Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 714

Wat Benjamabophit
Located on hanon Sri Ayutthaya, about
600m southeast from Vimanmek's
U-hong gate, Wat Benjamabophit (daily
8.30am-6pm; B20) was commissioned
by Rama V in the early 1900s. he style
blends classical hai and nineteenth-
century European design - the Carrara-
marble walls, which gleam in the midday
sun, are complemented by unusual
stained-glass windows. he courtyard
behind the bot houses a gallery of
Buddha images from all over Asia. Wat
Ben is also the best place to see the daily
early-morning ritual alms-giving
ceremony (between about 6am and
7.30am); in contrast to the usual parade
of monks around the locality, the temple's
monks line up and await donations from
local citizens.

which is now displayed at his former
home, Jim Thompson's House , which can
be seen by compulsory guided tour (daily
from 9am, last tour 5pm; B100; National
Stadium or Siam Central Skytrain
stations or on the Khlong Saen Seb canal
boat), near Siam Square at 6 Soi
Kasemsan 2, hanon Rama I. he grand,
rambling house was constructed
- without nails - from six two-hundred-
year-old teak houses that hompson
shipped to Bangkok from around the
kingdom. he tasteful interior has been
left as it was during hompson's life.
here's an appealing restaurant (see
p.723) on site.

10

Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre
A striking, white hunk of modernity at
the junction of Rama I and Phrayathai
roads, the prestigious Bangkok Art and
Cultural Centre (Tues-Sun 10am-9pm;
free; W bacc.or.th) houses several galleries
on its upper floors, connected by
spiralling ramps like New York's
Guggenheim, as well as performance
spaces. here's always something
interesting among its temporary shows,
which are by contemporary artists from
hailand and abroad across all media. To
get here, catch the Skytrain to National
Stadium or Siam (Central).

Wat Indraviharn
he temple complex of Wat Indraviharn is
dominated by an enormous standing
Buddha, 32m high. he striking image,
commissioned in the mid-nineteenth
century and covered in gold mirror-
mosaic, is the tallest representation in the
world of the Buddha holding an alms
bowl from beneath his robes. His toes
peep out through flower garlands, and
you can climb the stairs supporting the
statue to get a decent view over the area.
he temple compound is an interesting
amalgam of religious architectural styles
and includes a Chinese shrine. Wat In is
an easy ten-minute walk north of
Banglamphu, along hanon Samsen;
bus #53 stops nearby on hanon Samsen.
Be aware that the complex has become
a favourite hangout for con-artists
(see box, p.711).

Erawan Shrine
Located on the congested corner of
Ploenchit and Rajdamri roads, sitting
conspicuously next to the Grand Hyatt
Erawan , the garishly ornate Erawan
Shrine is well worth a visit. It is dedicated
to Brahma, the Hindu creation god, and
Erawan, his elephant. Buddhists,
including many from Singapore, Hong
Kong and Taiwan, come in droves to pray
and offer thanks to each of Brahma's
heads - luckily for the flower and incense
hawkers. hai dance troops can be hired
to perform thanksgiving routines here
when a prayer has been answered; the
number of dancers depends on the
magnitude of the wish fulfilled.

Jim Thompson's House
Decades after his death, Jim hompson
remains hailand's most famous farang
(foreigner). A former agent of the OSS
(later to become the CIA), hompson
moved to Bangkok after World War II
and later disappeared mysteriously in
Malaysia's Cameron Highlands in 1967.
He is most famous for introducing
hai silk to the world and for his
collection of traditional art, much of

Suan Pakkad Palace Museum
he Suan Pakkad Palace Museum (daily
9am-4pm; B100), five minutes' walk