BKK - extra info

Thailand's weather is influenced by monsoons.
Rainy Season - torrential rain tends to fall in short bursts, usually lasting only a couple of hours each day. Most rain falls between June and November. Hot and Dry Season - is relatively rain-free between January and April. Travel elsewhere during the rainy season is not necessarily problematic unless visiting areas where roads are unpaved, as rain renders these tracks impassable.
Chiang Mai: Hot season(Mar - Jun), Rainy season(Jul - Sept), Cool Season(Oct - Feb)
BKK: Hot season(Mar - May), Rainy season(Jun - Oct), Cool Season(Nov - Feb)

Maps u can get it from airport once ur plane touch down, along the way to check yr luggage. You list down all the places u wan to go then check with the map for the distance (try to go places near each other: cut down time for traveling n use it for shopping)

taxi from airport to Asia hotel is 300b(via expressway incl. 70b toll & 50b surcharge) & gtg bck from Asia hotel to airport is 200b(include. 30b toll, expressway, ard 30 minus) Asia hotel got one nite performance is called Calypso. One at Sukhumvit road (near Phrom Phong BTS station) called Mambo. Mambo is in a big stage kind of show while Calypso is a smaller stage. Their performing style is abit different. The tickets are about S$30+, not more than S$40. 2 performances every night 8.15pm and 9.45pm.

never take up any offer from the "kind" friendly strangers who walk up to u, offers u guides n suggestions (rem!!! they r cheats!!! note: they always say they are the security guards of yr hotel or whatever. Just walk away or jt say u been to the places he offered.) They work in grp. one is the friendly stranger who walk to u, another is another stranger who always agree what the first one say, another one is the tuk-tuk driver who offer to drive u there, end up will be gem shops or expensive seafood

anyway if u really like to buy gem, u will come to one licensed one at end of the half day tour , the tour guides will always bring tourist there (it is a must for them cos govt need money to bring economy around but u need not to buy) Thai is famous for their gem I think.

go pathunam market....and shopping complex... very cheap as compared Ma Boon Kong expensive one... but alot of people go.
EAT STUFFS-must try a nice buffet Oishi resturant at Slam diSCOVERY centre beside DKNY.
go siam centre siam square and jj marketplayground a local designer store at thong lo

CARS STUFFS-4th level MBK. Hidden behind the loads of handphone shops is a plc called 'R-Style'. Lotsa stuff for Fit/Jazz. Carbon Fibre Cubic printed stuff looks good too.
R - style Racing address : MBK center 4F Room 132 6F Room 58 tel : 02-6118090
http://www.into-asia.com/bangkok/shopping/

Chatuchak Market: Open: 08:00-18:00 Weekends only. Nearest Skytrain: Mochit For clothing and Accessories go to (section 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23) Plan before you walk if not "merry go round" and end up nothing to buy. Lastly, if you are getting more than 3 items from one shop you can ask for wholesale price.

suan lam nite bazzar- nice like Chatuchak Market: Suan Lum is not your traditional Bangkok market and although largely geared towards the tourist market is still an interesting evening market to stroll around. Modern, less claustrophobic (and not as sticky) as most markets, with a few nice places to eat, drink and watch the world go by. A good place both to shop and hang out. Check out the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre, close by. Performances (7:30-9:00) still leave time for shopping afterwards. Suan-Lum Night Bazaar...alight at Lumphini station, u can take BTS fr Asia Hotel (Ratchathewi Stn) and alight at Sala Daeng Stn (3 stops). Fare is 20 baht but in between, u must change train at Siam Stn....just cross over. Then fr Sala Daeng BTS Stn, u have to walk to Silom MRT Stn by using the linkbridge....take d MRT fr Silom Stn to Lumphini Stn (1 stop)....fare is 10baht. U can see Suan-Lum Night Bazaar once u get out of Lumphini MRT Stn!

Sampeng Lane: Both markets are usually very crowded, busy and bathed in the aroma of strange smells but that's half the fun. Pace yourself!

Chitlom BTS station
Erawan Shrine, all start for the side of Buddha facing the main entrance. Ladies pray in clockwise while men go anti-clockwise. Near the World Trade Centre, just beside the Erawan Hyatt Hotel. Temple is only open to public fr Fri to Sun at 6am...
Central World Plaza (formerly known as World Trade Centre) is just opposite Big C. Get the 5% discount tourist card from the info counter at 1st floor before u shop. ~ This place has a departmental store called Zen which is a little like our John Little; shops-wise, also quite limited...Isetan is connected to Central World Plaza.
Zen is a good place to shop for undergarments (at 2nd floor); VAT refund counter is at 3rd floor. There is a sticker counter discount thing going on, the more u spends, the more stickers u got, and u can use that for more discounts later.
NARAYA FOR BAGS
Central Chit Lom (BTS Chit Lom) is basically a huge departmental store like Taka..Lots of shoes and bags and accessoriesPratunam Market - Open 08:00-21:00 daily Corner of Phetchburi Rd and Ratchaprarop. near Indra Regent, there are gd clothes. Air-conditioned shopping can be found just north of Pratunam market on Rajadamri. World Trade Centre is a huge shopping complex which, apart from hundreds of shops, also contains cinemas, restaurants and even an ice skating rink! "Indra Plaza" wholesaler & retail next to "Indra Regent hotel" These are much cheaper shop you can find. Just 2min walk from Baiyoke Suites hotel

Pantip Plaza on Petchburi Road is Bangkok's formost computer shopping mall. If it's electronic or digital you'll find it here. A large selection of printers, computers, the latest electronic gadgets, and software under one roof. Location: Petchburi road near the Amari Watergate Hotel

Chinatown:
Chinatown is a colorful and busy area, packed with market stalls and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city. The small alleys and streets between Yaowarat Road and the river are crammed with market stalls and small shops jostling to sell just about everything imaginable. Thousands of hair ornaments, tea sets, hardware, food, fabric shops, and strange vegetables imported from mainland China and Chinese funeral items. You don't buy one or two items - buy a dozen or two! Although there are some souvenirs on sale, there isn't much for the average visitor to buy, but it is, an interesting experience. Sampeng Lane (also known as Soi Wanit), running parallel south of Yaowarat and the narrow lanes directly off it, are a riot of color and noise. It's often crowded, hot and exhausting, but certainly offers a different perspective on the city. Chinatown is still relatively untouched by the modern development which has overtaken much of Bangkok. Few people speak English and accommodation is limited apart from some of the older more established local hotels. Following the river heading north, Chinatown gives way to the wafting aromas of curries and the exotic spices of Pahurat. A small but significant Indian community is located around the famous Pahurat cloth market on the edge of Chinatown, close to Sampeng market. Wholesale silk, cotton and all kinds of fabrics are traded with tough bargaining skills. It’s also a good place to head for if you're desperate for some authentic Indian food. The markets are generally open throughout the day until around 6pm.
Chinatown, around Sampeng Lane; Pahurat cloth market;
Turn right into Chakkraphet Road, on your right-hand side is the Khlong Ong Ang Market where you can purchase almost any kinds of toys. Next to it is Nakhon Kasem Market, which is the retail and wholesale market of machines and musical instruments. Adjacent to this market is Khlong Thom Market where thousands of consumers come daily to buy electrical appliances and sundry goods.
for sharksfin & bird nest, is 100 baht each per serving (they have different type of sharksfin & birdnest soup, think the most ex ones cost abt 500 baht per serving).. They also have other dishes like claypot fish maw/sea cucumber, crabs, prawns, poultry etc... at the beginning of Chinatown, we walked for abt 5 minus then located the restaurant... u got to walk along the road then u can see the prominent yellow signboard... the window near the entrance of the restaurant is filled with Chinese articles (mainly written by Hong Kong reporters featuring HK stars makaning in the shop)
Wat Trai Mit: Is located on Yaowarat Road in China Town, near the Hulamphong train Station. This temple houses a very impressive solid gold Buddha which weighs 5 and a half tonnes and is three metres in height!

Siam - shopping malls and funky clothes and the huge weekend market at Chatuchak on the outskirts of town.
MBK (Mah Boon Krong) close by, offers 7 floors of boutiques and small shops selling just about everything (local and western designer names, fashion boutiques and fast food) at very reasonable prices. You can access directly from National Stadium Skytrain station via a walkway. Very busy at the weekends. Foods like Fuji, Nam Seng (bird nest, sharkfins),
opposite "MBK" Siam Square near Novetel hotel.There are many small shop by some Thailand young designer...cool and unique. From clothes,shoes,bags,and accessory etc... If you are looking for clothing like those selling at "Fast East Plaza" or "Heeren" that's is the best place to shop. Is a happening place on sat like our orchard road. At least you can see people dressed up in Bangkok. Remember those shop close as early at 8pm. Some of the shops are selling pretty expensive stuff but very nice.

Sukhumvit: One of Bangkok's best known shopping areas, Sukhumvit Road stretches from east to west across the city. Completion of the BTS elevated rail system (Skytrain) along several miles of Sukhumvit has ensured easy access to hotels, shopping malls and shops in the adjoining streets. While the larger shopping centers are clustered around Siam and Chitlom, Sukhumvit still has lots of small individual shops specializing in antiques, rattan furniture and home furnishings complemented by one or two fairly new shopping malls.
The Emporium(BTS Phrang Phong), (Soi 24) an upmarket shopping centre, offers food courts, bookshops, a department store and beauty salons, as well as comfortable shopping in air-conditioned comfort. Plenty of space, and a cinema, cafes, restaurants and great food courts for when you get bored. Regular sales (discounts between 15 - 80 %) occur from time to time (usually co-inciding with Thai festivals) on brand name clothing and furniture. A tourist card (which you can apply for at the store) gives 5% - 10% discount off regular priced items in various shops. Location: Sukhumvit Soi 24/26, BTS Skytrain: Phrom Phong Open: 09:00-21:00

**rem to bring a cap in case of dizzy rain.
**rem to drink alot of water cos will get thirsty easily.