- Author's lounge, Oriental Hotel, Bangkok - Jason Ward
If you have a strong stomach and want an interesting (but not particularly pleasant) activity, the Siriraj Medical Museum is worth a visit. The museum is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday. Located on the other side of the river from the Grand Palace it is best reached by the river ferry. Get off at stop no.10, called Wang Lang (Siriraj), walk to Prannok Road, and the hospital is on your right. The museum itself is located on the second floor of the Adulyadejvikrom Building but can be a bit hard to find, so it is best to ask. The admission fee is 40 baht.
The museum consists of six parts but the most popular, and certainly the most gruesome, is the Songkran Niyomsane Forensic Medicine Museum. On entry you get an immediate taste of what to expect. On the right is a series of human skulls with graphic photos of the victims of such things as road accidents, bullet wounds, and knife wounds. On the left is a section dedicated to the tsunami, with a life sized diorama and recreations of infected wounds.
Once inside, things get worse. Probably the most famous exhibits are the mummified bodies of a couple of murderer-rapists, including the infamous Si Quey who was hanged for his crimes. There is also a series of pickled body parts with a brief explanation of how they came to be in the museum. There are tobacco filled lungs, hearts blocked by fat, alcohol swollen livers, and various brain traumas including a head that has been sawn vertically in half to show the damage caused by a bullet. Probably the most disturbing of all are the jars full of foetuses. Some of the babies show the effect of illegal abortions and others are miscarriages. There are also babies that had actually been born and had died from cruelty. Adding a certain poignancy to the tragedy of the latter, there are gifts of sweets and money scattered around the displays.
While the Forensic section seems to be the most popular, some of the other sections are worth a look around. That is, if you still have the stomach for it. There are still a few unpleasant sights to be had – in particular the gigantic preserved scrotum in the Parasitology museum, with accompanying pictures.
The Author's Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.
The Author’s Lounge in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel does a fantastic, if a bit expensive, afternoon tea. It is the perfect place to calm your traumatised mind. Simply get back on the river ferry and head south to pier no.1 – the Oriental.
The lounge strongly evokes the theme of the British Colonial era. With white rattan furniture and palm trees, it is a pleasant place to spend an hour or two. The Author’s Lounge is named in memory of the numerous writers that have stayed in this older section of the hotel – from Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham to Wilbur Smith and Barbara Cartland. For 880 baht you can have one of the traditional afternoon tea sets, complete with scones, cucumber sandwiches and other finger foods.
Bangkok's luxury cinemas
Most of the Thai cineplexes are located on the top floors of the major shopping malls. Some of the better known luxury cinemas are at places like the Emporium, MBK, and the Siam Discovery Center, but the Nokia Ultra screens at the top of Siam Paragon are definitely one of the best. The tickets are cheaper than a lot of the cramped and noisy cinemas in the West. The service, comfort, and viewing pleasure can spoil you when compared to almost any other cinema in the world.
It is best to get there a bit early to take advantage of the exclusive cocktail bar. When it is time for the film to begin you are shown to your chair and offered a choice of a drink and a snack. The chairs are grouped in pairs and are of the Parker Knoll variety that allow you to fully recline. Just remember not to get too comfortable before the feature starts as you will still have to stand up to pay your respects to the King.
It can be easy when living in or visiting Bangkok to spend your whole time shopping, visiting temples, or hanging around in bars. The three alternatives above are merely a small selection of what else there is to do in this exciting city. There are lots more.
Jason Ward - The writer of 'The Uneven Passage of Time' (book), and the websites The Word of Ward, and Scifiward.
