Bangkok is a great place for shopping values so you might want to consider bringing extra money allocated for souvenirs and other items. The best shopping values are pirated software, MP3 CD's and tailored suits. Try the following places while in Bangkok and take the sky train:

PANTHIP PLAZA- A large plaza that has nothing but pirated software, pirated DVD's and CD's. The computers and computer components are not cheaper than the U.S. and I am suspicious about the quality. The cheapest place to buy computers and accessories is right here in the U.S.The best Thai learning software is now available here (Rosetta Stone). Trust me, after learning rudimentary Thai, my sessions improved dramatically. Many new MP3's available including: All Pink Floyd albums on 2 MP3 cd's, Johnny Cash, Best of Grunge, Miles Davis, Neil Diamond (guilty pleasure), Dire Straits, Black Sabbath, etc. You can also get a lot of Thai DVD porn here and regular Thai movies to help practice your Thai. There is also an excellent food court here that is very cheap.

WORLD TRADE CENTER- Kind of touristy but the mall is huge and has most of the stores you see here in the U.S. Has an excellent Beer Garden with a terrace on the top floor and has an ice rink.

MBK- This place is great for buying souvenirs of local Thai goods. Also the best place to purchase cell phones and cell phone products. Can find good t-shirts here as well. There are a few universities nearby and you will see some stunning girls in school girl uniforms.

SIAM CENTER/DISCOVERY- Built like a U.S Mall and quite expensive. Has a great theatre on the top floor.

EMPORIUM- This is where the stars shop. Extremely expensive stores and a lot of looky-loo Thai girls pretending to be shopping. The best theatre in the world on the 7th floor.

CHATUCHAK MARKET-This market is open on weekends. Take the Sky Train to the last stop going North. The market has about 6,000 stalls and is about 4 square miles. Great place for unique items and antiquities. I found a bundle of Thai Penthouse, For Men and Zoom magazines for about $1.50 a piece. Zoom and For Men are Thai versions of Maxim and FHM. Some incredible looking girls in these mags. Easy to get lost but there is a map available at Bookazine. Considered the largest flea market in the world.

KHO SAHN ROAD- The best place to find gifts for your family. The trend now is to sell candles and incents in a teak box with ceramic elephants and thai symbols to hold the incence...very cheap. Go to Shaman Books to buy used Travel guides or used versions of other books of Thai interest. You can buy 11 copied CD's for 1000 baht. Great place to buy t-shirts, travel equipment and develop film. The best travel agents in BKK are here. Have a drink at the mobile ladyboy bar and watch the young Thais and hippies go by.

TAILORED SUITS: Trust me on this one. The best place to buy tailored suits is in Pattaya. Bangkok is overpriced as they are catering to businessmen who have no idea what the real price is.

Blazers,

Do you know of specific places in Pattaya to get the tailored suits?

TIA,

Concarne

My Pattaya guide will go up tomorrow.

Pratunam is smaller then Chatuchak, but open every day. Decent place to browse and buy crap for the fucking loved ones.

E

The Lumpini night market is also great. Prices are reputedly better than Chatuchak since all the tourists go to Chatuchak. To get there, use the subway (the underground). I found some fabulous bargains there.,