Bangkok Day 1

We had heard very mixed reviews about Bangkok so I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive about the trip. But any anxiety I had about exploring the city soon disappeared. Even though Tim and I experienced different Bangkoks - I was on the tourist trail and Tim was darting about the city attending meetings and giving presentations - we both agreed that it was a great city, and a refreshing change from safe, clean Singapore. The people that we met were unfailingly friendly, always greeting you with a 'wai' and a smile. We were made to feel very welcome.

I visited the Jim Thompson house on my first day. Jim Thompson was an American who came to Thailand towards the end of WW2 and liked it so much he stayed. He is credited with reviving the Thai silk industry. He also accumulated a number of beautiful Thai artifacts and created a home on the banks of a tributary in Bangkok. His home consists of six different old Thai buildings that he discovered on his travels around the country. He moved them to Bangkok and made them into one big house. It was a beautiful place to spend my first afternoon in the city as it was tucked away from the hustle and bustle, a real oasis of calm.

We weren't allowed to take pictures of the inside of the house (I'm not sure why) but the outside was impressive enough.

The main entrance when arriving by car - if you were arriving by river you would come in the door on the other side

A glimpse inside - a very old Buddha with an Italian marble floor

There were fish everywhere, but I liked this little guy in a big plant pot all on his own.

The Jim Thompson brand is now famous in this part of the word for a chain of decent Thai restaurants and shops selling all sorts of things in Thai silk. But no one knows what happened to the man - he was on holiday in Malaysia in the 60s and disappeared one day in the Cameron Highlands. He hasn't been seen since. Our guide thought that he had been eaten by a tiger or kidnapped. Either way, when he was finally declared dead his house was turned into a museum, with the proceeds going to local Thai projects.

The whole thing was incredibly well done with a restaurant and very nice gift shop. Of course I had to sample the local fare so I ordered a spicy prawn and Thai basil concoction with lychee shake for lunch. Delicious, and it only cost me £3.

Yes that is a fried egg you can see...who would have thought it would work so well?