ASIATIQUE THE RIVERFRONT IS RELATIVELY NEW AS IT OPENED ONLY IN 2012 BUT IS ALREADY A MAJOR LANDMARK IN BANGKOK.
Once the headquarters of East Asiatic Company, a trading company owned by Hans Nille Andersen of Denmark, it was the world's biggest exporter of teak wood. King Chulalongkorn had the great foresight to establish trade with powerful European nations which were carving out colonies throughout Asia and successfully prevented Siam (the original name of Thailand) from falling into the hands of the French who had already annexed ndo China. It was said when French warships sailed into Bangkok to attack, it was the gaze of Emerald Buddha in Grand Palace that forestalled the conquest as the ships suddenly failed to move and were forced to retreat! To this day, the Emerald Buddha is revered as Thailand's most important and sacred Buddha image. Thrice a year, the King of Thailand personally changes the jewelled garments of this 26-inch statue which is of solid jade or jasper and not emerald as it is named after the green color.
The East Asiatic Company warehouses on this site by Chao Phraya river ceased operations in 1947 after 40 years and fell into disrepair. In 2011 TCC Land took over and transformed the original warehouses into this incredible shopping, dining and entertainment mega night market.
Most shops are inside the original warehouses so the ambiance is truly authentic and among the famous theatres are Calypso starring Bangkok's most beautiful and sexiest transvestites, Joe Lewis Thai Puppet Theatre and Muay Thai show. At RM 150 for the trannie and bvoxing shows, they are not cheap but worth every baht as they are so entertaining. I have not been to Joe Lewis theatre so cannot comment. The Asiatique Sky is Bangkok's highest at 200 ft with bird's eye views of Asiatique.
Currently Asiatique occupies 12 acres but plans are afoot to expand to 28 acres so I guess I will have to walk more and arrive at 5 pm. Asiatique replaces the popular Suan Lum night market and Silom street market as the stalls have been removed for some unfathomable reason. I went there three days ago and was shocked to see only a few desultory stalls left! Bring Silom night street market back! The stalls do not obstruct anything or anyone or any project and its elimination means 1 less tourist attraction in Bangkok!
Many call Asiatique openair but this is untrue as almost all shops are located indoors inside EAC warehouses and the toilets are amazingly cold so I tend to go there when the heat gets to me!
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