Jim Thompson's house is a real highlight of any trip to Bangkok. The house itself is beautifully decorated and preserved and provides a fascinating insight into the life of this mysterious man, who set up a huge empire trading in Thai silk before disappearing whilst walking in the Malaysian highlands in 1967. Various conspiracy theories have evolved to explain his sudden disappearance, spurred not least by the murder of his sister the same year in America.
What he has left behind, aside from the mystery, is a museum-quality exhibition devoted to his life and work and the development of Thai traditional arts and culture. This short trip can be a welcome diversion from temples and the hustle and bustle of the Thai streets.