PATRICE Lafayette, a Hong Kong market researcher, was on holiday in Bangkok.
Although she already had a handbag, she stepped into a shop in Silom Village which seemed to sell handbags exclusively.
''I'd like to buy a watch,'' said Patrice, fixing the shopkeeper with a knowing look.
''A watch?'' said the shopkeeper. He did not tell her to go and find a watch shop. Instead, he peered deep into her eyes, and decided he could trust her. ''Come this way,'' he said.
He then fiddled with some secret mechanism and one of the walls of the shop, lined with handbags, started to slide open - it was a secret door, just like in a James Bond movie.
Patrice had been told that this was a secret copy-watch centre, and was amazed to see to what extent the shop went to cover up its secrets.