Shopping Complex

It is Bangkok's first river side shopping complex. At the River City Shopping Complex, you’ll find a veritable feast for your shopping experience. It is home to Bangkok’s arts and antiques center and over 150 shops selling quality Thai products from Thai silk and cotton, jewellry, home décor, paintings, leather, tailoring to souvenirs from all parts of the country.
You can have a special meal set at one of the range of international cuisine restaurants and enjoy the splendid view of the Chao Phaya River both day and night.

They also have river tours that are catered to all your needs, be it a ride through Bangkok’s canals, a cruise to various attractions or a delightful dinner cruise. Under one roof that you can have them all -- the River City Shopping Complex.

A free shuttle boat operates to and from hotels on the river, including the Oriental, Shangri-La, Royal Garden Riverside, Royal River and Menam Hotel. They are located beside Sheraton Royal Orchid Hotel. For more information, click here or visit "www.rivercity.co.th"

Shopping Areas and Places in Bangkok

Shopping is major attraction for visitors to Thailand and of course Bangkok is one of the best places in the country for shopping!

Literally everything you can think of is available in the capital, with most goods at prices you can afford. Alongside its markets and shops, Bangkok has some great department stores and shopping centres where anything from shirts and trousers to gems and technology are available. Some shopping centres cover everything; places like MBK sell an enormous range of goods, while others concentrates on particular types of goods – Bangkok’s Pantip Plaza, for example, is world famous as an outlet for every type of computer technology. Explore further and you can find entire neighbourhoods specialising in certain goods - Khao San Road, for instance, specialises in silver goods while its’ neighbour China Town features gold shops and Chinese herbs and medicines.

Worth seeing

If you are in Bangkok for a longer visit consider visiting more shopping areas and places.

SIAM SQUARE

Over the last few years Siam Square has become the zenith of shopping experience in Bangkok. As the name suggests this is a square stretching out to Rama 1 Road, Chulalongkorn University grounds and Henri Dunant Road. It is packed with every variety of shop and predominantly caters to Bangkok’s young and beautiful. This is not a place for discount buys – the clothes and accessories here are likely to be full price, and you may be left wondering where these young people get their money from! Home to Bangkok’s addition to the Hard Rock Café franchise, Siam Square is also full of pubs, clubs (CM2 for one), hotels (such as the Novotel) and small cafes and fast-food outlets. Bangkok’s British Council is in Siam Square. This has a good library if you want to spend some quiet time. There’s also a couple of cinema’s playing the latest Hollywood blockbusters. To add to its convenience, the square is connected by walkways to surrounding shopping centres such as Mah Boon Krong (famous for sales of mobile telephones and related technologies). Siam Square is also famous for Centre Point – a meeting place for the young which offers music from live bands and a multitude of little cafes where you can buy your designer teas and coffees. A radio station pumps music out of loudspeakers at all hours during the day and evening. If you want to sit and watch TV, there’s a giant LCD screen right in the middle of the square! Although Centre Point is strictly for the young and trendy, Siam Square’s shopping experience is a must for everyone. Expect to spend at least half a day here.

How to get there: By far the quickest way to get to Siam Square is by BTS – Siam Square is the main interchange station. A taxi from the central Bangkok will cost 50-60 Baht depending on traffic.

The following buses will get you there:

Bus number: 15, 16, 21, 25, 29, 34, 36, 40, 45, 47, 48, 54, 73, 79, 113, 20,
Air-conditioned bus number: 1, 2, 8, 28

Shopping Centres in Bangkok, Thailand

2006-01-30T02:38:00.000-08:00

The latest Shopping Centre to be opened in Bangkok was the SIAM PARAGON, a 5,000,000 sq ft centre, which officially opened on 8 December 2005.

Here's the latest report on SIAM PARAGON from The Nation (Thailand) dated Monday 19 December 2005 :-

BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR: All the work pays off for Mall Group head

Supaluck put the fruit of long experience into making newly opened Siam Paragon a magnet for big spenders at home and abroad.

Pleased with opening day, top Mall Group executive Suplaluck Umpujh, 46, said: “I’m very happy with the outcome”, as 400,000 customers passed through the doors of Siam Paragon and about 100,000 have visited the complex each weekday since.

Siam Paragon has achieved its objective of improving its portfolio as a major source of long-term revenue, in addition to creating a major shopping destination for customers in Southeast Asia.

Three years in the making, the Bt 14-billion company has entered the world-class shopping sector where all top brands want to make their presence felt. With only 60 tenants, the shopping complex has yet to truly flex it muscles, but Supaluck’s brainchild has already altered the face of Thailand’s retail business.

Siam Paragon is a wake-up call to retailers, particularly Central Group, that they need to develop investment plans and renovate premises to maintain clients and lure new customers, and they are now paying close attention to how Supaluck’s plans affect their turf.

Siam Paragon was conceived after the success of The Emporium.

“Siam Paragon is The Emporium’s sibling. They are like New York and Paris, which everybody wants to visit,” she told Lips magazine.

Without Supaluck, the new complex would not have been completed. Throughout her 20-year career in the retail business she has flexed her muscles to attract world-class brands to make it a reality, or the “ride of Bangkok”.

She learnt the hard way that “size matters”. Her first mall at Rajaprasong was small, and few merchandisers participated because big retailers demanded exclusive deals. Few products meant few shoppers, and after five years the outlet folded.

Supaluck learnt never to do something small and always to differentiate.

She told herself to open The Mall on Ramkhamhaeng Road where various entertainment venues for families such as theatres and big water parks, the first in Thailand, were available. It was successful, and four more branches followed in Ta Phra, Ngam Wongwan, Bang Kapi and Bang Khae.

The success encouraged her to create a high-class shopping centre that targeted high-end shoppers. However, business people expected the deal to fold in the short term because it seemed unaffordable to Thais. The Emporium is still the Garden of Eden where global and luxury brands have made their way into Thailand and has inspired other retailers to develop other luxury shopping complexes.

It was tough, especially when the Skytrain was not available. She had to hire a consultant from New York to develop advertising and point out how strategically located the shopping complex was. The Emporium eventually attracted the Bluebell group, consisting of Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and other brands.

Supaluck pulled out all the stops to come up with a business strategy including marketing, selling and negotiating skills, which she has inherited from her father. In addition, she said, one has to be fair and trustworthy, prepared to take a risk and show luxury tenants that one is serious in building success with them.

“She’s an energetic businesswoman who always comes up with unexpected and creative ideas,” said The Emporium’s managing director Kriangsak Tantiphipop.

Today she is still energetic, for she knows that she has to work hard to make Siam Paragon a success in the face of the challenges presented by rivals such as Central Group.

Siam Paragon could become a magnet for shopping in Southeast Asia, but Supaluck needs to deal not only with local retailers but with deep-pocketed foreign shoppers too.

By Nitida Asawanipont
The Nation
19 December 2005

Websites about Siam Paragon :-

http://paragonbangkok.tripod.com/

http://www.siamparagon.co.th/

Pantip Plaza, Bangkok - IT Mall

If you are looking for computers, computer accessories, PDAs, digital cameras,softwares, DVDs/VCDs/CDs the place to go to is Pantip Plaza at Petchburi Road at Pratunam Area in Bangkok.

Computers, TV's, cameras and similar items can be good value in Thailand, but you'll be hard pushed to find one with high quality components selling for significantly less than in the US / Europe. Overall, you're probably better off buying at home than in Thailand, as although you may spend slightly more, you are much more likely to get decent after sales or a refund in case of problems in Europe/US than in Thailand. On the other hand, if you're looking to buy computer peripherals then you can get some good deals in Bangkok, and repairs can be done similarly cheaply.

The best place to go for any type of computer shopping is the multistory Panthip Plaza on Phetburi / Petchburi Rd in Pratunam district (not far from the Amari Watergate hotel). Prices are very cheap and the range extensive, but not all the vendors speak a lot of English.

Though there are a wide range of computer related products on sale, Panthip is most (in)famous for the huge amount of pirated software available. There are literally dozens of different vendors selling hacked versions of software programs, and even the most up-to-date software is available amazingly quickly. Microsoft Windows XP, for instance, had been available in Panthip some weeks prior even to it's official launch in the USA, let alone in Thailand.

As well as software, pirated versions of all of the top Hollywood movies are also available on DVD or VCD, as are compilation MP3 CD's with around 12 albums on each (right). Each CD/VCD/CDROM costs only around 100-150B, as the intense competition helps to keep the prices low. The DVDs cost around 300B or so, and may or may not have had the regional coding removed.

The Thai government, under pressure from the USA, has periodic crackdowns on Panthip Plaza, but they never seem to last very long. The only lasting effect of the crackdowns seems to be that all the pirated material is no longer kept with the vendor, but is instead in a building down the street and is retrieved when someone makes a purchase.

With a bit of searching, it is possible to also find software originals on sale but prices are no bargain compared to the USA/Europe.

Panthip Plaza is very popular and, particularly on weekends, it can get very crowded.

There are few other malls throughout Bangkok with a similar, but smaller, range of products on sale:

Hollywood IT, which is located only 100m or so away from Panthip and is very close to the Ratchathewi skytrain station.

Seri Center, near Seacon Square.

IT Mall, in the Fortune Tower on the intersection of Ratchadapiskek road and Asok-Din Daeng road, is another option.

Ordinary buses 2 and 11 and air-con buses 5, 11 and 12 all pass outside of Pantip Plaza, or any taxi driver will know it (it's pronounced as pan-tip). You may also find Panthip written in English as 'Pantip' (including on the building itself), but 'Panthip' is the more common elsewhere and, according to the official way of romanising Thai, the correct spelling.

More info on Pantip Plaza in Bangkok

For those of under the belief the particular country you come from is the pinnacle of high technology, a visit to Pantip Plaza will be a revelation! Pantip Plaza is 5 floors plus of IT heaven! Although prices are not as low as in countries such as Singapore, computers and related devices are state-of-the-art and prices are probably a shade lower than in the west. Where a place like Pantip Plaza excels is in locally made computers – just read through lists of components, tick what you want, and wander around the shops getting the best quotes. These ‘prefabricated’ computers are probably as good as any brand name but obviously won’t have the after sales service, especially if you are taking a computer out of Thailand (check customs in your own country first!). There is also a good variety of software at good prices – there’s not as much in terms of pirated software here these days and there are regular police checks to ensure things are kept in line. Probably best all round to look for the legitimate stuff. In addition to computers and software, Pantip offers as wide a selection of digital cameras, digital video cameras, VCD/DVD players and PDAs as you will find. In addition, you can buy clothes here, and on the ground floor there are a number of shops selling Buddha amulets and local folk music CDs.

If you are into IT leave your credit cards back at the hotel or you might have to cut your journey to Thailand seriously short!

Details: Pantip Plaza is open around 10:00 to 20:00 daily.

How to get there: Pantip Plaza is on Petchburi Road right next to the Indonesian Embassy. It’s reasonably close to Ratchathewi BTS station.

The following buses will get you there:Bus number: 511

Contact: Pantip Plaza
New Petchburi Rd.
Rajthevee
Bangkok
10400

Website: http://www.pantipplaza.com/

Pirated softwares in Pantip Plaza :-

PANTIP PLAZA :Business as usual
No visible efforts to prevent open sale of pirated software in Pantip Plaza, Bangkok

Getting Windows 2000 for 3.30 US$ might seem like a bargain already. But as the operating system is not taking up all the space on a CD-ROM, the pirate-copyists has added other software programs as a bonus!

You do not have to stand in a dark alley and say "Psst!" to buy pirated software or know somebody who knows somebody. Just walk straight into Pantip Plaza, the largest computer-shopping mall in Thailand, and you will find shop after shop openly displaying CD-cassettes ("jewel-cases") with everything you might need. The CD itself is not inside, but at request it is brought to you in 5 minutes. Microsoft's software seems to be the most popular target, but virtually any producer of software is amply represented.

"It's good business, but it used to be even better" says Samran (not real name) to BizAsia. "The competition is getting harder all the time. Some years ago a pirate-copy CD could sell for 600 Baht (~ 17 US$) Now you can get 120 Baht (3.25 US$). Some shops even tried to lower the price to only 80 Baht (2.15 US$) but they got unpopular!"

But as a blank CD costs below 1 US$ the profit on pirated software is still the best in Pantip Plaza. "Normal hardware profits can be as low as 3% and is only in special cases higher than 10%. In addition comes installation time and guarantee."

Earlier a couple of policemen on inspection got beaten up by angry pirates. "I have a family to support" says Samran. "I know that copying like this is wrong, but I think Bill Gates is not hungry!"

Samran also believes that the state of matters actually is in the producer's own interest. "Sometimes we see software with an advanced protection sceme. When you install it a new code is generated every time. To open this software more than 25 times you have to submit this code and your serial number to an authorized reseller. Then you get a code back that you must enter to continue using the software. Otherwise it won't work. But the result is simply that people use something else. If they then later get into a corporate context, well, they buy the software they know already. The day Microsoft would stop the illegal usage of software they would be playing into the hands of their competitors!"

Business Software Alliance ("BSA") who acts against copyright violations has earlier with the police raided a couple of companies in Bangkok and in advertisment encouraged people who would know about illegal software installations to call.

The usual outcome of the raids has been a settlement where the company accept to legalize their software, pay a fine and allow for future inspections.

Copyright violations can in Thailand be punished with jail up to 6 months.