|
Located around the corner from Silom
Road and across from Lumphini Park is the colourful and eclectic
Suan Lum Night Bazaar.
Less chaotic and claustrophobic than Chatuchak
Market, this huge night bazaar is Bangkok’s
equivalent of an all inclusive entertainment and shopping plaza.
The outdoor market is packed with about 3,700 shops selling gift
items, sa paper, ceramics, silk clothing, home décor and
a number of only-in-Thailand products
called OTOP. There are also a few stalls featuring stylish and originally
designed dresses, handbags, jewellery made from precious stones
and re-fitted denim items.
 Unlike
Chatuchak, Suan
Lum follows a fairly well-laid out grid system that’s divided
into zones with sois, or lanes, bearing the names of Siam’s
old royal capitals like Ayutthaya,
Sukhothai and Lop
Buri. In Zones A, B and C you’ll find an array of aromatic
goodies, such as handmade candles, soaps and aromatherapy products.
For luxurious scented products head to Raan Bai Mai (Ayuthaya Soi
3, B96), the official supplier of the exclusive Banyan Tree resorts.
For cheaper products try a small no-name shop (Ayuttaya Soi 9, C263)
that carries aromatic oils, burners and incense sticks.
Zone D features some funky furniture items, traditional Thai artworks,
tapestries and other decorative items to liven up your home. Check
out Fabiola Design in Lop Buri,
D519 (www.fabioladesign.com) for some hand-designed picture frames
and other home decorations. And where else could you find necklaces,
candleholders and even vases made from paper (that’s right,
paper) but at Paper Art and Décor (Lop Buri Soi 3 Lot D,
www.paperartanddecor.com) ? You can also order from them on the
Internet or buy wholesale.
But shopping is far from the only pleasure at Suan
Lum. There’s also a mini-spa with reflexology and traditional
Thai massages to rub you the right way. Near the entrance is
a massive beer garden and food court. On-stage nightly is a cabaretstyle
show of starring hip young Thai singers and dancers belting out
current English and local hits.
The Joe Louis Puppet Theatre (for traditional Thai puppetry) and
the BEC Tero Hall (for performances by international acts) are other
main attractions at the night bazaar.
|
