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Bangkok ＃2/2
1981~88
Bangkok Oriental Hotel
Bangkok, 1981
In that year, I decided to visit Bangkok on my first family sightseeing trip.
I wanted to take a leisurely look at the palaces and temples of the Buddhist capital, as well as visit the richly explored waterways and floating markets.
Decided to stay at the Oriental Hotel , a historical heritage hotel facing the Chao Phraya River, the mother river of Bangkok.
Oriental Hotel Lounge
Photo by author, 1981
From the guest room, you can literally see the Chao Phraya River below.
In the background, the Taksin Bridge under construction connecting both sides of the river.
Photo by author, 1981
Photo by author, 1981
When I researched the history of the Bangkok Oriental Hotel,
I found out the following. The Oriental Hotel’s history began shortly after the Liberation Treaty of 1863, which was signed between the Kingdom of Siam and the British Empire. Right before the Meiji Restoration !
After that, the hotel changed owners, but with the protection of the Siamese royal family, it secured its position as the country’s finest hotel.
Then, in 1891, Tsarevich Nicholas of Russia became the first royal guest.
During World War II, the hotel was rented by the Japanese military and operated by the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
Courtyard of Bangkok Oriental Hotel.
Photo by author, 1981
Stairs to the mezzanine floor from the lobby of Bangkok Oriental Hotel.
Photo by author, 1981
Photo by author, 1981
Patio
Photo by author, 1981
Photo by author, 1981
The roof of the lobby lounge on the first floor seen from the corridor on the guest room floor.
Photo by author, 1981
Hotel guest room
Furniture and furnishings in the guest rooms.
Photo by author, 1981
Photo by author, 1981
Writing desk
Photo by author, 1981
TV, bar and refrigerator in 1981
Photo by author, 1981
Bedside table
Photo by author, 1981
Bangkok Regent Hotel
Bangkok, 1988
I had business to attend to again after a long time, and so I came to Bangkok. This time I stayed at the Regent Hotel in the city center.
I met up with a Thai architectural perspective artist whom I had met in Singapore.
When he asked me how much the hotel cost, I told him it was equivalent to the monthly salary of an average office worker in Bangkok.
Bangkok Regent Hotel, lobby ceiling painting
A local acquaintance explained the wonderful ceiling painting in the hotel lobby. According to the story, the ceiling painting in the photo below was done by a painter of a Buddhist temple, and he worked for a long time while lying on his back on the scaffolding, and died of exhaustion after completion.
However, his work has survived for posterity.
Photo by author, 1988
Gazebo in the garden
Photo by author, 1988
Tuk-tuk. Bangkok’s everyday mode of transportation
Photo by author, 1988
Even back then, traffic congestion in Bangkok was terrible.
At that time, Don Mueang Airport could only be accessed by car, not by train. There were no expressways yet, so I had to navigate congested general roads with many traffic lights. It was difficult to estimate the time of arrival at the airport, and I were always nervous.
A large hotel on the way to the airport
Photo by author, 1988
A building in a prime location in a city that looks like it is on poor ground.
Photo by author, 1988
Real estate sale signs, Honda signs, and Toyota minibuses.
Photo by author, 1988
Cafes in Bangkok
I visited a cafe in the city center on the recommendation of a local acquaintance. From the outside, it was a stylish Western-style building, but inside, it was a relaxing coffee shop with interiors made from locally produced Thai teak wood.
In contrast to the glittering royal palace and luxurious hotels, the relaxed atmosphere made a strong impression on me.
A stylish Western-style building.
Photo by author, 1988
Fittings and furniture are made of teak
Photo by author, 1988
Burlap sacks of coffee beans behind the seats
Photo by author, 1988
Shelf made of solid teak wood.
Photo by author, 1988
