Is There A Secret To Shopping

[rene123]

Is there a secret to shopping in the Chinese market area? The whole area seems to be a bustling rabbit warren of tiny shops tucked away in unorganized bedlam. I went shopping there this morning, but silly me I forgot my purse and only had a small amount of cash with me. I found a couple of cute blouses I liked but didn't have enough money to buy them. So, I headed back to my apartment to get my purse and returned an hour later, only to find I couldn't find the same shop again. I finally gave up in frustration; I'm going to have to go back a few times just to find my way around that maze. The parking is non-existent, and you really have to pay attention to where you left your scooter. I think it might be worth it, though because the prices seemed more reasonable than either the Airport Plaza or the Kad Suan Kaew plaza. The prices at the Airport plaza are more expensive than I can buy the same things for back home in Canada. The same is true for most of the stuff at the night bazaar.

[lizardtongue]

No secret just make sure you have sufficient money with you

[junglechef]

There is a main multi-level parking structure and another with a car elevator and street parking. It does take a bit of time to learn one's way around but that can be half the fun and a good way to find some great little gems. Most of the places are open quite early so I sometimes go around 8 am when it's much more quiet and easier to navigate.

[NancyL]

Also, it helps to find someone who loves to shop and knows that area to give you a little tour, pointing out their favorite shops. It helps to know some of the major shops and landmarks to use for reference. Examples are the red Chinese temple, Win -- the cosmetics store that always seems to have tables set up outside displaying cheap bras, Chiang Mai Plastic (a great resource), etc. Also, the are two large indoor markets and no one can ever remember the name of each. One is the multi-store building with the broken escalator (interesting clothing shops on the second floor) and the other is more of a fresh food market.

There is a lack of good places to sit, have an iced coffee and relax. There are some food vendors in the back area of the building with the fresh food and they don't mind you sitting and sipping a drink if they aren't busy. Also, can be a challenge to find the toilets. I've found some in the building with the broken escalator. There is at least one western-style toilet in addition to all the squat toilets. I think the western-style toilet is considered the "handicapped" toilet. It's a real challenge to use to squat toilet when you're loaded with packages and there's no place to put them.

Oh, it's always a good idea to bring a large cloth tote bag with a shoulder strap for purchases, but you do have to be careful not to hit people and merchandise with your shoulder bag in the shops.

Good tip about going early when it's not so crowded or hot.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Ah, reliving the 1980's Chiang Mai shopping experience!

Interesting project!

[elektrified]

"I think it might be worth it, though because the prices seemed more reasonable than either the Airport Plaza or the Kad Suan Kaew plaza."

The prices are cheap but that it is because it is mostly Chinese junk that will last all of 4-5 months before they look like you are wearing rags.

[elektrified]

There are some food vendors in the back area of the building with the fresh food and they don't mind you sitting and sipping a drink if they aren't busy.

Just don't eat there. None of my Thai friends or the g/f's family will ever eat there. The place is infested with rats. You can see them running around all over. You can see them walking over the racks of washed dishes after the vendors have closed.

[true blue]

i would of thought,the secret was to go to a decent shopping centre,with all the facilities you require are available,not a rat infested third quality merchendise,paddys market,but hey girls like a bargin.

[rene123]

"I think it might be worth it, though because the prices seemed more reasonable than either the Airport Plaza or the Kad Suan Kaew plaza."

The prices are cheap but that it is because it is mostly Chinese junk that will last all of 4-5 months before they look like you are wearing rags.

Considering that most of the inexpensive stuff you buy in North America is now made in China I doubt if would be much different. And, after 4 or 5 months I kind of get tired of wearing the same clothes. It's frequent washing that beats clothing up. I have some expensive blouses and skirts at home that I purposely left behind. I don't need to look like a fashion model. I just want to be comfortable.

[daoyai]

The trick to navigating Kad Luang (aka Wararot mkt.) is remembering the "landmarks"...ok, turn rt. at the turtle buckets, just past the pig heads but if you reach the rotting fish (bpalat and kapi) buckets you've gone to far. ...... I never did find the fabled Indian spice trader.

[kcore]

"I think it might be worth it, though because the prices seemed more reasonable than either the Airport Plaza or the Kad Suan Kaew plaza."

The prices are cheap but that it is because it is mostly Chinese junk that will last all of 4-5 months before they look like you are wearing rags.

Considering that most of the inexpensive stuff you buy in North America is now made in China I doubt if would be much different. And, after 4 or 5 months I kind of get tired of wearing the same clothes. It's frequent washing that beats clothing up. I have some expensive blouses and skirts at home that I purposely left behind. I don't need to look like a fashion model. I just want to be comfortable.

Actually, the stuff in the west that is made in china has gone through some semblance of QC. The rejects from these name brand items end up shipped in container load to the whom ever supplies the highest bid. Now, the non name brand items might be a different story but, I only where American Eagle!

[rene123]

The trick to navigating Kad Luang (aka Wararot mkt.) is remembering the "landmarks"...ok, turn rt. at the turtle buckets, just past the pig heads but if you reach the rotting fish (bpalat and kapi) buckets you've gone to far. ...... I never did find the fabled Indian spice trader.

Where is the laughter button? Thanks for that daoyai. I know just what you mean after my second visit.

[scd]

Wararot is my hood and I much prefer it over the sanitised mega malls. The cosmetics store mentioned previously is a big winner, and anyone wanting to buy some new threads is highly advised to go to the night market there. I picked up 4 fashion tees this week for 380B.

[NancyL]

The trick to navigating Kad Luang (aka Wararot mkt.) is remembering the "landmarks"...ok, turn rt. at the turtle buckets, just past the pig heads but if you reach the rotting fish (bpalat and kapi) buckets you've gone to far. ...... I never did find the fabled Indian spice trader.

The fabled Inidan spice trader is in the other large building -- the one with the broken escalator. They're on the ground floor, along an outer wall of the main, large room that has large bags of dried pork rinds, nuts, etc.. It's along the wall on the side of the room near the river..

[cmsally]

I'm surprised that so many people prefer the mega malls over the local markets. I find the mega malls amongst the most depressing places of all time. There is so much an atmosphere of sameness, it's just a complete mood killer.

Anyway for those who don't frequent the market in question so much; you might be interested to know that in the last few years the street behind Warorot (Gong Lo Joh sp??) (seeing as clothing mentioned specifically) has undergone somewhat of a revival. There are a number of shops turning out some jolly decent clothing which is all produced locally and ends up in a number of places including BKK weekend market, BKK shops, Australia, Japan etc etc

You have also got a number of textile shops, sewing shops and the hilltribe market at the back.

Very bizarrely you have even got some Chinese buyers visiting there exporting to China.

However the mainstay of the clothing shops has mostly been the Japanese for quite a long time.

Round the corner from the Chinese temple is a little stall selling Hua Pakkard which was started by a Chinese man who manned it rain or shine for years. Its now run by his daughter or maybe niece, not too sure.

Slightly further from there you have Kul which is run by a lovely couple and you can find anything in there when it comes to sewing supplies. Then you also have the cloth shops, Chinese medicine, Kasem store close by where there's a nice coffee shop a couple of doors down.

Back in Warorot (broken escalator fame) you have the Indian spices, the famous Chiang Mai fried pork, Thai sweets etc etc

Ton Lamyai market on the other side has more fresh produce.

[rene123]

Thank you for that, cmsally. I will definitely check it out. I also found the Chinese market far more fascinating than either of the big malls. Tesco and the big C are similar to the malls and have limited items in the clothing market.

[NancyL]

The Thai people pronouce "Kul" as "Kun". Not really important unless you're trying to get a tuk-tuk to take you there.

Hubby hates the place and I love it. It's very crowded, like much in this market area. He's just glad that whatever I want to buy there is small and light-weight, so I don't need to bring the pack-mule (that would be Hubby). Kul has two doors -- one in the "Wararot market area" and the other that opens into a major, busy street with a name that I don't know. If you cross the major busy street, you'lll find a store with a Thai name that translates as "Golden Button". That pretty well sums up the store.

So, if you just want buttons, then that's a much better place to visit. Wider aisles, no crowds and much larger selection.

(And to think you guys wonder what we discuss at our Ladies Luches! Don't flatter yourselves -- it's not you -- it's where to buy buttons,)

[hellodolly]

The Thai people pronouce "Kul" as "Kun". Not really important unless you're trying to get a tuk-tuk to take you there.

Hubby hates the place and I love it. It's very crowded, like much in this market area. He's just glad that whatever I want to buy there is small and light-weight, so I don't need to bring the pack-mule (that would be Hubby). Kul has two doors -- one in the "Wararot market area" and the other that opens into a major, busy street with a name that I don't know. If you cross the major busy street, you'lll find a store with a Thai name that translates as "Golden Button". That pretty well sums up the store.

So, if you just want buttons, then that's a much better place to visit. Wider aisles, no crowds and much larger selection.

(And to think you guys wonder what we discuss at our Ladies Luches! Don't flatter yourselves -- it's not you -- it's where to buy buttons,)

Nancy I am really struggling to imagine a store that just sells buttons being crowded.

[DowntownAl]

Have to agree with the others who dislike mega-malls but use them when I have too. I love shopping at the ta-lats. Warrarot when I have too for bigger items but, Ton Payom on Suthep Rd at Canal Road and Thanin (Siri Wattana) on, surprisingly enough, Thanin Rd. in Chang Phueak, are great for fresh verggies and some pretty good do-nats.

[shepsel]

Warrowat is best explored the first few times on an overcast day when once can wander in and out of the small stalls in the

different buildings, floors, and streets. There are some remarkable finds there. I have found coconut shelled buttons to

replace lost one's on my Tommy Bahama shirts, wonderful fabric for making table clothes that are less expensive than the ugly

plastic one's, and many other household items that are much, much cheaper than in the malls. There is a fabric shop across from

the entrance to the Chinese Temple that has 100% cotton sheets for about 700 baht for a king size set. She will make a top flat sheet for you as well. If you want the fitted sheet have a deeper pocket, she will make it in a few days, and all at a

reasonable cost--and she speaks fluent English. Chiang Mai Plastics has almost

everything you can think of--and it is doesn't have to be plastic!!! A little further north is the big city market--Muang

Mai Market -- where fresh produce, meats and fish are sold. I learned that purchasing 5 kilos of tomatoes costs about the same as a kilo in the other markets. I use what I want for fresh salds and cook up the rest into a tomato sauce.

[elektrified]

Warrowat is best explored the first few times on an overcast day when once can wander in and out of the small stalls in the

different buildings, floors, and streets. There are some remarkable finds there. I have found coconut shelled buttons to

replace lost one's on my Tommy Bahama shirts, wonderful fabric for making table clothes that are less expensive than the ugly

plastic one's, and many other household items that are much, much cheaper than in the malls. There is a fabric shop across from

the entrance to the Chinese Temple that has 100% cotton sheets for about 700 baht for a king size set. She will make a top flat sheet for you as well. If you want the fitted sheet have a deeper pocket, she will make it in a few days, and all at a

reasonable cost--and she speaks fluent English. Chiang Mai Plastics has almost

everything you can think of--and it is doesn't have to be plastic!!! A little further north is the big city market--Muang

Mai Market -- where fresh produce, meats and fish are sold. I learned that purchasing 5 kilos of tomatoes costs about the same as a kilo in the other markets. I use what I want for fresh salds and cook up the rest into a tomato sauce.

If I'm not mistaken, the woman is Indian so that would explain the fluent English. Any idea what the thread count is on the cotton sheets for 700 THB? For that price I can't imagine its very high.

[rene123]

If I'm not mistaken, the woman is Indian so that would explain the fluent English. Any idea what the thread count is on the cotton sheets for 700 THB? For that price I can't imagine its very high.

One thing I learned the hard way is to never buy a "set" of sheets in Thailand. A set in Thailand means one sheet and 3 or 4 pillow cases. I expected a top sheet and a bottom sheet and 2 pillow cases. I have no use for those bolster things that look like laundry bags. I was able to get a separate sheet in the Warowat market, and at much less than I paid at Tesco.

[Semper]

If I'm not mistaken, the woman is Indian so that would explain the fluent English. Any idea what the thread count is on the cotton sheets for 700 THB? For that price I can't imagine its very high.

One thing I learned the hard way is to never buy a "set" of sheets in Thailand. A set in Thailand means one sheet and 3 or 4 pillow cases. I expected a top sheet and a bottom sheet and 2 pillow cases. I have no use for those bolster things that look like laundry bags. I was able to get a separate sheet in the Warowat market, and at much less than I paid at Tesco.

That sounds great.

[NancyL]

The Thai people pronouce "Kul" as "Kun". Not really important unless you're trying to get a tuk-tuk to take you there.

Hubby hates the place and I love it. It's very crowded, like much in this market area. He's just glad that whatever I want to buy there is small and light-weight, so I don't need to bring the pack-mule (that would be Hubby). Kul has two doors -- one in the "Wararot market area" and the other that opens into a major, busy street with a name that I don't know. If you cross the major busy street, you'lll find a store with a Thai name that translates as "Golden Button". That pretty well sums up the store.

So, if you just want buttons, then that's a much better place to visit. Wider aisles, no crowds and much larger selection.

(And to think you guys wonder what we discuss at our Ladies Luches! Don't flatter yourselves -- it's not you -- it's where to buy buttons,)

Nancy I am really struggling to imagine a store that just sells buttons being crowded.

You're right -- the button store isn't crowded. What's always crowded is Kul, which sells a good selections of buttons, trims, lace, fasteners, zippers -- items called "notions" by those who sew (or buy stuff to give to their dressmakers to use in making clothes for them) Kul just tries to have too much stuff in too little a space.

Of course, it doesn't help that I always go to Kul with a huge bag of fabric, just purchased at hot, crowded fabric shops run by Indians. I simply want to get just the right buttons, zippers, closures, trim, etc to go with my newly purchased fabric. They really should put a nice aircon coffee shop in that area so us "women on a hunt" can relax, cool off, regroup and think about what we're forgetting to buy. It's a real bummer to get to the dressmaker and realize you didn't buy the perfect zipper you needed for the skirt you want her to make.