BANGKOK
BANGKOKACTIVITIESBANGKOKACTIVITIESthe products of Queen Sirikit’s Support
foundation.
FNational Library LIBRARY, MUSEUM
(Map p 96 ; %0 2281 5212; Th Samsen; h9am-
6.30pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat & Sun; river ferry Tha
Thewet) Has few foreign-language resources,
but the library’s strength is in its astrological
books and star charts, as well as recordings
by the king and sacred palm-leaf writings
and ancient maps.
Suan Phakkad Palace Museum MUSEUM
(วงสวนผั ักกาด; Map p 97 ; %0 2245 4934; Th Sri Ay-
uthaya; admission 100B; h9am-4pm; BTS Phaya
Thai) An overlooked treasure, Suan Phakkad
is a collection of eight traditional wooden
Thai houses that was once the residence of
Princess Chumbon of Nakhon Sawan and
before that a lettuce farm – hence the name.
Within the stilt buildings are displays of art,
antiques and furnishings, and the landscaped
grounds are a peaceful oasis complete with
ducks, swans and a semi-enclosed garden.
The diminutive Lacquer Pavilion, at the
back of the complex, dates from the Ayu-
thaya period and features gold-leaf jataka
and Ramayana murals, as well as scenes
from daily Ayuthaya life. The building origi-
nally sat in a monastery compound on Mae
Nam Chao Phraya, just south of Ayuthaya.
Larger residential structures at the front
of the complex contain displays of Khmer-
style Hindu and Buddhist art, Ban Chiang
ceramics and a very interesting collection of
historic Buddhas, including a beautiful late
U Thong-style image. 2 Activities
Traditional Massage
A good massage is the birthright of every
Bangkokian, and the joy of every visitor. Cor-
respondingly, places off ering massage are
everywhere in Bangkok, and they range in
quality, depending largely if they off er mas-
sage or ‘massage’. To avoid the latter, stay
clear of the places that advertise via scantily
dressed women.
If it’s your fi rst time in the hands of a Thai
masseur/masseuse, discard any preconceived
notions, as many visitors fi nd authentic Thai
massage equal parts painful and relaxing. A
traditional Thai massage often also involves
herbal heat compresses (oil treatments are
typically associated with ‘sexy’ massage).Lumphini Park & Th Phra Ram IV
æ Top Sights 13 Ngwan Lee Lang Suan ............................ B1
Lumphini Park ......................................... B2 Sukhothai Hotel .............................. (see 11)æ Sights û Drinking
1 Surapon Gallery ...................................... A3 14 Moon Bar at Vertigo................................B3
15 Wong’s Place............................................C4
Ø Activities, Courses & Tours
2 Siri Pattana Thai ý Entertainment
Language School ................................. B3 16 Brown Sugar ............................................ A1
17 Lumphini Stadium...................................C3
ÿ Sleeping
3 All Seasons Sathorn ............................... A3 ï Information
4 Café des Arts Guest Alliance Française ......................... (see 23)
House .................................................... D4 18 Australian Embassy ................................A3
5 ETZzz Hostel ........................................... D3 19 Austrian Embassy ...................................C4
6 Ibis Sathon............................................... C4 20 Canadian Embassy ................................. A2
7 Luxx XL...................................................... B1 21 Danish Embassy ......................................C4
8 Malaysia Hotel......................................... C4 22 Diethelm Travel ....................................... C1
9 Metropolitan ............................................ B3 23 French Consulate .................................... A3
10 Penguin House ........................................ D4 24 German Embassy....................................B3
11 Sukhothai Hotel ...................................... B3 25 Irish Embassy ..........................................C3
26 Japanese Embassy .................................C2
ú Eating 27 Malaysian Embassy ................................A4
Café 1912.........................................(see 23)
12 Kai Thort Jay Kee..................................... C1
nahm..................................................(see 9)