Flight Booked! Bangkok - buy 1D Mk II?

[martcol]

If I go to Bangkok at the end of the year could I get a good deal on a Mk II?

Martin

[Haifidelity]

Possibly, since you UK guys pay quite a premium on camera equipment, but some things to keep in mind:


A.) It's still going to be a high demand item, with no headroom for price reductions, even at the end of the year.

B.) Prices for Camera Equipment like Canon/Nikon aren't that much more discounted in Asia. You can visit online shops for Japanese/Chinese/Taiwanese stores and see that their prices, are either at full street price or higher.

-hza

[martcol]

I have had a look at web prices and there seems to be around £1,000 difference - i.e. £3.5 K to £2.5 K! I don't know about any taxes. That will pay for a pretty luxurious couple of weeks out there!

Martin

[Andy_T]

If I go to Bangcock at the end of the year could I get a good deal on a Mk II?

Martin

Martin, your spelling of Bangkok makes me wonder about your motives (no pun intended :lol:)

Be sure to keep some money over for ... uhhh ... Canon lenses.

Best regards,
Andy

[G3]

You might be able to find a somewhat lower price in Bangkok. I don't know the route from the UK to Thailand, but if you stop over at Narita (Tokyo), you might even be able to get a better price there.

Bangkok is a fascinating place with many, many photo opportunities. Also remember that it isn't the only place in Thailand....the rest of the country is just as fascinating. Bangkok is a BIG city. If you are staying for any length of time, you will likely stay in the Sukhumvit area. Rooms in other parts of the city, such as the hotels around Don Muang Airport are sort of pricey. Sukhumvit is sort of the "foriegner" area of the city. Check it out, then go check out the rest of the city. Bring plenty of CF cards and some way to offload them. Check out things like the Grand Palace by day and the Patpong nightlife at night. Beware though...just as in any other big city, theft is a problem.

Also, as a sidenote...to be ignored or used as you wish...the sex industry in Thailand is a phenomenal problem. Most of the girls are indentured labor. They were "sold" by their parents, and have to serve a certain number of years in that industry before they are given their freedom back to go and work where they want. Many are as young as 13 years old. Most come from small villages in other parts of the country and have no means of repaying the debt without "working it off". They can be "bought out" of this arrangement and many will try to hook up with a friendly foriegn tourist to get them out of it. You can't blame them. They have a very short life expectancy. AIDS is rampant among the massage parlors and escort services, as well as every other STD in existence. The foreign men and women that go to Thailand to partake in this do nothing more than to further the problem.

That being said, the Thai people are, without a doubt, the friendliest people on earth. The food is outstanding, the culture rich and the country beautiful. You couldn't pick a better place to go for vacation or holiday. See as much of the country as you have the opportunity to. Thai Airways offers sort of a "coupon book" arrangement where you can buy discounted tickets to different Thai destinations for a good discount. If you have as much as a month, this is a very good way to see the country. Places like Kho Samui, the Kho PI-Pi Islands, Phuket, Korat, and Chang Mai are must-see places.

Another small note about culture...you probably don't want to ignore this one. Certain of the mountain tribes in Northern Thailand have an aversion to being photographed. It seems that they are convinced that when you take a picture of them, you take a part of their soul. It's a shame because the native costume is very colorful and interesting, but their beliefs should be respected. Make sure it's OK with them before you take a picture. Also, throughout Thailand, it is considered rude to point at something or someone with your feet. (Yeah, I know, I don't that much anyway either) It is also considered rude to touch someone's head, such as patting a child on the head. This is all because the Thais regard the feet as the lowest part of the body and the head as the highest part and the temple of the soul.

In the cities, the Tuk-Tuks (three wheeled open taxis) are a fun and economical way to get around. Be aware, though, that if the Tuk-Tuk you are in is involved in a crash, you might be liable for any damages. The idea is that if you hadn't hired the driver, he wouldn't have been there in the first place and wouldn't have been involved in the crash. If that should happen, DO NOT give up your passport. Simply walk away from the crash, hire another Tuk-Tuk and "get out of Dodge". They will work it out on their own. You can hire a Tuk-Tuk driver to pick you up and take you here and there every day if you want. You can hire them for a week or more at the time for not a lot of money, and they know the citiy well. I usually hook up with one when I get to Bangkok and use the same one for the whole stay.

Begging is a big industry in the tourist areas. You will see lepers on the stairs of the overhead crosswalks and on the sidewalks of Sukhumvit begging for change as well as children selling Orchids and other little trinkets for their parents (or some other adult). They will both tug at your heartstrings and the temptation to give them money is strong. Give them something if you wish, but be prepared to have a whole crowd of them following you around trying to get more if you do.

Good luck....have a blast, and post some of the photos when you get back.

[henkbos]

Don't rule out Singapore to get a great price. Think they are more established as international sellers as well.

When you book your trip, it migth be better NOt to travel diret as customs are aware of buying trips.

[Andy_T]

I don't know the route from the UK to Thailand, but if you stop over at Narita (Tokyo), you might even be able to get a better price there.


G3, thanks for your valuable trips for Bankok.

However, I've recently been to Japan and could not help observing that Canon cameras are about 10-20% more expensive there than in Germany (so it will be about 20-30% more expensive than the B+H prices, Germany not being the cheapest place for starters.)

For that reason, I'd be reluctant about the potential hassles of warranty and future control by the border police. I remember reading a post on the forum that stated that travellers from the UK were asked for receipts for their Canon cameras some years after the purchase...

I also managed to buy an Asus (Taiwanese) Graphics card in Taipei after comparing the local prices for some time with the help of locals ... and discovering after my return to Germany that I had saved about 5 % on the price of the cheapest internet place in Germany ...

That said, you definitely have to know exactly what you want and what the cheapest prices are before. Now Japan being a high-price place, but I don't think that prices in Asia will beat prices in the US by much.

Best regards,
Andy

[nosquare2003]

Thai made products will be cheap in Thailand. Imported goods in Thailand is rather expensive. And I agree with Andythaler that the prices in the US are quite good.

[G3]

Yeah, I don't really know about the camera prices over in that part of the world. At one time, you could get some good prices on Japanese made cameras and electronics in Tokyo, but that may have changed by now. I've never bought anything like that in Thailand, I always brought it with me. Singapore is a good place to visit too as henkbos pointed out, although I found it rather restrictive. There are some nice places there to be sure, but if you want any excitement, you really have to cross the bridge and go into Johor, Malaysia. Last time I was in Singapore (13 years ago), it was illegal to bring chewing gum into the country.

[Andy_T]

Last time I was in Singapore (13 years ago), it was illegal to bring chewing gum into the country.

When I was there, last time (4 years ago), it still was illegal.

But I think they no longer hand out the capital punishment for that offence :lol:.

Best regards,
Andy

[G3]

Last time I was in Singapore (13 years ago), it was illegal to bring chewing gum into the country.

When I was there, last time (4 years ago), it still was illegal.

But I think they no longer hand out the capital punishment for that offence :lol:.

Best regards,
Andy


Nah..probably not. You might get a good caining, though. :)

[nosquare2003]

No, it is still illegal to bring chewing gum to Singapore. But it seems that they have allowed chewing gum to help people to quit smoking -- I don't know if it needs medical consultancy for doing so.

[pradeep1]

If I go to Bangcock at the end of the year could I get a good deal on a Mk II?
Martin


Bangcock? Hmmmm...interesting. What do you plan on doing there? Is the "buying photographic equipment" just an excuse for you to go there? :wink:

[martcol]

Oh no, I seem to have gotten myself a bad name here (again) one typo and be damned. Honest everyone, my intention is to vini vidi and take a few pics!

What I'm mainly looking for is to save a Grand. My partner wants to go to Thailand Bangkok ( :oops: ) so hey, why not combine the two?

Martin

[G3]

Oh no, I seem to have gotten myself a bad name here (again) one typo and be damned. Honest everyone, my intention is to vini vidi and take a few pics!

What I'm mainly looking for is to save a Grand. My partner wants to go to Thailand Bangkok ( :oops: ) so hey, why not combine the two?

Martin

:) It's not you that has a bad name...it's Bangkok.

[martcol]

Now we've booked the flights and will be in Bangkok early September. I will have the dosh to buy 1d Mk II at what looks like an enourmous saving... Anyone have any experience of decent camera shops in the capital where I might get good service?

Thanks

Martin