World City Guide

Further Distractions

Suan Pakkad Palace Museum
Suan Pakkad Palace used to be the residence of Princess Chumphot, one of Thailand’s leading art collectors. Five traditional wooden Thai houses, brought to Bangkok from around the country, are set in one of the loveliest gardens in the city. The museum houses an important collection of antiques.

Sri Ayudhaya Road, Rajathevi
Tel: (02) 245 4934.
E-mail: info@suanpakkad.com
Website: www.suanpakkad.com
Transport: Skytrain Phaya Thai station.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600.
Admission: B100.

Ban Kham Thieng
Ban Kham Thieng is a 200-year-old classic northern-style teak house, brought from Chiang Mai and reconstructed in Bangkok. The house was owned by a worker and shows the simplicity of rural life in the north during the last century. It contains a collection of traditional implements used by farmers and rice field fishermen.

131 Soi Asoke (Soi 21), Sukhumvit Road
Tel: (02) 661 6470.
E-mail: info@siam-society.org
Website: www.siam-society.org
Transport: Skytrain Asoke station and Sukhumvit subway station.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0900-1700.
Admission: B100.

Ko Kret
Beyond the airport, 20km (12 miles) to the north of the city, Ko Kret is a tiny island community virtually untouched by the nearby metropolis. There are no roads on the island and many of its residents rely on its potteries for employment, as well as fruit and flowers from its many plantations. The island can be reached via Highways 31 and 35, then ferry from Pak Kret Pier. The Mit Chao Phraya Express Boat (tel: (02) 225 6179) run an excursion every weekend from Tha Chang Pier departing at 0900. The trip lasts 7.5 hours and costs B200.