Central Thailand Travel Guide

Bangkok is the best place for cheap shopping of all kinds.  They are renowned for their authentic-looking rip-off designer goods, and clothing is amazingly cheap.  Best markets/places to go include:  Chat Tu Chak (although it is really hot and crowded & can become overwhelming), Sum Lum Night Bazaar is good for a night out,  MBK (Mahboonkrong) Center sells great bags and clothes (and is wonderfully air-conditioned), but by far the best place for shopping (and just to check out the scene) is Patpong.  It is certainly the Thai experience. I kinda hate Bangkok, as it is a falling down mess, but the shopping and food are unbeatable.  I suggest being adventurous & buying from the street sellers... they really make the best food although it looks dodgy.  Great places to visit are: The Royal Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and taking an hour or so train to the abandoned city of Ayutthaya (although I suggest seeing Ayutthaya before ever going to Cambodia for Angkor Wat).  After Angkor Wat, Ayutthaya is quite disappointing.

Wear bug repelent!!! (Normally they don't bug* me but here they were EVERYWHERE!) Also, the famous Bridge over the river Kwai is walking distance from most accomodations along the river, so don't get scammed into paying $20 for a boat to it unless you want to see all the extras the boat trip includes- (there are far more impressive versions of most extras accross Thailand.)

Experienced shoppers will notice a sometimes discrete rubbing of money across merchandise by vendors just after a sale. This is money from their first sale of the day and it means good luck for the rest of their day. Be aware during opening hours that these merchants are eager for their first sale and may quickly reduce their price before you even counter offer. Don't exploit this and make tourists look greedy for a few cents. Just be aware of it and try not to engage the seller unless you really are interested in buying the item. It may look like superstition to you, but it's religion to them. You can tell if you're their first shopper by how attentive they are.