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Patong Beach transforms into a large night bazaar every evening,
when all the main roads become clogged with stalls selling handicrafts,
silk scarves, sarongs and a variety of beach clothes, leisure wear,
leather goods and luggage, CDs, computer games and electronic gadgets
and toys.
It's chaotic but fun if you approach it with the right attitude
-- just remember that bargaining yields the best results when done
lightheartedly and with a smile. Most of the shopping here is aimed
at the tourist market, so prices are a bit higher than they are
in Phuket City.
The main night market stretches all the way down the beach
road and into small secondary soi (lanes) on all nights of the week.
In front of the Paradise Complex, another market sets up 2-3 nights
a week, in high season, usually Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Lots of stuff aimed at the teenage market - recycled jeans, funky
shoes and clothes, but also Thai sweets, orchids, ornaments and
hair accessories. Set-up time is usually around 6-7pm until late
and remember to bargain!
OTOP
Another market, selling much of the same types of goods plus One
Tambon, One Product (OTOP) items, is just down the road behind
the Holiday Inn. OTOP is a national program that encourages self-sufficiency
in Thai villages through the development of small-scale manufacturing
and design businesses. A range of high-quality and beautiful new
products have emerged from this initiative, so look for the OTOP
logo at shops and retail centres all over Phuket.
For souvenirs, crafts, luggage, tailor made clothes, sportswear
and jewellery there are lots of small shops open during the day
- but don't go shopping until after 11am, they're not usually open
until late morning. Specialty stores such as Rosewood Lamps &
Seeka are great places to browse for unique, well-made items.
Although the tailors can make garments from magazine photographs,
for best results, it's best to take an item to copy.
On the way out of Patong, on Rat-U-Thit Rd (at the back) heading
towards Karon and Kata beach, is a selection of furniture stores,
art galleries and artifact shops.
The two Ocean Plaza department stores in Patong, one on
the south end of the beach road and the other on Bangla Rd, are
good spots to escape the heat while shopping. The Bangla Ocean also
has a bowling alley to keep the kids occupied. For snacks and travel
essentials, there are several small supermarkets, 7-Elevens and
drugstores including Boots and Watson's along all the main roads.
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Jungceylon is a monster of
a shopping centre. It contains just about everything that shoppers
could conceivably need and is a must-do if you're a bargain hunter.
Situated on Rat-U-Thit Rd. diagonally opposite the eastern end of
Soi Bangla, you simply can't miss it. The two main stores in the
complex are Robinson and Carrefour. The almost 200 other stores
in this new shopping heaven sell brand name clothes, spectacles,
sunglasses, colognes and perfumes, shoes, DVD-CD-VCD's, computer
games, electrical goods, pewter, gold and silver, sportswear and
goods amongst myriad other items. . (Read
more...) |
