#72907 - 06/24/08 08:24 PM
Really Big Just Back Report (BKK Section)
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Adey68
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Registered: 02/05/08
Posts: 75
Loc: Queensland Australia
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Have already posted the first part of this trip on the Phuket forum.
Day 11 Thurs 19th June
Early morning wake up in Patong, but all packed the night before. Just enough time for one last buffet brekky before the transfer arrives. Plane to BKK is an hour late (more shopping time down the drain) After arriving in BKK the baggage conveyor belt broke so another delay waiting for the bags to come through but finally out and find our coach transfer waiting to take us to the hotel. We have Nisha on the bus who fills us in on all the local info on where to go what to pay for taxis etc etc. very helpful.
Arrive at Pathumwan Princess hotel and must say it looks very nice. And with an entrance straight into MBK how can you go wrong! Got sorted and had a good talk to the porter who delivered our bags to the room. He gave us some very good info on getting around and costs involved so we wouldn’t get ripped of. Definately earnt his tip.
Well of course straight into MBK and needed to eat. We headed up to level 6 and found Oishi a Japanese place, the food was very good and cheap.
Before we knew it we had spent 4 hours in MBK had both bought our jeans, which there was a good choice. There is one place which owns about 4 of the jeans shops there under different names. The pricing was good and the quality was good. They take the jeans up for you on the spot as well. World Jeans or Diablo is one of them. We paid 650 for my diesel jeans and 1000Baht $30 AUD for the good Ed Hardy jeans. There were cheaper options around but the quality wasn’t as good.
We caught a taxi to the Suan Lum night Bazaar. Apart from the fact he took us via Vietnam I think, the markets were very good and very open despite what I have read on these forums. There were about maybe a quarter of the stalls not operating but plenty were and we got some nice vases handbag and shirts here. We did dinner at the puppet theatre next to the market and the food was good. Taxi home was more direct and much cheaper about 45Baht I think.
Day 12 Fri 20th June
Hot day, got a taxi to Grand Palace 65Baht. When we got there someone tried to scam us out front. The man came up and asked us if we had tickets yet. We said No and he sent us down the other entrance and said we had to get them from there. When we got there another man told us that there was a ceremony going on inside and Thais only were allowed and it would be open again at 11am. But he could get a tuk tuk and take us to the giant buddha somewhere else! At this point we knew something was wrong. We kindly refused and went back to the other entrance and noticed that there were plenty of non Thai tourists and Japanese tours going inside so we followed. All was good and tickets are inside. There was an official ceremony going on but only a small part of the palace was closed off. The temples inside were amazing as was the palace, we didn’t stay too long as it was extremely hot and I had to wear long pants and thought I was going to pass out! 4 kazillion Japanese tourists pushing their way past you and in front of your camera every 10 seconds didn’t help either. Back to MBK for some more shopping. Picked up some more jeans for Kelli from a nice shop called Feminique, another suitcase, same as the one we bought in Patong but 400 Baht cheaper. We got “morning price”. We took a taxi to the Pratunum markets which weren’t far. Got some nice girls jeans for my daughter. These markets are more wholesale and clothes related. Looks like they make a lot of the stuff themselves and on sell them. Across the road from there was the Platinum shopping Mall, pretty much clothes and shoes. To be honest it wasn’t copy gear and not really our thing. I think if you are a Japanese teenager you might find something suitable to wear! Or if you are a woman looking for shoes then go for it. A short stroll up the road and we were in Pantip Plaza, a heaven for tech heads and computer nerds. It was really impressive, floors and floors of anything technology related. We didn’t need anything here but just wanted to check it out. By this time it was late afternoon and we got a Tuk Tuk to Patpong market. It was 6pm and they were just setting up so we stopped and had a drink at the coffee World then checked it out. We got a couple of nice Chanel bags for $50 AUD each on the list from our friends back home and picked up a nice Rado watch for $30 AUD. I think we did ok with the prices here as in nearly all cases we were the first sale for the vendor which is good luck for them. When you pay them they touch all of their stock with the money. We still needed one more handbag and were leaving the next day and hadn’t found it yet. We saw one in Suam Lum the night before so decide to head back there. We took our chances grabbed the map and walked. It was about 30 min walk not so bad. Picked up the D&G leather bag around $50 AUD and taxi back to hotel 49 Baht.
Its late and we are hungry so a quick bite from Maccas out front of MBK then packed ready to leave early in the morning.
All up I think we did just about every shopping destination in the 2 days we were in BKK!! Typical big city loud, traffic, etc. We will come back next year but we will start our trip with it, instead of at the end. That way we can relax in Patong before going home rather than straight from the hussle and bussle. Next year we will venture out and try out the Tiger temple, Bridge on river Kwai etc rather than just shop. Definitely stay at Pathumwan Princess again. On the transfer back to airport we did pick up people from Siam@Siam just up the road and that looked really nice too.
Here endeth our 2 week adventure in Thailand. We have already started to plan next year.
Adrian & Kelli
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Editors Recommendations : Pathumwan Princess Bangkok, siam@siam |
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#72911 - 06/24/08 09:52 PM
Re: Really Big Just Back Report (BKK Section)
[Re: Adey68]
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CathyP
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Registered: 11/15/04
Posts: 643
Loc: Australia
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Thanks again Adrian & Kelli, that will certainly help all the shoppers out there lol, were you overweight at all.
Cathy
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#72912 - 06/24/08 10:11 PM
Re: Really Big Just Back Report (BKK Section)
[Re: CathyP]
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Adey68
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Registered: 02/05/08
Posts: 75
Loc: Queensland Australia
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I am assuming you mean our baggage 
We only took carry on with us when we went and bought 2 large suitcases to bring the shopping back! we were 11 Kg over but Thai airlines didnt even bat an eyelid at that so very happy. All souveneirs made it through customs except the recycled photo frames our pics were in from the elephant safari place in Phuket. Apparently they are made from recycled elephant pooh! No great loss its the photos we wanted anyway. Next year we will be in BKK over a weekend and venture to Chatachuk Markets...watch out.
Adrian
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#72927 - 06/25/08 04:33 AM
Re: Really Big Just Back Report (BKK Section)
[Re: Adey68]
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RED
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Registered: 08/22/05
Posts: 61
Loc: Melbourne Aust
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Hi Adey68
One question I have to ask, Did you wear shorts in Bangkok?
I met a travel wholesaler in Bangkok last week who told me the Siam@Siam was as good and much cheaper than Pathumwan .We stayed at the Bel Aire Princess this time and would stay there again I reckon the PP is over priced for what you get except for location.If you like MBK you'll probably love Chatachuk but wear your shorts it gets bloody hot.
Regards RED
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Editors Recommendations : siam@siam, Bel Aire princess |
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#72937 - 06/25/08 05:19 AM
Re: Really Big Just Back Report (BKK Section)
[Re: RED]
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Adey68
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Registered: 02/05/08
Posts: 75
Loc: Queensland Australia
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Red,
We did see Siam@Siam on the way out and it looked nice, and still walking sitance to MBK, we would definately consider it for next year depending on price. I wore shorts while in BKK except when we went to the Grand Palace and Temple. I wore jeans but it was stinking hot. We wil definately do Chatachuk next year.
Adrian
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Editors Recommendations : siam@siam |
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#72941 - 06/25/08 06:40 AM
Re: Really Big Just Back Report (BKK Section)
[Re: Adey68]
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misokatsu
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Registered: 06/19/08
Posts: 22
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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Cool stuff Adey68, thanks. Just one week left till I am off now! We are staying just down the road from MBK at Asia Hotel so will keep plenty of your shopping tips and BKK tips in general in mind. I'm packing light as possible in anticipation of much shopping, can't wait!!! 
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Editors Recommendations : Asia Hotel Bangkok |
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