| Patpong Night Market |
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Silom
Blue
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 Dotted
all along Silom at night are hawkers with small
folding tables selling all manner of illegal pirated
X videos. Crowds of males huddle around the tables
flipping through hundreds of video covers displayed
in postcard-size photo albums. The videos themselves
are kept some distance away, usually in the back
of a pick-up. The videos are far from perfect
quality but are usually viewable and have the
original soundtrack (which may not be English).
Cost? Around 150 baht (less than $US 4).
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The
strip of pavement along the north side of Silom and the entire
pedestrian precinct of Patpong 1 are transformed into a busy
market for garments and other products after sunset.
The
main products on sale are ready-to-wear garments with many
imitation brand-name items (La Coste seems to be the most
pirated brand). Also available are pirated tapes and CDs,
pirated videos (most notably X videos), computer software
(though not in the same amounts as at Pantip Plaza), watches
(Rolex copies are always popular), various Thai handicrafts,
games, leather items, household ornaments, souvenirs and the
like. Of course, sale of pirated goods is illegal
in Thailand, just like other countries. Who would have thought
otherwise?
 Bargaining
is a must at this lively market, which flanks some of Bangkok's
notorious nightspots. If you have a Thai friend, get them
to do the bargaining for you, while you stand at a distance.
Tourists are likely to get charged considerably more than
the locals. If you want to do the bargaining yourself, start
at half the price the vendor is offering. You won't get it,
but you should end up somewhere between the two.
The
Patpong/Silom night market gets going after normal working
hours and continues until well after midnight. The market
adjoins the Saladaeng BTS Station on Silom Road.
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