Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts

[PLACE] 20150112 Pratunam Market @ Pratunam, Bangkok


Pratunam morning market is one of Bangkok's main market place and also Thailand's largest clothing market. The famous Platinum Fashion Mall is also evolved from this clothing market.

It spans across roads, streets, corridors and even back alleys. Price ranges from the cheapest garments, as low as 30 Baht up to few hundred Baht. You will be able to find all sorts of clothings and apparels here, mostly made in Thailand like t-shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, Thai silk handkerchiefs, under garment etc. However, the fashion or design is pretty much...individual taste.

The morning market start as early as 5am and then the vendors will pack up around 8am and move to some other market while the next vendor will move in and set-up to continue the afternoon market. What impresses me is the way Thais make use of every possible opportunity to make money, be it from creativity or through hardwork.

The morning market is located right under Baiyoke Tower I and Tower II, in between Ratchadamri Road and Phetchaburi Road. Besides clothings, the market also sells various souvenirs, handicrafts and not forgetting street food.

Pratunam Morning Market
Nearest BTS Station: Nil
Telephone: Nil
Opening Hours: Always (Retail is from 10:00am until 09:00pm)

TO GO


Unfortunately there's no direct access of BTS to Pratunam area and the nearest BTS station will probably be Ratchathewi Station (Sukhumvit Line), but that will also take about 15 walking to reach the station. Taking public cab or tuk tuk will probably be a better option if you dislike walking but be mindful of the traffic as well as the price charged by your tuk tuk driver.

If you are travelling on foot, the market is located right opposite Platinum Fashion Mall, Just set Baiyoke Tower as your landmark as you definitely cannot miss the 85-storey building from afar.


ATTRACTION



Street vendors are seen every where, carrying various merchandise like handicraft, souvenir or food to be sold to the public.


The market starts from the wider streets in the open air and slowly span into each corridor and alley. Not a single space was spared.



Narrow passage in between clothe stalls selling cheap knock off or locally made shirts. 


A street vendor pushing his cart to his designated location during the shift.


Well, here's one of your landmark. It's the rainbow coloured Ibis hotel, if not mistaken.


Not forgetting food vendors selling breakfast along the streets, which is also my main reason here because my hotel is just nearby the market. It's breakfast time!!


Thai version of nasi lemak? It's actually stir fried minced meat with rice and egg.


Aunty, your grilled fish looks tempting but too heavy for breakfast!


At last I settled down at this stall because there's no other place where I can sit and eat. Noticed that many tourists also stopped at this stall probably also due to the same reason. It was quite an unique experience to sit just right beside the hawker.


Nothing fancy about this soup noodle, at least the toppings are generous enough.


The juice stall is just next to the noodle stall, so I bought a pomegranate juice to compliment my breakfast. Nothing to complain for a 40 Baht juice. This type of juice stall is very common around the streets of Bangkok. 


Stumbled across this fried pork belly stall nearby. The locals will usually accompany this fried pork or grilled pork with sticky rice. It's sold by weight and I bought a small packet to try out. Nothing fancy about this stall, maybe will try another one to benchmark. It's similar to our Chinese style five spices fried pork, minus the five spices.

SUMMARY


Cheap clothes for everyone! This is what Pratunam market has to offer but its design might not suit for those who are in the fashion front. However, normal casual wear can be found here and with the price of below 200 Baht for most of the items, it's a steal. Oh ya, not forgetting the options of breakfast too if you are staying nearby.

Attraction
☆☆☆☆
cheap clothes, cheap product.
Cleanliness
☆☆☆
It's a market!
Entrance Fee
Nil
Opening Hours
Everyday, 24 hours
Wifi
N/A
Parking
N/A
Website
N/A

GPS: 13.752662, 100.539746
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[PLACE] 20150111 Chatuchak Weekend Market @ Chatuchak, Bangkok


Chatuchak (or known as Jatujak by locals) Weekend Market is the one of the world's biggest weekend markets covering 27 acres divided into 27 Sections with more than 15,000 booths selling all sorts of merchandise and street food.

It is one of the favourite hangout and shopping avenue for the locals and has become popular among foreign tourists over time with its cheap bargains and wide offerings. Most vendors are locals carrying merchandise from various part of Thailand directly from factories, farms and cottage industries to be sold here. You will be able to find cheap apparels, imitation products, cheap knock off, handicrafts, flowers, plants, furnitures, amulets etc here. It is also a great place to test your bargaining skills with the vendor.

Street food are among the favourite product in Chatuchak Weekend Market with famous delicacies such as the coconut ice cream, pork satay, orange (lime) juices etc. There are also many unique cafes and bars in the market, catering mostly for tourists.

The weekend market is only opened in the weekends from 6am to 6pm. However, it is also opened on Wednesday and Thursday but only confined to selling flowers and plants only. Hence, be sure to plan your itinerary to include Chatuchak Weekend Market into your must visit list as one day is definitely not enough if you plan to shop as well!

Chatuchak Weekend Market
Nearest MRT Station: Chatuchak Park
Nearest BTS Station: Mo Chit
Opening Hours: Friday to Sunday, closes 6pm.

TO GO


Chatuchak Weekend Market, being next to Chatuchak Park is very accessible via various public transportations. Easiest way to travel to Chatuchak Market will be via BTS or MRT, depending on your location of origin as the busy traffic will make the choice of taxi or buses least favourable.

Just hop on the BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line) and drop off at BTS Mo Chit Station, which is the terminal of the Silom Line. It will lead you the Entrance 3 of the market. Alternatively, the MRT line will also bring you to Chatuchak Weekend Market via Chatuchak Park Station and leading you to Entrance 1.



ATTRACTION



I took the BTS to arrive at Mo Chit station and the crazy crowd on the Sunday afternoon. The whole place is literally packed with human causing human traffic jam.


The market is basically divided into two main parts i.e. outdoor and indoors and further broken down into Section to ease navigation. The outdoor section is more comfortable to walk around (provided not under hot sun!) due to the wider roads and most importantly, most of the food stalls are outside!


Indoor markets on the other hand has narrower corridors and often packed with people, and stuffy with bad ventilation especially with large crowd. Indoor market sells household products, clothings, furniture etc. It has a lot to offer and you just need time to discover every corner to search for hidden gem.


However, my favourite will still be the outdoor market with the various food stalls. My first stop will definitely be the famous coconuticecreamjj for a quench of thirst and a sweet bite. Read more about my experience on the coconut ice cream in the separate post: Chatuchak Weekend Market Coconut Ice Cream @ Chatuchak, Bangkok


Not to be missed is also the pork satay which is BBQ pork skewer at only 10 Baht (RM1.10). I tried a few stalls, all comes with different size, flavour and price but this is the better one. Simple and nice.


Grumpy squid stall vendor shouting at me when I'm taking picture of him. Probably scolding me for not buying. I end up buying one small serving to try and it sucks. Thumbs down for you.


Fried quail eggs are also seen every where but beware of your cholesterol level!


This orange (refering the colour) juice is seen every where around Bangkok streets and it is actually taste like lime more than orange. It is the local orange (or lime) and squeezed for its juices. Sold in big or small bottle, sour-sweet in taste with the tangy citrus flavour, good for a quick quench.


Food, food and more food!! It's everywhereeee...


BBQ and fried pork. Looks tempting. Hmmpphh...


Cheap stuuf every where in Chatuchak Weekend Market, but watches are not in my shopping list today.


Thailand is a very colourful country, everything you see here is all colours. It makes people feel happy shopping around.

What to buy in Chatuchak Weekend Market?

I personally will recommend to buy clothing likes t-shirt and pants/skirts here due to the quality cotton used at a very cheap price. The clothes although cheap but the quality of work is there (not superb, but better than Made in China) and comfortable. Clothing and apparel prices varies from as low as 10 Baht up to 30 Baht. Anything higher you might as well get it somewhere else.

Another thing you can also hunt for here will be handicrafts and souvenirs. It is much easier to bargain prices here as compare to other places in my experience. If you see something you like here, my advice is to better buy it.


SUMMARY


Chatuchak Weekend Market is probably one of the street market that I truly enjoy walking during my travel in Bangkok. With cheap bargains and quality products, coupled with delicious street food, you definitely cannot miss it. Recommended to get clothings, apparels, souvenirs and handicraft from Chatuchak Weekend Market. Don't forget that this market only opens from Friday to Sunday.

Attraction
☆☆☆☆☆
cheap bargains, a lot of stalls that can fill your whole day
Cleanliness
☆☆☆
acceptable.
Entrance Fee
Nil
Opening Hours
06:00am until 06:00pm (Fri until Sunday)
Wifi
N/A
Parking
N/A
Website
N/A

GPS: 13.798468, 100.548907
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[FOOD] 20150111 Chatuchak Weekend Market Coconut Ice Cream @ Chatuchak, Bangkok


Coconut ice cream is probably one of the most famous and authentic street food of Bangkok. I believed this popular dessert originated from Chatuchak Weekend Market as everyone has been referring the coconut ice cream back to this popular weekend market.

There are a few stalls selling coconut ice cream in this huge market but the one being one of the first, (if not the first) with the most queue will be none other than "coconuticecreamjj" with their signature coconut husk with little blue flag as my picture above.

The stall is located at Section 1, Soi 37, nearby Entrance 1. Just look for a stall with coconut hanging around and long queue waiting to get their hands on this tasty treats. To quench your thirst while waiting, the owner also provides a full cup of complementary coconut water.

Soi 37, Section 1, Chatuchak Weekend Market
Nearest MRT Station: Chatuchak Park
Nearest BTS Station: Mo Chit
Opening Hours: Friday to Sunday, closes 6pm.

TO GO


Chatuchak Weekend Market, being next to Chatuchak Park is very accessible via various public transportations. Easiest way to travel to Chatuchak Market will be via BTS or MRT, depending on your location of origin as the busy traffic will make the choice of taxi or buses least favourable.

Just hop on the BTS Sukhumvit Line (Light Green Line) and drop off at BTS Mo Chit Station, which is the terminal of the Silom Line. It will lead you the Entrance 3 of the market. Alternatively, the MRT line will also bring you to Chatuchak Weekend Market via Chatuchak Park Station and leading you to Entrance 1.


The coconuticecreamjj stall is located at Location 1 in the map above.

SPECIALITY



The not-so-long queue during my visit and luckily the weather was cool and smoothing. Imagine to queue under the hot summer sun, you better be prepared with umbrella and sunblock.


The coconut ice cream comes with topping of your choice, for 35 Baht (RM3.70) you basically get 3 toppings plus a free coconut water drink, not a bad deal if you ask me. 


Toppings available includes peanuts, sweet corn, red bean paste, glutinous rice, atap seed, nata d coco, barley, etc.


Just point to the person in charge which topping you want and as you can see, the best sellers are usually placed closely which I do agree that peanut, red bean paste and corn goes well with the ice cream.


This is the unique part of the coconut ice cream served in this stall. Instead of using plastic or polystyrene bowls, they use the natural coconut husk, with coconut flesh grated freshly on the spot, which makes taking picture of this ice cream much more interesting.

Coconut Ice Cream with 3 toppings - 35 Baht (RM3.70)

The final product is this mouth watery sweet dessert. The ice cream itself is fresh and light, I would prefer a more creamy and heavier in flavour but this is not that bad either especially in a hot day. The toppings are well prepared with no complains. The coconut flesh on the other hand is hard, due to old coconuts are used instead of young coconut which has tender flesh.

SUMMARY


Overall, it is a good dessert, especially during hot weather. The coconuticecreamjj is a must try for once before you go out and venture the other stalls around Bangkok, because that's where you get your benchmark. With the likes of imitators in Malaysia recently like the S*ngkaya and N*tty Coco, the Chatuchak Coconut Ice Cream will still be the one you need to go for.

Taste
☆☆☆☆☆
Refreshing and light, prefer more creamy texture.
Value
☆☆☆☆☆
For 35 Baht, you get three toppings, complementary coconut water and a "free" coconut husk.
Service
☆☆☆☆
Cleanliness
☆☆☆☆
Opening Hours
Friday to Sunday, closes at 6pm
Wifi
N/A
Parking
Limited
Website
N/A

GPS: 13.798468, 100.548907
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[PLACE] 20141223 Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street 上下九步行街 @ Liwan, Guangzhou


Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street 上下九步行街 or also known as Xiguan (西关) consists of upper nine street and lower nine street, hence the name "shang xia jiu" which literally mean upper and lower nine (streets).

Similar to Dongmen that I went in Shenzhen, Shangxiajiu is the centre of attraction for various commercial activities. You can find things to buy or to eat here and the merchandise here are usually to cater for the middle-lower class groups.

You will notice the unique architecture of the surrounding buildings that have a slight European shadow.

The pedestrian street is most accessible via public bus.

广州市荔湾区西关的上九路
Nearest Metro Station: Yide Lu Station
Telephone: Nil
Opening Hours: Daily

TO GO


Disclaimer: Google services are barred in China. You need to either bypass the "Great Wall" or use a VPN. Alternatively, you may use their domestic sites such as Baidu Map.

Unfortunately, there's no direct access of Guangzhou Metro line to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. However, the area is very accessible via public mini buses. I particularly like their bus because it goes through many small alleys where you are able to see the hustle and bustle of local lifestyle.

Dexing Road Terminal: Take Bus No. 17, 79 or 79A
Shangxiajiu: Take Bus 530
Baohua Road: Take Bus 5, 6, 15, 61 or 530


ATTRACTION



I took the Bus 17A (A for Air conditioned) after my visit at Chen Clan Monastery at the opposite side of the road to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. I got off at the Dexing Lu Terminal where you are welcomed with rows of shops and street food.


Competition is stiff in China if you want to get noticed by the population in billions here. The bigger the signboard, the better; the more also the better; the popularity of the ambassador is also directly correlated with the popularity of your products.


Rows and rows of street food, some of which selling "imported" street food from Taiwan and Korea. However, nothing here beats those in Dongmen, especially the one I tried in Kiyomi. However, I could be wrong as I didn't try every single stall here.


There's a square located right at the middle of the road, which is known as the Shangxiajiu Square (obviously). 


There are various offerings here with majority in fashion and accessories (the fashion and clothing street is just next to the pedestrian street). Other than that, toys and handicraft items are also available here.


There's also this very old cinema (research after trip to find it was built back in the 1951) that is still operating. Very interesting building indeed as Shangxiajiu was the main centre of commercial activity back in the older days. Just notice the hint of European architecture.


SUMMARY


Overall Shangxiajiu pedestrian street has a lot to offer in terms of shopping and food, but street food lacks authenticity. Do come in night time as the streets will be filled with neon lamp sign boards.

Attraction
☆☆☆☆
very busy pedestrian street with lots of activity
Cleanliness
☆☆☆☆
Entrance Fee
Nil
Opening Hours
Daily
Wifi
N/A
Parking
N/A
Website
N/A

GPS: 23.114951, 113.248861
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[PLACE] 20141220 Dongmen 东门 @ Luohu, Shenzhen


Dongmen 东门 (East Gate), or also known as Laojie 老街 (Old Street) is a popular shopping area in Luohu District of Shenzhen. Established more than 300 years ago (hence the name old street), Dongmen encompasses a few pedestrian streets and is closed to traffic since 1999.

There are various merchandise for sale, from the cheap counterfeit products, to the luxurious fashion and jewellery. There's also a new shopping mall which offers a more comfortable environment. The blend between the old and the new have been keeping Dongmen alive along the years, where you are able to see people from different age and generations along the streets.

When there's people, then there's definitely street food! Dongmen offers a variety of street food, from the locals, to the chain franchises. There's definitely something to fill your stomach along the way. You may read about some of my street food posts like the Kiyomi outlet, Ba Ge Noodles and Chen Ji Noodles.

You will find some part of the area reassembles HK especially with the old shopping malls named after famous places in HK such as Kowloon and Mong Kok. However, as time goes by with trends evolved over the years, Dongmen is now moving towards Korean style with the opening of the some new shops that trying to mimic the Korean fashion.

Pedestrian Street, Dongmen, Luohu, Shenzhen
深圳罗湖区东门步行街二横路
Nearest MRT Stations: Laojie station, Exit A

TO GO


Disclaimer: Google services are barred in China. You need to either bypass the "Great Wall" or use a VPN. Alternatively, you may use their domestic sites such as Baidu Map.

Travelling in Shenzhen is not as convenient as Hong Kong, with destination distanced away from Metro stations. I would recommend taking cab or public buses if you somewhat able to communicate in Mandarin as it will be the most convenient way to commute. The cab and buses are fast and reliable in comparison to our lousy Malaysian buses. If you are taking bus, just drop off at Dongmen 3 (东门3) stop or Dongmen Pedestrian Bridge (东门天桥) stop in front of MOI Department Store. Each bus ride is about RMB2 (RM1.20) or max RMB3 (RM1.80). 

However, if language is a barrier, then your only option will be taking the Metro. Take the Longgang Line (Blue) or Luobao Line (Green), and drop off at Laojie station, you may take Exit A or G, and then walk your way along the streets as there are much to offer.




ATTRACTION




Kowloon Sqaure and Mong Kok Shopping Centre situated just opposite of each other. Despite being a weekday afternoon, the pedestrian street is still filled with people.


There are many types of products available, but clothings and apparels consists of majority of the offerings here. You will find cheap shirts as low as RMB4 (RM2.40) and be sure you know how to negotiate for a better price.


With the clothings and apparels as the main business, then there will be supporting business such as alteration services for the clothes that you purchased. There's an alley full of small stores providing alteration services, with various prices and services. Mostly women are seen busy sewing at the side of their sewing machines.


There's a square somewhere in the middle of the Dongmen area, where you will see many people gathering around. There's also this bronze wall of a imaginary scene (as supposed by the name) of the old Dongmen street. 



There is also this huge bell in the middle of the square but I have no idea on the relevance or meaning of its presence.


Competition is stiff in China, every possible way of promoting your brand/product/shop will definitely help you to stand out among the rest.


Some of the old buildings are very unique in shape as it reassembles the Chinese Pagoda. 


Initially I thought it was a temple from afar (maybe it is?) but actually is just another shopping arena along the pedestrian street.


Street food are seen every where, from the local delicacies to the imported snacks from aboard.


The prices are really cheap in comparison to Malaysia. Imaging 5 scallops for only RM5! Oysters are as low as RMB20 (RM11.20) for 7!


The oysters looked really tempting but I'm somehow sceptical and don't want to end up in the toilet next day!


The better your location, the better your business!


The entrance from the other side if you are coming via Metro.


The three pillars of Dongmen at one of the entrances.

SUMMARY


Dongmen is a must visit if you are in Shenzhen. It has a lot to offer from shopping to street food that you will definitely find something.

Attraction
☆☆☆☆
Crowded with variety of offerings
Cleanliness
☆☆☆

Entrance Fee
N/A 
Opening Hours
Daily
Wifi
N/A
Parking
N/A
Website
N/A

GPS: 22.545795, 114.117797
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