I am spending a weekend shopping in Bangkok and want to buy some Thai silk for home decoration.

Thai silk has made Thailand known the world over. The superb quality and cheerful colours make it ideal for everything from clothes to accessories to bags, scarves, cushions and much more. There are many silk shops in Bangkok, ranging from stores in five-star hotels to street stalls on Silom and Sukhumvit Road. But, for me, the best place to buy quality Thai silk is Jim Thompson, which was established by an American who developed the Thai silk industry and helped it become known worldwide. You will find a few Jim Thompson shops in Bangkok, both standalone stores and branches in shopping malls. All stock upholstery fabric for furniture or cushions. Along with the main store on Surawong Road, you should make time to visit the beautiful Jim Thompson House and Museum on Soi Kasem San 2, near National Stadium BTS Station. The museum is a wonderful great example of teak architecture and a quiet haven in the centre of town.

Chatuchak Weekend Market is also a good place to shop for Thai silk with silk from all over Thailand. You can browse the shops and bargain until you get to the price you want to pay. Different shops offer different grades of silk, so it’s best to walk around to check quality before buying. You may look at the silk shops along Silom Road. Many have been in business for decades and offer good quality silk in traditional styles.

 

 

We plan to spend time in Thailand in early May. Our trip will start in Bangkok and then we would like to head to an island. We are not really looking for any nightlife, but would like to relax on the beach and maybe rent a kayak to explore for a day. We are looking at Koh Tao but don’t dive. Does the island sound like the right place for what we want? Thanks, June

 

May is a good month to travel to the islands and you have plenty of choices as the weather is usually perfect for a beach holiday both on the Andaman Sea and in the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Tao is a good size island - big enough to explore. It has a lively nightlife and dining scene in the centre and plenty of quiet corners elsewhere. It’s possible to kayak for a day and maybe use a motorbike to get around from one beach to another.

Koh Pha-ngan is also a good option, even though some of its beaches become heaven for drunk tourists during the full-moon party. That said, there are still plenty of quiet beaches on Koh Pha-ngan if you look around. Some of them are rather remote and still charming enough to explore.

Nearer to Koh Tao are Koh Chang, Koh Wai and Koh Kood off the Trat mainland. Koh Chang is big, and some parts of the island are still peaceful. Koh Kood is a little further off, but worth a visit if you want to see the most scenic island in the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Wai is a small island with a few bungalows and a terrific view over nearby islands.

Alternatively, look at some less-visited islands on the Andaman Sea. Off the Phuket mainland, you have Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai. Both islands are rich in natural beauty and offer plenty of room to explore. 

Hope you enjoy your beach holiday!