Thailand is one of Asia’s
shopping capitals. Shopping can mean from the highest luxury goods and fashion
boutiques down to the lowest wholesale market trooped everyday by the locals
and tourists as well. Bangkok is widely
known for its day and night market’s irresistible bargains. Whether inside a
building or streetside stalls, bargains of shops from shoes, clothes,
accessories up to underwear are endless! And when in Bangkok’s Pratunam Market,
be ready to cash out all your money as credit cards are not widely accepted in those
stall markets. It also time to hold the impulsive buyer in you as this endless
paradise of shopping bargains are all in Pratunam - Bangkok’s shopping mecca.
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| Souvenir... souvenir.. souvenir in Pratunam Market! |
When I set my foot for the
first time in Pratunam, I had a quite chaotic experience of Bangkok. It is a
street market place with so many small alleys and narrow streets of numerous
stalls and store market much like Divisoria and Baclaran but only cleaner,
organized and foreign tourist laden marketplace. With it numerous blocks and
streets, we were lost looking for the hotel that my mom was suggesting to stay
because it was a cheap accommodation. But the thing is; she stayed in that
hotel 14 years ago! Her last trip to Bangkok! Imagine? There are so many
changes in the area that happened since then for sure. Even my mom can’t
remember the exact place of that hotel!
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| Pratunam's busy street market stalls. |
We tried to look for that
hotel in Pratunam’s lost-inducing street alleys. And who wouldn’t lost in that
place especially for first timer like me who are not really familiar with it.
We then tried to ask for directions with the local but we had a hard time to
conversing with them as most are non-English speakers. So under the scorching
hot noon sun, we continue searching for the exact place of the hotel until we
stumble upon a Filipino restaurant in one narrow street owned by Filipino
residents in Pratunam who helped us find our way to the hotel. I felt thankful
for finding that Filipino restaurant because it relieves us from our tiring
search for Bangkok accommodation. It all happened on my first day in Bangkok. And
it was quite a welcoming experience to the city because I consider that
experience as “The Amazing Race” moment for me!
During my second day in
Bangkok, I notice how huge Pratunam is as a market place when I had a Tuktuk
drive tour around as we head to the historical sights of Bangkok. It has
endless open market stalls in every street blocks and mall buildings lining up
the main street of the district. And
every day and every hour up to midnight, people flocks these markets of
Pratunam for endless shop of goods, clothes, shoes, accessories and other
commodities. Not only locals are flocking the markets but also foreigners and
tourist visitors alike that enjoys shopping bargains in open street markets!
With all these scenarios, Pratunam to me is an endless city of markets and
shops!
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| Every hour, ever minute visitors and shoppers flock Pratunam for good bargains. |
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| Bargain everywhere! |
One thing that really caught
my attention in the streets of Pratunam was Bangkok’s street foods. They are
everywhere in the city! Even in the narrowest street corners or tightest
alleys, there is always a presence of street food stalls! I know Bangkok is
famous for its street foods. It is not only because they are cheap and
affordable that’s why they are popular but they are also delicious, clean and
stored in sanitized food panels while being sold which I all observed during my
stay. And I wouldn’t let myself pass to get a sample of Bangkok’s famed street
foods. I tasted
Khao Phat as my
first try of Bangkok’s street foods.
Khao Phat or
"Playd lays" as pronounce by the Thais for Fried rice is a Thai
variety of fried rice that
usually contains meat
(shrimp, pork or chicken) with eggs, onion, garlic, tomatoes and seasonings
mixed and stirred in then plated and served with accompaniments like cucumber
slices, tomato slices, lime and sprigs of green onion. I also tried fried
local sausages and pork barbeque sticks in Pratunam. I was amazed by a roasted
violet colored corn being sold in the streets near our accommodation. It was my
first time to see a purple corn and it tasted delicious. But I can’t get over
with Khao Phat. I become addicted to it that everyday during my whole duration
of stay in Bangkok, I had a sample of Khao Phat bought everyday in the streets
of Pratunam!
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| Roasted purple corn! |
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| Khao Phat - my
first taste of Bangkok’s street foods. |
Pratunam Market is one of Bangkok's major markets, and is
Thailand's largest clothing market. The name Pratunam means “water gate”. The
market comprises retail stores and outdoor stalls, the latter of which are
aimed at tourists. It is a major market area with thousands of fashion stores
that sell wholesale with cheap prices guaranteed, especially if you buy in
bulk.
Most of the products available
are on wholesale, so this is the place to go for some cheap bargains. Haggling
is more important here than in other shopping malls, and things get
considerably cheaper if you buy in bulk. First to head out is for the Pratunam
Market’s jam-packed maze of alleys where tiny stalls are offering t-shirts,
jackets, dresses, jeans, shorts, shoes and accessories, including many fakes.
Don’t also miss the City Complex, a
fashionable shopping mall marketed towards female teenagers and students and Indra Square that has a more diverse
audience. It is located at the intersection of Ratchaprarop and Phetburi roads
in the district Ratchathewi.
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| Pratunam's streetside stores and shops. |
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| Sawasdee ka from Ronald McDonald! Inside Indra Square building. |
Almost everyday of our stay in
Rachatewi, our day won’t end without a pass in Pratunam Market since our
accommodation is within the district. So everyday, we get to see and buy the
daily bargain offerings of Pratunam. Everyday, I noticed that open market
stalls in Pratunam changes by shift schedule like there’s a different stall in the
morning that changes by mid-afternoon and night time in a particular street side
location. That also means there are different stalls and vendors in the morning
that sells items and commodities different in afternoon and night time sellers.
That’s why on a particular street side of Pratunam that we frequently passed
by, in the afternoon vendors are selling clothes but by the evening vendors are
selling shoes already.
One of the best times to shop
in Pratunam is night time because the place is full of visitors and commercial activities.
Pratunam Market is so alive at this time. And you’ll never which market stall
you’ll first to shop as everything is bombarding with lots of bargain goods and
commodities. One of the best things to do is shopping in the market stalls
while munching for delicious Thai street food or do it the other way around -
after shopping, have a break by sampling those street foods! Just don’t forget
to haggle the price for the irresistible bargains you found. As our Thai tour
guide advises in shopping, “Tawad, tawad…” in Thai accent! (Tawad is Filipino term and/or way of
asking for lowering prices in market stalls).
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| More goods... more bargains! |
On our last day in Bangkok, we
decided to do a last minute shopping in Pratunam in the early morning before we
take our flight back by noon. Starting early, I saw Thai monks for the first
time, asking for alms to the locals which will be exchange by blessings and
prayers by the monk. Pratunam Market scene is almost the same I saw it last
night. It is still packed with visitors which I think has a higher volume at
this time. And it’s still full of commercial activities left and right. Each
street and alleys is crowded with buyers while sellers are calling out loud for
big discount if you buy bulk and high volume on what they are selling.
We visited Indra Square where
we find a lot of selection of clothes, dresses, jackets and boots. This is
where we spend most of our last minute shopping time in Pratunam. And here we
also learn the “great rule” when shopping in Bangkok’s markets – that when
you’re run out of cash, credit cards are not accepted in open markets! My mom
found a very nice summer dress that she really wants to buy but unfortunately
she ran out of cash. Even I too, found a very well-tailored cardigan but sadly
I don’t have enough cash anymore. We are running out of time, so we just
decided to return to our hotel and ready our things for our flight back home
but had a heavy heart because of Pratunam’s irresistible bargains!
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| Bangkok city scene within Pratunam area. |
If you’re tired of shopping
there are some few sights of interests that you might find worth visiting. Among
these sights is going atop
Baiyoke Tower
that gives a breathtaking views of the city's skyline. You can also drop by to
Bangkok Dolls Museum at 85 Soi
Ratchataphan (Soi Mo Leng) (ARL Ratchaprarop) which boast a private collection
of about 400 dolls from around the world. You can also visit
Suan Pakkad Palace, this complex of
five Thai-style houses was once the residence of one of Thailand's leading art
collectors, Prince Chumbhot of Nagara Svarga. It houses an extensive collection
of Asian art and antiques, including items from the prehistoric Ban Chiang
civilization, and an impressive collection of sea-shells.
Also see
Thai
Labour Museum that displays items showing the 300-year history of the Thai
labour movement. There is also a library with books and research reports on
labour.
There are other Bangkok
markets that are famous among the city’s visitors for its specialized
commodities that are also worth checking out. One of these markets is
Pak Klong Talat Market that sells
flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It is the primary flower market in Bangkok
that is open 24 hours. It is busiest before dawn, when boats and trucks arrive
with flowers from nearby provinces. This market is very famous among Filipino
flower sellers who bought bulks of flowers especially orchids to sell days
before All Saint’s Day in which there is a high demand for Thai orchids for the
occasion.
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| Baiyoke Tower at the center of Pratunam Market. |
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| The City of Angels - Bangkok. |
Another famous market in
Bangkok is the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
It is Thailand’s largest market that contains approximately around 5,000
stalls. Most stalls only open on Saturdays and Sundays though Jatujak Plaza,
the western section is open daily. The market offers a wide variety of products
including household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts,
collectibles, foods, and live animals. It is estimated that the market receives
200,000 visitors each day.
But whatever market you choose
to shop in Bangkok, just remember to cash out all of your moneys as the city has
endless of markets that might drive you shopaholic! And don’t forget to haggle for
bargains! Might as well, try Thai street foods too! As for me, I will return to
Pratunam Market once given a chance to visit Thailand again. It simply has irresistible
bargains!
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Pratunam’s Irresistible Bargains is part of my Thailand's Amazing Smiles series
where I share my wonderful trip to the land of amazing smiles last
October 25-28, 2011. For a helpful trip to Bangkok visit Bangkok for Visitors website for more information. You might also like the other parts of the series:
