Jim Thompson's House in Bangkok

Jim Thompson's house is located at the end of a
small alley - known in Thai as a soi - near the BTS station

which is called National Stadium.

This poster with text in Thai and English provides some information

about Jim Thompson's house in Bangkok.

 

The entrance to the house is located at the end of the soi.

Jim Thompson's former home is a museum which is open to the public.

The entrance to the house.

Lost in the City:

Jim Thompson Returns!



A special exhibit on display at the museum

from 25 November 2006 to 22 March 2007.

Jim Thompson was born in the US in 1906.

This special exhibit was established to mark and to celebrate

the 100 year anniversary of his birth.

This modern reconstruction shows Jim Thompson

when he was 50 or 60 years old.

Jim Thompson and his pet, a white cockatoo named Cocky.

Jim Thompson's home is actually a compound with several old Thai houses made of wood
which form a courtyard and which are surrounded by a garden, known as the jungle.

On the ground floor of the house you can see this old instrument
used for weaving silk cloth.

This beautiful ceramic flower pot is part of the interior decoration.

Two stone lions flank an old carving made of wood.

Ceramics are an important part of the art collection.

Three ceramic bowls below an old carving made of wood.

In the background you can see a small statue of an elephant.

A close-up on the old carving made of wood.

The carvings show shrimp, fish, and other creatures from the sea.

This motive was used by the Thai Silk Company

for a series of popular prints on both silk and cotton.

The small statue of the elephant.

One of the old Thai houses which form the compound.

Another look at one of the old Thai houses which form the compound.

The terrace outside the living room.

The spirit house in the garden, not far from the terrace.

This old carving made of wood is on display on the ground floor.

A close-up on the old carving made of wood.

This part of the garden faces the canal, known in Thai as a klong.

The canal is still there, and boats are still passing the house from time to time.

This beautiful bowl with flowers floating on water is part of the interior decoration.

The charming fish pond next to the cafeteria.

Another look at the fish pond.

A beautiful flower floating on the surface of the water.

Ceramics are an important part of the art collection.

This picture shows a ceramic plate.

A close-up on the ceramic plate.

The old Thai houses made of wood

are surrounded by a garden, known as the jungle.

One of the old Thai houses seen from the garden.

In the garden you are allowed to walk around on your own and to use a camera.

To enter the house, you must join a guided tour.

You are not allowed to use a camera inside the house.

A cafeteria and a souvenir shop are modern additions to the compound area.

As you can see, there is also a Jim Thompson Restaurant and Wine Bar.

* * *

Jim Thompson's house in Bangkok - known as "The House on the Klong" - is a peaceful oasis

in the midst of the urban jungle. It is worth a visit, if you are in Thailand.

* * *

For the record: the first ten pictures used in this post were taken in 2006,
while the remaining pictures were taken in 2014.

* * *

For more information about Jim Thompson, see my blogs:

A Biography about Jim Thompson

The House on the Klong

* * *