Jim Thompson - The story of Bangkok's most famous expat.
I was utterly delighted to see his beautiful house and wandering through all the rooms you can't help but admire the meticulous attention to detail and his sophisticated taste. The lush garden which he called his ''jungle" was absolutely beautiful and I could linger there for hours under the shades of the Palm trees. It is indeed an oasis in the middle of Bangkok and a welcome relief from the tropical heat.
So here is my long anticipated post about the most famous expat of Bankok and his fascinating story.
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| Jim Thompson |
A Brief History
Jim Thompson was an American expat who lived in Bangkok from 1945 until he disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1967.
The story of Jim Thompson and how he saved the Thai Silk industry is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only that, but the story also weaves between the clandestine world of international espionage, high society parties and dressing of royalty.
Sadly it is also a story of tragedy as he had disappeared without a trace in 1967 in the Malaysian Jungle. If one could sum up his life in terms of a walk it would definitely be along the road less travelled.
The silk trade - The King of Silk
Jim Thompson was working for the OSS, the predecessor of the CIA and his position saw him posted all over the world. This sparked his love for travel and far off places.
He was posted in Thailand around 1945 and of course, fell in the love with the country and the culture.
In 1947 he discovered a small community of weavers who lived in Bang Krua, in the heart of Bangkok. Mr Thompson was absolutely spellbound by the fabrics and the vibrant colours that could be produced on silk material. He recognized this as a unique opportunity to save the dying industry and help thousands of Thais in the process.
He then left the OSS and went to the fashion houses of New York with some silk samples. One of his connections was the Editor of Vogue Magazine and thus the key to the rise in popularity of Thai Silk.
He recruited the local weavers and the first Jim Thompson Brand Shop opened in 1950 in Bangkok.
His Silk found further success when it featured in the American Film The King and I. Soon royalty would call him for designs and outfits. Queen Sirikit wore his outfits whilst touring the US.
His company growth has inspired others to start their own businesses and thus providing thousands of jobs.
However, his brand remained the well-known one and he remained the King of Silk.
The House
The house was built in 1959. He purchased six traditional Thai houses in Bangkok and Ayutthaya.
They were dismantled and taken to his estate in Bangkok where they were pieced together again.
Thompson did, however, add his own touches to the buildings.
He did put in a central staircase indoors, rather than have it outside as is more common in old Thai houses.
He also reversed the wall panels under the windows which are nicely decorated so that they face inside.
The house is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and the main house and all the outer buildings are beautifully decorated with precious art pieces and antiques.
Thompson consulted astrologers before he moved into the house as was the custom in Thailand. The astrologers also told him that he should be careful when he turns 61 and indeed around the time that he was 61 he mysteriously disappeared.
He was also famous for hosting fancy dinner parties and all the rich and famous from around the world were always invited.
Ten years after his disappearance the James H.W.Thompson foundation took over the management of the house.
The mystery
While on a holiday with his friends in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia he went for a walk one afternoon on 26 March 1967 and never returned.
By the time dusk fell, concerns mounted and a large scale search for him had begun. This escalated into the biggest search for a missing person in the history of South East Asia.
Throughout the years there have been many theories about his disappearance but no one could solve the mystery.
His legacy
Since his disappearance, the Thai Silk Company has grown into a global luxury brand. His beautiful house was made into a museum and there is also a Jim Thompson farm in Pak Thon Chai.
His passion for silk and the finer things in life including teak and ceramic items became his brand name. The intrigue surrounding his vanishing only added to the legacy of the Thai Silk King.
My recommendations.
I would recommend that you take a guided tour as the guides are really knowledgeable and that way you will be able to see how beautiful the house looks from the inside.
Although it is a bit touristy I did not feel it was too overcrowded on my visit there.
Even if you are not a fan of architecture or history, the exquisite garden is very special and will definitely uplift your spirits.
The last word.
I hope you enjoyed this post and be sure to put this place on your itinerary next time you visit Bangkok.
Greetings from Bangkok
M
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