Kim, if you hate shopping shopping you are definitely in the minority on this board but then traveling with an 8? year old daughter has its own unique set of priorities. Maybe later in life you will want to purchase some memories to adorn your home so you and your family can enjoy fond memories of the great experiences you enjoyed. Don't take this as negative in any way as I always enjoy your perspective on things...

We always do purchase some things to have a souvenirs as well as gifts for people in Japan. We bought a wonderful silk bed cover from Artisans d'Angkor that I'm thrilled with. We are just not the type to spend any big amount of time devoted to shopping, and would definitely not plan our travel time and destinations around shopping.

Teaghan is now 10...and she likes shopping more than any of us. We do all enjoy markets, but more for the scene than the goods on offer. We also all love supermarkets...and always take home some things that are difficult to find in Japan, like Thai Milo 3 in 1, palm sugar, curry pastes, snacks...

Our time devoted to shopping is maybe an hour per week of vacation. We are not browsers. See it, like it, buy it, get on with it.

beanweb
You would definitely enjoy the O-TOP market in Bangkok. A Thai friend showed it to me. It is "upper class" produce, very large veggies, interesting way to "cut" things in flower shapes, etc. O-TOP (if that is actually the name of it) is located almost right next to the Weekend Market (Chatuchak). I don't know if it is open weekdays. I also enjoy food markets sometime, but I'm really into the souvenir shopping at the markets mostly.