ancient times when Chinese merchants were working as noodle peddlers and would craft red paper lanterns to help earn a living .
Fees Both exhibitions for ฿100 . ฿40 to see the Golden Buddha
Hours Tuesday through Sunday , 8:00 a . m . to 5:00 p . m .
Location 661 Charoen Krung Road , Samphanthawong District , Bangkok 10100 ( Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Center is located on the second floor and the Phra Buddha Maha Suwanna Patimakorn Exhibition is on the third floor .)
SILOM THAI COOKING SCHOOL
Learn to cook delicious Thai cuisine
Thai cuisine is praised around the world , and there is no better way to experience these dishes than by learning how to cook them yourself . And , while you ’ ll find an abundance of noteworthy cooking schools in Bangkok , Silom Thai Cooking School is arguably one of the best .
The chefs at Silom Thai go above and beyond simply telling participants what they are making or what ingredients to add and when . Instead , each dish is thoroughly explained . From the origins of the recipes to what ingredients to omit and what substitutions to make , the chefs ensure their students are well-prepared . They ’ ll even provide guidance on how to make traditionally meatbased dishes into delicious , vegetarian-friendly meals .
Students also receive a recipe book from the school , making it even easier for them to impress friends with their new culinary skills once they return home .
Fees ฿1,000 per course
Hours Morning , afternoon , and evening classes are available
Location 68 Silom Soi 13 , Silom Road , Bangrak , Bangkok 10500 , Thailand BTS Chong Nonsi , opposite Narai Hotel
ERAWAN SHRINE
A glistening relic in the heart of downtown Bangkok
Bangkok ’ s urban outfits constantly intermingle with religious relics ,
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
one of the most famous of which is the Erawan Shrine , nestled on one of the city ’ s busiest roads . Not strictly Buddhist , this Brahma shrine was built to bring good luck and repel evil . Many locals gather here daily to make merit . Erawan welcomes more visitors than many of Bangkok ’ s much larger temples .
It is believed that one way to give thanks at the shrine is to perform a traditional Thai dance . Visit Erawan Shrine at the right time , and you may just be lucky enough to watch a group of women in brightly-colored Thai clothing make their merit through the art of traditional dance .
Fees Free
Hours Every day from 6:00 a . m . to 1:00 p . m .
Location Lumphini , Pathum Wan , Bangkok 10330 BTS Chitlom and across from Amarin Plaza
JIM THOMPSON HOUSE MUSEUM
Get a glimpse into the past at this old teak home museum
Located in a beautiful , lush courtyard is the Jim Thompson House Museum . The museum was the home of American entrepreneur James H . W . Thompson , renowned for putting Thai silk on the map after traveling to Thailand for work .
Thompson ’ s mysterious disappearance in 1967 has yet to be solved , and his house remains mostly unchanged since then . But today visitors can explore his charming home , filled with his collection of Thai relics and art pieces from all over the Kingdom . Visitors can take a tour with guides who explain everything about the teak home and Thompson — and the silk that he made so famous .
Fees ฿150 for adults ฿100 for students under 22 years old
Hours Every day from 9:00 a . m . to 6:00 p . m .
Location 6 Soi Kaseman 2 , Rama 1 Road , Bangkok BTS National Stadium
NATIONAL THEATRE
Experience traditional Thai dancing
With a strong focus on Thai arts , the National Theatre aims to connect with audiences through various art forms performed on stage . One of the most memorable performances is the khon , a traditional Thai dance once largely performed in the royal court . The stories told in these performances are derived from the Ramakien — Thailand ’ s national epic , which is based on the Hindu legend of Ramayana .
Khon dancers wear artfully-crafted masks depicting the drama ’ s main characters — demon , monkey , celestial , human , and animal — and are accompanied by a Thai piphat orchestra and a narrator .
Tickets go on sale only an hour before each performance begins , so get there a little early to grab a place to sit and enjoy the show .
Fees ฿60 — ฿100
Hours Performances are held on the last Friday and first and second Sundays of the month .
Location Thanon Somdet Phra Pin Klao , Metropolitan Bangkok , Thailand Near the Phra Pin Klao Bridge
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