Blingly beads of Bangkok – If this alliteration didnt get your attention – then you are not a hardcore beader! 😀
I recently took a trip (was it a vacation, I dont know?) to Thailand which was a “Turning 30” gift for myself from myself. Sometime last year, when I realised that I am finally leaving my 20’s behind I gave myself a list of things to do before turning 30. Yes! one of those cliche lists, which ofcourse included traveling abroad alone! So after a hell of a lot of planning I took a 5 day trip which included a “half a day of shopping in Bangkok”! I do know ‘half a day’ is far too less for shopping anywhere in Thailand, but given the fact that I was nevertheless buying something or the other everyday (grin!) I had to limit myself and my Bhats (Thai currency) somehow.
While I did shop for clothes and knick knacks, shopping for beads was a priority. After some research on the internet I found that you could either buy beads at Palladium or China town in Bangkok. I chose Palladium as it was close to where I stayed. Palladium World Shopping center is a place in the middle of Bangkok where even a seasoned jewelry shopper with go crazy. It is a 5 storeyed mall at the corner of Pretchabari road and Ratchaprarop road, opposite Platinum mall, with an entire floor B1 zone catering to jewelry related products.
Address
Palladium World Shopping center,
B1 Zone, 555 Ratchaprarop road, Bangkok- 10400
After Shopping for beads in dingy crowded alleys of Delhi, Shopping in a calm A/c environment in Bangkok was quite different. The place was eerily quite, clean with stores selling pearls, agates, shell beads, crystal beads, amber stones and ethnic beads. There were packaging and display supply stores too. Most of the stock comes from China, but it said to be cheaper here. I found the Pearl stores slightly expensive; ethnic beads very expensive and Amber was not for retail buying. I didnt buy agates as they mostly come from India. Westerners might find it cheaper when compared to their local markets but the prices here were similar to India (even online shopping). Only the Chinese crystal store had findings, others only had beads. There was no wire or metal related supplies. What did I buy? I bought some bamboo coral, some pearls, MOP/Shell beads, loads of big blingy crystals – you can find then throughout this post!
The main speciality of this complex is that there are handmade jewelry makers who make and sell pieces wholesale right before your eyes here. It was fascinating to watch artists make huge blingly pieces in minutes. Unfortunately photography was not permitted. There is also a branch of “Pink Pussy” – a fabulous accessories shop with amazing jewellery at fantastic prices. I went crazy here and didnt know what to buy. I did in the end buy 3 beautiful cocktail rings – a graduated flame, a wolf and an engagement style solitaireish ring all for 650 THB!!! It would have costed atleast triple anywhere else in the world.
Warning – This is not a place to take Teenage girls or women with credit cards!! LOL
At Platinum fashion Mall, I saw the Indian and Chinese crowd go berserk. People bought suitcases and filled them with clothes. I have never seen so much Clothing in my life before. But most of them are for petite women and the fabrics/cuts are such that it cannot be worn in India; atleast not in the streets. After some hunting, I bought a couple of tees and dresses. Most shoes were too small for me and I missed the bag section completely as I was very hungry and was looking for the food court craving like mad for some decent Indian food.
People were buying necklaces at Jungle acessories in heaps and bundles. Why? Because the same thing bought for 100 THB a piece (approx Rs.208) is being sold as “Fashion jewellery” in fashion chain stores like Lifestyle, Globus, Westside and their likes for Rs.399-599! Easy profit!
I unfortunately, had only a 500 THB note with me, by the time I came to this store, so I bought 2 necklaces and a watch and sadly kept the remaining money for a taxi ride back to my hotel. And I am extremely proud of the fact that I didn’t give in to the temptation and break out my credit card! 😀 Though I missed 1K THB somewhere – which is another story for another day.
To sum up – If in Bangkok, Go shopping to
– Palladium World Shopping center for pearls, agates, crystals and fabulous hand made beaded jewelry
– Platinum Fashion Mall – for clothes, shoes, wigs, bags, suitcases, jewelry, Food
– Chatuchak Sunday Market – all sorts of knick nacks; things that you didn’t think you wanted before
I didnt go to Chatuchak Sunday Market as I went to the Sunday Market in Chiang Mai then, but more on that later. With this trip I started my bead sourcing for the upcoming season and its still going on and I am buying (or hauling) from various sources. Will have to create something from all of them soon, predominatly to make space. Hopefully I’ll find my muse. Till then Take care; Happy Shopping!
I hope you found it interesting
Cheers
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