Jim Thompson House Museum

In March of 2000, I first met Kade at the historic Jim Thompson House Museum, where she was working. I was about 45 days into my Asian travels, having arrived in Bangkok about two weeks earlier.  After spending time in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, I returned to Kao San Rd. in Bangkok.  I bought a Thailand Lonely Planet, and started reading it for things to do.  I read about this legendary Bangkok home that had an American connection.  I just had to see it.  One day I jumped on one of the city buses and made my way to another section of this gigantic city.  I struck up a conversation with a young Thai lady on the bus, and she ultimately took me to a Starbucks in the Siam Center (shopping mall).  She waited there till her boyfriend arrived, and I fueled up on caffeine before trying to make my way to the Jim Thompson House.  For some reason, before finding the house, I went into another huge mall - this one, Siam Discovery - and asked the information desk if the Jim Thompson House was in the building.  They laughed, and told me to walk around the complex, and over a bit.  It would be down near a klong (Thai for canal).

I arrived at Jim Thompson wearing my backpacking clothes (way too under dressed for this part of town) and proceeded to join a tour.  I found the home and all the artwork and antiques to be quite remarkable.  I also remember thinking the guide - a young Thai lady - was quite attractive.  When the tour concluded, I walked over to the Jim Thompson silk shop.  It was then that I first caught a glimpse of Kade.  She and another young lady were working there, and it was almost closing time.  After purchasing some postcards and two books, I exchanged e-mail addresses with them.  I remember one in particular (and it turned out to be Kade) had an unbelievable smile.  And, although we exchanged e-mail addresses that day, it was another two months or more before we actually reconnected.  My mind was on Southern Thai islands, Malaysia, Singapore and perhaps other far-flung destinations.  To Kade I was just another friendly tourist who thought it would be nice to remain connected via e-mail.

In 2009, Kade and I visited the Jim Thompson House to reminisce and see old friends. At the end of this post, you can see some YouTube videos I made of this return visit.

Kade is second from the left.

I didn't take this picture, but it's from during that year when Kade and I first met.  Gotta love the lipstick!

This is a scan of the actual postcard I bought on my very first visit to Jim Thompson.  I mailed it to Mother.  See below.

 

A book I also bought during that first visit.  I got it for Mother, and mailed it to her with some other items I purchased during my travels.

a journal or photo album I got for a cousin back in Alabama

(L-R) Rose, Kade, Puk

Kade, on the town with her colleagues/friends.

Photo above is from the Jim Thompson pageant.  That's Kade.  A year earlier she was First Runner-Up in the Miss Jim Thompson contest (see two pics below).  I believe that the winner could not attend the next year's event, and Kade was asked to fill in for her.  This black silk dress is part of a Jim Thompson line.  For the pageant, they (Jim Thompson) provided this dress for Kade.  After the pageant was over, I actually bought this very dress for Kade as a surprise.

When Uncle Jim came over for our wedding in 2003, we took him to the Jim Thompson House. For more pics of the stunning home, click here.  While he was in Bangkok, we made sure he had other memorable experiences:  The Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, The Floating Market, Dinner Cruise, and Seafood Market Restaurant.  The day Uncle Jim visited the Grand Palace, Kade actually was his tour guide.  I was teaching that day.  The dinner cruise video above shows what the experience was like on the river.  However, what we actually went on - I believe courtesy of our cousin, Carol Oates Gentemann - was the Mandarin Oriental Dinner Cruise.  I just couldn't find a video of it.  Thanks for the treat, Carol!!!!

On an off-day (or maybe after work one day), Kade was with a colleague/friend

who was preparing for her graduation ceremony.  Images made inside buildings at the Jim Thompson Museum.

On a visit to Singapore, Kade and I stopped by the Jim Thompson store on the grounds of the world famous Raffles Hotel.  This is a portrait of Mr. Jim Thompson.

To read more about Jim Thompson, click here.

As you know, there's a huge Jim Thompson store in the Surawong (near Silom).  But you may not know that Jim Thompson had a little bakery and tea shop in Saladang (also near Silom).  Not sure if it's open now.  Kade took me there in our early days of dating.  I do remember, once I returned to Alabama for a visit, sitting with Aunt Marilyn at her home and showing her this picture.  Before I finished my sentence about Kade, Aunt Marilyn said, "She sure is pretty."

Jim Thompson's First Shop

Read this book many years ago.

I purchased this book for my mother on my first trip to Bangkok.

Surawong Road

Bangkok

Jim Thompson

If you were in Bangkok and were trying to get from Jim Thompson's first shop over to his house, which is now preserved as a museum, you would go from this BTS station to the National Stadium BTS station - jut like this.  You'd then exit on the opposite side of the stadium, then walk down the soi (lane) to the Jim Thompson House Museum.  You could tour it, then have a fabulous meal or refreshing drinks on the garden patio.

I got these coasters for an Asheville hiking friend who has a parrot named Tarzan.

The Jim Thompson House

 

 

Whenever in Bangkok, Kade and I go back to The Jim Thompson House, where she was working when we first met.  Kade still has friends who work there, and we get to "knock out" seeing several at once.  This legendary house, with its remarkable grounds and gardens, is an oasis in a city that can easily overwhelm you.  If you're staying in Bangkok for a week, it's got to be on your list of things to do.  Besides learning the history of the home and regional silk industry, you can have a relaxing coffee and breakfast or a delicious lunch.  Afterwards, in the silk shop, you can grab up some quality souvenirs, clothing and accessories.  And, if you're a single guy like I was on my first visit, you might even fall in love!

For those traveling to Bangkok for the first time, and therefore may be a bit vulnerable to scams, here's a big tip: The Jim Thompson House, along with other notable city landmarks, sometimes has tuk tuk drivers or men who are dressed well, speak English and appear friendly, just hanging around down the road (or soi).  And when tourists come walk up the street looking for, in this case, The Jim Thompson House, these people often say, "Hey, it's closed today. But I can help you."  The next thing you know, your map is out and this "friendly" person is apparently coming to your rescue.  But that's the ruse!  They want to take you to another silk shop or place where they can get a commission off a sale of some kind.  I doubt your life is ever in danger.  For them, it's about money.  What you need to do is know where you're going during the day, and even if someone tells you it's closed, find out for yourself.  Or look for someone more official to ask.  I think students who speak English well are sometimes good to ask.   Again, unless you want frustration, trust your own instincts.  And rely on your guidebooks!  I am speaking from personal experience here.  My first trip to Bangkok, on my way to the Grand Palace from Khao San Road - I was walking - a tuk tuk driver said repeatedly, with a smile on his face, "The Grand Palace is closed today.  It's a holiday."  Fortunately for me, I had already purchased a Lonely Planet guidebook and had read about Grand Palace and its opening hours.  I also read a blurb about scams like that.  So I was ready!

Old Stomping Grounds

One thing that really reinvigorates me and recharges the relationship battery is going back to the places where Kade and I first met and spent time together.  I'm very nostalgic in this way.  Almost always when we return to Bangkok, Kade and I will go visit the Jim Thompson House Museum, the historic Bangkok home where she was working that sweltering day in 2000 when I walked in. Earlier this year, we visited it again!  We wanted to have some lunch, and we wanted to say hi to some of Kade's friends.  When we were done, we added a little wrinkle to the day.  We took the skytrain to the Victory Monument, the area where I lived that first year or two in Bangkok.  Kade helped me find the apartment back then!  When we got there, we started walking along the skytrain footbridge.  That's when I got a bright idea:  Let's have our photo taken at the exact spot where we had it taken 17 years ago, just to see how we have held up.  Sure enough, we found the spot.  If you're interested, at the bottom, below these images, you will see blog links to the Jim Thompson House Museum, where I share how Kade and I met.  I also am including a link to show the apartment that first year, and that original photo of us.  See what you think.

first visit to Jim Thompson House Museum

Victory Monument Photo