Thailand: a Shopping Paradise and Superb Place for Food
Thailand is a paradise for shoppers. Regular visitors to Asia know that, in many ways, Bangkok has excellent shops to deal in terms of handicrafts, textiles, gems, jewelry, art and antiques. Nowhere else will you find the same selection, quality and price. Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places, bargaining is a common practice and prices may be reduced by as much as 30 percent.
Bangkok has many shopping areas, where you can buy just about anything from clothes and souvenirs to all kinds of antiques and electrical goods. Generally, you can obtain a final price of around 10 to 30 percent lower than the original asking price. Much depends upon your skills and the shopkeeper's mood. With patience, and a broad smile, you will not only get a better price, you will also come to recognize shopping in Bangkok as an art form!
The famous shopping streets visitors can enjoy include such famous areas as Phat Phong Night Market, Soi Lalaisap, Siam Square, Pratunam, Banglamphu, Klongthom, Lang Krasuang and Woeng Nakhon Kasem, Chatuchak Weekend Market, China Town (Yaowaraj Road) and Bo Be Market (Krung Kasem Road). Bangkok has a number of good quality department store chains such as Central Department Store, Robinson, the Mall, the Emporium and Isetan. These are located in major shopping plazas or mega-malls dotted around the city. Bangkok's top shoppers tend to frequent the Department Stores at Peninsula Plaza, the World Trade Center, Narayana Phand, Gaysorn Plaza, Maboonkrong (MBK) Shopping Center, the Galleria Plaza, Siam Center, the Emporium, River City Shopping Center, Seacon Square and several others.
Not only can tourists enjoy shopping in Thailand, but they will also appreciate the delectable Thai food. Foreigners may know Tom Yam Kung, a famous, original Thai spicy-sour soup that has for a long time been an export commodity of Thailand. Some people take to Thai food immediately, others find the pungent and spicy tastes, laden with garlic and chillies, a bit of a challenge. Almost all Thai food is cooked with fresh ingredients, including vegetables, poultry, pork and some beef. Plenty of herbs are used along with lime juice, lemon grass and fresh coriander to give the food its characteristically tangy taste. Fish sauce or shrimp paste may be added to make dishes taste salty. Throughout Thailand, rice is eaten with almost every meal.
Coconut milk is a key ingredient of much Thai cuisine, and all kind of curries are mixed with coconut milk. It is also used in Thai desserts. However. If you don't have a penchant for sweet desserts, opt for a plate of fresh Thai fruit instead to end your meal.
A Thai meal is a communal affair, during which a group of diners will share several dishes, including steamed white rice. A century ago, meals were eaten by hand, pressing the rice into small round balls. Today a spoon and fork are used for eating rice, with chopsticks being used for Chinese noodles. Thai food differs from region to region. Unlike the north and northeast, where glutinous rice is popular. Thai folk in the central area prefer the plain, fragrant variety, most commonly steamed.
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