Feedback letter from Cynthia (September tour 2010).

Hi Arwee,

I have some extra items to add to the shopping list…Cosmetics under C, Handicraft and Handbags under H, Perfume under P, Video Games under V and Ornaments under O.


To give you feedback, I have told my friends that Bangkok is a great place to shop and the food is delicious. You can get more out of your money as everything is cheap and you make a great holiday out of learning about the Thai culture and sightseeing. Specific items to buy would be designer handbags, clothes and shoes, as they range from 30% to 50% of the cost for similar items in Perth. There are a variety of foods you can eat (Various Asian and Western food, not limited to Thai food only). Although purchases are overall cheaper than Perth prices, it is very helpful to have a PA with you to source the best places which sell products at the lowest prices (Eg, you can buy the same pair of shoes from MBK or the markets, cheaper than if you bought at Robinsons). Furthermore, being Thai locals, the PAs can successfully bargain for you. With electronic goods, assuming you care about quality and price, you need to make sure you know what you want to buy before you shop. If it’s a mobile phone or camera for example, it helps to have an idea of the prices in Perth so you can compare with Bangkok prices. It also helps if you know what features and specs you want in the electrical items. Regarding a mobile phone, you might want one with a TV, email function and one which takes two sim cards. You will definitely need a PA with you to be able to buy electrical goods with confidence. They will be able to translate your questions to the seller and their answers back to you when deciding on the type of product you want. Otherwise, the overwhelming choices of generic electrical goods can confuse a buyer. A local travel companion (PA) really adds reassurance to the quality and purpose of the trip to Bangkok, especially when not many of the locals speak English. The PA is not a tour guide. You make the decision on what you want to do or buy, and your PA will make it a seamless process to attain your wish.



Another little tip for your female clients…I am also a professional make-up artist and the products in Asia have great staying power (compared to Australia). When I go shopping in Asia, I aim to buy cosmetics. I find they’re a level above Australia’s cosmetics and cheaper. During my course in make-up, I learned that even though the products (eg, Maybelline and Loreal) are from the same company worldwide, the ingredients differ in different continents according to their climate. Asian countries tend to be very humid. The make-up has to withstand oily and sweaty skin as a result of the weather. Also, they have less allergens and ingredients, preventing clogging up pores and skin irritations. The cosmetics in Australia need to contain more moisturisers because of the dry and intense heat. Many cosmetics also contain sunscreen (which can make the skin greasy). This is to protect the skin from aging faster by retaining the collagen and elastin. Also, Asian countries use special ingredients (uncommon in Australia) like jasmine, green tea and ginseng in their products. This might be a chance for your clients to buy items which are rare or unheard of in Australia.



I hope this helps. Happy New Year
Kind regards,



Cynthia Yap | Account Manager | QPIB Dip.Fin.Serv (Broking) | Dip.Bus (Gen Ins) | ANZIIF (Snr Assoc) CIP

Central Insurance Brokers