One Friday afternoon, when the weather had a very pleasant temperature, I decided to go and have a closer look at the latest shopping mall, One Bangkok. I always wonder if there is a need of more huge shopping mall, I don’t know!
This mall, consisting of several architectural different buildings, is located on Witthayu Road near Lumpini Park. It is huge and you need lots of time to discover it all. In my opinion, I find it a little sterile and you don’t just go there to buy a pair of shoes or whatever. It’s hard to find your way around and the exits, and on the Friday afternoon I visited, I could count the visitors on my two hands. Outside, between the buildings, is a beautiful Fontaine which sprays water, a nice quiet area where you can sit down and catch your breath. You can also have a look at The Wireless House. This house is not just an old building that still stands because the owner refused to move out, but a replica of the old Sala Daeng Radio and Telegraph Station, that has been remodeled and rebuilt in a new location as an exhibition space that tells a story of the area from its early days. It’s the conservation project of Thailand’s first radio and telegraph station building. Sala Daeng is surrounded by the Rama IV Road and Ploen Chit Road, the two main roads that both heads east. The area was once a suburb with rice fields and open spaces and its nick name was Thung Sala Daeng (the red pavilion). Later on, many intersection roads began to emerge, forming several blocks, such as Henri Dunant Road, Ratchadamri Road and Witthayu Road. With time, the old city became too crowded and people moved outside, especially foreigners who didn’t like to live in a very crowded city moved away. Today you will find many embassies and consulates in this area.
On January 13th 1913 the king Rama VI came to perform the opening of Sala Daeng Radio and Telegraph Station. The radiotelegraph was in fact the very first wireless technology in Thailand. This is also why the road was called Wireless Road and not Radio Road, because radio here means “wireless”.
Many years later the night market Suam Lum Night Bazaar was developed in this area and the Sala Daeng Radio and Telegraph Station was demolished.
When One Bangkok designed the landscape around the newly built radio and telegraph station building, they chose trees from the same family or similar to those previously found, such as Borneo Margaret and Rose Apple or the Water Iris.
Today, 20 years have passed since the old Sala Daeng Radio and Telegraph was demolished. The building of today, looks exactly like the original, re-born in a slightly moved location.
Inside the building you will find a permanent exhibition, presenting the history of the Sala Daeng Radio and Telegraph Station.
The conservation architect Mr. Jua, sees this project as one of his masterpieces.
If you wish to visit and learn more, The Wireless House One Bangkok is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm. You will get a good history lesson by visiting the exhibition.
On my way home, I also decided to visit the recently opened new Dusit Thani Hotel.
Many years ago, I stayed several times in this hotel. It was a genuine Thai hotel and I loved the long bar in the lobby serving oysters, caviar and Champagne. They at that time, also had the best Irish Coffee in my taste.
I must say, I was quite impressed by the new building. You still have a nice bar in the lobby and Thai decorations. The staff was extremely welcoming and polite. I just wanted to take a look I explained and immediately I was escorted around. There are two high floor bars, one is called SPIRE Rooftop Bar, a very inviting bar where you can dine and/or just go there to sip on a fancy cocktail or enjoy a glass of wine. The view is breathtaking and you can admire almost the whole Lumpini Park. The other bar is called 1970, a nostalgic name I was told. In short, there will be a 3rd smaller bar opening and specializing in signature cocktails.
This is, in my taste, one of the most beautiful hotels in town and worth paying a visit to.
Close to Central Embassy at Chit Lohm, I passed the new Christian Dior shop. This exclusive store is behind a very attractive façade in a gold tone and a DIOR sign in big letters. The shop also has its own tuk tuk, a very elegant one.
Every day, when you walk around, you will discover new buildings. Bangkok is a city that never stops surprising you, worthy the nick name “The City that never sleeps”.
Let’s see what’s new next month.
