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By Root 857 0

– if you can squirm that far into the openings. Only street vendors on Th Khao San accommodate foreign women’s natural endowments in the shoulders, bust and hips. If you’re larger than a US size 10 or an Australian size 12, you strike out altogether. Men will find that they exceed Thai clothes in length and shoulder width, as well as shoe sizes. For formal wear, many expats turn to custom orders through tailors. For ready-to-wear, many of the vendors at Pratunam Market and several stalls on the 7th floor of Mahboonkrong stock the larger sizes.

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PATPONG NIGHT MARKET

Map Market

Soi Patpong 1 & Soi Patpong 2, Th Silom; 6pm-midnight; Si Lom exit 2; Sala Daeng exit 1

You’ll be faced with the competing distractions of strip-clubbing and shopping on this infamous street. And true to the area’s illicit leanings, pirated goods (in particular watches) make a prominent appearance even amid a wholesome crowd of families and straight-laced couples. Bargain with determination, as first-quoted prices tend to be astronomically high.

SOI LALAI SAP

Map Market

Soi 5, Th Silom; 9am-8pm; Si Lom exit 2; Sala Daeng exit 2

The ideal place to buy an authentic Thai secretary’s uniform, this ‘money-dissolving soi’ has mobs of vendors selling insanely cheap but frumpy clothing, as well as heaps of snacks and housewares.

RIVER CITY

Map Shopping Centre

0 2237 0077; www.rivercity.co.th; 23 Th Yotha, Th Charoen Krung; 10am-10pm, many shops close Sunday; air-con 504, 544 & 547, ordinary 1, 15, 35 & 163; Tha Si Phraya (N3), Tha Sathon (Central Pier)

Near the Royal Orchid Sheraton, this multistorey centre is an all-in-one stop for old-world Asiana, much of it too large to fit in the bag of most travellers. Several high-quality art and antique shops occupy the 3rd and 4th floors, including the Verandah, which deals in ‘tribal’ art from Borneo and abroad, and Hong Antiques, with 50 years of experience in decorative pieces. Acala is a gallery of unusual Tibetan and Chinese artefacts. And Old Maps & Prints proffers one of the best selections of one-of-a-kind, rare maps and illustrations. As with many antique stores in Bangkok, the vast majority of pieces at River City appear to come from Myanmar (Burma), and to a lesser extent Cambodia. It’s worth noting that trading in bona fide antiquities might not be either ethical or, in your country, legal. For more on this issue and the campaign to preserve Southeast Asia’s cultural heritage, see Heritage Watch (www.heritagewatchinternational.org).

SILOM GALLERIA

Map Art

0 2630 0944; cnr Soi 19 & Th Silom; 10am-8pm; air-con 76, 77, 177, 504, 514, 547 & MB12, ordinary 77, 162, 163 & 164; Surasak exit 3

The only reason to visit this spooky half-deserted mall is for the contemporary Asian art exhibitions hosted by the various galleries inside. To avoid disappointment proceed directly to the back or check the posters in the lobby to see what’s on display at the better galleries such as Thavibu or Tang.

JIM THOMPSON

Map Handicrafts

0 2632 8100; www.jimthompson.com; 9 Th Surawong; 9am-9pm; Si Lom exit 2; Sala Daeng exit 3

The surviving business of the international promoter of Thai silk, the largest Jim Thompson shop sells colourful silk handkerchiefs, placemats, wraps and cushions. The styles and motifs appeal to older, somewhat more conservative tastes. There are also branches at Jim Thompson’s House museum, the Emporium, and a factory outlet ( 0 2235 8931; 149/4-6 Th Surawong; 9am-6pm) just up the road, which sells discontinued patterns at a significant discount.

KHLONG TOEY MARKET

Map Market

cnr Th Ratchadaphisek & Th Phra Ram IV, Lumphini; 2am-10am; Khlong Toei exit 1

This wholesale wet market, one of the city’s largest, is inevitably the origin of many of the meals you’ll eat during your stay in Bangkok. Get there early, and although some corners of the market can’t exactly be described as photogenic, be sure to bring a camera to capture the stacks of durians or cheery fishmongers.

SUAN LUM NIGHT BAZAAR

Map Market

cnr Th Withayu & Th Rama IV, Lumphini; 7pm-midnight; Lumphini exit