Malls
Bangkok has the regular slew of malls and department stores all selling the regular slew of designer brands, many of them can be found along Ploenchit and Sukhumvit Roads. The only one that really stands out is MBK.
MBK
This is a huge warren that can get absolutely packed at weekends. It sells just about everything that the others don’t and if you happen to find designer brands in here they are probably fake. It is THE place to shop for mobile phones.
Trendy teens like to hang out here after school.
MBK is on the corner of Phayathai and Rama 1, take the skytrain to National Stadium and then walk back along the walkway under the tracks. It’s on your right.
Panthip Plaza
All you computer needs under one roof and a healthy amount of don’t needs too. There are periodic crackdowns on pirated software but they never seem to last all that long. These days you flick through albums of CD/DVD covers for anything from software, music, movies and games. You choose what you want, pay your money and wait 10-15 minutes … or you can go and get a spot of lunch at the food court.
Panthip Plaza is on Petchburi Road. Get off the skytrain at Ratchathewi, walk in the same direction up to the intersection, turn right and continue for 5-10 minutes.
Markets
Chatuchack Weekend Market
Sometimes spelled Jatujak and sometimes called JJs. This is the mother and father of all markets, its 35 acres are home to about 15,000 stalls that sell everything from the mundane to the bizzare. The pets section alone would make an zoologist weep. It is a fascinating place. It is also very hot and crowded. Recently trendy little bars and coffee shops have been popping up along it perimeter. For some it is a shoppers paradise, for others it is a nightmare vision of eternity. Go early in the morning. Skytrain to Mo Chit or MRT to Chatuchak
Suan Lum Night Market
This also covers a large area but is aimed primarily at tourists. It is quite well organised with loads of arts and crafts, clothes, restaurants. I’ts comparatively new so it doesn’t get the crowds that Chatuchak gets.
Street markets
Along Silom, Patpong 1 and Sukhumvit between Soi Nana and Asok. A wide variety of clothes, arts and crafts and stuffed insects. If you want a dead tarantula for your mantle piece this is the place to get it. Don’t forget to haggle.
If you are in the market for cheap hi-fi gear head down to Asadang Road which runs along the outside of Klong Lot in the Rattanakosin area. Between here and Ban Mo Road there are loads of shops selling all manner of electrical gear from simple fans to disco equipment. You can also buy the components to build your own. Along the pavement of Asadang you can also get your old Walkmans, Discmans and transistor radios repaired.
Golf
Thaniya Plaza on Soi Thaniya near Patpong is 3 floors almost all dedicated to all things golf.