Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

Mine was originally Hong Kong, as I couldn't stop spending when I first visited there in 1995. Then I went around other Southeast Asian countries but didn't really buy much.

I did buy several items in Bali but a few items were bought because the hawkers were so insistent that I just wanted them to go away.

[RachaelRoo]

Bangkok, Thailand. The best place for shopping by far!

Didn't like shopping in Vietnam so much. I bought a few things there but most were of terrible quality.

[Drew345]

Good Old US of A. Everytime I come back I have my full weight limit for clothes, medicines, everything. Anything I can buy, I am saving 20-30 % from here. And they don't have large clothes here at all. Some places go up to Korean 110. But after 95 the clothes don't get any taller, just wider. Korean 110 is for some 5'8" obese guy with a 18 " neck and 32 " arms. I love America where 16.5 34-35 is actually a standard shirt size.
Anyway, Bangkok is also great.

[ChuckECheese]

[maryb]

All over. on the beaches (sarongs), changmai, khao san road, and everywhere in between. I absolutely HATE shopping (REALLY HATE IT) but there I just cant seem to stop. When I go there, I show up with a day pack with nothing but the bare essentials and get everything new once Im there. LOVE IT!

[VanIslander]

I did waaaay more shopping in New Zealand than I'd planned and budgeted for (maxed credit cards and dipped a bit into the savings account) during my month there a couple of Januarys ago. I even had to buy another suitcase, a big one, to stuff my purchases into!

There were plenty of Big&Tall stuff in the regular selections. Plenty of Kiwis my size. And the styles were great. It was pretty expensive, but, for example, when you find a couple of pair of Hush Puppies in the style and size you want, and they feel so good to walk in, you get them, as standing and teaching in Korea had been a challenge before that, given the shortage of quality men's footwear in size 12.

[kiwigirl :O)]

each new place i go i tend to go a bit nuts with the shopping.....
i can eat through a credit limit like most people wouldn't believe!!

i have actually curbed my shopping addiction recently though
but when i was in california i bought heaps of stuff particularly at victorias secret, gap and old navy!!!! i love those clothes

australia has great cheap clothes so i spent heaps of dough there too...

in korea i have not bought so much as the clothing here is not always what i would wear.... but i have spent lots more money on like dvds and cds as they are much cheaper here than at home!!!
i do like how accessories for the house and for clothing are very cheap and really nice so i have been able to indulge my decorative side while being in korea....

kg

[Yaya]

I didn't spend much on shopping in Bali. The bargaining process is even worse than in Korea and well, you never know how long your item will last. The woodcrafts are good but rather overpriced, and the Balinese won't go into your hotel room to steal but will not hesitate to overcharge.

Perhaps Singapore or Hong Kong has a lot of stuff you can get back in North America, but a little cheaper.

[dulouz]

USA, even after traveling. Highest quality, best selection, best return policy and low low prices.

[tzechuk]

Hong Kong and the UK, I guess.. but I shop wherever I go.

[Yaya]

Hong Kong has gotten more expensive since it has appreciated the value of its dollar. I bought stuff at the duty-free shops there, and I thought I was getting a bargain.

Before 1997, calculating Hong Kong dollars into won was easy. If something was 630 H.K. dollars, one just added two decimal places to get won (63,000 won). That changed after the currency crisis, but last week, I thought that since the won has recovered against the dollar to near pre-IMF levels, it would revert to the old system.

What I FORGOT was that Hong Kong got rid of its peg, so my dinner that cost 93 H.K. dollars turned out to be more than $11.