prano

Hi All,
What kind of local handicrafts/curios are good buys in Bangkok? And what are best places to shop these? We aren't too keen on precious stones or clothes; more interested in handicrafts or even kitchen utensils - say a Som Tum papaya "shredder" if such a thing exists?!
Also, since we are big foodies and typically love to wander through the local grocery stores picking up interesting looking foods to try. Whats a good store to do this especially for Thai curry pastes etc?
We are going to be staying near the Chitlom BTS.

simpsonc510

Look for a Foodland grocery store or a Gourmet Market which you can find in the upscale department stores (Emporium, Paragon) to find really great selections of fresh produce and packaged items such as curry sauces.

For Thai crafts, look for wood products, silk scarves, bags, etc. You are close to Amarin Plaza shopping center. The 3rd (?) floor has lots of crafts. There is a nice Thai craft store at Paragon Mall also.

kmkrnn

It is called exotic thai at paragon on the 4th floor. I think the one at Amarin is also on the 4th floor. Both are excellent suggestions with a good selection of good quality crafts. .Also go on line and Google thai craft fair. They are usually held at the Jasmin center, or some in the lobby of Bumergrad hospital on sSaturdays. They have crafts direct from the villages. Have fun.

Guenmai

1) Kitchen utensils and such, I buy them at the Paragon Mall department store, Central Department store at Chitlom, and the department store at Emporium Mall.

2) For handicrafts, Amarin Plaza Mall is quite good. I have a friend in there who owns the Come Thai boutique and has gorgeous, pre-cut pieces of Thai, woven fabrics. I have bought many, over the years, and used them for table runners, table clothes, pieces to drape over armchairs, and other things.

3) As for food, my regular market for years was the one inside of the Emporium Mall as I lived at Emporium Suites attached to it. That supermarket usually has a lot of interesting food items. Also, there's the huge supermarket inside of Paragon Mall, and there's a market inside of Central World Plaza Mall.

Happy Travels!

MrsBillT

Go to the weekend market, it has many items that may be of interest to you. It is outdoors and very hot so bring drinks along and a roller bag as you will likely fill it up. Also this market is HUGE, get a map if you can as you will get lost.
Keep your valuables safe as it is very crowded. You can get there via Sky train and or subway. (Subway puts you right into the market. Go in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat. Bargain on everything. The best approach is to buy several of the same item and bargain the price. Of course it depends on what you are buying but as a general rule of thumb I would say you should be able to get 10 to 15 percent discount . I bring a calculator along and show the vendor the price I want rather than speaking it. It keeps the transaction silent and the vendor is more apt to agree on your price without the other customers hearing it. The vendor has her own calculator and may rework the deal but either way you will get a good deal if you follow this method. Bring cash, no credit cards also.

rhkkmk

For sure buy something with sapphires...

MrsBillT

Silver is a good buy in Bangkok. Visit the many silver shops along the main road a block behind the Oriental Hotel. Some of the shops are only wholesale which just means that you must buy three or more of the same item. Very reasonable and no sales person hovering over you trying to sell you things .

prano

Thanks everyone.
MrsBillT, we are planning on going to JJ (Chatuchak) on the Saturday morning that we are in town. Since its so huge, is there anything specific there that we should check out first?
Rhkkmk, whats a good place to look at sapphire? Are they available at malls like Amarin, CentralWorld or Siam Paragon?

Kathie

If you are interested in buying sapphire jewelry, I can make some recommendations. But start by learning about sapphires - go to a good jeweler where you live and look at them. What color do you like best? What color is most expensive. Look at the sapphires through a jeweler's loupe. Check prices per carat.

One you have learned enough about sapphires to be an informed shopper, go to a good jeweler in Bangkok - don't buy from a place a took-tuk driver takes you to and tells you it's a special government sale Only buy from a recommended jeweler. I have been buying from SJ International. Call them and they will send a car for you (no obligation). Ask for Lily and tell them "Kathie from Seattle" sent you. You will get wholesale price, which will be about one-fourth of the retail price in the US.

Kathie

For inexpensive gifts, try the Jim Thompson outlet store on so 93. They have lovely scarves, little items like lipstick holders, coin purses, glasses cases all in beautiful silk.

simpsonc510

Prano, Kathie has been sending many customers to S J International, and many of them report back here that they are very pleased with their purchases. I would go to S J before spending more money for the same type of item at one of the big glitzy malls (which I DO enjoy shopping at).

The weekend market is huge, indeed. Get a map of the place when you arrive. It's easy to get lost in the maze of aisles. Goods of every type are available. But it does get hot and crowded, so try to be there around 10 when stalls are opening. There are a few (very few) places with air con and you can escape the heat for short periods of time.

Jim Thompson outlet, Sukhumvit soi 93 is another great suggestion. The silk fabrics and patterns are stunning. At the outlet you will find "last year's" patterns, which are still beautiful and colorful. No one knows they are not the "very latest" creations. This is very high quality silk. You will find other silks at Amarin and Chatuchak, but the J T quality is to be noted, as compared to the less expensive things. I've bought J T and "other" and have been very pleased for the most part.

Guenmai

Yes, definitely go to SJ International. Just call them and they'll send a car for you to take you there. I've been buying from Lily for many years and on Kathie's recommendation. I've bought both sapphires and rubies. I bought my mom a gold, elephant pendant with red rubies and I think she's worn it nearly every day since I gave it to her about a decade ago. LOL! She says that people always comments on how beautiful it is. She has the pendant hanging from a nice gold chain. I have yellow sapphire jewelry for myself.

SJ International will also make jewelry. A friend picked up some semi-precious stones, on one of her trips to Brazil, and brought them home. She didn't know what to do with them so she gave them to me to take to Bangkok and have drop earrings made. She gave me free range as to design. I sketched an idea, at SJ, and then the designer and I tweaked it a bit and the earrings were made and were gorgeous. It took about 2 weeks, I think it was, as I was in Bangkok for 3 weeks on that trip. When my friend saw the earrings, she was blown away.

Happy Travels!

rhkkmk

Pick. A nice shop. I prefer the NON GLITZY ONES.

GOLD IN THAILAND is almost always 18K..

I usually pay about $100-150 for 18K gold studs with a 1/2 k sapphire.

rhkkmk

Many jeweler so will ask you how much you want to spend and then will tell you what you can get for that.

MrsBillT

Prano- if you are looking for small gifts for children there are many items at the market that will be a hit with the kids. One item is the wooden frogs with a piece of wood thru it's mouth. Now take the wood from the mouth and rub it along the back of the frog and .... It make a croaking sound! We gave these away and they loved it!
The kids and for that matter a lot of adults, love the Thailand tee shirts. (Note they don't bargain on the tee shirts but they are so cheap you do not need to). For girls look for the small decorative umbrellas.

prano

Thanks everyone! Those wooden frogs sound like they'd make a great gift!

simpsonc510

The wooden frogs are indeed a unique and curious item. I've been to one of the factories in Chiang Mai where they are made. All hand done with power tools! They also make crickets and a whole host of other animals, all with noise functions.

rhkkmk

Does brad still own 50,000 frogs?

PhiMeow

My 2 cents worth:

Chatuchak market - stainless steel cutlery/set is excellent. See this link for example pics of available styles http://www.businessme.co.nz/sites/de...s/gotr9t_6.jpg
Also at the market - paper craft items like handmade paper, notebooks; candles (only if you have a cool place to store them before travelling home); benjaron (5 colour) pottery; celadon pottery are all good items to buy.
At the market, make sure you bargain extra hard!

I read you are not really into clothing but FWIW the Pratunam wholesale clothing market - take a taxi to the Indra Regent hotel on 120/126 Rajaprarop Rd. You can't miss it. Almost all places are wholesale so must buy 6+ garments.

Jim Thomson outlet - is pretty good for bolts of quality Thai silk

Silver jewellery - pretty cheap and available at reasonable prices even in large malls like the MBK Centre.

One final note about those noise making frogs. Kids love them but parents hate them...super annoying noise after about 30 seconds

PhiMeow

*benjarong - wish I could edit my post after posting.