Meet Me Half Way

Bangkok and Shopping go hand in hand.

It would be impossible to not browse through the markets and find yourself some goodies.

When I first got here I loved haggling. It was fun and even more exciting when you got the price down. Now we've been away five weeks I'm sick of bartering. It's getting tedious. Sometimes I can't even be bothered to argue, even when I know it should be cheaper. The market stall owners have sucked any argumentative skills out of me.

My mother is the queen of haggling, so I owe everything I know to you Mum! She did it in the markets in Trinidad growing up and has been known to try haggling everywhere since then - even in shopping centres in London much to our embarrassment! Before we came away she helped me do a carboot sale to get rid of my junk and make some money. She talked a man into buying used perfume, in a pink bottle, for full price by convincing him that it was unisex. I couldn't believe her ruthlessness. 'What? He smelt it and liked it, what's wrong about that?' was her answer.

So Mum I dedicate this to you!

Here are my haggling tricks.....

1) Half it and then work your way up. If something is 400 baht (8 pounds) say 200 baht straight up. They'll laugh but then you can meet in the middle so might get it for 300 baht. If they don't budge or say no then walk away, they'll soon run after you as they want a sale after all and know there's a lot of competition.

2) Say you've seen it elsewhere cheaper. This could backfire and they could call your bluff and tell you to get it over there.

3) Go to the market early - it's bad luck for them if their first customer doesn't buy anything. Sometimes they'll follow you and practically try and give you the item. This sounds great in theory, but markets open at the crack of dawn - so it means a ridiculously early start. You could just do an all nighter at a Ping Pong Party on the Khosan Road. I don't advise it - you'll probably still be drunk and will end up with more things than you need and for double the price.

4) Do a deal. If you buy two things - try and get a discount on both items. Or even if you've brought something from the stall before, say do me a deal as I've come back to you. I want to give my money to you and i'll keep coming back.

5) When I'm in a bad mood and feel like being a wind up, I'll play them off each other. Lynsey was after a T-shirt the other day and there were two stalls oppposite each other with the same T-shirt. I went to one and asked how much, then I went straight to the other and told them the price they were offering and if they could beat it. I did this for a while before they cottoned on. We got a good price - even though they fell out with each other!

6) Try using some local language. They appreciate a bit of respect and effort you make. Anything to sweeten them up.

7) If all else fails makde yourself grubby. If you look dirty they'll know you're a backpacker and not a holiday maker! So roll about in the mud for a bit then go shopping!!!!!