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Silk Revived in Bangkok

Ask what to see in town any of the hotels in Bangkok Thailand will tell you to see Jim Thompson’s house. We went to see the charismatic and mysterious man’s house in Bangkok never having ever heard of the man, but it turns out his house is the second biggest tourist attraction in Bangkok. Lissa and I had to go see it. When we told our driver where we wanted to go, he smiled and everyone goes there. We really enjoyed the visit, the place used to be his actual house and is filled with priceless art works all housed in a traditional Thai house, a kind that is almost gone from the city. the mysterious Thompson single-handedly revived the silk industry and became rich in the process. His collection just boggles the mind, and features a sixth century statue of Buddha that is considered one of the oldest in the world. We could not take pictures in the house. Turns out he died a mysterious death in the Malaysian jungles, where he is said to have been killed by the CIA, or tigers or insurgents. We pondered the meaning of Jim Thompson’s life and collections over pad thai and a cold Thai beer. We got ours and found many happy treats right on the street, where we could watch the food cooked before our eyes, fresh, fast and cheap. It is this array of street vendors that give Bangkok so much of its style and spice. I began wondering if Jim Thompson ever went to them. Surely he had, the mysterious CIA guy who fought in World War ll. No doubt he ventured out of his magnificent house and snuck down the street in search of street food.

Tags: dining, hotels in Bangkok, Jim Thompson's house, Thailand

The Contradictions of Bangkok

Bangkok has developed into a sophisticated and exciting global capital. Since Thailand never experienced the western colonization that influenced many regions in Asia, it has maintained its unique heritage and culture to this day. This results in a dizzing array of contrasts as the ancient traditions of Thailand meld with the modern lifestyle of a country’s center of business, diplomacy, and commerce.

With nearly ten million residents, Bangkok has long outgrown traditional village life. With over 1000 skyscrapers, Bangkok has one of the world’s most beautiful urban skylines. There are dozens of modern shopping malls, complete with climate-controlled environments, designer labels, and food courts offering meals from around the world. Some of the best hotels in the area offer modern conveniences such as wireless internet.

Bangkok also has 400 Buddhist temples offering an array of architectural beauty and spiritual and cultural meaning. There are grand palaces that provide glimpses of traditional court life and village homes that have survived for two centuries. Some of the city’s canals still remain and offer a more traditional form of transportation than the oft-congested city streets. Traditional markets display a staggering variety of items including local arts, crafts, and clothing. Food stalls throughout the city sell favorite Thai dishes and local restaurants provide food with strong Chinese, Indian and Thai flavors.

Visitors to this unique city will find that although there is some of the bustle that is expected in a global capital, Bangkok actually has a slower pace than most. People are willing to enjoy life and balance their cultural and spiritual needs against those of work and progress. The best time time to visit Bangkok is right now, November through February. However, the climate is warm most of the year, making it a beautiful place to visit, even in the wet season when tropical storms provide beautiful displays of nature and offer a bit of cooling to the region.

Tags: Bangkok, best hotels, hotels bangkok, Thailand