Hunting Elephants in Mahboonkrong

Just a month before I go home from Thailand, I noticed that I need to buy more pasalubong. I already visited Chatuchak Weekend Market but I failed to find some items in my list. The critical item would be the elephant stuffed toys for my godchildren.

A Myanmese friend told me that Mahboonkrong (MBK) has everything. Because of his recommendation and the fact that MBK is Bangkok's most popular shopping destinatination, I decided to go there to find the other items in my pasalubong list.

Mahboonkrong
Mahboonkrong

How to Go to Mahboonkrong


Mahboonkrong is located on the land owned by the nearby Chulalongkorn University. It is just a short walk from the National Stadium and Siam Center Stations of the BTS (Skytrain). So, the fastest and easiest way to reach Mahboongkron is by riding the BTS trains.

You can also choose to ride taxi if your hotel is far away from any BTS station. Buses can also take you to this shopping mall but you have to know what bus can take you there.

What to See in Mahboonkrong


Mahboonkrong is really big. It has 8 floors and around 2,000 shops plus restaurants and other service outlets.* Many tourists visit this mall to buy souvenirs that they can take back to their countries. I was one of those tourists and I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed with MBK.

The interior of Mahboonkrong
Inside Mahboonkrong, and yes the King is also honored here.

I consider Mahboonkrong as a better organized and air conditioned version of Chatuchak Weekend Market. The items that I saw in the weekend market were also present in MBK at almost the same price.

I was busy looking for the elephant stuffed toys that I took very few photos of the shops inside MBK. Another reason for the few photos is that I didn't want to get reprimanded by vendors from taking photos of their wares.

Of the many souvenir items that I found in Mahboonkrong, the most weird would be from this shop:

Weird souvenirs from Mahboonkrong

This shop sells ghostly-version of your face inside a piece of glass cube. The souvenir item is creepy because it made me think that the camera captures souls and imprison them inside the glass.

The first item that I bought in Mahboonkrong were the baseball caps that I will give to my father and future father-in-law. The vendor gave me a better price as compared to that vendor of a shop near the Grand Palace.

Souvenirs from Mahboonkrong: baseball caps

I kept on walking and searching for the toy elephants but it proved to be so hard to find. I saw clothes, toys, plastic fruits, fake flowers, gadgets, key chains, ref magnets ad all other things that I didn't need.

A sample of a shop in Mahboonkrong

I almost gave up the search until I saw a small stall selling elephant stuffed toys that, as the vendor said, are made of silk. It would not be the kind of stuffed toys for little children but I think it would be OK because it is a unique item from Thailand.


Toy elephants from Mahboonkrong

The original price of the elephant is 399 Baht but the vendor agreed to lower it to 350 Baht. So, I shelled out 700 Baht for these elephants.

I walked a little more to a shop that sells real stuffed toys. I finally saw a small green elephant, which would be perfect for my godson who is still a baby.

Stuffed toy elephant from Mahboonkrong

I got the three elephants that I wanted so I was contented when I left Mahboonkrong.

All in all, I say that my hunt in Mahboonkrong is a good experience. I was a little tired though because I searched every floor to find the elephant that I wanted.

Mahboonkrong is the best mall in Bangkok when it comes to bargain items. Tourists who don't want hot and crowded places should go to this mall instead of the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Both places have the same selection of items but shopping is more comfortable in Mahboonkrong.

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*Information from Mahboonkrong page of Wikipedia.

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12 comments:

  1. Were you able to visit the fast food area? What a great array of food. It is difficult to choose. Now I am wondering what Philippine animal should I get? Tarsier, Monkey eating eagle or the Dugong?

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    1. I saw the fast food area (food court area?) but I never eaten at that place. Sobrang makunat kasi ako. Regarding the animal, I suggest that you choose tarsier. :-)

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  2. i guess one of the best parts of traveling ay yung pagbili ng souvenirs right? ang cute naman ng blue elephant hehe

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    Replies
    1. The best and worst part of traveling kasi marami kang makikita pero mababawasan naman pera mo.

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  3. I love MBK! Always shop there when I go Bangkok especially for souvenirs and T shirts. And yes, it's a much better and more comfortable place to shop compared with Chatuchak : )

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    1. Haha...I know you like Mahboonkrong Center. It is indeed more comfortable to shop in this shopping center than Chatuchak.

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  4. That green elephant is cute!! Hope your godson will like it! : )

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    1. That's what I hope. :-) But my godson lives too far away so I don't know if he enjoyed it.

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  5. the dilemma of being a balikbayan! the pasalubong shopping! haha
    how i miss opening such boxes haha my dad used to work abroad too

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    1. :-) Maybe you'll be the one who be sending balikbayan boxes next time.

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  6. I think we have those glass thingys in Divisoria. My cousin gave those out as wedding souvenirs when he got hitched. =)

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    Replies
    1. Really? Maybe I'll copy your cousin and give out those glass things too.

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