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 Sukhumvit
Road is not only one of the world’s longest roads - it actually
turns into a highway that runs all the way to the Cambodia border
- but contains some of the city’s most prime real estate, gorgeous
parks, office towers, five-star hotels and opulent restaurants.
This street pulses with life 24/7.
Beginning around Sukhumvit
Soi 4, street vendors can be seen hawking elaborate fans, woodcarvings,
Buddhist paintings, sporting goods and loads of luggage. Numerous
tailors, with cut-rate prices for quality outfits, can be seen beckoning
tourists to have a suit or dress tailor-made at their shop.
Further down the road, near Sukhumvit
Soi 24, and attached to the Phrom Phong BTS
station, is the Emporium shopping
complex. The contemporary design is filled out with hip designer
labels like Guess, Chaps, Esprit and Jaspal, making it a favourite
hang out for well-heeled teenagers and Bangkok’s
elite. Up on the third floor, there are two English-language bookstores
and a CD Warehouse. Plus there’s a state-ofthe- art cinema
on the top floor and an exclusive Emporium department store.
 The
Park Food Court, on the top floor,
is the Emporium’s latest addition with a wide selection of
international cuisine all situated
in an elegant hassle-free environment. There is also an extensive
supermarket and wine and spirits shop on the floor.
Regular sales on brand-name furniture and clothing occur during
various Thai festivals throughout the year. A tourist card available
at the department store entitles shoppers to a 5 to 10 percent discount
off regular priced merchandise.
shopping hours: 9am to 9pm
Further up Sukhumvit, on
Soi 55, is the cool new Playground! concept store in Soi
Thong Lor; it’s a paradigm of Bangkok’s
new focus on design and creativity. Modelled after shops
like Collette in Paris, you’ll find a hodge-podge of upscale
housewares, clothing, CDs and art books all displayed under a sun-filled
atrium, which houses a huge dog-house tagged with colourful graffiti.
Some of the wares here include designer stationary, beaded jewellery
and re-designed jeans by the Thai label Medium-Rare. The top floor
houses two restaurants serving cool
fusion Thai cuisine, an art gallery
and auditorium.
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