Bangkok, the passion for mall shopping

Most large Asian capitals like Jakarta, Manila, Seoul or Kuala Lumpur are full of these new consumption temples, modern, interior and air -conditioned version of the traditional market.

In Southeast Asia, we compete in imagination to build ever more immense and spectacular.Bangkok is no exception to the rule with its plethoric offer of shopping centers: no less than thirty very large Malls shopping, and a multitude of more modest dimensions scattered around the capital.

With this particularity: in Thailand shopping centers are also often very good plans to eat, and for cheap.An idea that seems a little crazy for a Frenchman who is however a very widespread habit in Thailand: go to the restaurant at shopping Mall.

The appellation recently recorded a certain number of more or less idiomatic variants such as "Community Malls", "Neighbourhood Shopping Centers", or even "Retail Parks", all terms that designate a fairly similar urban concept.A Mall is a commercial and architectural concept from the United States which includes, depending on the variants and the size: multiple shops, a departure store, a supermarket, cinemas, restaurants, bowlingal tracks, karaoke, clinicsdental and aesthetic, fitness, language and music schools, and so many others according to the ambition and the imagination of the society that will exploit it.

A concept imported from the United States

The Malls, some of which are real architectural works, are now one of the tourist attractions of Bangkok, almost in the same way as the temples.With a weight argument, the attractive prices that seduce passing tourists, but also and above all local consumers.

Thai people love to spend their free time there.Indeed, beyond the simple supermarket or French hypermarket, here we go to the Mall as to the local bistro in France.Whether it is to spend time, buy, eat or have fun, there is always a good reason to go there.By combining possible activities, you can very easily, without realizing it, spending half a day there.

The central group

Mainly two companies share the management of the main malls in the city.The most important belongs to the central group, listed on the Thailand Stock Exchange since 1995 through its central subsidiary Pattana.

Central who is still owned by one of the richest families in Thailand (Chirathivat), manages about fifteen large commercial complexes in the agglomeration, the most famous being central World.Central also operates the Robinson and Zen, Powerbuy, Tops and several hotels under the name of the Centara.In 2011 Central planned a turnover of 133 billion baht (3.1 billion euros) and 20 billion investment baht, part of which will be devoted to the renovation of the unit burnted in April 2010 by red shirts and new investments in China and Vietnam.

The Mall Group has established itself as the main competitor of Central with a dozen locations in Bangkok, including Emporium and Siam Paragon.Other Malls are more independent or the property of a less imposing group, which is the case, for example, of the Bonanza Mall or the MBK Center.

Rama I avenue around the Ratchadapisek district brings together the most famous in the capital.Besides Central World and the MBK Center, there is the Siam - Discovery, Center and Paragon Tryptic.The latter was drawn by the Parisian architectural firm J+H Boiffils, just like the Esplanade on Radchadapisek Road and the Emporium on Sukhumvit Road.

Cinema, skating and catering

In addition to this peculiarity, Siam Paragon offers the largest film hall in Thailand, a 5000-seat performance hall and the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia!As for the twins Siam Discovery and Siam Center, we can recently visit a Tussaud museum, practice figure skating or observe the production of a TV and radio program.

For the biggest luxury brands, prefer Gaysorn, opposite Central World.To rub shoulders with golden golden youth and see the latest creations of fashionable national stylists, visit K Village, at the bottom of the Self 26 on Sukhumvit.

After shopping, you have to know how to eat.Fortunately, the Malls are most often well provided in restaurants of all kinds, starting with the Food Court where for less than 100 baht it is possible to find a traditional Thai dish and a drink.The best -known restoration channels are found from one Mall to another, and that you like to eat Asian, fast or European, you will find your happiness.For a gargantuan choice, go to the north of the Don Mueang airport, at the future Park Rangsit and its almost 80 restaurants.

During hot weather, what could be better than shopping in the fridge by chaining with a swim?Two Malls thought about it: Central Plaza Bangna and The Mall Bangkapi.These two have an aquatic park with swimming pools and slides on their respective roofs with a water quality related to the environmental quality of the megalopolis.

Some Malls focus on a certain type of shop or products.Pantip Plaza and Pantip Bangkapi are the Mecca of IT products and other software.Platinum Fashion Mall, as its name suggests, is a good place to find clothes at the lowest cost, just like Union Mall and its 1200 shops, large yellow building at the intersection of Phahon Yothin and Lat Phrao Road.

The strangest and original of all is undoubtedly Mansion 7, Petit Mall on Ratchadapisek Road, work of Pattara Sahawatra, having as main theme the ghosts ... The trip is worth the glance.