Bangkok Paragon Center.. upscale shopping at its best.
From the photos that I show on Face book and in my blogs I’m betting that you think the only places to shop are flower markets, fruit vendors and stalls selling t-shirts. For the average Thai who makes about 5,000 baht ($157) a month the markets are what is within reach for the average family.
Designer furniture at Paragon Center
There is another side to the economic scale. In Bangkok there are malls where the rich Thais go to kill time and to buy stuff that is what dreams are made of for most people in this country.
Top of the line autos in the Paragon Center
Floors filled with luxury goods, exotic cars, high end electronics, restaurants, designer furniture from the US, fine watches from around the world and the most opulent pearls and jewels imaginable.
One of many designer shops in Paragon Center
On the day that I visited the Paragon Center a photo competition sponsored by the King, who is an avid amateur photographer, was on display. The prizes for the top five photos were 100,000 baht each. For the young man, who appeared to be in his 20’s, who won it is an enormous amount of money.
Young man who won the Kings prize for photography
So here are a few pictures to show you the opposite of the daily fruit market and night markets that I show you because they have more interest to me. I have thrown in one zinger photo for you to compare with the others.
Housing on the back side of Paragon Center, Bangkok
8 Comments
What a contrast! Obviously someone is making a lot of money there. Good photos!
Claudia, Tons of money for the top 2%…just like the good old USA
Good Larry. The divide between the Haves and the HaveNots is disturbing. Yet the Thais seem to be a happy peaceful people. What have you found?
Jim, You can’t imagine!
I remember the fabulous jewels, rubies and sapphires, for sale in a shop at the hotel. Have you seen any jewelry shops?
Libby, There are amazing stores filled with jewels, jade, pearls, amber….you name it. I press my nose to the glass like a character out of Dickens….well almost
Is the seedy side of Bangkok hidden? We hear about child prostitution and the sex trade and wonder how bad it is? Even if there is only one child exploited, that is heartbreaking. I read this week where they estimated there are 350,000 children in the US being exploited for prostitution. Shameful!
Gene, I think it is much better in Thailand than it used to be. I hear they have really cut down on the pedophiles coming here just for young boys or girls. It is a much bigger problem in Cambodia where there is a special trade in virgins….a young girl who is a virgin goes for $600. Cambodia is a much poorer country so there is more pressure on parents in large families. Have you ever read books by John Burdett…Bangkok 8….great insight into life in Thailand in the form of mysteries.