|
|
Post by curt on Jun 2, 2012 1:22:51 GMT
Thought I'd give the Thailand forum a kick in the butt! Many mourned the demise of Suan Lum, aka Lumpini Night Bazaar. Everyone wondered if there would be anything that could replace it. Well, "Asiatique, the Riverfront" might do it. It has some of the vendors from the old Suan Lum. There are also plenty more shops, along with a few store front businesses. Many restaurants are available to choose from, heavy on Japanese cuisine. Joe Louis Puppet Theater and Calypso Cabaret will move their shows to new theaters being constructed at this location. Just wandering around the place is nice. It been designed quite attractively. Venue's website: www.asiatiquethailand.com/Some Pics: tinyurl.com/7brm8el |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2012 1:56:12 GMT
Looks like Bangkok realized it needed an entertainment district that is a bit more "family friendly" than a number of the other offerings of the city.
|
|
|
|
Post by curt on Jun 2, 2012 3:02:06 GMT
Thais are very family oriented. There is an endless variety of family friendly venues in this city. The vast majority, of all activities, include children. With extended visits since the 90s, and living here since 2007, I would have no trouble, whatsoever, taking anyone's family to any and all of the places I have visited.
The the "famous" sleaze is such an very small portion of what is Thailand. Many tourists, however, can't seem to find their way away from it. Provide the sleaze, and they will come ... Seek and ye shall find.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 2, 2012 3:27:16 GMT
Interesting kick & a real eye-opener for me. That place is huge -- sort of reminds me of Las Vegas without the icky gambling & of course with the lovely attraction of a river.
What sort of area is beyond Asiatique -- business downtown or what?
|
|
|
|
Post by curt on Jun 2, 2012 4:48:56 GMT
Although a couple hotels are within the area, it's pretty much "suburbia" Bangkok. Because of this, the best way to access the place is by the free river shuttle, operating from the Sathorn pier. Unfortunately, Chareon Krung, the road running by the place, wasn't designed for the traffic this venue generates.
|
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jun 2, 2012 5:44:44 GMT
I believe you correctly intuited what I was thinking when I asked that question, Curt. My experience with this kind of riverfront development was a) with places much smaller & b) areas such as warehouse or wharf areas that had fallen into disuse, so essentially they were attempts to bring commercial life to moribund parts of town.
From your OP, I gather that Asiatique is a newer, expanded version of a proven public draw, so with guaranteed clientele from the start. What was there before it was built?
Oh yeah ~~ why so heavy on Japanese restaurants?
|
|
|
|
Post by curt on Jun 2, 2012 6:06:51 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by hwinpp on Jun 2, 2012 7:20:14 GMT
My girlfriend used to live up on Soi 100 or so on Charoen Krung. We used to love to go and eat on Chan Street.
Same goes for Phnom Penh, Curt. You won't believe the number of people who all want to go to Cambodia but don't want to overnight in PP.
|
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Jun 2, 2012 8:16:42 GMT
Great idea to kick start this section , I have not read many of the reports here apart from the street food section ( the reason I found Any Port some time ago)
It appears the Asiatique has all the ingredients to become a popular attraction. Will/ does it have live bands as per the Lumpini night bazaar ?
|
|
|
|
Post by curt on Jun 2, 2012 10:16:21 GMT
It appears the Asiatique has all the ingredients to become a popular attraction. Will/ does it have live bands as per the Lumpini night bazaar ? There was a "Battle of the Bands" the night we were there. I think some sort of outdoor entertainment will be the norm. However, I don't believe there will be the "beer garden", per se. |
|
