Silom is not the greatest shopping street. Office workers kill time during their lunch break by grabbing new cubicle-appropriate uniforms and pirate DVDs. In the evening, shoppers buy fake Crocs and bootleg CDs. You won’t find the variety of Chatuchak, the ambience of Suan Lum, the edginess of Siam or the brands of the big malls. Still, markets like Talad Lalai Sup and Talad Saladaeng offer a respite from the otherwise drab Silom shopping gulag. Another hidden gem is this little alley that you’ll find just before reaching Silom Soi 5.
Talad Roi Pad Phan Gao (just before Silom Soi 5, next to a 7-11. Open Mon-Fri 10am-3pm) owes its name to a Thai expression “to be 108 1009,” which means to have a huge variety of things. 108’s rows of stalls are chockablock with everything from socks and underwear to swimsuits and knock-off iPods. The market is rather small compared to Lalai Sup and Saladaeng (both also near Silom Road) and you might miss the entrance entirely if you don’t keep your eyes peeled for the run-down walls and dimly lit alley hiding behind a crowd of food carts.
Apart from the heaps of B99 office clone attire, Talad Roi Pad puts the competition to shame when it comes to accessories. Take Khun Pu’s (08-1485-5332) earring stall in the middle of the market. Her charming sales pitch will have you whip our your wallet in a blink. Even without the fast-talk, her array of handmade earrings and necklaces (B20-60), which come in both crafty girly styles to gothic punk, will surely brighten up your face and day. Right next to the earring stall sits a tabletop full of cute wallets (08-1485-5332), like those found in Siam but at the very affordable price of B99. Just stick with original designs and stay off the ones marked LV.
For a manly man shopper who still likes to accessorize, grab one of P’Son’s (08-7671-2184) handcrafted leather necklaces (B100-300) and macho up. The quirkily designed pendants like the keys and photo frames are also made of real silver.
Near the alley entrance is a place where you can make your own necklace. The multicolored gems and precious beads are brought in by Mum (02-418-1034) and her colleagues from exotic Tibet. Since these Buddhist beads are imported, you can also expect a hefty price tag (B100-250 each). She also claims her collection of beads from ancient 6th century Thawarawadee period to be authentic. They had better be at B3,000 a piece!
Need an affordable evening purse to go with that equally economical evening gown you bought in Lalai Sup? Pick up one of these stylish purses from Shaba (08-7338-6930). You can get one of their simple leather envelope-style ones or go all khun nai with the fake leather bling-ed up ones with just-as-fake gems. The purses come in fit-all colors: black, brown, silver and red at B350-550.
Now you need a pair of bug-eye sunnies to finish off your audacious new look. Sunglasses from Tee (08-5022-3705) range from ridiculously huge Nicole Richie to elegant faux Ray-ban shades (B350). Tee claims his lenses are good quality, UV-protecting stuff, not like the ones you usually get off the street.
Among the bootlegged iPod cases and Tupperware stores lies this little chopstick shop (083-615-2802). Imported from Japan, these chopsticks are durable and surprisingly affordable. They come in many sizes and colors (B20 for a pair, B180-200 for a box set).
Talad Roi Pad is also a place to find unique handicrafts that you can’t find in mega malls. This no-name stall of floral clay sculptures (08-1863-5077) sells delicate handcrafted pieces from miniature lotus ponds to grandiose rose bouquets (B25-1,000). She can also make to order anything you’d like. A romantic idea that never wilts.
If you’re all shopped out, grab a seat at the food court to the back of the market for some noodles and khao gaeng (B25-30 a dish) to keep you get through your shopathon afternoon.
