http://www.raceofchampions.com/

Over the weekend Rajamangala Football Stadium have been turned into some Big Boys Toys matchbox Car Racing Tracks with lots of action from invited Drivers – Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Jamie Whincup, Mick Doohan, David Coulthard, Jorge Lorenzo, Tom Kristensen, Andy Priaulx, Sebastien Ogier, Romain Grosjean, Benito Guerra.

About Rajamangala Stadium: Rajamangala National Stadium is the national stadium of Thailand and the home stadium for the Thailand national football team. It is part of the Hua Mak Sports Complex, and is located in Hua Mak Subdistrict, Bang Kapi, Bangkok

Yes it’s true, if you ever been to Jim Thompson’s house (Thai Silk King – House on the Klong) in Soi Kasem San 2, RAMA 1 Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330 ( http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com ), you will definitely love Thai Traditional Houses. Getting there is easy, as it is about 350m walk from National Stadium BTS Skytrain, just across the road there is a small Soi, walk right ahead and you’ll hear river taxis running along this small Klong Maha Nag.

Did you know that Jim Thompson not only rebuild the collection of houses you see here. There is another house he helps to put together and constructed for his dear friend, Connie Mangskau. (http://www.conniemangskau.com ) which is now called The Siam, http://thesiamhotel.com (Opening 2nd Quarter 2012) and located at the base of Krung Thon Bridge. (http://www.facebook.com/TheSiam)

It was quite a task to reconstruct all this houses during and complete all of them in 1959. Jim Thompson bought 6 Antique traditional Thai-style houses with teak structures and had them floated down the Chao Phraya River to Bangkok. Some of these houses are bought from owners in Ayutthaya  and in other parts of Thailand which they were then dismantled before the river ride.  Carpenters are also sought from Ayutthaya to Bangkok to help assemble these old structures in order to keep the tradition and art of building Thai Houses.

One of Connie Mangskau granddaugther, MaryAnne Stanislaw, who is now living in California (http://conniemangskau.blogspot.com) will be writing a book about her beloved Grandma. MaryAnne have (http://www.mstanislaw.com) been collecting family stories, family history documents and photographs for many years about Connie. She hopes to put every piece of the puzzle in to a Project Book (Biography: My Grandmother, Connie Mangskau) to tell about the story of Connie Mangskau’s extraordinary life.

Late last year, MaryAnne paid a trip to witness the construction of “The Siam” brand new hotel where her Gradma’s house will be part of the Hotel landscape.

Who is Connie Mangskau?

Now that we know Connie is a friend of Jim Thompson. Connie’s Traditional Thai house  that Jim helped to build have been a centre of attraction to many guests from Movie Stars to Politicians and visiting royalties from all over the globe.

Connie was born in Chiangmai, Thailand in 1907 where she went to school in Bangkok, further her studies to become a Nurse in Singapore, married a Norwegian Rubber planter and widowed working as a secretary to raise her children. When the World War Two hit Asia, Connie was working with BAT and she was ask to work for underground movement during the war. Quickly she send her daughters in separate ways to escape the Japanese. However, Connie was imprisoned in Cambodia before the war ended being charged for spying.

While Jim Thompson revive the Thai Silk industry, as they shared keen interest in Thai Antiques, Connie started her own business and opened Monogram Antiques which was a very successful Antiques business in Thailand.

At the very height the Thai Silk business, the workload just gotten to much for Jim Thompson and affecting his health. His close immediate friends encouraged him to take a break, and on March 24, 1967, together with Connie, and Dr. Tien & wife, Helen from Singapore decided to lay back for awhile and visit Dr.Tien’s family resort bungalow at Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

It was on Sunday, that Jim Thompson decided to sit in the hall after the day’s cut short picnic trip and he left the house without any trail while his suit jacket was still on the back of a chair, he also left his pill box, cigarette box and a lighter. They believe he took a pre-dinner stroll in one of the nature trail and he failed to return.

Google Maps: +13° 44′ 56.68″, +100° 31′ 43.03″

Garmin Maps: N 13 44.945, E 100 31.717

Jim Thompson House
6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok
Tel: (662) 216-7368 Fax: (662) 612-3744

Admission : Adult 100 baht; Students 50 baht

* Compulsory guided tours around the house.

Opening Hours : 09:00 to 17:00 everyday with the last Guided Tour at 17:00*

The Siam

http://thesiamhotel.com/

http://www.facebook.com/TheSiam

If you are in town, you know that a lot of people are in Holiday mood with 4 days of public holiday given by many corporations in Thailand. Take note that some shops are closed during this period and majority of them will reopen on the 4th of January 2012.

Bangkok roads are empty all along major highway. If you plan to visit Bangkok outskirts places like Amphawa Floating Market, Hua Hin Beach, Ayutthaya Ancient City or Pattaya Beach Town, getting out of the Bangkok city will be difficult task and expect to take longer period of time due to the heavy traffic.

How to you calculate Thai Calendar?  

543 years from Buddhist Calendar + Western Calendar = Thai Calendar

543 + 2012 = 2555

The current King is the ninth King of the Chakri dynasty.

A Royal ceremony is performed by the King to pay respect to King Rama I the Great, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty.

This Thai National Holiday celebrates the day in 1782  that King Rama I was crowned as the first king of the Chakri dynasty. It is also a celebration of the continued dynasty of King Rama I to IX and is a special day for all the people of Thailand. For up-to-date information about this royal line and to see the magnificent works performed during their time as reigning monarchs visit Wikipedia page for a basic history.