Bangkok Shopping: Imperial World Ladprao
The skies are grumbly this month and combing the city’s bustling sidewalks is not always the best way to take Bangkok in. I know we’ve talked about shopping malls a lot in the past, but I want to go there again.
Imperial World Ladprao is the beautiful sort of half-step between modern shine and flash, and old-world rusticity and wear that you find a lot in parts of Thailand. Almost like furniture that’s been “antiqued” quite accidentally, overlooked just enough.
It has architectural and design elements that are very art-deco, very Great Gatsby. One imagines it sparkling impressively when the doors were first opened. Now, though, some of the colorful tiles at the elevator are missing, parts of the ceiling on higher floors are crudely patched, buttresses are crumbling and leaving halos of dust in the corners, the lights seem dim, and the place absolutely throbs with Thai-style commercial zeal.
There are countless kiosks selling clothes, shoes, and accessories at incredible prices. There are decorations, herb, balms, and smelly preparations; sporting goods, luggage, and you should be getting the picture by now all for incredibly low prices. Much better than the shops on Sukhumvit.
There’s a climbing wall for the kids or adults who like that sort of thing, some interesting restaurants, and there are vendors wreathing the outside of the mall with a variety of foods, fruits, clothes, and who knows what kind of randomness really.
Going to Imperial World Ladprao? You can hire a car and driver in Bangkok to take you there for the ultimate in flexibility and comfort.
