Talad Yang Mai Wai (The Market's Not Finished Yet)

Published on October 8, 2007

How many times have you been to the fresh market in your neighbourhood? Do you find the early morning shopping jaunt a pleasure or just another chore to be completed as soon as possible?

Chat Piromkul loves markets, so much so that he's explored most of the ones in Bangkok.

With just his dog for company, Chat shopped so often at the fresh market in his neighbourhood that the vendors began to wonder if he was one of them. After quitting his full-time job in 1997, Chat began travelling further afield in search of fresh bargains. He journeyed to Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Lampang and other provinces.

Divided into two parts, the book explores dozens of markets around Bangkok. The first section includes the simple Nonthaburi market where most of the province's residents head to do their shopping, and Tha Dindaeng Market where just about any ready-to-eat delicacy can be found.

The second part features the popular Or Tor Gor Market, which is famed for its high-end produce, the old Nanglerng Market and the award-winning Yingcharoen Market in the Don Muang area. Chat also takes readers to the century-old Sam Chuk Market in Suphan Buri.

Each chapter offers charming anecdotes and snippets of conversations with the author's favourite vendors. Chat also comments on the more modern methods of trading and explains how these are gradually eroding the much-loved traditional markets.

Additionally, there are plenty of useful tips on how to select seafood, vegetables and cooked food plus a list of popular restaurants and best-selling snacks at each market.

Taking Off: Tayan Soo

Kwam Samred

(Taking Off: Flight to Success)

By Wicha Wiriya

Published by Siam Inter Books

Available at leading bookstores, Bt125

Reaching the top is hard but staying there is harder. In his new book, Wicha Wiriya comes up with tricks and tips for how to take off and stay afloat so that you reach your ultimate dream.

If you want to be a winner, it figures that you have to move faster than everyone else. Large companies know that means using brainpower and skills to solve problems, and surviving fierce competition.

Divided into 12 chapters, the author explains the different strategies used by local and international companies and presents these as case studies.

The first chapter examines how Coca Cola survived a major offensive by Pepsi, adjusting its traditional look and adapting a more modern lifestyle brand.

Leather-shoes brand Clarks from England went for international recognition rather than settling for their position at home. And Nike took off globally, leaving its only possible rival Adidas far behind.

On the local front there's Nanmee Books, which transformed itself from a stationery seller into one of the nation's biggest publishers by obtaining the translation rights for the Harry Potter series. And household name in chilli paste Mae Pranom found its way to the international market after the younger generation took over boardroom duties.

Wicha Wiriya is the penname of a marketing magazine editor. A Nida graduate, he draws his expertise from experience as a reporter for daily and weekly newspapers covering the property, marketing and financial sectors.