Shopping in Bangkok
Jan 27th, 2013, 10:24 AM
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Shopping in Bangkok
During the 4 days we will be in Bangkok I would obviously like to do some shopping although DH might not agree. That being said this is specifically what I am looking for besides just whatever I find that jumps out at me.
I have 2 teenage grand daughters that have requested Louis Vuitton purses, yes we are from LA. Obviously they are not getting the real thing so is there someplace that I can find high quality replicas?
I want a real Monk Bowl and believe I need to go to the special area for this.
I have a really narrow foot so thinking that the people are somewhat smaller so maybe I can find something.
Other than the above any suggestions to find the most buying opportunities without throwing hubby over the top
I have 2 teenage grand daughters that have requested Louis Vuitton purses, yes we are from LA. Obviously they are not getting the real thing so is there someplace that I can find high quality replicas?
I want a real Monk Bowl and believe I need to go to the special area for this.
I have a really narrow foot so thinking that the people are somewhat smaller so maybe I can find something.
Other than the above any suggestions to find the most buying opportunities without throwing hubby over the top
Jan 27th, 2013, 12:53 PM
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MBK mall will be your best bet for the LV bags. They may not be out in plain view at the stalls that sell copy bags. They also sell suitcases (and the suitcases are FULL of other copy bags), so just ASK if they have LV. You will see a few out on display. Check the bag(s) because there are levels of quality. It depends on how much you want to spend.
I also have a narrow foot, but that doesn't make it any easier to by the really cute shoes that you will see! Asian sizes are smaller than western sizes in general. Same with shoes. If you go to a more traditional mall, such as Paragon or Central World, or the Central Chitlom Department store, you can find western brands and western sizes in shoes. But the really cute cheap ones at places like Platinum Fashion Mall... those will most likely be too short for your foot. But if you are a size 5 to 7, you might get lucky.
I also have a narrow foot, but that doesn't make it any easier to by the really cute shoes that you will see! Asian sizes are smaller than western sizes in general. Same with shoes. If you go to a more traditional mall, such as Paragon or Central World, or the Central Chitlom Department store, you can find western brands and western sizes in shoes. But the really cute cheap ones at places like Platinum Fashion Mall... those will most likely be too short for your foot. But if you are a size 5 to 7, you might get lucky.
Jan 27th, 2013, 03:55 PM
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my wife has really good luck with shoes at platinum.. many are too narrow for her, so you should be in luck.. they use a european sizing structure.. she also finds huge differences in size from one style to another..
copy bags are all over the place... often you will be asked to follow a salesman/woman to a warehouse nearby---i would not go alone, but with someone else you should be ok.
look on the nancy chandler map for the monk bowl alley---best to go mid-morning... when we went last november in the PM, they were pretty much closed up...
copy bags are all over the place... often you will be asked to follow a salesman/woman to a warehouse nearby---i would not go alone, but with someone else you should be ok.
look on the nancy chandler map for the monk bowl alley---best to go mid-morning... when we went last november in the PM, they were pretty much closed up...
Jan 27th, 2013, 06:13 PM
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The noon market in Silom has expensive copies of excellent quality. I went into a basement shopping complex and found a superior Chanel for someone else. I cannot however explain how to find this basement shopping place. I am not sure they have any LV here.
The main thing about LV bags is that the LV logo is never found stitched within the seam of a real bag. All the copies I have seen have logos stitched in a seam somewhere. An obvious fake to anyone who "knows" the real product! This may or may not bother your granddaughters. If you find a bag without any logos stitched into a seam, I would be very curious to know where.
The main thing about LV bags is that the LV logo is never found stitched within the seam of a real bag. All the copies I have seen have logos stitched in a seam somewhere. An obvious fake to anyone who "knows" the real product! This may or may not bother your granddaughters. If you find a bag without any logos stitched into a seam, I would be very curious to know where.
Jan 28th, 2013, 05:06 AM
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Hmmmmm- LV bags- they are everywhere so much so that I'm surprised they are still in demand. Better to go for Chanel- get something different that every other person isn't carrying around.
On the shoe issue- my wife is a size 5 1/2 and had trouble finding her size in Bangkok. Yes they had a few styes but it struck us that although the Thai women are petite it seems their feet are not based on the shoe sizes we found in the stores!
Hanuman- gee I guess you forgot my Rolex when we last met a few years back- no problem just mail it and all is forgiven!
On the shoe issue- my wife is a size 5 1/2 and had trouble finding her size in Bangkok. Yes they had a few styes but it struck us that although the Thai women are petite it seems their feet are not based on the shoe sizes we found in the stores!
Hanuman- gee I guess you forgot my Rolex when we last met a few years back- no problem just mail it and all is forgiven!
Jan 28th, 2013, 06:33 AM
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The LV bags that are on the street are NOT the best quality. Those at MBK are better, and they are often stowed away in the myriad suitcases that the vendors also sell, along w/copy bags.
The leather in the Jimmy Choo and Mulberry bags is really soft and supple. You will see loads of these hanging at the various vendor stalls.
Your grand daughters probably are not that picky about the LV logo issue, so they will probably be happy with whatever you find at MBK. Always work the zippers! Check the stitching on any pockets, inside and outside of the bag, for holes!!
The leather in the Jimmy Choo and Mulberry bags is really soft and supple. You will see loads of these hanging at the various vendor stalls.
Your grand daughters probably are not that picky about the LV logo issue, so they will probably be happy with whatever you find at MBK. Always work the zippers! Check the stitching on any pockets, inside and outside of the bag, for holes!!
Jan 28th, 2013, 02:14 PM
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I'd leave the fake LVs in Bangkok. Plus, I don't know what L.A. customs might do if you get caught bringing a fake back.
As for the monk bowl, the monk-bowl alley is on the Nancy Chandler map. I had Tong drive my friend and me there as I figured why not? That way I didn't have to have my Thai friend take me there on another day as it was a bit tricky to find.
The monk-bowl place is in a small area in a back alley and the flames are flying as the monk bowls are being hammered out. They aren't cheap though. I got mine bargained down to the equivalent of $100. back in either December 2006 or 2007 and when the dollar was high. If I could find my detailed journal, I could tell you the exact year and price in Thai baht. But, I was half packed to go on vacation to Bangkok for 29 days when I had a parent medical emergency, so having just gotten back from 3 weeks of that situation, the Bangkok packing is all over the place as is the packing from flying to the emergency situation. I'm supposed to be in BKK right now. So, much for that trip. I've only been back home in L.A. for 3 days now.
If I come across my detailed travel journal, in the piles of packed and half-packed Bangkok stuff, then I'll look it up and post the information. I know the journal is packed somewhere as I read it before packing. I write down everything in detail, along with prices and exchange rates.
Happy Travels!
As for the monk bowl, the monk-bowl alley is on the Nancy Chandler map. I had Tong drive my friend and me there as I figured why not? That way I didn't have to have my Thai friend take me there on another day as it was a bit tricky to find.
The monk-bowl place is in a small area in a back alley and the flames are flying as the monk bowls are being hammered out. They aren't cheap though. I got mine bargained down to the equivalent of $100. back in either December 2006 or 2007 and when the dollar was high. If I could find my detailed journal, I could tell you the exact year and price in Thai baht. But, I was half packed to go on vacation to Bangkok for 29 days when I had a parent medical emergency, so having just gotten back from 3 weeks of that situation, the Bangkok packing is all over the place as is the packing from flying to the emergency situation. I'm supposed to be in BKK right now. So, much for that trip. I've only been back home in L.A. for 3 days now.
If I come across my detailed travel journal, in the piles of packed and half-packed Bangkok stuff, then I'll look it up and post the information. I know the journal is packed somewhere as I read it before packing. I write down everything in detail, along with prices and exchange rates.
Happy Travels!
Jan 28th, 2013, 03:54 PM
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my wife wears 5.5-6.0 medium and finds tons of cheap shoes... i think the count this year was about 12 pair... they are flats, some leather, some cloth...many with seaguins, fake jewels, etc... many she tries on are too narrow..
they have crazy heals of all sorts..
they have crazy heals of all sorts..
Jan 28th, 2013, 04:47 PM
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Ladyrep: When you're with your guide, have her bargain the monk bowl. Tong did the bargaining of mine since she speaks Thai. The first price I was quoted I wasn't going to pay and walked away. Then the bargaining started. I'm fine with the one that I got as it's very beautiful and heavy and I like the sturdy pedestal that it rests on. Not one earthquake has knocked it off its pedestal yet.
Happy Travels!
Happy Travels!
Jan 28th, 2013, 05:12 PM
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Ladyrep: Here's an interesting article on monk bowls, from 2010, that you might enjoy reading. I'd love to by a second one.
http://travel.cnn.com/bangkok/play/b...rtisans-841216
Happy Travels!
http://travel.cnn.com/bangkok/play/b...rtisans-841216
Happy Travels!
