Nancy Chandler maps

Old Oct 29th, 2014, 02:03 PM
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Nancy Chandler maps

I ordered them from Amazon and they came in last night. One for Bangkok and one for Chiang Mai.

I think I need to extend this trip now.

Thank you to all who suggested them!
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 02:14 PM
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ps. if there are any favorites on these maps that I should try really hard to seek out, please advise, thanks.
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 02:37 PM
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The secret with these schematic maps is how to get to, and how long it takes to get to. What might look v.close on the map might not be the case.
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 03:16 PM
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The Nancy Chandler maps show so many things that I expect that virtually anything you wanted to go to would be shown on the maps. The maps, of course, are not to scale, and are more schematics than maps, but one of the best ways to get a sense of where things are located in relationship to each other. If this is your first trip, you'll want to see the major wats. I use the maps as many times as I've been there to find lesser known wats to visit.

You'll have to let us know what kinds of things you are asking about - wats, stores, restaurants, etc.
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 03:17 PM
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the maps are not to scale at all..

what are you interested in??

platinum fashion mall in bkk is fab for women

silom village on silom rd has some nice shops...

new rd has tons of silver shops.. we like Lim Silver on Oriental Lane--the one nearest to the hotel
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 04:22 PM
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Frankly it all looks overwhelming. I only have three nights in CM and four nights (which is three days) in BKK so I have to prioritise. I do have a Moon guidebook which I am perusing anew.

I guess I'd say the most interesting wats, first, and then fantastic coffee shops/breakfast/pastries, then third restaurants. Since this is my first trip I will probably just walk all over, all over, like I tend to do anyway...

I doubt I will go to a shopping mall (never say never but I doubt it, this time). I would like to buy clothing but I'd probably do that in the small shops I'd find by walking around. Cotton House ranks high for my first day in and I've no idea if that is in a mall or not.

Thank you.
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 04:58 PM
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Yes, you can find the 'fantastic' Starbux coffee shops in CM. The med latte will cost you as much as one good delicious meal in a Thai restaurant.
In CM, the wats are everywhere, maps entirely un-needed. Ur best notion is indeed, 'walking around'.
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 04:59 PM
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We like to walk cities, too...but not Bangkok. After four visits, we have concluded that Bangkok is pedestrian-hostile if you are trying to move between small neighbourhoods. You will be hot, frustrated by traffic and footsore before you stumble upon anything interesting. Better to have a plan around a couple of key destinations, and take public transit or taxi (they are cheap). And by deciding not to go into a shopping mall, you will miss how Bangkok really lives--including the best food court options and the fantastic coffee shops.
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 06:31 PM
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Bangkok is not an easy pedestrian city. Choose some neighborhoods to walk in, but as mentioned above, you'll want the skytrain or taxi to get you from area to area. Cotton House is an excellent place for having clothing custom-made, though I doubt you really have time. Cotton House in located in a small shopping center right behind the Oriental Hotel. Three are a good number of interesting shops in the area, both those in the same shopping center and those in nearby small shopping centers and shops (like Lim Silver on the street). Also visit Wat Tramit (the Golden Buddha) and walk around Chinatown - so much to see, do, eat.

For wats, IMO, the must-sees in Bangkok are the Grand Palace/emerald Buddha, Wat Po (Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun. In Cm, actually outside of CM, do visit Doi Suthep. I like it best early in the morning.

As you can see from the Nancy Chandler maps, there are many, many more wats to visit as well as wonderful restaurants and shops. This trip will just be a sample. If you are like many of us, you will be back again and again..
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 02:34 AM
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Have you decided on a hotel in Banngkok yet? It's easier for people who know the city to give specific advice if they know where you are based.

To get around easily and quickly, it's best to stay close to a Skytrain station (BTS), Underground station(MRT), or close to the river for the public river ferries. Note that the public ferries stop for the day at about 1900.

If Chinatown is on your to see list, then the place comes to life after dusk.

Don't allow the planning to get on top of you. You're doing the right things in asking lots of question beforehand.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 04:35 AM
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I am in the Shangri La and on my return trip the JW Marriott. I still have time and could change to the Shangri La for my return although I thought it would be nice to see a different part of the city.

Good to know BKK isn't going for long wanders. I was referring to CM, more, as that is the first map I've cracked open - I know I wasn't very clear.

I already know I will be back.

Continuing to peruse Moon... which I will also do on the plane...

Thanks again.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 05:01 AM
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We're in Chiang Mai now. I wouldn't call it easy to walk around. It's hot - 33C today and very humid, footpaths are variable, but trip hazards are plenty. Tuk tuks are cheap and plentiful, but know the price you should pay, and bargain accordingly.

Fantastic local food options on inthawarorot Rd, near Ratchadamoem rd intersection - excuse spelling !
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 05:17 AM
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I would keep the hotels as you have laid out... there is some walking you can do from the sh-la, incl. the whole new road area up to and past the oriental hotel area---really all the way to capt. bush rd.

from the jw you have easy access to the adult entertainment area next door at soi 4, sukhumvit, not that you want that but from an human interest angle, it can be interesting. btw, the Bangkok baking co in the jw is excellent. easy access to lots of shopping from here too, but most are malls.

as stated bkk is not a city for strolling around. it is more destination driven. I prefer taxis to all other forms of transportation, but I love boat rides on the river---sh-la boat being one of them..

in the OP Place mini mall, behind the Oriental Hotel you will find interesting shops incl. cotton house. btw, we did not find the cotton hse employees to be friendly and have never returned after our first purchase many years ago... we much prefer js thai silk in river city shopping mall a short boat ride up the river (they, RC, have a boat that sails from the hotel pier next to sh-la). btw, there is a reasonable massage place directly across the corridor from JS.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 05:29 AM
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sartoric, thank you for the pirep! I would love to hear from you after you leave CM with some tips.

I was hoping November would be less hot and less humid.

I will be in sundresses quite a bit.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 05:46 AM
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The store I liked, near the Shangri-La was called Mazzaro. I bought some beautiful silk tops there. I think they may also have a store in the Shangri-La too. There was also a nice silver jewelery store in OP Place, near the Mandarin Oriental.

We were in Chiang Mai last November, and will be there for a few days next month too. It is hot there, but not nearly as hot as Bangkok.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 05:50 AM
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Agree with Sartoric's first para.

A tip with tuk tuks is to flag them down. The ones that are waiting on street corners are the ones that are likely to want to overcharge you, or take you to somewhere you don't really want to go, such as a gem emporium or somewhere that's got a wonderful one-day only sale on.

A trip out to the Handicraft workshops a few kilometres east of CM town centre is a good area to visit during the day. But if you hire a tuk tuk to take you there and shunt you between stores then be aware of what I wrote above, as if they can get a bit of commission here and there then they'll have their favourite places to take you.

Careful you don't leave any valuables in the tuk tuk!
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 08:28 AM
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Oddly enough, tuk-tuks will usually cost you more than a taxi. I say oddly because in the tuk-tuk you are exposed to the exhaust fumes, dust, etc. If you really want a day of handicraft shopping, I recommend you hire a taxi by the hour. It pretty cheap and you'll have your (air-conditioned) ride waiting for you when you finish at each store. the driver will stay with the car, so you ca put your purchases in the trunk while you shop. The Nancy Chandler Map has a good listing of fair-trade craft shops.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 12:15 PM
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Kathie. CM or BKK? I'm taking about the craft shops east of CM.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 01:23 PM
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Flygirl: "I doubt I will go to a shopping mall (never say never but I doubt it, this time). I would like to buy clothing but I'd probably do that in the small shops I'd find by walking around. Cotton House ranks high for my first day in and I've no idea if that is in a mall or not."

As for Cotton House, they do custom-made clothes as I've been having my clothes made there over many years and will be having them made there again, in a couple of months. I have a whole suitcase full of fabric that I'm taking along. But, you need time to have custom clothes made as you need to be there for fittings.

Since you have such a short time in Bangkok, it might be better for you to buy clothing at places that sell off the rack unless you want to spend time going to fittings to get the clothing just right. I'm a stickler for a proper fit.

Although Cotton House has fabric, when I arrive I have my own fabric that I've bought, mostly either here in L.A., or also in Singapore if I've been there before Bangkok. I also bring along some garments from home to have Cotton House copy, but with my new fabrics. But, when I'm in Bangkok, I'm there from 1 week to 3.5 weeks so I have time.

When I arrive into Cotton House, I know exactly what I want when I walk in so we get right to it and I chat with the ladies, they take my measurements, we discuss what I want, they offer me lunch, and then we set up a date for my first fitting. I find it a very pleasant experience, to say the least. Plus, all of the buttons that I have on my tops I have handmade from the fabric that is being used. So, a woman is assigned to make buttons and sometimes I drop by just to see how things are coming along and watch her in the process of making my buttons.

You can probably find other places to make clothing for you and really fast as there are tons of places in Bangkok. I can only speak of Cotton House as I've used them to make over two-dozen garments for me over the years.

Happy Travels!
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 01:37 PM
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I'm talking about both, though the price differential is less in CM than in BKK. One of the things I find frustrating in CM is that if you want to do a shopping trip, you really need a driver. In Bangkok, there is so much good public transportation that you don't need a driver unless you are buying large items.
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