Pratunam Market

In my last visit to Bangkok, I had a very busy schedule. Meeting was from 8am to 5pm everyday. On the second day evening, right afte I dropped my stuff back to the hotel, I took a cab to the Pratunam market.

I was deterined tha I must do some shopping. I have been grounded for more than 3 months and havn't got the chance to buy any CNY clothes for the children and even myself!

I went to the Pratunam wholesale market, despite knowing it was probably too late. When I arrived 80% of the shops were closed, and the rest were in the process of closing. I managed to catch one shop before they closed the shutter. It is a shop for children's clothing.

As I was in a hurry (can't believe that my bladder was full at this critical hour!), I didn't have the energy and time to negotiate, but I was pretty happy with the price despite knowing I probably paid higher than I would if I have time.

Here are the pants and shirts bought in that shop. All shirts are priced at THB100 (RM10), pants at THB150 (RM15), and jeans at THB200 (RM20). Ya, some of the sizes are too big - remember I was in a HURRY?


I then quickly went to the toilet in a mall nearby (nearby? 10 min walk!!). After than, when I returned, all shops were closed INSIDE the main block of the Pratunam market. What were left, only those outlets along the main road.

Still not too bad. I found a shop selling very little choices of children's clothes, but VERY CHEAP! Look, the Cheongsam for Isabel are only THB250 (RM25) for all the 4 pieces!


You can't even get this in Beijing, not to mention KL. I checked at Isetan KL a week later, similar dress (not same of course) costs RM89.90!!! Well, of course the ones at Isetan is a branded one - 'China Town'. But come one, 'China Town'? I don't really recognize that brand. LOL! Furthermore, for kids, I won't spend that much just for a dress that would probably last for 6 months only.

I then went to Carrefour and shopped at the stalls nearby. Wasn't keen to go to the SuanLum night bazaar as my aim is really clothes only. At Carrefour stalls, I only found black and white coloured clothes. Then, remembered it was the mourning period for the demised prince, which the citizens would mourn for 150 days.

Though they are all B&W clothes, their design is quite interesting. I found many nice B&W clothes but didn't really want too many of those. Hey, my aim was for CNY, how can I wear mourning clothes for New Year celebration? I will be killed by all the elders. LOL!

Manila Shopping Spree

Recently I really have no luck with my flights. In my immediate last trip to Beijing, I ended up landed in Shanghai. When I came back, due to bad weather and air traffic congestion, we waited an hour in the aircraft before it was allowed to take off. And yesterday, my flight took-off from Manila, an hour later it landed back to Manila, due to some problems with the aircraft.

Anyway, this trip to Manila is really a combination of business and shopping trip for me. I had 3 evenings and a morning to shop. The things are so cheap in Manila. Actually I bought all my stuff in Shoe Mart, Makati City. You should go there if you are in Manila.

The only reason I couldn't buy more is due to luggage space. As I need to transport my breastmilk home, half of my luggage is occupied by my cooler box (the blue one). I stuffed my computer bag and the rest of my luggage bag to the maximum. If I don't have to carry the blue cooler box, I'd definitely bought more. :P

These are the items I bought in ShoeMart. I spent RM440 in total. What have I bought?





5 packs of dried mangoes (1 pack for each family) - RM21. 2 hair bands - RM8. 4 pairs of shoes. Superman slippers for Ian - RM8.50. HotWheel sports shoes with light bottoms also for Ian - RM53. A pair of beaded sandals for MIL (originally for myself) - RM35. A pair of evening shoes for myself - RM70.


1 set Army clothes for Ian - RM27. This pair of jeans cost RM58, and the jacket RM70. In fact, all things that I bought for Ian are not cheap, but they are quite different from those in KL. I like this brand Dickies which cannot be found here.


For Isabel, I bought these dresses. The yellow one (Moose) is RM11, and the white one is RM21. I'm not sure whether they are cheap or expensive, but I'm quite sure that I won't have the time to shop for them in KL.

One thing for sure is, their books are extremely cheap. A Disney book costs around RM5. I bought 5 books for 27.50 in total (RM3.50 x 2; RM5 x 2; RM10.50 x 1). Back in KL, one book can easily cost me over RM30!


On the last day, I couldn't resist the temptation to buy these: a huge piggy bank (RM 5.40) and a helicopter (RM 5.40) for Ian. They are just so cheap. I felt very bad for Isabel, coz almost all the things I bought are not for her, so I bought a bath duck for her (RM7).


Puzzles are extremely cheap too. This box of Little Mermaid puzzle is less than RM8. The rest ranging from RM2 to RM5. Seriously, I've never seen RM2 puzzle set in Malaysia with such good quality!

Ah! I also found these name stickers (RM0.70 each). I have been writing on Ian's bag and stuff with permanent marker. With these name stickers it would make it easier for us. I've never seen this in KL yet, have you? I bought 2 'Ian' and 2 'Isabel'. Luckily I named Isabel this way and not 'Isabelle' or 'Isabela', coz the name stickers have 'Isabel' and not other variations. :)

I'm quite pleased with my 'harvest'. Well, actually not all of them are cheap. Some (especially Ian's clothes) cannot be found here, I'm willing to pay for them. And some (like hair bands), I just don't have the time to buy in KL.

Next time, I'll be able to buy more, if I don't have to transport so much of EBM home.