13.00: After lunch, join a stream of people along Charoen Krung Soi 32 next to the Central Post Office building. If wall art is for you, this is the place to be. Featuring beautiful works by international artists, the display promises to make art lovers happy.
For those interested in how people lived in the olden days, it’s a good idea to visit the Bangkok Folk Museum, a.k.a. Bangkokian Museum, located on Charoen Krung Soi 43. The place is known for fascinating stories and exhibitions of the Thai way of life both before and after World War II. The part house part museum consists of a few buildings on the property, the first of which is a Western-style two-storey wooden home with hip-roof design. Its extended eaves are adorned with gingerbread trim, a style preferred during the 1940s. Each room is set up to depict the area history and lifestyle of people in the antebellum period and thereafter.
The second building at the rear served as a medical clinic of Dr. Francis Christian. Besides medical equipment of the period, there are other exhibits showing how the Charoen Krung neighborhood evolved over time to become a vibrant, prosperous district that we see today. You are most welcome to drop in to learn more. There is no admission fee.
The late afternoon is the best time to visit the Neilson Hays Library. It is a Neo Classic-style single-story building nestled under a canopy of tall trees. Dubbed the most beautiful library in Bangkok, it is the brainchild of Italian architect Mario Tamagno, who also designed the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. The library is built on symmetrical design with double walls for better ventilation.
The Neilson Hays Library offers thousands of books in English and other languages. Its service is open to both Thai and foreign nationals regardless of gender and age.
At the center is the “Rotunda Gallery,” where art exhibitions rotate on a regular basis.
16.00: A stroll further along Charoen Krung touches religious aspects of old Bangkok, one of which being an Indian temple that was built during the reign of King Rama V. The beautiful Hindu shrine showcases architectural features that are characteristic of southern India.
A wander along a sidetrack next to the Hindu shrine takes you to a bookstore so obvious that it is impossible to miss. Vivid colors on shop windows, books, and beautiful paintings combine to make the Kathmandu store visible to tourists looking for a good read.
17.00: The last stop you must visit is the Asiatique Riverfront shopping center, one of the main attractions on the Chao Phraya. A favorite hangout for tourists and locals, the shopper’s paradise was once upon a time a quayside area, where ships came in to load and unload. Nowadays it is one of the most sought after shopping complexes offering upscale products, souvenirs, food, drinks and other services.
At nightfall, you can feel the peace that the evening brings. The atmosphere along the Chao Phraya at the onset of night is perfect for shopping and dining before you conclude your day trip. Too tired to walk back to the BTS station at Taksin Bridge? Riverboats are a great way to get around. The light rail station is only a boat ride away.
For more information: https://www.tcdc.or.th/projects/co-create-charoenkrung/?lang=th