The Jim Thompson story is a compelling one; we had read about him prior to our visit to Bangkok, and the mystery surrounding his disappearance doesn’t seem much of a mystery to me. He lived well and large, owing to the great success of his silk empire, and somebody didn’t like it. His house has been transformed into a museum, and the tour is well worth it. The gift shop is absolutely marvelous, despite the fact that it exploits his name shamelessly. The quality and selection of gift items is unmatched; you are left to browse to your heart’s content and no one will try to sell you anything.
Since it was strictly forbidden to take photos in the interior of the house complex, you can go here and have a look at the few photographs, but more importantly, the configuration and design of the house itself.
An architect by training, Thompson had the walls of the main house turned inside out, so that the beauty of the teak could be admired. All the doors are at an angle so as to remain true to the shape of the reclining roof. There are six structures all told, and for each, materials came from all over the country for their assembly.
He was also a great collector, and one can see, especially in the famous drawing room, the trophies brought back from his travels. I especially liked the drums that became lamp bases. All the rooms have raised thresholds, which are supposed to keep evil spirits at bay; more practically, as we were informed by our guide, they also keep young babies from falling into the rivers.
Thompson sought the advice of a Buddhist monk for the most propitious time to have his house built; unfortunately, the spirits did not favor him in the long run.
The house is replete with windows and there are lots of open areas that allow for cross ventilation. The furnishings are quite elaborate and many are decorated with mother of pearl inlaid into the wood. Under the window sills are carvings that one usually finds in wealthy homes or temples. An image of Buddha at the entrance has a special niche, and facing his bed, there is a large inscribed stone which must have some spiritual meaning.
Thompson also managed to emulate the exotic flora of Southeast Asia on the grounds of his house. Narrow paved walkways separate the wild growth, and every once in a while, you’ll catch some dazzling group of flowers. The house is on the banks of one of the city’s many khlongs. And he was quite the host: people loved being invited to Thompson’s house, which probably welcomed the world’s who’s who. As they would come in the front door, their feet would touch black and white marble tiles that had been imported from Italy, and if they faced the staircase, they’d see huge paintings in the traditional Chinese style hanging.