Thursday, August 28, 2008 Great finds By Jinggoy Salvador
"WHEN in doubt, buy two."
That's my personal credo. And somehow it works for me just fine. I never did find the reason behind this personal shopping adage I created. Don't go psychologist or psychiatrist on me please.
Rarely that I find a style I would so love and I wouldn't want to regret that I didn't buy the other color. One for days in chic khakis and the other for jeans. Oh well, I work so hard I deserve this, no! These!
Those are the two reasons, lame it may be, I tell myself when I have the impulse to splurge. What's yours? Heck, as long as it doesn't mess the entire budget. But in Thailand where your precious moolah can go a long, long way, guilt is far from something you will feel.
Shopping paradise. Many in Southeast Asia have claimed this title but don't you think this is subjective? But does having the biggest shopping complex in Southeast Asia count plus another huge shopping complex standing on the same street count as criteria?
Perhaps, it does. If it is, then Bangkok has it along the Sukhumvit strip. Not to mention the shopping weekend maze we all know as Chatuchak. And if you want me to prattle, shopping in Thailand is a round the clock experience, from the mall to the streets, your addiction will be satisfied even when you're on your way home from a late night clubbing.
In Thailand, there is everything for everyone. You end up buying things you think you need just because it is either "Isn't it so cute?" or "I have to buy it, it is so cheap!" Or, if you are in into luxury goods, with the tax refund, your Gucci bag is less expensive than in Manila.
Let's head to the paradise also known as the "great equalizer." From all corners of the globe, from the different social strata, they take the Skytrain route Mo Chit on a weekend and end up on the same destination- the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Strictly a weekend event, Chatuchak is the undisputed king of Bangkok's shopping destination. Nothing comes even close. You definitely need more than one weekend to traverse this maze of 35 acres of more than 15,000 shops. You will be among the over 200,000 visitors each day rummaging through an extensive range of products from household accessories to handicrafts, religious artifacts to art and antiques, live pets to books, music, clothes, food, plants and flowers and many more. Name it, they got it.
Tip: Humingi ka ng tawad! Not the "sorry po, kuya" but haggle! Like we Pinoys need to be told that. Bargaining is expected. If you think our haggling is a killer, then you should see how our fair-skinned brothers do it. It will put us to shame.
Now, let's go up-scale. The malls of Bangkok are huge and house the local and international luxury brands. The creative and chic Thai designs can proudly stand beside its international counterparts with lesser chunk off your shopping budget.
Of course, there is no haggling in this side of shopping paradise lest you suffer a killer stare. But when you chance upon the sale season, luck is on your side. With your tax refund (you get this at the airport on departure), your shopping savings will get you to shop a little more.
Don't you get this feeling that you have to maximize your shopping experience? Then head out to the night market along Silom Road and the Lumpini Park and go back to some more haggling. Grab a drink in some pub and go clubbing and shop a little more before heading back to your hotel. Just to make sure you got to own your own great finds.
Now, if you don't call this a shopping paradise, I don't know what is.
