Mu Ko Poda Situated south of Ao Nang, 8 kilometres offshore, Mu Ko Poda is fringed by clear waters, and offers white sandy beaches, as well as, pristine coral reefs. This is why it is a year-round attraction and an excellent place for fishing because it is not affected so much by the monsoon. Mu Ko Poda can be reached within 25 minutes by boat from Ao Nang. Many noteworthy islands like Ko Thap, Ko Mo, Ko Hua Khwan, and Ko Kai are situated nearby. A beautiful sandy beach, connecting these islands, is visible at low tide.

Lampang

The charming city of horse drawn carriages and province with the king’s stable of white elephants at the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center.
 
Most visitors simply visit Lampang to see the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center, bypassing Lampang town on their way to Chiang Mai and provinces farther north. However, while the elephant center is certainly a must-see attraction, those willing to spend some time in the provincial capital are generally surprised by the charming and somewhat unusual town and province of Lampang.

Famous for its horse-drawn carriages and sporting a rooster on its provincial emblem (the bird also honored with a large statue in the center of town), Lampang boasts a long history of human settlements within the Wang River basin, some of which date back more than 1,000 years. Lampang is rich in archaeological evidence from the kingdoms of Hariphunchai, Lanna, and Burma.

The horse and carriage, a mode of local transportation that has survived the introduction of automobiles to Lampang, is a fun way to explore the surprisingly large town, which features a number of beautiful old temples. The rooster statue, which you are likely to pass along the way, is a much older symbol of Lampang, dating back to the city’s former name, Kukutthanakorn, or City of Roosters, a name that was derived from a local legend about a white rooster that was sent by the Brahmin God Indra to wake the local inhabitants so they could give alms to the Lord Buddha, who was purportedly visiting the town.

On the road from Lampang to Chiang Mai is the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center, the oldest and only government sponsored elephant center in Thailand, where the King’s white elephants are housed, visitors can learn about elephants, and elephant demonstrations are regularly performed.

Lampang city is the capital of the province of the same name, a city that features horse drawn carriages, relaxing riverside bars and restaurants, a number of spectacular Buddhist temples, and a friendly, laid-back local population. Just outside of the city, on the road to Chiang Mai, the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center is one of the premier venues for visitors to learn about elephants and watch elephant demonstrations.

Don’t Miss
Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao
This centuries-old temple on Phra Kaeo Road used to be the place where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined (the same statue now installed in Bangkok). Interesting structures include the large Chedi containing the hair of the Lord Buddha, a Burmese-style Mondop, an ancient Vihan housing a reclining Buddha and a museum exhibiting ancient relics of the Lanna era.

Kiu Lom Dam
To reach the Kiu Lom Dam, take the Lampang-Ngao road and turn left at Kms. 623-624 marker, which is about 38 kilometres from town. Then continue for a further 14 kilometres. Constructed for irrigation purpose, it has a scenic reservoir suitable for boating or rafting. At least a half-day tour is suggested. Visitors may opt for staying overnight on raft. Places to see include cliffs, isles and fishing village.

Doi Khun Than National Park
The Khun Than mountain range of the Doi Khun Than National Park forms a natural boundary between Lamphun and Lampang provinces. The northern rail line to Chiang Mai runs through the longest rail tunnel in the country, which is 1,352 metres long and takes five minutes to traverse. The mountain has both virgin jungle and pinery. Many tourists choose to walk from the Khun Than Station up the mountain, a distance of about 7 kilometres. There are four rest areas on the way. Visitors may also camp overnight but must provide for their own food. The best time to take the trip is between November and February when the weather is fine and cool.

Chae Son National Park
A major place for relaxation in Lampang is the Chae Son National Park, which is located in Mueang Pan district area. It can be reached by taking Highway No.1035 taking a left turn at Km. 59. A further 17 kilometre is a lush forested and mountainous region with a 73-Celsius hot spring over rocky terrain, providing a misty and picturesque scene particularly in the morning. There are bathing facilities for health purpose.
 

How to get there
Lampang is best reached via private car or public bus; it is located at the intersection of Highways No. 1 and 11, both major thoroughfares leading to northern Thailand. Once there, it may be easier to get around with your own car, but there are standard forms of local transport available for visitors as well as horse-drawn carriages, though these are really more practical for touring town rather than getting from A to B.

Getting to and from Lampang
By Train:
Regular trains depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lumphong Railway Station to Lampang daily. Call 1690 or visit www.railway.co.th for more information.

From Chiang Mai, all trains heading south stop in Lampang, a 2 to 2 ½ hour ride depending on the class of train.

To get to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center is quite easy from Lampang town or Chiang Mai as it is located along Highway No.11 between the two cities. For detailed information from either location visit the FAQ page at the TECC: http://www.changthai.com/knowledge/article/how-to-get-to-thai-elephant-conservation-center

By Car:
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan via Sing Buri and Chai Nat, and then turn into Highway No. 1 again to go to Lampang via Kamphaeng Phet and Tak, a total distance of 599 kilometers.

From Chiang Mai, Lampang is a short drive, about 1 ½ hours southeast along Highway No. 11.

By Bus:
The Transport Co. Ltd. operates both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned busses to Lampang. Buses leave Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) daily. Several private busses also provide bus service, including Wiriya Tour,
Tel: 0 2936 2827 and New Wiriya Tour Tel: 0 2936 2205-6.

Getting Around Lampang

Horse drawn carriages are available by the hour for sightseeing journeys around Lampang Town. As in most rural Thai provinces there are typically songtaews, tuk tuks, and motorbike taxis available for getting around.

Thank : tourismthailand.org

Lamphun

An ancient city with a hospitable population famed for its beautiful women, Lamphun retains its old-world charm and draws visitors to its natural beauty.
 
Lamphun, a small northern province sandwiched between Chiang Mai and Lampang has a long and storied history. Lamphun was founded as the city of Haripunjaya, a Mon kingdom-city, arguably part of the Dvaravati civilization, established in the ninth (perhaps seventh) century by former Buddhist monks from Lopburi. Haripunjaya was first ruled by Queen Camadevi, daughter of the king of Lopburi, who established a legacy for the province’s reputation for beautiful women. The kingdom she ruled over thrived for several centuries, exerting wide influence across the region, before King Meng Rai used subterfuge to conquer the town in late 12th century and integrate it into the Lan Na Kingdom based in nearby Chiang Mai.

Today, Lamphun still retains the enchanting ambience of a small but old community, where life moves at a leisurely pace and remnants of the city’s fortifications remind visitors of the city’s proud history. Lamphun is some 670 kilometers from Bangkok and only 26 kilometers from Chiang Mai. Located on the banks of the Kuang River, Lamphun features a skyline made of temple spires and attractions across the province include ancient sites as well as forests, mountains, and lakes.

Nearly a thousand years after subjugation by the Lanna Kingdom from Chiang Rai, Lamphun remains a fairly sleepy province, particularly in contrast to its more popular and populous neighbor, Chiang Mai. This is in fact Lamphun’s allure. The charming provincial capital retains its fortified, moat-enclosed old city where the local population lives a relatively slow-paced lifestyle. Visitors will enjoy visiting exquisite temples via bicycle or samlor, bicycle powered cabs, and exploring a lush countryside where various hill tribe communities live and a number of natural attractions, including as Doi Khun Than National Park, feature many exotic plants and wildlife.

Don’t miss
Phra Nang Chamthewi Statue
The Phra Nang Chamthewi Statue is located in the Nong Dok public park in town commemorating the first ruler of Hariphunchai. 
 
Suthewa Rusi Statue
In front of the Town Hall is the Suthewa Rusi Statue. Legend has it that the Rusi, or ascetic, was the actual founder of Hariphunchai. As an ascetic refraining from worldly affairs he invited Phra Nang Chamthevi, a daughter of the King of Lopburi, to ascend the throne and helped her to firmly establish Buddhism in the land. 
 
Hariphunchai National Museum
Displays and exhibits include historical development and archaeological items found in Lamphun. These include prehistorical human skeletons and objects of arts from the Dvaravati, Hariphunchai, Lanna and Rattanakosin periods. A chamber in devoted to a collection of inscription stones in Mon and Lanna scripts. 
 
Wat Chamthewi
Wat Chamthewi, commonly referred to a Ku Kut, is located on the Lamphun-San Pa Tong Road and built in 1298 B.E. in the Lawo Lopburi style.

 Wat Mahawan
On the road parallel to the old city wall to the west of town is Wat Mahawan, an old temple built since the times of Queen Chamthewi. Enshrined here is a Nak Prok statue (statue with mythical serphants overhead) which was brought to the temple by the Queen. Commonly known as Phra Rot Lamphun, it serves as the model for the famous votive tablet. 
 
Wat Phra That Hariphunchai
Sited in mid-town, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai was built during the reign of King Arthitayarat, a descendant of Queen Chamthewi some 800 years ago.
 

How to get there
Lamphun is a small province located between Lampang and Chiang Mai and is easily reached via car, bus or train. It is also possible to take a plane to Chiang Mai and then a short bus to Lamphun. Once there, it may be easier to get around with your own car, but there are standard forms of local transport available for visitors: i.e. songtaews, motorbike taxis, samlors, and tuk tuks.

Getting to and from Lamphun

By Train:

Trains leave Bangkok’s Hua Lumphong Railway Station every day for Chiang Mai, all of which make stops in Lamphun, 30 to 45 minutes away from Chiang Mai. Call 1690 for more information.

By Car:

From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 to Nakhon Sawan via Sing Buri and Chai Nat, then turn into Highway No. 11 and proceed to Lamphun, a total distance of 670 kilometers. From Chiang Mai simply drive south on either Highway No.11 or No.106 to Lamphun.

By Bus:

Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned busses depart daily from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to Lamphun. Traveling time is about 9 hours. Call 0 2936 0852-66 or visit www.transport.co.th for more information. Indra Tour, a private bus company, also operates air-conditioned busses to Lamphun. Call 0 2208 0840 for information.

Getting Around Lamphun

As in most rural Thai provinces there are typically songtaews that follow established routes around the provincial capital and local busses and songtaews for trips between towns within the province. Songtaews, motorbike taxis, and samlors (three wheeled pedal powered cabs) are usually available for private charter as well.

To Mae Ping National Park:

By Car:

From Lamphun take road number 1087 (Li-Ko) along which the park headquarters is located between kilometers 20 and 21.

By Ship:

As the Ping River flows through the park, visitors can take a boat from Doi Tao Reservoir, Chiang Mai province to Bhumipol Dam in Tak Province and then onto Doi Tao Reservoir

Thank : tourismthailand.org

Rong Kluea Market or Talat Rong Kluea is a border market which stocks a diversse range of commodities, particularly used brandname accessories, and is located in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province. Bargain hunters from everywhere find the market a must-stop when they travel to the province.

Covering an area of 200 rai, the market is sub-divided into zones such as Rong Kluea, Golden Gate, Dech Thai, Thesaban II, Thesaban III and Benjawan.

It is constantly expanding, developing along the lines Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market. Brandname clothes, sneakers and leather bags top the list of items sought by bargain hunters.

Pichai Prasitchuwong, a vendor selling sneakers and shoes, said most of the stuff he deals in are shipped from South Korea.

According to him, Korean people are very fashion conscious. They do not want to keep clothing and accessories that are no longer in vogue, so they sell them to a recycle company which resells them to another party through bidding. The goods are then sent to Busan from where they are shipped to Laem Chabang in Chon Buri and then transported by rail to Lat Krabang, and from there by trailers to Talat Rong Kluea.

“The shoes come directly to Thailand but clothing items come via Cambodia because import tax is lower there,” he said.

Each trailer can carry 15-16 containers and each container, when fully packed, weighs approximately 17 tons which translates into 1,000-1,200 pairs of shoes.

Malaysian and Japanese are among the visitors who come to the border market to buy items for resale back home. Japanese collectors love second-hand Levi jeans, slacks and brandname shoes.

Remarkably, 95 percent of vendors are of Cambodian nationality.

The sneakers, for example, are packed in sacks which arrive in containers. It is the job of his staff to sort out the shoes. Sometimes there is mismatching, in which case the buyer will have to wait for the next container, which can be a few months.

Since most of the items on sale are second-hand, they need to look appealing to customers. Therefore they are given a touch-up – repair, washing and ironing – before being put on sale.

From time to time, a Louis Vuitton bag may arrive with a scar or damage. The vendors will keep it and wait till another bag of the same kind arrives. They will then use parts from the second bag to mend the first one, or vice versa, and put it up for sale.

It’s all a matter how good you are at spotting used items. You can find everything… from Nike, Adidas and Puma to other famous brands. If you are lucky, you can a relatively decent pair of shoes for a cool 250 baht.

In addition to the accessories, the market stocks fresh and dried food such as fish and live insects from Cambodia, snacks, and dried food products from China.

How to get there

By Private Car
From Bangkok take Highway No.9 (East Outer Ring Road)toward Bang-Pa-In then exit at Rangsit-Nakorn Nayok Road, Follow the sign to Nakorn Nayok Province, Before reaching Nakorn Nayok, turn to Hightway No. 33 to Prachin Buri, Kabinburi and Srakaew respectively. From downtown Srakaew around 70 Km. you will reach Rong Kluea Market The Thai-Cambodian Borader Market located around 230 Km. in total from Bangkok.

By Train
Train is one of the most convenient and cheapest way to go to Rong Kluea Market, there are two trains from Bangkok Station to Aranyaprathet Station which is just situated infront of the Rong Kluea Market. The trains depart from Bangkok Station from 05:55 hrs. and 13:05 hrs. respectively , the train fare is around 50 Bth. (The Fare is subject to be changed regarding to the train operator, for more information please call 02-220-4334)

By Bus
There are many buses from Bangkok Northern and North-Eastern Bus Terminal (Mochit) and also from Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) for many times a day. For more information please call 02-936-2855-60

By Taxi
Taxi from Bangkok and many main city like Pattaya, Chonburi are also posible to be rent on daily rental basis or by distance basis which can be negotiated case by case. By the way, there are many people from Rong Kluea Market who took the train and bus on the way come and need the taxi on the way back to carry many belongings they bought from Rong Kluea Market.

Thank : thailandtraveltours.com and rongkluea.info

The area around Siam Square has become the undisputed center for shopping in Bangkok. It stretches for a km or two from MBK-Center in the West to Central Chidlom in the East. Most, but not all, shopping malls and department stores are close the the skytrain stations of Siam Square and Chitlom.

While having the largest number of big shopping malls in Thailand, the area is not overly appealing. It would be, for example, not quite suitable to compare it with Orchard Road in Singapore. While you can pleasantly stroll along Orchard Road, the same can not be said for Rama I Road and Phloenchit Road in Bangkok. The reason, it looks so awful and depressing to be under the platforms and tracks of the skytrain system. While having obviously benefited Bangkok commuters, the design and aesthetic appeal of the skytrain pillars and tracks leave much to be desired. Maybe just in the area between Siam Square and Chitlom stations, the whole structure could be painted (at a price, we know) with some graffiti artwork thrown in.

We will start from MBK-Center and take you along Rama I Road and Ratchaprasong Intersection towards Central Chitlom.

MBK-Center is a multistoried building housing about 200 small shops and eateries. The upper floor is dedicated to big furniture outlets. It is located in the Southwestern corner of the Rama I-Phayathai Road Intersection. Since quite a few years now, MBK (still best known under its original name of MahBoonKhrong) must be the most visited shopping center in Bangkok. It is very popular with Thai people and caters definitively to the ‘common man and woman’. Products for sale include : clothes and fashion items, leather, jewelry, electronics, mobile phones, furniture etc. It also houses a 4-storey department store (Tokyu). You can easily reach MBK-Center by the skytrain : get off at National Stadium station, or stroll on the walkway from Siam Square.

[There is one big walkway up in the sky from Chitlom skytrain station up to National Stadium station, no need to walk at street level]
The Pathumwan Princess Hotel is housed within the same complex as MBK-Center, and offers a good location when you are on a shopping trip in Bangkok.

Coming from MBK-Center and crossing Phaya Thai road, you can enter Siam Square proper. Siam Square, located south of Siam Square skytrain station, features a few hundred mostly small shops. A few small streets intersect the various shopping areas, some of which are actually covered.

There are small restaurants, fruit drink bars, coffee shops. But Siam Square is best known for its apparel and fashion (mostly local Thai produce) outlets, that are very popular with Thai youngsters. As a matter of fact, you will hardly notice any ‘adults’ in this shopping area, but a lot of Thai teenagers and university students. Siam Square shopping area is actually located on land belonging to Chulalongkorn University.

Hard Rock Cafe is located on Siam Square Soi 11.

In the Siam Square area, you will also find the Chulalongkorn University Book Center. It is located in an office building, called WithayaKit, that is the single largest building on that side of Rama I Road, and located somewhat away from the main street. If you are looking for scientific books or computer related books, it is a good place to visit. Of course, most books are in Thai language.

Crossing Rama I road, opposite Siam Square, you find Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center. Besides regular shops, you can find Mc Donald’s, Starbucks, Au Bon Pain, Asia Books etc. in these low-rise shopping buildings. It is also the place where Thai teenagers come to see and be seen.

Next to Siam Center is the Siam Paragon, a giant new shopping complex. Walking further eastwards from Siam Paragon, you will pass an old but still active temple, located in the midst of all this urban development and shopping activity : Wat Pathum Wanaram. We recommend that you have a short walk inside the temple complex. There is not a lot to see, although the Ubosoth of Wat Pathum Wanaram is quite attractive. It is relatively quiet though inside the compound, and it is interesting to see all the structures surrounding the temple. Maybe a good place to sit for 15 minutes and have a bottle of water.

Leaving Wat Pathum Wanaram we have another giant shopping complex, Central World Plaza. The actual Central World Plaza is located on Rajadamri Road, and located a bit away from Rama I. It was originally named World Trade Center. Now with Siam Paragon almost next door, and the location of Central World Plaza somewhat away from the skytrain line (that is the location became less optimal), there is a lot of reconstruction going on at this moment and a whole new building is being constructed at the side of Rama I Road, and connected to the skytrain walkway. Central World Plaza is a multistoried very large complex and contains no less than two department stores : Zen (a Central Department store) and Isetan. Furthermore, there are lots of mostly large shops. The place is very spacious, but you will need to walk a lot if you do your shopping in there. During the colder months of the year (mostly november till february) the various breweries of Thailand, have large beer gardens in front of Central World Plaza, that are very popular. It is also a favored place to see in the new year at New Year’ Eve. Check out our recent review of Central World.

If you reach Central World Plaza, you actually reached what is called the Ratchaprasong Intersection. On the other side of Rajadamri Road, opposite Central World Plaza, there is a Big C to the left, and Naraphand, a shopping complex solely dedicated to Thai arts and crafts.

At the corner of Phloenchit Road and Rajadamri Road, you will find the very upmarket Gaysorn. Compared to Siam Paragon and Central World Plaza, it is small in size, but just to give you an idea of what is on offer, the following world known companies have outlets there : Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Christian Lacroix, Dior, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Celine, Emporio Armani, Burberry, Loewe, Mont Blanc, Ermanogildo Zegna, Moschino, Bulgari, Davidoff, Swarovski etc. When we visited the place one early evening, Gaysorn was mostly deserted, and there were possibly more security personnel than customers. But our guess is that it is a good place for celebrities and politicians to do their shopping, since the place is small, and can be much better secured than huge places like Siam Paragon and Central World Plaza.

Crossing Phloenchit Road from Gaysorn, there is the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, and two smaller long-established department stores, the Bangkok Erawan, and the Amarin. Walking on the same side of Phloenchit road as Gaysorn and going eastwards, we will come to Central Chitlom. Central Chitlom is very conveniently connected now to the Chitlom skytrain station, and is indeed very easy to reach nowadays. It can be called the flagship department store of the Central Group. Central Chitlom is another classy shopping center in the area, somewhat away from Siam Square. There are no less than 7 floors to wander through, and the complex also contains a large supermarket.

Thank : thaiwebsites.com

There used to be a very large shopping complex at Rajaprasong Intersection called World Trade Center. A few years back the property was acquired by the Central Group, the largest developer of department stores in Thailand. While World Trade Center was quite an adequate name, the shopping complex was renamed Central World Plaza, and lately seems to go under the abbreviated name Central World.

The shopping center has been renovated and expanded (works are still going on) and is being relaunched and rebranded as the largest lifestyle shopping complex in Southeast Asia. It is not quite clear that Bangkok needed an even more expanded Central World, but that is what we (and foreign visitors who come to shop) got. Besides the shopping experience, there is also an office complex, and an hotel under construction. One can not escape the impression that the management of the Central Group could not live with the success of its main competitor, the Mall Group, after they developed the successful Emporium Shopping Complex, and the recently (end 2005) opened Siam Paragon. Siam Paragon in particular got a lot of press as being the largest venue in town. Now, Central World can reclaim that accolade.

As said, under the name World Trade Center, this shopping complex has been around for quite a while, and the basic structure of the building could not really be altered. From the outside, Central World looks like a rectangular large box. There is not much beauty involved or architectural achievement. Admittedly there is still some construction going on between the skytrain and the main body of the complex, and from models available, this will make the structure a bit more eyecatching.

In front of Central World there is a large (by Bangkok standards) plaza. With New Year’s Eve (not in 2006 due to security problems) probably the largest gathering of Thai people can be seen there, seeing out the old year. Especially during the ‘cold’ season, the plaza turns into an enormous ‘beer garden’.

Central World can be accessed at ground level from Rajadamri Road. This certainly was not convenient enough and two connections were created towards the skytrain that passes the Rajaprasong intersection to its main station at Siam Square. There is a long walking way from Chitlom station to Siam Square on the skytrain platform. When coming from Chitlom (closest) and walking towards Siam Square, one can turn left into the ‘Sky Walk’ connecting with Central World.

The Sky Walk really has been an excellent idea. It runs (behind a glass wall) along the lenght of Central World, with a good view on one side of Rajadamri road and the traffic, and entries towards Zen Department Store, and Central World proper on the other side. Zen Department Store (Zen is a separate brand name for this Department Store, operated by Central) is the first store you can enter. On the opposite end of Central World is another Department Store, called Isetan. Isetan is part of a Japanese chain of department stores. Unfortunately, when walking from the skytrain into Central World, one is not provided with a small map or any other documentation that may help you in navigating this huge shopping mall. Some guidance is truly needed, otherwise within a few minutes, you will not have any idea as to where you are. Just remember that Zen is at the skytrain end as an orientation. Just get a little booklet with maps of the shops at ground level, before starting your exploration.

A booklet we obtained mentions that there are more than 500 shops at Central World, and no less than 50 restaurants. Famous international brands and Thai brands are well represented. Furthermore, there are quite a few smaller local brand outlets. Generally the stores are large. As is often the case in such a large shopping complex, Central World looks less than crowded, especially when you visit the upper floors.

Some highlights :
Supersports (really large shop) selling all kinds of sporting equipment and apparel is located on the 3rd floor. We are unhappy to report, that as many of its competitors, this shop does not sell regular standard bicycles, but only the ubiquitous mountain bikes.

Power Buy offering all kinds of electrical goods, is located one floor higher.
There is really big Toys R Us store on the 6th floor.

SFW World Cinema at the time of our visiting was not yet fully operational, and is located on the 8th floor.

The 7th Floor houses the Central Food Hall. This seems to be a crossbreed between a regular (with a lot of gourmet food) supermarket, and a standard food hall, with smaller outlets and restaurants where you can have a meal. If you only intend to shop for groceries, the location is not really ideal. As a guideline for prices, we noted that the Salad Bar sells salads at 18 baht per 100 grams. Comparative prices at other locations (Foodland 7 baht ; Tops 12 baht ; Emporium and Siam Paragon 25 baht).

B2S (Central brand) is located on the Isetan side of the shopping complex. We remember reading an article about how big a bookstore this was, so we needed to check it our, and came back rather disappointed. B2S is located on three floors (ground level to third floor). The ground level offers a good selection of music CDs, movie DVDs, and a True Internet Cafe. The second level offers mostly stationery. The third floor houses a large bookstore, though we did not have the impression it was larger than the Kinokuniya bookstore at Siam Paragon. However, if you are a book reader, we think you will not really be impressed.

There is a large collection of tabletop books (art and design, architecture, fashion, graphic design), travel books, computer books and the like, both in Thai and English language. However, literature left much to be desired. We saw a whole lot of John Grisham and Michael Connelly books, which is quite OK, but we failed to notice any interesting display of recent fiction and non-fiction. It looks like a statistical approach is followed in this store. See what is proven to be popular, then put hundreds of paperback copies of those books in store a few months later. Not exactly a store where you may go to have a look to see what’s new. In our opinion, the Kinokuniya Stores and even Asia Books have little competition to fear.

We did not fully explore either Zen Department Store or Isetan Department Store. Let’s just indicate that both of these department stores offer an upscale shopping experience, with Isetan more into Japanese products. Since October 2007, Zen also houses a branch of True Fitness.

Just a selection of brand names available at Central World :
Rolex, Swarovski, Tissot, Adidas Originals, Calvin Klein, Daniel Hechtler, FCUK, Liz Claiborne, Pena, Bata, Marks and Spencer, Apple Center, Guy Laroche, Playboy, Benetton, Chaps, Guess, Hush Puppies, Kipling, Morgan, Esprit, Giordano, Clarks, Nokia, AIS, DTAC, Starbucks, Auntie Anne’s, Toys “R” Us, Modernform, Panasonic, Dapper, Lacoste, Swatch etc.
[in our opinion, there are less shops, but the concentration of very well known apparel and fashion brands is higher at Emporium Shopping Complex]

Emporium is an upmarket Shopping Complex close to soi 24 on Sukhumvit Road. It consists of the Emporium Department Store and various retail outlets of famous brands. Emporium Shopping Complex started operating in 1997.
When entering the shop you will see shops of these brands all around you :
Cartier, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Chanel, Versace, Kenzo. Now, you are in Bangkok, but this is all the real stuff.

When entering, the retail stores are surrounding an atrium, 5 floors high. A corridor connects on the right hand connects to another area of retail shops. The Emporium Department Store itself is located behind the retail stores.

A weak point is that there is apparently no reception desk at the entrance. Neither are there any small maps available that may guide you through the rather big shopping center.

Besides the multiple fashion outlets (and a lot of people visiting Emporium seem to actually be wearing the stuff), there are other interesting shops.

On the third floor (around the main atrium) is a large Kinokuniya bookstore, offering only (and a lot of them) English-language books. For Japanese language books (and other languages) you will have to go to Kinokuniya bookstores at Isetan (Central World Plaza) or Siam Paragon. An Asia Books store is also located on the third floor.

Also on the third floor (to the right through the connecting corridor) you will find large Sony and Panasonic outlets. A large shop named Sportsmall, is located there also selling Nike, Adidas and Puma apparel and sportshoes.

Jim Thompson (high quality silk) is located on the 4th floor.

Let’s not forget the Emporium Department Store itself, offering even more brand names. The store itself is well laid out, with ample walking space.

A big section of the 5th floor is taken by Power Mall. Here you will find all kinds of televisions with plasma or LCD screens, besides other home appliances.
Towards the back of the 5th floor (above Emporium Department Store) there is a supermarket and a food court. The Gourmet Market is somewhat unluckily located on a top floor, but offers a wide selection of groceries at upmarket prices. Closeby you can also buy a variety of freshly made Thai desserts. The bakery at Gourmet Market is not up to standard. You better cross the road to Villa Market for bagels, and more tasty breads and rolls.

Emporium Wine Cellar is to be found adjacent to the supermarket. It is also a place where you can find pipe tobacco and cigars (though they can not be displayed anymore in Thailand). A food court called Park Foodhall offers better (and pricier) than average fast food. Starbucks is also located on the 5th floor.

The 6th floor of the Emporium Shopping Complex houses the Emporium SFX Cinema with about 6 movie theatres, offering recently released Hollywood films. There is also a large Garden Lounge, where you can have a coffee or soda.
The movie theatres are very comfortable, and one should know it is really rather cheap to watch movies in Bangkok. Last time I checked, the going rate was 140 baht for a ticket. Exiting the movie theaters at a time when the main store is already closed, is somewhat of a nuisance though. One is guided by elevator to the parking basement, and then it is a ‘dark’ walk to reach Sukhumvit Road. Emporium closes at 10 P.M., but some shops actually close earlier.

Emporium stands on its own. It is not located close to other major shopping complexes. But when looking for famous fashion brands, you may find them here. While not located between Siam Square and Central Chitlom, where most of the other fancy shopping complexes are located, it can easily be reached from there by the BTS skytrain in about 10 minutes. The skytrain station is directly connected to Emporium. Clearly the Emporium Shopping Complex seems to be the most upmarket shopping complex in Bangkok and Thailand. The even bigger Siam Paragon complex (same management) attracts surely more visitors nowadays, but Emporium is still attracting the fashion-conscious crowd.

Emporium Suites, offering luxuriously appointed accommodation, is connected to the Emporium Shopping Complex.

Thank : thaiwebsites.com

Siam Paragon operates since December 2005. It is a quite large shopping complex conveniently located at the Siam Square main skytrain (BTS) station. We go there about once a week, so the review of Siam Paragon featured below, is based on our day-to-day experience of visiting and shopping there.

Getting a full overview of Siam Paragon is rather difficult, since any view is obstructed by the awful skytrain pillars in front of the building. The entrance at street level brings you into the food court and within easy access to the Gourmet Supermarket. More convenient is the wide connection (really spacious) with the skytrain station. To move about the large shopping complex, you will find escalators in front of you. Walking about 100 meters in a rightward direction (follow the arrows) brings you to the elevators.

Siam Paragon has a basement (with food court, as mentioned) and as far as we could figure out 5 open floors. Each floor has retail shops (we do not quite know whether ‘retail’ is a proper word for some of the huge shops we saw) running parallel to the street, and access to a department store, called Siam Paragon Department Store, that is located towards the center and the back of the building.

Different levels at Siam Paragon
Ground Floor : Gourmet Market. Actually the Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon is about the size of a standard soccer field. It indeed has a lot of gourmet foods for sale, besides regular supermarket goods. Initially we were much impressed by the things on offer, and we considered the prices appropriate. A second visit a few weeks later made us realize that actually quite a lot of the gourmet stuff is rather pricey and more expensive than say at Emporium.

The bakery at Gourmet Market (operating under the name Le Boulanger) unexplicably is way below par (unless you like orange or pink colored sandwich bread). So if you buy an expensive salad (see below), you are advised to buy your rolls somewhere else.

A useful comparison is the salad bar which most supermarkets in Bangkok feature. Foodland sells at 10 baht/100 grams of salad, Tops Supermarket sells at 15 baht/100 grams and the Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon charges a whopping 25 baht (discounted to 20 baht)/100 grams. Of course, with higher prices come somewhat more exotic fruits and vegetables to choose from.

MF (Mezzanine Floor?) : Beauty Hall (the largest collection of perfumes and make-up stuff we ever encountered) – The Luxury
First Floor : Fashion Venue – The Lingerie Salon
Second Floor : Paragon Men – Sports Mall Global
Third Floor : Read & Write – Paragon Kids
Fourth Floor : Power Mall Ultra – Paragon Living

Hopefully just the names of the sections on the different floors, will indicate what and where to find the goods you are looking for.

Walking through the retail outlets at Siam Paragon we noticed the following :
Lots of food outlets at basement level : Subway, Auntie Anne’s, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Au Bon Pain.
On the second floor we actually saw open showrooms for both Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari cars. Asia Books is also on the second floor.

Furniture outlets (among them a large S.B. Furniture shop) on the 3rd floor.

There is a Starbucks, much smaller than we would have anticipated, on the 3rd floor. There are 2 more Starbucks outlets in the complex, one located at Siam Paragon Cineplex.

IT City, our favored outlet for computers and computer accessories, has a large store on the 4th floor.

On the 4th floor there is also what is called ‘A passage to Asian Arts and Crafts’ with about 20 shops showing arts and crafts of Thailand and Asia.

The store that impressed us most (we are not at all impressed actually by luxury goods in general) was the huge Kinokuniya bookstore on the 3rd floor. Easily this store has more titles and more books in one place, than the combined total available at Asia Books stores in Bangkok. Kinokuniya store at Siam Paragon has different language sections. There is a large section for Thai, Japanese and English-language books. There are further smaller (but substantial section) for books in Chinese, French and German language. The bookstore also has a coffeeshop on the premises. Sudoku lovers will find a large collection of Sudoku books. Asia Books also has what must be its largest store in Bangkok (and Thailand) at Siam Paragon, but it can not really be compete with what Kinokuniya has to offer.

Siam Paragon has a few more interesting venues : Siam Opera is located on the 6th floor. Paragon CinePlex, KrungSri IMAX (movie theatres) are located on the 5th and 6th floors. There are 5 IMAX theatres and some 9 regular movie theatres. As most movie theatres in Bangkok, the seating is comfortable, the quality of the sound and pictures are excellent, and you get good value for money. Regular price tickets for movies are 140 baht. Do not go too lightly dressed, since the airconditioning at movie theatres creates a ‘freezer’ environment. [We suggest you go to the movies in Thailand during the weekdays, and preferably during the day time, you will have ample seating available] There is an exhibition and convention center, as well as an Edutainment Center on the 5th and 6th floor. CaliforniaWowX (Fitness Center) is located on the 4th floor. The basement of Siam Paragon houses the Siam Ocean World, containing some small and large aquariums.

Benefits of Siam Paragon :
The area between MBK Center and Central Chitlom was already the major shopping area in Bangkok. Siam Paragon has certainly reinforced that. Probably few people were actually waiting for yet another megastore, but now it is there and attracts a substantial number of visitors each day. The store is spacious, and it is rather comfortable walking around. The competition may not like it. Siam Paragon is well located and widely connected to the skytrain station. In the area, CentralWorld with Zen and Isetan, is the main competitor (for luxury shopping, much more people actually go the MBK Center, which offers more economically priced goods). Access from the skytrain is available to reach CentralWorld, but you will need to walk a bit. We do not know a lot about parking facilities at the different stores. But for walkers, and those of us who use public transport, Siam Paragon is easier to reach.
We doubt that yet another store like this is beneficial to the Thai growing middle class, who have yet another venue where to spend their hard earned cash (and/or get deeper in depth). Foreign tourists can be divided in two groups. Westerners can probably not really be impressed by it all, and most of them do not really come and travel to Thailand, in order to buy luxury goods. It is another matter when considering Asian visitors. A lot of Japanese, Chinese (including Hong Kong and Singapore residents) are prone to consuming luxury goods. So if they are even modestly priced lower than in their country of residence, Thailand as a whole (and Siam Paragon) may benefit from their purchases. The European companies who produce a lot of the so called luxury brands, will also be very pleased with yet another outlet for their goods.

Historical Context, Social Responsibilities?
It should be remembered that the present Siam Paragon is located on the premises of the old Intercontinental Hotel, which for many years was a landmark in Bangkok. The hotel was located in a small corner surrounded by a spacious green garden. This has now disappeared. We did not see any greenery at the present Siam Paragon (except of some palm trees in front), and it begs the question as to whether major developers should be forced to think also about the common good. As an example, we could say that all major construction works have to provide for enough available parking space. Likewise it would be a good idea if major developments would be expected to provide the presence of parks, greenery, children’s corners etc. at their premises.
The closest we get to nature at Siam Paragon is at Siam Ocean World. The entrance fee when we visited was 450 baht. We actually assumed entrance would be free as a service to attract more visitors to Siam Paragon.

Management
Siam Paragon is a joint venture between The Mall Group and BHIC (Bangkok Intercontinental Hotels Co.). Besides The Mall Department Stores, The Mall Group also operates Emporium Shopping Complex, Siam Discovery Center.

Thank : thaiwebsites.com

Mea Sai  About 62 kilometres from the Chiang rai province on Highway No. 110 is Thailand’s northern-most district. Mae Sai (แม่สาย), borders on Myanmar’s Tha Khi Lek (ท่าขี้เหล็ก) marked by the Mae Sai River with a bridge spanning both sides. Foreign visitors are allowed to cross over to the Tha Khi Lek market by presenting their passports and paying a fee at the Mae Sai immigration checkpoint. Foe more details, call 0 5373 1008-9.

In addition, there are tour services up to Chiang Tung in Myanmar which is some 165 kilometres to the north by road.
MAESAI BACKGROUND At the northernmost point of Thailand, near the Burma borderline, opposite Tachilek, the twin towns, are now known throughout the gem world as a source for rubies.

Burma, now called Myanmar, has been known to produce the world’s best rubies and often times are funneled through this corner of the Golden Triangle. Burma’s sapphires and gem-quality jade and jade boulders, sometimes weighing several hundred kilograms, can be found on a merchant’s property on either side of the border. However, although gemologists from the world over often visit both sides of the border, most transactions are finalized on the Thai side, Maesai.

The Maesai Market A steady flow of ruby rough is usually a daily occurrence with parcels ranging from several stones into 10’s and 20’s of carats, to smaller carat stones in 1/2 to 1 kg parcels. There are many temptations on the market, but one should spend the time in the market to sort out its many trends.

Also found on the market are sapphires from Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos. Wherever there is a gem market, it seems that gem merchants find the opportunity to travel to this northern destination to trade or sell gem goods from as far away as Africa, Afghanistan and Australia.

There are several small factories available for all the services required for gemstone production, including cutting, polishing, heat treatment and carving if necessary.

I have witnessed high quality gems pass through Maesai, bound for Japan. Seven stones purchased out of a selection of 20 in the rough, the largest of the Mogok selection were over 44 carats plus, gem-quality. Not all stones are witnessed, and major stones that penetrate this border are only a phone call away from being sold on the Thai marketplace or the international market.

Although Mong Hsu is referred to as the new mine, it seems that most stones are from this mine. Mogok, the old mine, is usually the request made by most gemologists, however, it seems that there are adequate quantities and quality stones from Mong Hsu to please those who venture to thisgateway.

If it’s gems that one comes for, don’t forget the charm of the mixed cultures at this major crossroad of the gem world. Rich in culture, one can find Tibetan minorities mixed with Chinese, Thai, Burmese and even headhunters most have never heard existed.

Mae Sai ‘s a big border market where poppular among tourists

Take a bus on route Chiang Rai- Mae Sai end at Mae Sai bus terminal and transfer to minibus or 2 rows bus to the border (5 baht /person ) What 2 shop : Jewelly , jade , silk , clothes , TV, VDO, Stereo , VCD, DVD and all electricities (almost made in China) , Chinese medicine, liqaure , cigarette, dry food such as dry shrimp&dry fish from Myanmar

Chiang Rai Night Bazaar tries hard, but it doesn’t live up to its well-known counterpart in Chiang Mai. The bazaar is located between the bus station and Phaholyothin Road in the center of town. The market consists of many small stands lining the narrow street running between Phaholyothin Road and the bus station. Roughly halfway down the alley is Centrepoint, an open-air restaurant surrounded by more stalls and with a stage for classical music and dance performances.

If you press on to the bus station the market snakes around to the left and turns into a food court. The food court is mostly aimed at Thais, but its worth a look. There are also one or two restaurants catering to foreigners facing the market. There are several more restaurants on Phaholyothin Road near the entrance to the Night Bazaar.

The night bazaar in Chiangrai is filled with hustle and bustle covering 4 city blocks. There are three stages all far enough away from each other to avoid ’sound collision’. In front of the stages are seating areas for patrons to sit and watch the shows plus have a meal, snack and cool beer. The variety of shops is really appreciated by shopping enthusiasts. Everything from silk ready-made garments to tattoo etching can be had. The hill tribes sell an amazing selection of old coins, collector’s pieces of needlework and very fine quilted bed spreads.

The night bazaar is also connected with the city’s fresh fruit market that is open at night. Those visitors who like to try the indescribable shapes, colors and tastes of Asian fruit can enjoy their fill of the great fruits in the height of harvest season.

Some visitors who have been away from western fast food or perhaps just curious to see if the flavor is the same as that in their neighborhood back home, will appreciate the selection of western franchise restaurants located near the night bazaar. Some surprise tastes are in store such as when the counter girl asks, ” will that be regular or hot and spicy?”