OK, you have a long weekend coming up and Bangkok beckons. 3 days! What can you do in 3 days? PLENTY. Here’s what I recommend: Shopping/wandering the Ratchaprasong area, a day for Culture and a day for Chatuchak Weekend Market. And of course, as many foot massages as you can fit in, and as much Thai food as you can eat! Lots to tell you, so there’ll be a few parts to this. Pack your walking shoes, because you’ll find that walking is sometimes the quickest way to get around. 
I usually base myself in the Ratchaprasong area. (Click the link and download the walking map) Bangkok is one of those cities that sprawl. Plus with hideous gridlocked traffic, where you’re based really makes a difference. You’ll want to be close to the BTS (Bangkok mass transit). Chances are, wherever you need to get to as a tourist will be on the BTS. Ratchaprosong also has a fabulous walkway above the roads that link the main mall and BTS stations – the Skywalk. The 3 stations serving the area are Ratchadamri, Siam and Chitlom. As a guide, B23=S$1
Wandering and shopping: Ratchaprasong
The Erawan Shrine
The Erawan Shrine
Head for the Erawan Shrine. Usually mistakenly called “The Four-faced Buddha”, Phra Phrom is actually Brahma. Anyway, this much-fabled monument is hugely popular with both locals and tourists. Many have told stories of making wishes at the shrine, and having them granted. What you are supposed to do is to buy the flowers and offerings from the counter (ranging from 20 – 500 baht), light the incense at the lamps, stop at each face, make your request, and leave your offering. Go clockwise. Before you splash out tons on the offerings, be aware that because of the volume of offerings, the incense sticks, candles and flowers are regularly removed. 
If it’s busy, your eyes will be stinging from the incense, and remember to be respectful to others who are praying. Outside the gates are other flower sellers, they even sell cages of birds for you to free as an offering. I suspect the birds just get caught and resold regularly. But the intention is good : ) It’s also said that when your wish is granted, you have to return to give thanks.
Narai Phand
Cross the road to the InterContinental Hotel and down to the basement to Narai Phand. This is a huge handicraft emporium that is a collaboration between the government and the private sector. There’s celadon, silks, lacquer…rows and rows of the stuff. There’s the whole range of the Thai blue and white china too. They’ll ship, and prices are reasonable. Not cheap, but reasonable. There’s no haggling here…and while you may come across similar stuff in markets and stalls, you may end up paying more for inferior quality. At Narai Phand you can at least count on quality and authenticity.
Narai Phand
CentralWorld
From the InterCon, walk over to the enormous Central World complex. Because you’ll be needing airconditioning at this point! The mall has all the usual brands (Zara, Forever 21 etc) as well as small, interesting boutiques, a cineplex and an AMAZING food hall. I liked Chocolate on level 3, it sells cute t-shirts with happy designs, decent quality, and B200.
Another cool store is Mieux. It sells handmade soaps from Korea, with ingredients to nourish, clean, zap – whatever you need – your skin. The soaps are sold by weight – they slice off the slab for you. Not cheap, (about B250 a bar) but with some great ingredients (charcoal for oily skin), organics, botanicals and heavenly smells, I couldn’t resist. 
They package them in lovely cloth bags too, so they make great gifts.
Boots the Chemist (the UK’s “Watsons”) has a good presence in Thailand and nowhere else in the region (weird). They have fantastic own-label skincare and makeup – the Protect and Perfect range is brilliant for anti-aging (and unlike many others, scientifically proven) and reasonably priced. The serum is fantastic and was on a 2 for 1 offer. Joy! And the No 7 makeup range good quality and again decent prices. A must-stop for me, on level 4. 
The Food Hall on the 7th floor is really amazing…the range of foods (I love supermarkets!) is awesome. And there’s a ton of food to eat too. The Food Court proper is on the 6th floor – again – a great spread of food, and for those of you who can’t do without, yes, Starbucks abounds (there’s one of the ground floor). I love Black Canyon (6th floor) for a shopping mall lunch – other than coffees they do good value food. My favourite – Green Curry Chicken rice, is only B80 and absolutely delicious. They have a selection of rice and noodle dishes as well as ‘fusion’ dishes. It’s nothing fancy, but good, cheap food in a standardised environment. 
If you’re in the mood there’s an ice rink in the mall…really.
And if you’re already pooped, have a quick massage at Kannikaar on level 3. 
They do a good neck and shoulder rub that will perk you right up, and it’s not expensive.
Siam Paragon
Another enormous mall – the Paragon Department store is quite posh. There are interesting accessories on the ground floor.
What makes this mall a standout is the ENORMOUS food mall, all along the basement. All sorts of food, a food court, little restaurants and outlets including KRISPY KREMES (long queues!).
Siam Square
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