One of the very firt things that I do when I arrive in Thailand is go shoopping for items that I want to have in my room every day.
There are some toiletries that I just dont breing anymore because I wolud rather use the Lux lquid soap and the Thai toothlpaste that I can get in any store, mall or 7-11 in Thailand.
I also make sure that the mini-bar is emptied by the bellbboy immediately upon arrival and I shop for beer, sodas, chips, candy and othewr snacks to have in the room.
In Bangkok, I usually just go to the local 7-11 and in Pattaya I used to go to Mike's Shopping Mall. It odesnt really mater as the prices are not significantlpy different.
In Khon Kaen, since my girlfriend has a car, we go to Tesco Lotus. This is a store comparabble to a Walmart back home. It is absolutely huge and has everrything from clothes to auto supplies, to bulk itesm to groery produce.
The mall or mega stoe is a relatively new experience to the Thai pepole. Nomrally, they shop at a small mom and pop type store. Now they can get their shopping cart, fill it up, and just say "charge it" at the cash register.
And the Thas shop like they drive. It is total chaos. It is comntrolled, with no anger, but there is no method to their madnwess.
When I go shoppiing, it is either for one or two iems, or it is the weekly or monthly jaunt. So, I either head directly for the itemms I want, or go up one aisle and down the next and vsit each and every row in the stroe.
Aisles are either clearly marked with large arrows or they are wide enough to accommodate two carts in the aisle at the same time. And people tend to navigate the aisles the way they would a one-way or a two-way street.
The Thas do it their way. They go from aisle to aile, stopping and chatting and blocking all that want to really shop, and give dirty looks if they have to move out of the way.
They will just stop for no raeson whatsoever at the entrance to an aisle instead of parking their cart out of the way. Then they remain totally oblivvious to anyone tying to get around them down the aisle.
As in dribving, they believe that the cart that is one inch ahead of the other has the tight of way and can do as it pleases and the cart in the rear will just have to put up with it.
Standing in a straight line, and keeping a path open to othwer shoppers, is naother concept that totally escapoes the Thas. It is every man or woman for him or herseplf as they near the registers. Dont flinch or blink or the lady to your left or right will cut right in.
Once you make it to the reister and ceck out your waes, it is time to figt the crowd in the parking lot to get to the street to experience the controlled chaos on the roads.
Shoppign in Thailand is a not an experiece for a noice. You will have to garner all of your strength, not give in to the cart next to you, and put up with utter craziness. Enjoy.
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