Rising an impressive 88 storeys high, the Baiyoke Sky Hotel is Thailand's tallest building. A distinctive feature of Bangkok's skyline, it also marks the spot for one of the city's all-time, favourite pursuits: Shopping! A scandalous variety of goods are on offer, with something for everyone - no matter how deep or shallow your pocket may be. One of Bangkok's most colourful and chaotic areas, and famously popular for its fashion factory outlets, street markets, bazaars and armies of local vendors, Pratunam offers bargain prices for all kinds of clothing, apparel, fashion accessories, shoes, watches, jewellery, belts, luggage and then some.
Bargain treasure troves
Cluttered, noisy and hot - but packed with great deals if you have the stamina and patience - it's the major wholesale center for the garment trade. Along with that, Pratunam deserves all the credit that a city of ten million people can afford to clad themselves fashionably...
Passing through the area, you will see many shops and vendors along the main roads. But the real activity is in the market hidden behind the stalls and pavement entrepreneurs (Pratunam Market). It's very popular with international traders, particularly visitors from India, the Middle East and Africa.
Bargain hunters looking for good deals on computers, accessories and related paraphernalia flock to nearby Pantip Plaza, which is renowned worldwide for low prices and counterfeit software, CDs and DVDs. And just further along is the newly-revamped CentralWorld, reputed to be one of the largest shopping malls in Southeast Asia. A hop and skip beyond that lies the prime shopping grounds of Chidlom-Ploencit and Siam.
Shop 'til you drop
Pratunam is not on the Skytrain (BTS) or underground (MRT) routes, but close to prime other areas that are. Traditional-type attractions are thin on the ground, despite it being one of the oldest parts of the city. It seems trade and shopping has always given the area its unique flavour, with the Pratunam Market also being one of the oldest markets in the city.
Shopping experiences has evolved though, with the addition of many smaller arcades and modern, air-conditioned malls like Indra Square and Platinum Fashion Mall. Typical of its contrasting character - and for a flashback into ancient times when Bangkok was dubbed 'The Venice of the East'- a khlong (waterway) runs close by, and there are several interesting shrines and spirit houses to look out for in between the concrete towers that have risen from this former field where Chinese cabbage was grown... |
