Imagine a shopping mall eight stories high, with hundreds of stores, all dedicated to IT and computers. Imagine it has everything from brighty-lit megastores to tiny little one-man shops selling strange bits of hardware more suited to a museum than a desktop. Imagine it's got shady software pirates, orange-robed monks jostling each other for a turn on the Playstation, and a huge expanse of Thai food sold by the plate for $1. That's Panthip Plaza. If you're a computer nerd, it's about as close to heaven as you're going to get.

Sellers talk fast and drive a hard bargain, so research fair market prices before you buy.

Getting there

The closest Skytrain station is Rachathewi. Just walk straight east on Phetchaburi Road until you are surrounded by people with thick glasses and pocket protectors.