Pathum Wan is an exciting area of Bangkok in Thailand. You could easily spend a whole day here and still not see everything. Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts ( or Khet as they are known in Thailand ) of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by seven other districts Ratchathewi ( across the canal Khlong Saen Saeb ), Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai ( across the canal Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem ), and Dusit. The embassies of Switzerland, at 35, North Wireless Rd, the United Kingdom at 14 Wireless Road and the United States at 120-122, Wireless Rd are located in Pathum Wan The district is sub divided into four sub districts. Rong Mueang Wang Mai Pathum Wan and Lumphini The district was established in 1914 and it is named after a Buddhist temple Wat Pathum Wanaramand in the nearby Sa Pathum Palace. Both being built to the order of King Mongkut ~ Rama IV and was so named, because of the abundance of lotus flowers in Khlong Saen Saeb during his reign. Pathum Wan is best known for it's shopping centres. Siam Centre is the oldest one in the area which opened in 1973, this is now joined by Siam Discovery Centre and Siam Paragon ( which opened in December 2005 ) and Paragon Cineplex & IMAX. One of the most crowded and the most popular to both local people and tourists is MBK Centre also known as Mah Boon Krong. Here you will find perhaps the largest collection of mobile / cell phones for sale around Bangkok. It is packed with shops offering fashion items, mobile / cell phones and souvenirs. A covered, air conditioned pedestrian bridge over Phaya Thai Road connects to a congested sister shopping centre, the Bonanza Mall, which mostly sells inexpensive clothing and fashion accessories. MBK can be found at 444 Phaya Thai Rd. Pathum Wan, Bangkok on the western corner of Pathum Wan intersection , with Rama I Road and Phaya Thai Road. At eight stories high, the centre hosts around 2,000 stores and services, including the 4 story Tokyu department store, restaurants and entertainment. MBK Centre, opened in 1985, and is one of the oldest shopping malls in Asia, and was the largest when it was built. It is located on land leased from the adjacent Chulalongkorn University. This lease was renewed in 2002. The centre was named after the parents of the developer Sirichai Bulakul, Mah & Boonkrong, whose statues grace the ground floor. Floors 1 to 3: Clothing and shoes, leather goods, cosmetics and hairstyling, toys, gold and jewellery. Floor 4: Electronics, mobile phones, CD and MP3 Floor 5: International food hall, restaurants, furniture, photography, computing. Floor 6: Food centre, souvenir shops Floor 7: Movie theatres, bowling, karaoke Floor 8: Movie theatre. The four story Tokyu department store is located at the northern end of MBK Centre. I have been to this huge shopping mall many times over the years while visiting Bangkok. The strange thing is, even though I know the mall well, I still manage to lose my way inside. The restaurant is huge, offering food from all over the world. You buy tickets at a counter, then exchange them at each food stall depending on what type of food you want. Any vouchers / tickets remaining must be exchanged back the same day. The number of mobile phones for sale here is vast. So many top brand names on sale along with copy ones, counterfeit to you and I. So be careful, always ask and get a receipt. Having bought many phones from here, I have to admit I have never had a problem. Many are legitimate and honest people being in a top shopping mall. However on the lower ground if you are buying clothes , take a tape measure, many of the sizes mean nothing to foreigners. Then when you have selected any item do not lose sight of it. I was once subjected to the switch con, where the item of clothing is taken for a useless sized similar / inferior one under the counter. I only fell for that once. However it is really annoying to get home to find its nothing like the size you wanted after measuring them.

• published: 27 Mar 2014
• views: 155