Shopping Horrors

And to think that USAA tried to push us to a rental car!

Have I said anything recently about shopping malls? Our hotel is perched aside one of the largest shopping centers in downtown Bangkok, sporting 100 stores on seven floors with piped in music and  at least one multiplex theater and multiple food courts.

When I was in Philippines as a GSE team leader, we were constantly being taken to these places.  Each one had a superlative: Most stores, most recently opened, most square footage, whatever.  We would be driven past historical and cultural points of interest to spend the afternoon in a shopping mall. Eventually, I started to complain.  Why, I asked, was I being asked to spend time window shopping in a venue that sported all the brandnames from home that I know and love (Benetton, French Connection, Gucci)?  The answer would be that young people love these malls because they are air conditioned, and because they could spend the entire day hanging out with their friends without adult escort.  I get that, I would reply.  Our young people enjoy shopping malls as well.  But why do you bring your international visitors to share the experience?  Oh, that’s an interesting question, I would be told.  But wait until you see the mall tomorrow, it’s a superlative for something else!

With that as background, imagine my horror when I discovered that our hotel this week (chosen  by me based on price alone and yes, it is pricey) sits aside the largest indoor shopping mall  in downtown  Bangkok and that the only entrance is through the mall.  There are several over-priced restaurants at the hotel, but basically, the mall food court is our oyster.  It takes a minimum of two elevator rides to get anywhere, including out, and nothing is convenient.  You guessed it, this is my idea of shopping hell.

We’ve been in Bangkok since last Thursday, and  it’s been on the bus and off the bus and back on the bus to the International Convention, but  except for Sunday’s excursion to the Royal Palace we could have been in Billings as much as Bangkok. All I’ve seen of Bangkok is various elevator banks and the shopping mall.  One interesting note: All the signage in the mall is in English — only place in Bangkok that seems to be the case.  If I were an English teacher in this country, this is where I would send my students.  That said …

We’ve tried to leave the Convention early a few times to get in a few hours’ sightseeing, but have always been stymied by something-or-other.  So tomorrow — shhhhhh — we plan to play hooky.  And to NOT go into the shopping mall.  Don’t tell my secret.