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Collector's items I was amazed to find a collection of rare rocks, fossils, ashtrays, old matchboxes, smoking pipes, cigarette packs and old Chinese publications on display at a private museum only a walking distance from Si Phraya intersection in Bang Rak district of Bangkok. Driving passion Given his love for Thai art, Niwet Waevsamana has turned part of his house into a museum that exhibits his hand-made puppets, together with a demonstration of how they are made, and he welcomes the public to come and view his creations. Over to Thon Buri Let's make a visit to the Princess Mother Memorial Park in Khlong San district of Thon Buri where you can enjoy peaceful moments and be reminded about the great kindness of the late HRH the Princess Mother whom all Thais fondly call "Somdet Ya". House of dolls If you come across dolls in the form of classical Thai dancers or khon at the duty-free shop at Suvarnabhumi Airport, you might just wonder who made them or where they came from.The answer is a short drive from Pratunam to Soi Moh Leng in Makkasan to a place called Bangkok Dolls House and Museum. House of fakes While fake products are easy to find in Bangkok, there is only one place those items are displayed for public view - at the Museum of Counterfeit Goods run by law firm Tilleke & Gibbins. Operating since 1989, the museum sits on the fourth floor of the Tilleke & Gibbins building in Soi Tonson off Ploenchit Road. Join the revelry This weekend is Chinese New Year when the area around Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown will be teeming with revellers wanting to make merry and some to say prayers and make merit, wishing for an auspicious start to the Year of the Pig. City escape No matter how busy the world outside, the zoo in Dusit district of Bangkok is a nice break for long-time city residents as well as children: the former can relax and enjoy some nostalgic moments while the latter can be let loose and be on their own. Changing skyline Behind the chaotic traffic bottle-necks and sprouting edifices - the Pratunam area in Bangkok offers a multitude of interesting activities to explore on foot. Stamps tell tales Stamp or postage museums bring back the good old feelings when letters used to be the norm of long-distance communication.Today, the era of email and SMS messaging has virtually rendered letters obsolete, or so it seems. However, I am sure there are people who still find the old mode of communication more heart-felt than electronic messaging. These people will find the Sam Sen Nai Philatelic Museum a charming sanctuary. It leads them into a world of stamps that have stories to tell and bring back memories of days long gone. Ferris wheel pulls in visitors Since the beginning of this month, a giant ferris wheel from France is operating in Suan Lum Night Bazaar on Rama IV Road offering visitors a bird's eye view of Bangkok and its sky line. In search of history Bamrung Muang Road, one of the very firsts in Bangkok, runs through the old districts of the city. Many forgotten buildings and landmarks along the road reflect how fast the city has changed.If we take the Grand Palace as the starting point, walking through the outbound road will lead us to witness many historical changes. Bamrung Muang Road starts from Chang Rong Si Bridge at the city moat behind the Ministry of Defence building and runs west to meet Rama I Road. Little india The aromatic smell of spices and freshly cooked breads told me I was heading in the right direction, towards the Indian district of Pahurat, better known as Bangkok's Little India. Night shopping It was an unlikely hour for shopping. I felt strange walking through a messy path stacked with beautiful flowers. I should have been in bed by now. But life had just begun in Pak Khlong Talat, Bangkok's largest cut-fresh flower market. Celebrating water festival the Thai way Time to celebrate and rejoice, like during Songkran, comes only once a year when traffic on the streets of Bangkok is light and moving around the city is a breeze. How about making merit to herald the start of the Thai New Year? Bangkok by boat an exciting option for Songkran Staying in Bangkok over the Songkran holidays can actually be a lot of fun. If you're looking to add a little spice to your outdoor activities, why not try a river cruise operated by the Chao Phraya Express Boat Co Ltd. It could be a golden opportunity to experience Bangkok from a new perspective. Sobering presence Wat Prathum in Siam Square is an oasis of calm in a chaotic neighbourhood Delightful dragon With Chinese New Year approaching, residents of Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, are scrubbing their houses clean to welcome the "Year of the Dog" that ushers in this coming Sunday when people will wear red, while all shops and buildings in the area will be decorated with paper and electric lanterns of matching colour themes. Underwater world opens tomorrow A giant aquarium in the basement of Bangkok's newest shopping mall looks set to prove a major crowd-puller. Giant spider crabs, blue-ringed octopuses, ragged-tooth sharks, spotted seals and 30,000 exotic fish from around the world have found a new home in the heart of Bangkok at Siam Ocean World, a state-of-the-art aquarium at Siam Paragon. 'Venice of the East' to be reborn Suvarnabhumi city may soon be known as "the Venice of the East" when it is turned into a state-of-the-art metropolis around the new international airport in the next few years, a city planner said yesterday. Sawang Srisakul, director-general of the Interior Ministry's Public Works and Town and Country Planning office, said yesterday that it was his vision that the new city not only assumed Bangkok's old title but also became the heart of the capital. Museum on road to discovery A new museum in central Bangkok with a Bt2-billion budget plans to open its doors by the end of next year. Hive of activities Bangkok Fashion Week is one of the 11 projects comprising the Bangkok Fashion City Project. The main purpose of this endeavor is to enhance the international image and credibility of brand-name Thai fashion products and promote their sale in markets around the world. Ultimately, this event seeks to make Thailand the high-quality fashion centre of Southeast Asia. Picking up the pieces in Soi Aree The Public Relations Department in Soi Aree of Phaya Thai district is the place to be for those interested in learning about the history of broadcasting in Thailand . Giant Swing gets new look Initial repairs on the ancient giant swing near city hall have been completed by a private firm to allow the swing to withstand bad weather until the end of the rainy season, when the swing will undergo major restoration work. Aesthetic & educational Queen Sirikit Park is a veritable botanical paradise, only a stone's throw away from one of the busiest markets in Bangkok.
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