Before we can finally leave this kingdom, samahan muli si Teh sa kanyang pasalubong hunting! ^_^
At bago magpakalango sa pagsha-shopping, be warned first about withdrawing money from ATMs. It is highly recommended to withdraw abroad using BDO ATM card. Sigurado kasing makaka-withdraw ka, unlike BPI which is normally deactivated for international ATM withdrawals. Hassle, kasi ang feedback kay Teh ng BPI before flying to Thailand was that it can be used readily outside the Philippines, which is the same feedback from BDO. 'Yun pala, ang BPI ATM card, kailangan mo pang ipa-activate. Muntik na akong maiyak no'n dahil diyan. Buti na lang, may BDO ATM card ang kasama ni Teh. Kalurks talaga.
Some of the widely spread ATM machines in Thailand that you can trust are of UOB, Siam Commercial Bank and Krungthai Bank. So never kang mawawalan ng paghuhugutan ng pera (pero ang pera, may chance maubos, huhu!)... ;)
Some of the widely spread ATM machines in Thailand that you can trust are of UOB, Siam Commercial Bank and Krungthai Bank. So never kang mawawalan ng paghuhugutan ng pera (pero ang pera, may chance maubos, huhu!)... ;)
Don't get me wrong mga Teh. Hindi ko ipapasalubong sa inyo ang buong Kaharian ng Thailand. But Thailand, most especially Bangkok, is a shopping wonderland! Branded or cheap apparel, bag, shoes ~ you can find it here! :)
So let's explore shops in Bangkok first. You know mga teh, napakaraming shopping malls sa Bangkok. Pero there are 3 malls which I suggest that you visit, depende sa hanap ninyo. Check this out~~~
Mall: Siam Paragon
What to find here: Internationally famous brands ng damit, sapatos, bag, accessories, perfume and many more! Basta branded! :D
How to get here: When riding the BTS Skytrain, alight at Siam station.
Mall: MBK Mall
What to find here: Fake brand and local Thailand brand apparel, shoes and Thailand souvenirs
How to get here: When riding the BTS Skytrain, alight at the National Stadium station.
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| Pratunam Shopping District. Shop till you drop, literally. :D |
Mall: Platinum Fashion Mall
What to find here: Trendy apparel and shoes. Bihira ang branded dito, mga teh.
How to get here: When riding the BTS Skytrain, alight at Chit Lom station.
By the way, it is also recommended that you check out the I Am Viking store located at the connecting link of the MBK mall and the National Stadium BTS Skytrain station. The store is being managed by a Burmese lady. Buy 10 cute shirts, get 1 free! ^_^
Sa mga adik sa tiangge, Teh highly recommends that you visit Pratunam area in Bangkok. Ang chika eh dito nanggagaling ang supply ng mga bentables sa Divisoria. At marami ring Thailand souvenirs dito na puwedeng ipasalubong sa mga friendships and relatives, as in kahit dito ka na mamili ng lahat ng gusto mong iuwi from Thailand! Kaya galingan ang pagtawad at pamamakyaw. Don't forget to bring your shopping bags and enjoy shopping! ^_^
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| Mga na-harvey ni Teh sa Bangkok. :D Top and bottom rows: Pratunam loots Middle row: I Am Viking store loots |
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| Excited shopper? Stay at The Richy Place! Just ride the elevator then TAH-DAH! Shopping wonderland! ^_^ |
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| Souvenir stall in Wat Mahathat. Buy at competitive prices! :D |
When you go to the countryside tourist spots of Thailand like those in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, mostly mga tourist souvenirs and Buddha images ang mabibili mo roon. Pero napansin ko lang, mas mura ang mga souvenirs sa probinsya. Lalo na sa Ayutthaya. Napansin ko kasi noong nakapila sina Teh sa mala-box office na toilet ng Wat Mahathat, nasa THB 90 lang ang 10 pieces na golden elephant keychains (na may secret pocket, hehehe)! Well, in Pratunam, the set is more expensive by THB 10 but in most areas of Bangkok, it ranges from around THB 150 to THB 180. Mga ganyan ang price difference. So it is highly recommended that you buy souvenirs sa provinces like Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. Oh and one more thing. You might be interested in bringing home a local Thailand sepak rattan ball. ;)
A piece of warning din mga teh. Mahal ang souvenirs sa Floating Market, as I had mentioned here. So it is not recommended to shop there.
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| Kanchanaburi souvenir shops. Also offers competitive prices! :D From top left photo, clockwise: Straw hats, cowboy hats and salakot; Souvenir alley in Tham Kra Sae. Dito nakabili si Teh ng Thailand tourist map; Inside a Tham Kra Sae souvenir store; Artworks on a Carabao Skin, price starts from THB 2500. |
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| Buddhist statues everywhere. Buy na mga teh! :) |
Since you are visiting the center of Buddhism, hindi naman siguro masama kung mag-uwi ka ng maski isang Buddha image. If you want to take home bronze Buddha images, bili na you sa Buranathai Buddha Foundry in Phitsanulok! Suggestion ni Teh kapag bibili ka rito ng Buddha image, know beforehand kung anong araw ka ipinanganak sa mundong ito. Like for Teh, I was born on a Wednesday. And so, Buranathai staff suggested that I should buy the Buddha image holding a bowl. 'Yun daw kasi 'yung lucky Buddha image for Teh. So don't be shy! Tell them your day of birth and you will get to know your lucky Buddha image... which reminds me of Angel Uriel during Teh's Bohol souvenir hunting... ;)
For a bronze Buddha or other Buddhist statue, Teh would say na mura dito. And to think na real gold ang plating nito, sulit na siya mga teh. Prices range from THB 150 to THB 1500 (or higher), depende sa size ng iyong bibilhin. For pocket bronze statues, you can get them at THB 30 to THB 50. Haggling is accepted naman, so tawad-tawad din. :)
Aside from the bronze statues in Buranathai, at every temple, you can find Buddhist statues made of other material like resin and wood. And aside from the Buddhist figures, the beautiful Thailand elephant gold keyrings are highly recommended as pasalubong. Task para sa pasasalubungan ng keyring ~ hanapin ang secret pocket! ^_^
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| Mga na-harvey ni Teh sa Thailand: Elephant keychains, Buddha statues, and a fat monk. |
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| Clockwise from left: VAT Refund form, Buddhist items stores, Dried seafood shop beside Wat Pho. |
By the way, Teh came across the VAT Refund form at Suvarnabhumi Airport. If you plan to shop at malls that issue receipts, don't forget to fill up the VAT Refund form and show this to any shop you'll be shopping at.
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| Edible pasalubong ni Teh: Dried fruits, Spicy Tamarind (Winner!), Taro Fish Snack (♥) |
Actually, mas recommended ni Teh ang pagkain as pasalubong. I don't know why, pero kasi feeling ni Teh, mas na-appreciate 'to ng mga napapasalubungan ko. Sadya lang bang mahilig kumain ang mga tao sa universe ko? :)) Highly recommended ang pag-uuwi ng Spicy Tamarind. Buti na lang talaga at may tour guide si Teh, kung hindi, wala akong maiuuwing ganito sa aking universe. Una sa lahat, hindi ako nakakabasa ng Thai. >.<
And there is this one souvenir hunting tip na gusto kong i-share sa inyo mga teh. Buy in Thailand (or kahit saan ka man mapadpad) what you cannot buy here in the Philippines. Tulad na lang ng mapang binili ni Teh sa Kanchanaburi. Well meron din namang Thailand map dito sa atin, kaso ang pricey. (Arteh?...) Besides, for me, maganda ang mapang nabili ko dahil meron siyang tourist attractions indicator all over Thailand. Teh bought the map for THB 40, though sinubukan kong tawaran, eh kaso wala talagang patawad... Pero ok na rin, at least favorable ang souvenir na ito for Teh's collection. :)
Another addition to Teh's travel souvenir ~ the Thailand Sketchbook! I bought this in Suvarnabhumi Airport's bookstore though. Ideal gift for sketch lovers! ^_^
Another addition to Teh's travel souvenir ~ the Thailand Sketchbook! I bought this in Suvarnabhumi Airport's bookstore though. Ideal gift for sketch lovers! ^_^
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| Explore Thailand with this sketchbook. ^_^ |
Alam kong nakahuhumaling mag-shopping sa Thailand. Pero don't forget mga teh na naka-abang ang mga teh at kuyang taga-Customs sa arrival. Kung mukha na kayong magtatayo ng tiangge stall sa Divi eh baka maharang at ma-tax-san ang mga na-shopping ninyo. (Gulo/laslas itey kung sakali!) At 'wag din kalimutan ang baggage allowance na naka-allot sa return flight niyo para hindi mapaiyak sa biglaang gastos! ;)
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| Check-in baggage weight = 17.4 kg Pasok sa banga! Yey! :D |
So there you have it, mga teh at kuya. I hope na 'pag naisipan ninyong pumunta ng Thailand, makatulong ang chika ni Teh, not only sa pagbili ninyo ng pasalubong, pero sa buong tour ninyo. Till we meet again, Thailand! Teh will surely miss you! :*>
Next adventure in line... Baguio Field Trip with Teh's favorite teammates! Coming soon! :D
Special thanks to the following people who made the Adventures of Teh in Thailand successful:
- Little Pig's Adventures for some information about Thailand
- Cebu Pacific Air (kahit hindi nila alam) for their promo fares
- Tour Coordinators Matt and Supattra of Travel Hub Thailand
- Tour Guide Robbie and Tour Driver Sakol of Travel Hub Thailand
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