I've been getting around Bangkok like a local. Figured out how to take the local bus and tried it out last night. It was a trip. I had no idea if I was going where I intended. The woman on the bus who takes the money from passengers was trying her best to be helpful but her English was nonexistent and she could not read my map to show me where we were going because all the streets were labeled in English. Eventually I found someone on the bus who could communicate with me and turned out I was going exactly where I wanted. I arrived at the Night Market a little while later.
You know, last night I wished I was more of a shopper because Bangkok is clearly a shopper's town. Damn, there is so much good crap to buy here. I wandered around the Night Market (Lindsy's recommendation) for at least three hours, negotiating and trying stuff on. In the end I bought a pair of fake Diesel shoes for about $15, a t-shirt for $2, and a fake LaCoste golf shirt for $8. I can definitely feel the crappy quality of the fakes compared to the real shit, but... Still good enough. Because all the fakes are so readily available and so cheap, everyone in Bangkok is dressed so well! Store after store sold women's shoes for the equivalent of $8 a pair.
After the market I walked over to Patpong. Patpong is the premier "show girl" area of Bangkok and I went over there to try to see one of the shows I had heard about. Problem was that I could not find any. All I found in Patpong, apart from another great night market, was bar after bar after bar with prostitutes "dancing" on platforms. There were so many of these women that they poured out on the street and mixed with the shoppers and sellers. Really weird. I didn't even try very hard to find one of the shows I had heard about because everyone I asked just tried to get me to visit the bar they represent. I found the whole thing very annoying and took a cab home by midnight.
Negotiating in Thailand is a trip. I've discovered the best way to do it. Since there is really no such thing as any stall selling something you can't find at another stall a few feet away, I discovered that the best way to negotiate is to go in hard. Barter to get the price for a ridiculously low price relative to the asking price. Eventually you discover the point where the seller will not sell and will be pissed off at you for trying. A few baht more and they'd give it up but by that point they just don't like you. Then you go to another stall nearby armed with the knowledge of exactly what is a reasonable price. I figured this out pretty early last night and was able to get a few things for what certainly seems to be the fair price.
Today I visited Tum (the Thai guy who was part of our posse in Koh Phangan) at his store in the shopping area, Siam Square. First of all, Siam Square is a shopper's delight and this is where all the brands set up their real stores. All the big global brand names have locations here and you get the sense that there is a LOT of money in Bangkok. Only in this area did I get to see the upper class kids, and they are decked out. And you get the sense that these kids are wearing the real deal. I mean, someone has to be supporting these brand stores.
Anyway, Tum's store was very small but very very cool. He designs everything in the store and it all has this neo-communist design element. I liked it all but none of it looked good on me. Not cool enough, clearly. He also showed me some of his art work which is very impressive, very Pop (and therefore of interest to me) and we had a conversation about trying to get some of his stuff in a show or store in Toronto. Who knows if this will happen, but I do think his work (both design and art) is good enough and I'm willing to give it a shot, speak to some people and see if I can make something happen. He was obviously excited by the idea and promised to put together a couple CDs for me showing all his work. I made no promises and he understood. He's a good guy, very cool, as stylish as any hipster in Brooklyn that I ever met. Maybe something will come of it.
I'm off to Cambodia early tomorrow morning. I've had enough Thailand at this point and excited to move on. I assume I'll be able to post from there...
R*
You know, last night I wished I was more of a shopper because Bangkok is clearly a shopper's town. Damn, there is so much good crap to buy here. I wandered around the Night Market (Lindsy's recommendation) for at least three hours, negotiating and trying stuff on. In the end I bought a pair of fake Diesel shoes for about $15, a t-shirt for $2, and a fake LaCoste golf shirt for $8. I can definitely feel the crappy quality of the fakes compared to the real shit, but... Still good enough. Because all the fakes are so readily available and so cheap, everyone in Bangkok is dressed so well! Store after store sold women's shoes for the equivalent of $8 a pair.
After the market I walked over to Patpong. Patpong is the premier "show girl" area of Bangkok and I went over there to try to see one of the shows I had heard about. Problem was that I could not find any. All I found in Patpong, apart from another great night market, was bar after bar after bar with prostitutes "dancing" on platforms. There were so many of these women that they poured out on the street and mixed with the shoppers and sellers. Really weird. I didn't even try very hard to find one of the shows I had heard about because everyone I asked just tried to get me to visit the bar they represent. I found the whole thing very annoying and took a cab home by midnight.
Negotiating in Thailand is a trip. I've discovered the best way to do it. Since there is really no such thing as any stall selling something you can't find at another stall a few feet away, I discovered that the best way to negotiate is to go in hard. Barter to get the price for a ridiculously low price relative to the asking price. Eventually you discover the point where the seller will not sell and will be pissed off at you for trying. A few baht more and they'd give it up but by that point they just don't like you. Then you go to another stall nearby armed with the knowledge of exactly what is a reasonable price. I figured this out pretty early last night and was able to get a few things for what certainly seems to be the fair price.
Today I visited Tum (the Thai guy who was part of our posse in Koh Phangan) at his store in the shopping area, Siam Square. First of all, Siam Square is a shopper's delight and this is where all the brands set up their real stores. All the big global brand names have locations here and you get the sense that there is a LOT of money in Bangkok. Only in this area did I get to see the upper class kids, and they are decked out. And you get the sense that these kids are wearing the real deal. I mean, someone has to be supporting these brand stores.
Anyway, Tum's store was very small but very very cool. He designs everything in the store and it all has this neo-communist design element. I liked it all but none of it looked good on me. Not cool enough, clearly. He also showed me some of his art work which is very impressive, very Pop (and therefore of interest to me) and we had a conversation about trying to get some of his stuff in a show or store in Toronto. Who knows if this will happen, but I do think his work (both design and art) is good enough and I'm willing to give it a shot, speak to some people and see if I can make something happen. He was obviously excited by the idea and promised to put together a couple CDs for me showing all his work. I made no promises and he understood. He's a good guy, very cool, as stylish as any hipster in Brooklyn that I ever met. Maybe something will come of it.
I'm off to Cambodia early tomorrow morning. I've had enough Thailand at this point and excited to move on. I assume I'll be able to post from there...
R*
It's Tuesday and our holiday is over. We both loved it, and are sorry to leave. But, duty calls. It was restful, exactly what I needed. We'll tell you all about it back in T.O.
Your blog is great. We've been enjoying the daily posts.
Stay safe. Enjoy.
Love
Mom
Hey Randy! It sounds like you are having a great adventure....I sure wish I could be there with you, but reading your blogs is the next best thing. I just read them all in one sitting.....its like reading War and Peace! Lots to read.....I am looking forward to renting your video when you come home! Hope u have an awesome time in Cambodia!
Aaron