Pantip Plaza

The other day John and I visited the electronics mecca of Pantip Plaza. I heard about this place from my friend Blue Eyes, but didn’t really know what to expect.

There are five floors of wall to wall electronics. Ranging from the market stalls selling the TiPhone (bears more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone) and many goods of dubious origin. On seeing a westerner the market traders shout “TV series, movies, software? Over here!”.

There are also a large range of more official shops selling all the cameras, computers, music systems and all the peripherals you can think of. If you don’t look gullible and know enough Thai to barter, it can be the best place in the city to buy cheap electronics.

There were a number of Bhudist monks wondering around Pantip. I have visions of the darkened back rooms of temples being packed full of computers and monks running ecommerce empires! Is it a correct use of alms to be buying computers? How does buying pirate software sit with their moral code? I’m sure they must get good prices. It must be bad karma to rip off a monk!