Shoping in Bangkok: Where there is crowd, there is "Talat" & Giveaway

Hi gorgeous ladies!! How is everyone? I hope all is well and having a nice weekend :)
My internet has been horrible (nothing new hey) so apologize if I haven't been commenting around as much T.T

Today I'm going to blog about another kind of "market" in Bangkok. One of the things that I love about Bangkok is its markets (called "Talat" in thai language) that you can find day and night. Seriously Thailand has tons of them, I see it everywhere (esp in Bangkok).

This post is about the day-time market. There is one right outside my building ^^" yes, the market doesn't have to have an appointed place, you can find it on the street side or any other unthinkable location :D hahaha...

This is the side of my building, the "Talat" stretch along the corridor, as far as the length of the building. As you can see, it's jam packed, always like this esp during lunch hour.

The sellers/vendors change everyday so you get to see different things everyday XD To me it adds to the fun :p

What do these "Talat" usually sell?? MANY MANY things!! :

Foods & Snacks (of course, thai people love to eat big time)

The parfume seller next to the snacks seller lolz

Cosmetics (Japanese & Korea cosmetics are hotcakes here, also some European brand such as Lancome, Guerlain). International brands are generally overpriced in Thailand. These sellers in "Talat" usually hand carry the stuff themselves from Japan/Korea or get someone to send the cosmetics over to them. Although they are generally still more expensive, it's possible to find a good bargain. The other day I picked up Shiseido "Perfect Whip" foam cleanser for only 250bath (less than 9AUD), in Adambeauty, it's sold for 11USD.

accessories and what not

Nail Polishes...I think they are local and some chinese brands

Clothes & shoes. Although not everything is of nice quality, some shops do sell nice clothes. I bought a really cute jumpsuit and a pretty top for 550bath (less than AUD20). Looking at the making and the fabrics, I'm very happy because I dont think I can get them both at that price even if I shop in Indonesia. Shoes generally starts from 200bath a pair, and have I ever mentioned that Thailand made shoes are of excellent quality and wear??

Last time, my friend showed me an original Kipling shoulder bag that she bought at "Talat" near her office for only 1000bath (less than 35AUD). It's original, we checked everything already, still has the tag and all. what a good buy!!

Some TIPS for "Talat":
1. Look for any office buildings or streets near offices area. Not every building or offices area will have "Talat" but it's a good place to start your hunt.
2. Start early, because the "Talat" mainly serve the office workers, they start at 8am-9am and finish early (2-3pm, after lunch).
3. The seller changes everyday, so if you see something that you like, better get them :D
4. You can bargain abit, ask nicely and smile :D
5. Not everything sold is of good quality, so you need to sort around. But nice items are definitely around and abound!
6. Foods are generally safe to eat as it's pretty clean. Avoid ice cubes if you are afraid.

So....anyone interested to go "Talat" Shopping with me? ^^v

xoxo

ps. Dear Sush is having a giveaway!! check her blog out! :)
and notesfromthetoothfairy (dont you just love her blog name, I giggle all the time at it) is also holding her giveaway. Go and join!!

pps. To dearest Iris & Sarah who have been so kind to give me awards, I'm so very sorry I haven't displayed the awards on my blog or do whatever I'm supposed to do. I will do it once I'm back in Australia and have a better connection. Thanks so very much girls!!

HCMC express :) & Giveaway!!

I went to Ho Chi Minh City -Vietnam for 3Days2nights last time. I arrived on friday night and left on Sunday morning, so practically I only have one full Saturday in HCMC. Here's a summary of what I do and I think you should do if you happen to be there only for one day.

1. Woke up early and headed out for some local pho (it's no vietnam without a pho, me say ;D). This one I had is called "pho le" and was so good! Foods are super cheap in vietnam, even cheaper than Thailand :D



2. Went to ChoLun (the chinatown) which looked like typical chinatown all around the world :p we didnt really walk around, just passed it by in the taxi.
3. Headed out to District 1 (where all the main sightseeing can be found), and hit the Notre Dame church
4. Just opposite the church, was the General Post Office, which I like very much, the building was very pretty (French architecture). Send some postcards back home if you like :) I did!


5. Walked around the surrounding malls. They were generally not very big. And not many variety (yet) on cosmetics departments but I found CLIO (Korean) brand in a mall called "diamond" and snatched some pretty lipsticks :D

6. Next, to the famous theater (but it's not open for public, so just took some pics lolz).
The nice French old style building hotel just across the theater, the building is more than 100 years but still look nice.


7. Walked, a bit, we arrived at the city council buidling. I like this building because it has a nice garden at the front of it.


6. Lunch time. Here's a must visit resto called Quan An Ngon. This resto got featured on Lonely Planet. And although not all resto featured on lonely planet lives up to its description there, this one sure does!! This resto serves bunch of different foods from all over vietnam!! You can watch them live cooking too. Tasted yummy, fab atmosphere, and the price made you smile after the good meals










7. Another walk to one of the surrounding malls. Got myself the famous HIGHLAND coffee (Vietnam is famous for its coffee too). Highland is like the starbuck in Vietnam. Look how clever they made the take away bag lolz...loving the idea so much...


8. Saigon Square is where to buy clothes, bags, and such. The place isn't big and the variety is pretty limited. I found some Foverver21 dresses though ;D



9. Cho Bin Tanh Market is the popular tourist destination. But I didn't go in because I was told the stuff sold there would be similar to what I saw in Saigon Square, with more expensive price tags and heat :p

10. This is the palace, where we spent quite some time to walk around and see many interesting objects.

I missed out the War Museum but was tired already lolz... those places above are all in District 1 and within walking distance (except ChoLun), so it's possible to see them all in one day!

Aside from that I noticed many interesting things in Vietnam:
* Motorcycles are abound here...similar to Jakarta XD
*Many street sellers selling vegetables and foods. This view below is quite common in some areas
*People here are still wearing the straw hats :D I love seeing them walking around with the hats! for some reason XD

*This is the highway. Motorcycles are allowed on highway @.@" I was quite surprised...

*But nothing surprised me more than seeing this cool bicycle on the highway HAHAHAHA..


That's the brief summary of my visit to HCMC. It was a short but pleasant visit. And I found myself liking Vietnam. I would love to go back there again in the future!

Hope you all have a good start of the week
xoxo

ps. Giveaway from my lovely Julie!! Check her fab blog out if you haven't!!