Shopping - What to buy

Thai Crafts Not surprisingly, in Bangkok you can find an astonishing variety of Thai handicrafts, many of which are created by craftsmen all over the country whose skills have been handed down for generations. Others are produced in factories in Bangkok using the latest in advanced technology and quality control Bronzeware Thailand's high-quality bronzeware has long been a favorite item for visiting shoppers. Produced by traditional techniques yet employing a number of modern innovations like a silicon coat to prevent tarnishing, this craft is employed on bowls and cutlery guaranteed to provoke admiration at a dinner party back home, as well as on large, striking figures such as animal, ideal for home decorations. Ceramics Thailand's distinctive celadon style ceramics in Jade green, dark green, brown or cobalt blue, are great souvenir items found in boutiques, specialty stores, handicraft outlets and department stores throughout the city. Also popular as gift items are the beautiful Bencharong, the richly coloured lidded porcelain pots that derive from 16th-century Chinese art. These make fine centre pieces for dining tables and entrance halls, with sizes to suit all. A number of shops offer these items for sale at various prices according to size and perceived value. At quasi-antique stores, you can also find a selection of Sawankhaloke brown pottery, and blue-and-white Chinese porcelain including pots, lamp bases, household items and figurines. Also available are locally produced and imported glazed garden pots and lotus tubs - ranging in price and size - shipping can usually be arranged at a price. Check out the weekend markets at Chatuchak for all such items. Textiles Cotton - Thai cotton products are known for their supple texture, durability and beautiful colours. A specialty of the North of Thailand, a broad a range of clothing and household items can be found for sale all over Bangkok. Broad weave cotton shirts, pants and skirts are the perfect anti-dote to hot weather, and often breath better than closely woven, fine silk. Table clothes, napkins and cushion covers in natural, modern colours make wonderful inexpensive gifts. All such products can be found in the night markets, weekend markets, and at specialty Thai craft stores such as Narayana Phand. Silk On the top of the best buy list in Thailand, is Thai silk, sold in most colours, in bolts of various width, length and thicknesses, or as ready-made products such as shirts, blouses, scarves and neckties, bathrobes and kimonos, men's suits and ladies silk jackets, bedcovers and furnishings etc. Prices and quality do vary greatly, but generally, good quality silk is easily found at specialty stores and tailor shops around the city. At night and weekend markets, mass produced squares of woven silk similar in size to a sarong, are sold by street vendors at very cheap prices. Although they are not the best quality silks to be bought, they are very pretty and great for gifts to take home. Also available at most markets are imported Chinese silk garments, which are an inexpensive but great gift to take home. . Tailor-made Clothing Tailor shops offer a wide range of fabrics from which to have stylish clothes made in a matter of hours. Many shops can design outfits from illustrations from magazines, or copy sample clothes brought along by the customer. Usually 1 or 2 fittings are required to get the finer details right. Many of the bigger hotels have a reliable, good quality service on the premises for tailor made clothes. Cheaper alternatives can be found almost everywhere, but it is difficult to guarantee quality so beware! Furniture Wonderful antique and contemporary or recreated handcrafted furniture from Thailand is available in shops throughout major tourist areas. Cabinets, tables, dining room, bedroom and outdoor settings and fittings can also be made to order in a variety of mediums, including teak, rosewood and bamboo. Prices vary as does workmanship, but great bargains are there to be had if you take some time to compare what's available. Gems, Gold and Jewelry Thailand is a leading producer of sapphires and the world's largest cutter of colored stones. Quality items are available at competitive prices, however unless you are knowledgeable about stones, care must be taken to shop at reputable specialist stores that will issue certificates of authenticity. The Tourism Authority of Thailand issues frequent warnings about shonky gemstone shops that dupe customers into buying worthless stones for large sums of money. Thai artisans can also craft jewelry to suit international tastes, with prices set according to the amount of workmanship and detail of the individual item. Gold jewelry and ornaments are also a bargain in Thailand, with prices fixed according to "baht" weight of the item and the level of workmanship. Items bought in Thailand can be resold at current international prices. Excellent bargains in gold chains, earrings, bracelets, pendants, and other delicate handed crafted items can be found around the city - particularly in China Town - and most major hotels house jewelry stores offering exquisite pieces for less than you might imagine, and with guarantees of authenticity. Cultured pearls are another local industry, and a number of shops have pearl jewellery for sale. Lacquerware A specialty of northern Thailand, neighbouring Burma, and now Vietnam, a wide range of contemporary and antique Lacquerware can be bought in shops and markets in Bangkok. You can find the distinctive gold and black household objects such as trinket boxes, trays and chopsticks etc that originate from Chiangmai. More recently, the creatively coloured and decorated trays, bowls and homeware originating from Vietnam have also become available - all of these item constituting the ideally lightweight collector's item or gift. Try the Thai Craft Museum in Gaysorn Plaza, opposite the World Trade Centre on Ratchadamri Road. Leather Goods A broad range of high-quality leather goods is found in markets and department stores in Bangkok. Items in department stores are usually available for a fixed price, whereas in the markets, and at street vendor stalls, prices will vary widely and can be bargained down. It is best to shop around at a few stalls before settling on any item, in order to compare prices and make sure you're not paying too much. Popular items include jackets, footwear, belts, handbags, luggage, and various accessories. Leather clothing and shoes can be custom made in some tailor shops. Narayana Phand is the place to go for leather bargains during the day (opposite World Trade Centre on Ratchadamri Road), or at night, venture down to the Patpong Night Markets along Silom Road. The weekend markets at Chatuchak also have great range of leather products at reasonable prices. Neilloware One of Thailand's more unique handcrafts, neilloware is a traditional craft of the southern province of Nakorn Si Thammarat. Nielloware is the art of applying etched designs made from an alloy of lead, silver, copper and sulphur, onto silver or gold receptacles. Items ranging from coffee and tea sets to fittings for handbags and buttons are available in many shops. Paintings/Pencil Sketches For a lasting reminder of Thailand, why not visit one of the many shops offering original art works by local artists. Choose from traditional or modern Thai themes, or commission your favourite scene to be replicated in a painting or sketch. A popular trend is to have a portrait sketched or painted as a gift or momento. A number of artists also specialize in portraits drawn from snap shots, meaning that you don't have to sit around for hours. Portraits are available in Sepia, Charcoal, Pastel and Oil Colour, for around 1500-2000 Baht dependent on medium used and size of the portrait. Expect a 2 -3 day turn over time, or have your painting or sketch posted to you. Try Mahboonkrong Centre on the ground floor, Chatuchak Weekend Market, and Sogo Shopping Complex on the 3rd floor (next to Bookazine). Framing can also be carried out inexpensively in Bangkok with a number of shops along Sukhumvit Road providing this service. Wickerwork Products Wickerwork products are utilised in every aspect of daily life in Thailand. Furniture, baskets, hats, mats, even walls for simple homes, are made from natural fibre, and created into objects of beauty and functuality. The attraction of wickerwork is its simplicity, using the strength and resilience of cut and dried bamboo and rattan that are woven into forms that are light, strong, and attractive. You'll find many shops selling beautifully woven baskets, mats, blinds and other functional wicker products. Gaysorn Plaza's Thai Craft Museum has intricately woven products as does next door Narayana Phand on Ratchadamri Road. For more rustic everyday basketry and wickerwork, go to Sri Phaya Road, running parallel to Silom and Suriwong, where there a number of shop houses selling wickerwork household products.