From the time we left Washington, DC last July until the day we landed in Bangkok, I kept telling Caroline and Conor, “Save your money for Asia – everything will be a lot cheaper there.”

Of course I had no actual proof of this.  I’d been in the region only once before, on business, and with a minder to ferry me from place to place.

Now, based on experience, I can tell you this:  The rumors you may have heard are true.  Everything is cheaper in Thailand.  I may not be at the headwaters of the global supply chain, but I know I’m close.

On our last full day in Bangkok we visited two very different markets that had one thing in common:  Prices that made you do double-takes.

Our first stop was the Chatuchak Weekend Market.  There was a buzz of excitement all around as stepped off the Skytrain.  From the elevated platform we could see what looked like a tenement village of vendor stalls.

We found an opening and dove in.

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