ROYAL BARGE MUSEUM

ROYAL BARGE MUSEUM

                                                           This collection of royal barges, some of which are up 50 meters long, is housed on the Thonburi side of the river in a series of elaborate sheds near the Pinklao Bridge. The barges are best seen in action during rare ceremonial processions on the Chao Phraya where the colourful crews can number up to 64, including rowers, umbrella holders, navigators and various musicians. Beautifully and ornately decorated, these magnificent long craft were completely renovated and restored to their former glory by the present King, who also commissioned the newest boat for his golden jubilee in 1996.

80/1 Rim Khlong Bangkok Noi, Arun Amarin Rd., Thonburi / daily 9a-5pm.

RATTANAKOSIN EXHIBITION HALL

RATTANAKOSIN EXHIBITION HALL

                                                           This multimedia museum offers skillfully abbreviated introduction to an area that many admire, but few truly understand: Rattanakosin island, Bangkok’s glittering birthplace. Wandering its seven rooms-free of relics but rich in dioramas, interactive videos, text and audio clips in Thai and English-Brings the area’s hard-to-fathom history, arts, communities, architecture  and traditions into focus. Also includes an observation balcony with vies over the old city.

100 Ratchadamnoen Klong Rd.,next to Wat Ratchanadda/11am-8pm. Tues-Fri , 10am-8pm. Sat-Sun.

MUSEUM OF SIAM

MUSEUM OF SIAM

                                                           A truncated history of Thailand unfurls through this down-with-the-kids discovery museum, located in beautifully restored former  government building from the 1920s. Design company Story! Inc delivered the conceptual design, replacing the usual ’don’t touch’ sings and interminable text Its pop graphics and interactive games galore. Entertaining highlights include dressing up as a 20^th century nobleman and mapping out the borders of your own Siam using a touch screen. Tellingly, the place teems with the usually museum-shy-Thai teenagers.

4 Samachai Rd. Pra Nakorn /daily 10am-6pm. Tue-Sun

MUSEUM OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS

MUSEUM OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS

                                                           In 1989 , Thailand’s oldest international law firm, Tilleke & Gibbins, decided to convert their evidence of counterfeit goods into educational tool for law students, Over 3,500 items-from  Ferrero Rocher chocolates to anti malarial  tablets and a fake Ferrari Motorbike-are neatly laid out, forgeries next to the originals. An eye-opening experience that would make even the thriftiest market-goer think twice.

Supalai Grand Tower Building 26F,Rama3 Rd./daily 10am-4pm./ BTS Surasak.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

                                                           Previously a palace during the reign of Rama V, the National Museum Features extensive displays of Thai artifacts from the main historical periods encompassing the Lanna, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai kingdoms up to the present dat. Thai culture is well documented in sections on dance, music and drama The first example of Thai literature and the Thai alphabet, inscribed by King Ramkamhaeng on a black stone during the Sukhothai period, is also on display. Free tours in English, French, German and Japanese are given on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30am. Photography not alloed inside.

5 Chao Fa Rd, Sanam Luang / daily 9am-4pm / Wed-Sun.

HOUSE OF MUSEUM

HOUSE OF MUSEUM

                                                           Located on a dusty backstreet in Nakhom Pathom province, this modest townhouse museum is filled to bursting with Thai cultural connoisseur Anaka Nawigamune’s stockpile of 20^th Century Thai ephemera. Stirring up nostalgia for a time that most Thais forgot-or never even knew-on the ground floor is a toyshop, barbershop gold-shop and coffee shop. Upstairs evocative bits and bobs, most of them donated by people who heard about his madcap preservation project and wanted in, sit in glass display cases.

Sala Thammasop, Phutthamonthon Soi 2 .