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Bangkok Tourist Tips
How to bargain Bangkok
The only places where prices
are fixed are malls, department stores, supermarkets and large retail shops.
As for the rest, bargaining is the norm, and it's almost expected. Merchandise
at some touristy places like Patpong Night Market are marked-up heavily,
and you can often slash off half the asking price. Your most important
'bargaining tools' are a big smile and polite approach. Never raise your
voice. Or lose your temper. And don't offer a price unless you're prepared
to pay it. After the seller has offered his price, offer less than you
would expect to pay (with a smile of course) and gauge the reaction. A
counter-offer will follow, and then it's over to you to make another move,
so to speak. Once you've decided on a price, and if there are other items
you're interested in, try to get a package price to cut the cost even more
for the best bargain you've ever had!
Shopping tip: Your ticket
to bargain heaven is a big, broad smile. |
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Don't talk to strangers
Remember your mother's warning?
Well, mothers are always right. If a stranger approaches you with any kind
of story, be it with tales of fantastic jewels or something unusual only
he has privileged knowledge of, chances are good you have been targeted
for some sort of tourist scam. Don't even indulge that person with conversation
- simply walk away.
Shopping tip: If anyone
attempts to harass you, reach for your mobile phone or walk to the nearest
public phone and tell the scoundrel that you're calling the Tourist Police.
Patpong is the infamous stretch
of nightclubs and night bazaar in bangkok. Shopping wise, the stalls are
almost selling the same thing and the items are usually pretty expensive,
compared to Chatuchak and other places. You will really need to bargain
hard. Try to look around first.... Item-wise, a lot of watches, sunglasses,
bags and t shirts and thai handicrafts are sold at Patpong. But i would
say they can be mor expensive than elsewhere. A lot of tourist like to
visit Patpong for the tiger show and the bar top thai gals. Just be careful
of being ripped off by the waiters and waitress. And the wait staff would
stand at the entrance of the nightclub and just pull you in, you will have
to really firm and say no. Even if they said the price is 100Baht, chances
are by the time the tiger show is finished, you will need to pay thrice
or five times the 100baht. Foodwise, if you are into extreme gourmet food,
you are in the right place! I have personally seen hawkers @ Patpong selling
fried cricket, croakaches and some unknown insects to me. I have yet to
master my courage to put it my mouth and chew it. Not my cup of tea. =P
Overall i would say that Patpong is more of a place whereby you go, take
a look at the night scene of bangkok and not really spending money to buy
the items.
Bangkok's dazzling temples are
a unique part of the capital's heart and soul. A visit to Bangkok would
not be complete without seeing at least two of them. The architecture is
awe-inspiring and the glittering decoration is quite like no other. Imagine
thousands of pieces of coloured glass and pottery adorned with intricate
structures gilded in glaring gold - you're indeed in a City of Angels!
The best time to visit most temples is in the early morning. It's cooler,
and generally less crowded. The temples ('wats') are not just tourist attractions
but also play an important part in Buddhist traditions. Monks live in the
temple complexes, wake up around 04:00, attend to prayers and duties and
then collect food and necessities from ordinary people on the streets.
If you are up very early in Bangkok you will see monks walking around,
dressed in saffron coloured robes. This daily alms ritual (called 'tam
boon') takes place all over Thailand and is part of the Buddhist philosophy
of giving and making merit to attain a better life beyond this one. It's
daunting to visit all the temples, so we've listed in the following sections
those in the 'must- visit' category, according to their beauty, cultural
significance and high regard in Buddhism. Please not that most temples
are not open after 18:00.
Located at the end of Chinatown's
(Yaowarat Road), near Hualampong Railway Station, Wat Traimit houses the
world's largest golden seated Buddha measuring nearly five metres in height
and weighing five and a half tons. In the past, artisans crafted the Buddhas
in gold and disguised them from invading armies by a covering of stucco
and plaster. The Buddha at Wat Traimit was discovered by accident when
it was accidentally dropped as it was being moved, revealing, under a casing
of plaster, a beautiful solid gold Sukhothai style Buddha. Pieces of the
plaster are still kept on display.
Open: Daily 09:00 - 17:00
Location: Traimit Road (west
of Hua Lampong Station)
Thai temples are sacred places
so you must dress appropriately. No shorts or revealing tops, otherwise
you won't be allowed in. This applies particularly to Wat Phra Kaew (inside
the Grand Palace.)
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Markets vary from the hot
and sticky maze in markets like Pratunam, Pahurat and Chatuchak Weekend
Market, to the more sophisticated (and cooler) night market at Suan Lum
Night Bazaar. As well as excellent bargains, the markets also offer a slice
of local life and a great opportunity to sample the kind of food you won't
find in most hotels. Find more about Bangkok markets in the Chatuchak Weekend
Market, Patpong Night Market, and Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Floating Markets,
Wholesale Markets, and Local Markets sections below...
And remember that bargaining
is vital! (Bargain with a smile - you'll get a much better deal)
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Suan Lum Night Bazaar
Patpong Night Market
Floating Markets
Wholesale Markets |
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