Do you know more about jim thompson house in bangkok thailand? Help us make Guuki better. Be the first one to edit this topic!
The Jim Thompson House attracts visitor for three main reasons. One is the fascination with Thompson life as part of the Central Intelligence Agency. When Thompson was in it they called it the Office of Strategic Services; but it was still basically the CIA. Thompson served the organization in Asia and is rumored to have been involved in the death of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) in 1946. Part of the fascination with Thompson is that he is the spy that came in from the cold - in 1947 he supposedly left the CIA. Is that possible? When Jim Thompson disappeared in the jungles of Malaysia in 1967, the first thoughts of many people interested in his life were that the CIA had been somehow involved in his death… Thompson was important to Thailand because he became interested in the country's failing silk industry. Thompson established the Thai Silk Company and began producing hand woven silk. His success can be measured best by the growth of industry competition. Much to the benefit of Thailand, dozens of other silk companies emerged after it became clear that Thompson's silk had a market. Thompson is credited with reviving the industry. The Thompson House is also visited by many tourists simply to see what an authentic Thai home looks like. Thompson used his architectural skills to construct the home. It is made from parts of real Thai homes that had fallen into disuse and that Thompson moved to Bangkok.Six different teak homes: The Jim Thompson House is a complex of six traditional Thai-style homes. They are all teak structures, purchased from different owners and moved to the present location from other parts of Thailand. The house was completed in 1959.Landscape: The Jim Thompson House is built on one rai of land. A rai is a traditional measurement unit of for land - about half an acre. The house is surrounded by gardens designed to give the feel of rainforest.Order of the White Elephant: Jim Thompson was given the Order of the White Elephant award for his service to Thailand because of his role in restarting the country's silk industry. The Order of the White Elephant is bestowed upon foreigners who have served Thailand in an exceptional manner.A Museum: The Jim Thompson House serves as something of an Asian art museum because Thompson's collection of Asian art remains in the home. Included: a collection of Buddhas dating back to the 8th Century; traditional Thai paintings; blue and white Chinese porcelain from the 16th and 17th centuries; Thai ceramics from the Sukothai era; and Khmer pottery from 12th century Lopburi. Location: The Jim Thompson House is located on Soi Kasemsan (2) Song, across from the National Stadium on Rama I Rd.Hours of Operations: The house is open from 9am to 5pm everyday with the last Guided Tour starting at 4:30pm. Guided tours around the house are compulsory (you can't just walk through it yourself). Admission Fee: Adults pay 100 baht to get in; students pay 50 baht.Architect, Entrepreneur, and Spy: Jim Thompson started his professional life as an architect and his gift for architecture becomes clear when you visit his former home in this non-descript Bangkok neighborhood.Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
No comments yet on this topic.
Be the first one!
