Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Bangkok

112 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Travelers with Trips and Tours and at street stalls, where
Disabilities vendors quote a price that
Planning a journey in a may be up to double the
Thailand has made crowded, unfamiliar city object’s value. Start by
progress in improving can be difficult, so many offering a figure less than
wheelchair accessibility, people opt for a guided what you are prepared to
with many hotels and tour. While such tours pay and gradually increase
departments stores may be enjoyable and the offer until a deal is
providing ramps and informative, they are also struck. Keep smiling! If
elevators. Sidewalks are expensive and preclude all else fails, walking
not wheelchair-friendly. encounters with local away may persuade a
However, what the city people that can lead vendor to drop the price.
lacks in infrastructure for to stimulating cultural Thai handicrafts make
the disabled is made up exchanges. We rec om- great souvenirs and gifts.
by the helpful nature of mend self-guiding for the These are widely available
the people. Specialized major sites (see Exploring in Bangkok at markets
tour agencies cater to Bangkok, pp6–7) and using such as Chatuchak. Items
those with specific needs. tours focused on special on offer include clothes
Accessible Thailand can interests, such as culinary and bags made of silk
provide more information. tours, tours organized by and cotton, baskets,
art museums, or activities ceramics, lacquerware,
Sources of requiring special equip- wall hangings, and
Information ment, such as cycling. woodcarvings. Gold in
Thailand is 24 karat and
The Tourism Authority Shopping sold by weight, its value
of Thailand, the official varying according to the
government tourist board, Bangkok is a shopper’s world market. Colored
has offices worldwide paradise and runs the gems such as rubies
and its headquarters in gamut from the glitziest and sapphires are very
Bangkok. Its website malls to sidewalk alluring, but unless you
provides comprehensive vendors. The massive are an expert, confine any
coverage of destinations and ultra-modern purchases to high-end
and events, and maps and shopping malls in Siam shops, such as those in
brochures are available Square and Sukhumvit Peninsula Plaza, since
from its office. The are like small cities, inferior gems and fakes
Bangkok Tourism contain ing department abound. Custom-tailored
Division is also a useful stores, food courts, clothing is also of interest,
source of information and bowling alleys, designer but only the best shops,
has booths in many of the bou tiques, and skating like Tailor on Ten, use
city’s tourist areas. rinks. Shopping in fabrics of high quality,
Some of the best markets and at street and several fittings are
Bangkok travel tips stalls combines the required for a good result.
come from two monthly opportunity to pick up Antiques are also worth
magazines, Bangkok 101 bargains with cultural considering, but similar
and The Big Chili, which interaction. The best to newly cast Buddha
are sold in bookstores markets for textiles or images, they require a
(although both have ready-made clothes are special export permit from
good websites). Mainly Chatuchak (see pp28–9), the Department of Fine
directed toward expats, Phahurat (see p77), and Arts. The export of antique
they offer the latest in Pratunam (see p60), while Buddhas is forbidden.
dining, nightlife, and street stalls in Khao San Thais produce excellent
general exploring, and Road, Patpong, and copies of anything from
they are much more Sukhumvit Road are branded watches to
reliable than the many good for souvenirs. designer clothes. Western
blogs and click-driven Prices are fixed in countries’ customs take
websites. BK magazine, shopping malls and fakes seriously, and
distributed free in hotels, boutiques, but bargaining confiscation – or even
offers useful listings. is expected in markets prosecution – is possible.

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