Bazaar – Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and is famous for antiques, arts and crafts, textiles and gems. Presenter Estelle Bingham unveils some of Bangkok’s best-kept secrets.

She visits Chatuchak weekend market where travellers and locals alike find bargains to wear or dress their homes. In quest for some more interesting arts and crafts Estelle ventures out of the city on a day trip to the Arts and Folk Crafts Centre, founded by Queen Sirikit in 1976. Here she watches locals make clay sculptures, hand-paint fans and make batik textiles.

Silk is an important commodity in Thailand and Estelle visits the specialist shop Jim Thompson’s and learns of the mystery behind the great mans’ disappearance. After buying an outfit there Estelle decides her look is incomplete without a gem, after all Bangkok is the gemstone capital of the world. Estelle hunts down a local dealer who shows here how to tell the difference between a real and a fake.

Bangkok has taken a pivotal role in the lucrative trade of Asian antiques. Estelle discovers some true ancient wonders as well as some excellent reproductions. Temple wood-carvings are very popular and most antiques or reproductions are of Buddhist or Hindu icons. Religious symbols are also a part of every day life in Thailand and Estelle shops for a religious symbol known as amulets with a local taxi driver.

Read our Bangkok shopping guide here

Credits

Presenter
ESTELLE BINGHAM

With thanks to
TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND
QANTAS AIRWAYS
IMPACT PUBLICATIONS
BEL-AIRE PRINCESS
CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE CHIDLOM
JIM THOMPSON
UTHAI’S GEMS
WAT RAJANNADA
J & J TOURIST TAXI
RIVER CITY
ASIAN GALLERIES
ELEPHANT HOUSE
ROYAL FOLK ARTS & CRAFTS CENTRE, BANG SAI
BTS SKYTRAIN

Titles and Graphics
COMPONENT
TIM KNIGHT

Title Music
JON WYGENS

Additional Music
MAKOTO SAKAMOTO AND YASPER MATTISON
COLIN WINSTON-FLETCHER
MICHAEL CONN
JON WYGENS
AMANDA KRAMER

Musical Director
NEVILLE FARMER

Facilities
COMPONENT
THE VOICE AND MUSIC COMPANY

On Line Editor
PAUL HAINES

Dubbing Mixer
JOEL BALDWIN

Editor
NICK REED

Production Accountants
JOHN DEANGELIS
RICHARD MILLER

Production Assistant
KATHRYN SMITH

Location Fixers
SOMPORN PANYASTIANPONG
KITTIPONG PRAPATTONG

Production Co-ordinator
LIZ RICHARDS