Prestigious private collections

1 day

Start your day with an unusual open-air exhibition of traditional Asian buildings, collected and reassembled by wealthy entrepreneur and art lover Mr. Prasart Wongsakul. The place is rarely visited by mass tourism partly because of it's intentionally limited for number of visitors. Set in a gorgeously lush tropical garden, it comprises about a dozen replicas of traditional buildings, including a golden teak palace inspired by the royal residence now housed at the National Museum, a Chinese temple and water garden, a Khmer shrine, a Sukhothai Period teak library set over a lotus pond, and a European-style mansion, fashionable with Bangkok royalty in the late 19th century. Housed in the building are rich collection of antiques and artifacts, including Burmese woodcarvings, prehistoric pottery from Ban Chiang and Lopburi Period statuettes. There are also some unusual pieces of royal memorabilia and an exquisite collection of Bencharong ceramics. Continue to Jim Thompson House, a somewhat ideal home in elegant Thai style, and a peaceful refuge from downtown chaos. The house was the residence of the legendary American adventurer, entrepreneur, art collector and all-round character whose mysterious disappearance in the jungles of Malaysia in 1967 has made him even more of a legend. Apart from putting together this beautiful home, Thompson's most concrete contribution was to turn traditional silk weaving from a dying art into the highly successful international industry it is today. The grand, rambling house is in fact a combination of six teak houses and most over 200 years old. The impeccably tasteful interior has been left as it was during Jim Thompson's life, even down to the cutlery on the dining table. Complementing the fine artifacts from throughout Southeast Asia is a stunning array of Thai arts and crafts, including one best collection of traditional Thai paintings in the world. Today's fine Thai cuisine lunch will be served at the Jim Thompson House accompanied by a Thompson's signature drink.

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