What To Do

This was my response to somebody who was desiring to know some unique things to do in Thailand's capital.

Bangkok Shophouses

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Siam Center

1973

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1985

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Not sure of the year of this photo, but I would think it's around 2005, when Siam Center was undergoing another renovation.  Look closely at the green umbrellas.  That's a Starbucks.  Kade and I went there in 2000 on our first date.  After Starbucks, we crossed Sukhumvit Rd to Siam Square, where we saw a movie at the Scala Cinema.  Click here for a blog posting I did on the Scala.

Click here to see what Siam Center looks like today.

Baht

That's not even $200 US!  

Being that we take regular trips to Thailand, we usually try to always keep some Thai Baht on us.  4000 - 6000 baht is good.  That way, when we arrive in Bangkok, we can get going without exchanging money or using an ATM at the airport - not that there's anything really wrong with that.  We just like to get into the city as quickly as possible.  And there are plenty of banks and ATMs to conduct business after we're rested.

Soi 24

Honeyful Cafe

Hyatt Place Bangkok Sukhumvit 

Aire Bar

Captain John Bush

 

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Captain Bush Lane

Search for Captain Bush's grave

More history of Captain Bush

House No. 1

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A walk down Captain Bush Lane takes you by House No. 1.  Click here to learn about that walk.

Siam Commercial Bank

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Thai Bank Museum

Richard Barrow's photos of SCB

Nai Lert

Lert Sreshthaputra

aka Nai Lert (Mr. Lert)

1915

Nai Lert & his wife, Khunying Sin

He constructed the tallest commercial building in Bangkok of his day.

There it is!

Bangkok was once nicknamed "Venice of the East."  See Nai Lert's high-rise?  It's still standing today, in 2024.  Not sure what it's used for.  On a walk I intend this year, I will have an opportunity to see it.

I believe he owned that entire building complex.  On the right side and around back was his ice factory, the first in Bangkok.

It was in operation in 1905.

You can tour his home in Bangkok.  I will do so this summer.  This was actually Nai Lert's second home in the city.  His first home was on Charoenkrung Rd, near his businesses.  He later purchased property in what is today the Sukhumvit area.  That's where he built his new home.

This is his great-granddaughter, Naphaporn Bodiratnangkura.  She's the CEO of Nai Lert Park Development Co..

Bringing Nai Lert's legacy forward

"Lert Samantao"

Nai Lert Park Heritage Home

A history of chilling out

Namkhaeng Sai

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok

Timeless elegance

Click here for a video that got me interested in learning about Nai Lert.  It should start at 9:01.

Old Customs House

My plan in late June is to walk a route through a historic area on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.  The Old Customs House is a landmark I will walk by.  It's being repurposed as a luxury riverside hotel.  Scheduled completion is in 2024.

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Click here and here for some history of the Customs House.

Coming This Summer

Over the years, I've experienced 31 rooftop bars in Bangkok.  These are the ones that have peaked my interest for this summer's trip.  I would like to do at least 9 of these, but I'm really striving for 14.  The main wild card is the weather.  We'll be there at the start of the rainy season.

 

Just Say No

You can find durian in Asian markets in the US.  It's flash-frozen and usually not the best variety.  I wouldn't recommend it.  Instead, plan a trip to Southeast Asian June - Sept.  In particular, select Thailand and Malaysia.  Indonesia is also a fabulous place for it, but it's not the easist country to get around.