The last time, I visited Thailand (Bangkok, specifically) was in 2004. My impression of Bangkok has always been that it is a really warm, humid and hot city with tasty cuisine (food is mostly spicy), a rich history and its genteel people are hospitable yet are not fluent in English. Oh before I forget, Bangkok is also known for its terrible traffic jams.
21 years later, perfect opportunity presented itself when sister dearest had to attend a trade fair in Bangkok, Thailand. After her work was done, she extended her stay and I joined her on April 26, 2025, a Saturday.
Yes, Thailand being a tropical country simmers during summers. But there are a lot of greenery, so the heat level is tolerable. In fact, I was surprised it wasn’t as hot as I expected it to be. Food was delicious, as expected and I like how you can actually ask them for non spicy version of their dishes and it was still flavorful!
We stayed at the Novotel Bangkok in Siam which is centrally located in the shopping district. Quite accessible to the BTS and MRT stations. Walking distance to several commercial establishments.
The next day, April 27 Sunday after a hearty buffet breakfast at the hotel, we booked a Grab ride to take us to the Jim Thompson House and Museum. Located just a few kilometers from our hotel but it would entail a bit of a walk from the BTS station as it is located in a residential area of Bangkok.
Jim Thompson was an American architect born in Delaware in 1906. Prior to World War II, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and was later sent to Asia. However the war ended before he saw action. As a military officer, he was assigned to Bangkok and fell in love with the place. After leaving the service, he lived in the Thai capital permanently.
Jim Thompson devoted himself to reviving the craft of the hand weaving of silk. A long neglected cottage industry, Thompson as a highly gifted designer and expert in textiles contributed substantially to the worldwide recognition of Thai silk.
There is a tour of the house with a guide who will show you around the vast premises. A 30 - 40 minutes tour which is held daily and done with a small group of visitors. We took the 12:20 PM tour.
The construction of the house combined six teak buildings which represented the best in traditional Thai architecture. He adhered to the customs of the early builders. The houses were elevated a full story above the ground to avoid flooding during the rainy season.
The roof tiles were fired in Ayudhya, a design common centuries ago. The red paint on the outside walls is a preservative often found on many old Thai buildings.
All the traditional religious rituals were followed during the construction of the house and on a spring day in 1959, decreed as auspicious by astrologers, Jim Thompson moved in.
He decided to open his home to the public to showcase his art collection and his silk designs. Proceeds are donated to Thai charities and to projects devoted to the preservation of Thailand’s rich cultural heritage.
On March 26 in 1967, Jim Thompson disappeared while on a visit to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. It remains one of the most unresolved disappearances in history.
Jim Thompson resorts wear are a luxury brand which features high quality Thai silk fabrics.
In 1976, the Thai court-appointed administrator for the property of Jim Thompson received permission from the government ministries to legally establish the James H W Thompson Foundation. The foundation is committed to the preservation of Thailand’s rich artistic and cultural heritage by a wide variety of research, publications and seminar projects.
After you are done exploring the house and museum, you can avail of the golf cart service that will take you to the main street, near exit 1 of the BTS National Stadium Station.
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