Siam Tribune/Suan Lum

[Pas]

You might have seen this already:

http://2bangkok.com/2bangkok/buildings/siamtribute/siamtribute.shtml

watch out Dubai!

[globalwoman]

Hello,

I'm a regular reader of 2Bangkok.com, but this is the first time I'm posting on this forum. I've looked at your 3D map of Sathorn Rd. highrises a couple of times (Great work!), and was prompted to post a message here by my recent trip to Chicago this past weekend. Now that's a most fascinating city... I've lived in a couple of interesting cities. Chicago is probably an architect's dream trip. Its impressive skyline and city planning certainly opened my eyes to the wonder and possibilities of architecture and well-thought out city-planning for an non-architect like myself.

I really enjoy the virtual Bangkok that 2Bangkok.com creates since I miss Thailand a lot, and don't know when I will be going back to live there again. The photos that are posted shows different sides of Bangkok, that maybe people living there don't see. I hope that having these virtual images will help grow a beautiful Bangkok for many more centuries to come!

BTW, I was surprised that BKK's tallest building was sectioned under the Bridges section on 2B's page.

According to that list we've still got 300 more floors to build before we can top the world record. I like Siam Tribute's design more than I did Dubai's tallest. I hope there'll be more information on this subject soon.

[The Enforcer!]

Are they knocking down all of Suan Lum Night Bazaar (including BEC-Tero and Joe Louis) to build Siam Tribute?

The Enforcer!

[Pas]

Khun Enforcer!

Eventually that entire Suan Lum Bazaar (ex Military pre cadet school site) and the Lumpini Boxing stadium will be totally redeveloped. Crown Property Bureau is considering bids for the site at the moment. A new shopping centre is most likely.

Siam Tribute is one of the projects proposed for that site but it's only a concept vision at this stage.

Regarding the Joe Louise theatre I understand the developer of Suan Lum Bazaar has sub leased the site to the theatre company. However, when the site is totally redeveloped I guess the theatre would have to go unless they can enter into a new lease agreement with the new developer.

[The Enforcer!]

Thanks Pas,

Any timescale? Someone said March 2005?

The Enforcer!

[jpatokal]

I wonder if I'm the only person here who likes the Night Bazaar? I know about the legal shenanigans involved in building it, but compared to Chatuchak it's a lot more manageable in size, easier to navigate, cooler to browse in the evenings, and a wide selection of beer sold by girls in miniskirts never hurts :D

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by jpatokal
I wonder if I'm the only person here who likes the Night Bazaar? I know about the legal shenanigans involved in building it, but compared to Chatuchak it's a lot more manageable in size, easier to navigate, cooler to browse in the evenings, and a wide selection of beer sold by girls in miniskirts never hurts :D
Except that it is over-priced and full of poor quality products!

The Enforcer!

[jpatokal]

Originally posted by The Enforcer!
Except that it is over-priced and full of poor quality products!
Pricing is up to your bargaining skills and you don't have to buy poor quality; I don't see Chatuchak having much of an advantage in this respect, for most part they sell the same khrap. And try the Patpong night market if you really want to get ripped off...

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by jpatokal
Pricing is up to your bargaining skills and you don't have to buy poor quality; I don't see Chatuchak having much of an advantage in this respect, for most part they sell the same khrap. And try the Patpong night market if you really want to get ripped off...

I see them all as tourist traps I am afraid! Pity, as Thailand has some great art and crafts to sell fairly!

The Enforcer!

[Wesley HSu]

I like Suan Lum. Prices are same as chatuchak if you know how to haggle. But the sooner they tear down BEC TERO the better. That concert venue puts half the audience about a mile from the stage.

[The Enforcer!]

But the sooner they tear down BEC TERO the better. That concert venue puts half the audience about a mile from the stage.
With some performers that is an advantage!!!

The Enforcer!

[GWR]

Thai puppet troupe facing uncertain future

The Nattayasala troupe at the Joe Louis Theater carefully moves intricately painted puppets to traditional Thai opera. Their movements in the "Hun Lakkhon Lek" puppet show are based on Khon- the classical Thai masked dance. The stories they perform are based on tales from the Ramayana, the Indian book of the Hindu Gods.

It takes three puppeteers to control the limbs and head of a single puppet. A good troupe can make the puppets ‘come alive’, conveying human emotion and pathos.The Nattayasala troupe recently won the Best Performance Art award at the 12th World Festival of Puppet Art 2008 in Prague.

Even though the troupe brought honour to Thailand, it received very little publicity back home. On the contrary, the troupe’s regular shows pull in many foreign tourists.

"It was a lovely play. I think it reflected aspects of Thailand that I didn't know.", said a foreign tourist.

Apart from fighting not to become a dying art form, the troupe is also facing eviction from the theatre in which it performs in, which is located in the Suan Lum Night Bazaar in central Bangkok. Developers want to build a modern shopping mall in its place.

Young puppet master and president of the Nattayasala troupe Pisutr Yangkhiawsod said if the troupe was forced to move out, it would go on a road show, and perform in schools and for people in the provinces.

Family members of puppeteer master Sakorn Yangkhiawsod, widely known as Joe Louis, have been fighting to preserve the ancient Thai puppet art form for years, after it started losing popularity in the 1950s.

Whatever the fate of Suan Lum Night Bazaar, the Nattayasala troupe remains determined to keep up the Thai puppet tradition, hopeful this part of its culture will persevere like the characters in the plays it performs.

"We will keep trying to preserve the cultural art. Even if there is no support in the future, we will try to keep it alive until we have no power left to do so and that might be the end of the culture.", said Pisutr Yangkhiawsod.

Last Update : 2008-06-20, 2008-06-20 (GMT+7:00)
With MCOT News English Language video report:
http://enews.mcot.net/clip.php?nid=13414

See also:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?p=21674#post21674

See also report on the 'new' Lumpini Boxing Stadium. I believe I'm right in saying the 'old' Lumpini Park Boxing Stadium was also knocked down to allow this mall's development (?):
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=958