speaking of MBK---i found it interesting that the sheraton krabi is owned by MBK

MBK is the more uniquely Thai experience.

Try the food court on the Sixth Floor, which is where all the locals go. The one on the Fifth Floor is more upscale and is for tourists rather than for locals. very safe to eat on either floor.

Paragon food court is very very upscale and therefore very very expensive (in comparison to the food courts in MBK).

Siam Center, Paragon, etc. are worth a visit, even if you are a mall baby from LA. Some of the stores are different from those in LA malls. Don't miss the Maserati store - just in case you need to pick up a Maserati or two!

Shop carefully in Chatuchak Market. A lot of price inflation for tourists.

Enjoy!

MBK is a major property developer. They own several office buildings, hotels and other properties. Although, I think they started out as a flour mill. MBK center is just one of the places they own.

Easy's comment must have posted while I was writing my last reply.

Re Chatuchak - I noticed last time I was there a few weeks ago that many stalls just won't bargain. Period. And they will let you walk away if you don't agree to their price. Take it as a sign of the time.

Another new wrinkle is that t-shirt vendors now want more for larger sizes. I was with someone who wanted to get some souvenir shirts for his staff back home, and the price went from 120 Baht S,M,L to 150 for XL to 200 for XXL. All the stalls were doing this, and again the prices were non-negotiable.

Hi,

I will be back in Bangkok in March. Last time I was there, I went to a Mall like building not very far from the Sky Train and near another more traditional type mall.

The (craft?) mall had lots of Thai crafts (like the pottery from Chaing Mai, neat stainless wear and other items) on the second? (or upper floors) and clothing on the first floor. Namely silk ladies blouses that could be made up over night if they didn't have one to fit. It was my last day so I was out of luck.

I was so turned around at the time I don't know exactly how I got there or the name. This time I want to go first thing and order a blouse or two - the fabrics were so nice.

Does this place ring a bell with any one? Can some one help with name and directions from the Peninsula?

MBK, baby

CWN - I suspect you're talking about Naraiphand, the Thai handicrafts center operated by the ministry of industry. It was next to Gaysorn Plaza and across from CentralWorld, but they've now moved to the same building as the Intercontinental hotel.

Take the Skytrain to Chidlom station and you're right there.

Actually, many of their shops have moved to the Amarin building, which is across the street from the Intercontinental. I did some shopping in there in April/May, as they were having their "grand opening" in the Amarin building.

CWN, it's very possible you are talking about the Amarin building as they have always had fabric shops and they will make things for you very quickly.

Amarin is at the Chidlom skytrain staion, and is attached by a walkway. Very easy to get to.

Carol

Thanks Carol and Michael,

It probably was the Naraiphand. It next to or near several different mall areas. I remember that I had to walk a bit to the Sky Rail and had to climb the stairs, my knees were giving me fits!

I don't remember there being alot of material for sale though where may have been. I just remember the fist floor had lots of dealers selling nice clothes and they could make things up to fit in 24 hours.

I will check out the Amarin building and the Intercontinental.

I am so excited to be going back. Just six and a half months to go!

Thanks for the information, I will add it to my growing file.