Not least in Thailand's shopping kaleidoscope is a host of pleasure and fun buys, ranging from fabulous fresh orchids to artificial flowers, toys and an array of inexpensive items found in markets and street stalls.

Thai Orchids

Thailand is blessed with a huge variety of orchids. Through meticulous cross-breeding, plants previously found only in their natural habitat have been domesticated and now more than a thousand species are available from specialized orchid farms. Specially packaged flowers, complete with water supply, are easily transported and retained in their freshness and beauty.

Artificial Flowers

With nimble fingers and a sure eye for beauty, Thais are adept at producing superb artificial flowers and plants. In what is a rapidly growing export industry, a wonderful variety of faithful replicas and original imaginative creations are available. All entirely hand-made and relatively inexpensive, they make splendid items for home decoration.

Thai Dolls & Toys

The art of doll-making in Thailand dates back hundreds of years and remains very much alive today. Doll collectors will delight in a broad assortment of detailed and beautifully crafted figures of classical dancers in full costumes, hill-tribe people in their traditional colorful dresses, and rural folk. For children, there is a wide variety of soft cuddly dolls manufactured according to the strict international safety requirements.

Fun Buys

On the fun side, inveterate browsers will enjoy Bangkok's numerous traditional markets. Pak Klong Talaat, for example, overflows with tropical fruits, fabulous flowers, and fresh produce of all kinds. The Weekend Market, on the other hand, is packed with stalls selling just about everything from potted plants to pets and antiquities. Alternatively, street stalls mushroom nightly along Silom road and other major thoroughfares to offer a colorful array of fun buys.