Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [97]
Tango Leather taken to the next level.
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Siam Discovery Center is also, somewhat incongruously, one of the best places in town to stock up on camping gear. Within tent-pitching distance of each other on the 3rd floor are Pro Cam-Fis, Equinox Shop and the North Face.
SIAM PARAGON
Map Shopping Centre
0 2690 1000; www.siamparagon.co.th; 991/1 Th Phra Ram I, Siam Sq; 10am-10pm; Siam exits 3 & 5
Paragon epitomises the city’s fanaticism for the new, the excessive, and absurd slogans. The ‘peerless’ venue is the second-largest mall in Southeast Asia, sprawling over 500,000 sq metres, and is a showcase for luxury retailers, like Van Cleef & Arpels and Mikimoto, who had not previously had a pedestal in the country. There’s a Lamborghini dealer on the 2nd floor should you need a ride home, and one floor up a True Urban Park ‘lifestyle centre’ featuring a cafe, internet access and a shop selling books, music and camera equipment. Bookworms will fancy Kinokuniya (3rd floor), the largest bookstore in Thailand, as well as an expansive branch of Asia Books (2nd floor).
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FASHION TIPS FROM A LOCAL
'The look here is casual during the day and more glam in the evening, but what’s special about Bangkok is the flexibility – there’s no need to fear being underdressed or overdressed. This is convenient as you don’t need a lot of clothes. Also, living in such a hot and humid place is perfect if you want to show some skin. The downside with fashion in Bangkok is that people depend too much on trends, so when certain styles are trendy everybody seems to be wearing them, leaving little room for uniqueness and creativity. I believe that fashion should represent who you are, and even your mood that day.
My favourite mall in Bangkok is Central World. It’s huge and has all the affordable international brands. For markets I go to Siam Square (below); it’s great for good-quality trendy stuff and is mostly mid-priced and bargainable. My favourite local brands are Jaspal and X=Act [both available at Siam Center, Click here]. They’re good for a versatile, fashionable everyday look. I don’t wear knock-offs because you can easily find something equally nice and cheap, only without the labels.’
Cherry Ngarmsittichoke, aged 29, is a secretary and fashion enthusiast living in Bangkok.
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Even more audacious than the retail sections are the spectacular aquarium Siam Ocean World and an IMAX theatre. Whew.
SIAM SQUARE
Map Shopping Centre
Th Phra Ram I, near Th Phayathai, Siam Sq; 11am-9pm; Siam exits 2, 4 & 6
It doesn’t look like much, just an ageing open-air shopping area divided into 12 soi (lanes), but Siam Sq is ground zero for teenage culture. Pop music blares out of tinny speakers, and gangs of hipsters in various costumes ricochet between fast-food restaurants and closet-sized boutiques. Digital Gateway (cnr Th Phra Ram I & Soi 4), a new and imposing mall, stocks everything electronic, from computers to cameras. DJ Siam (Soi 4) carries all the Thai indie (like Modern Dog) and T-pop albums you’ll need to speak ‘teen’. Small shops peddle pop-hip styles along Soi 2 and Soi 3, but most outfits require a barely-there waist. Centerpoint (Soi 7) plugs in on weekends with concerts from the latest bands, b-boys (breakdancers) and perky models. And intertwined are fast-food joints, sweets, snacks and drinks.
NARAi PHAND
Map Souvenirs
0 2656 0398; www.naraiphand.com; Ground fl, President Tower, 973 Th Ploenchit; 10am-8pm; Chit Lom exit 7
Souvenir-quality handicrafts are given fixed prices and comfortable air-conditioning at this government-run facility. You won’t find anything here that you haven’t already seen at all of the tourist street markets, but it is a good stop if you’re pressed for time or spooked by haggling.
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RIVERSIDE, SILOM & LUMPHINI
Those looking for a painting by a contemporary Burmese artist, or an Ayuthaya-era Buddhist manuscript cabinet will undoubtedly find something interesting in this part of town. Considering