The Man that Went Mising

Yep, we saw it.  The world renowned Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company.  Not falling out of your seat in jealousy?  Never heard of it?

"Pre-silk"

.... Neither had we.  

We kind of stumbled upon it when we were trying to figure out what was withing walking distance of our business school and student housing.  Beyond a mall and some cute boutique shopping areas, this was really all we found.  

I know this doesn't need any further explanation  but I'm a nerd.  So, at the sound of stumbling on a traditional Thai house - home of the guy that is known for his silks - made my little ears perk up.  They really only perked up though, because I thought we'd be able to hit up a tour of a silk factory!  After which, I obviously thought I was going to be buying some great scarves.

The Jim Thompson House really just ended up being a house.  We overpaid the $100 bht to get in, but went straight to the fancy bar for a pitcher of Singh rather than joining the next tour.   We did eventually make it to the tour - just had to hydrate first.

Sketchy walk... ending at the Thompson House

Learning about Thompson ended up being pretty cool - he was out there representing America well, which started the tour off on the right foot for me.

He was from Delaware, went to Princeton, was an architect, volunteered for the Army, got assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (which they said kind of pre-ceded the CIA.... need to read more on that), but never saw action due to the war ending.  He'd already been able to travel all over though, so opted to head back to Thailand and set up shop as a silk maker.  Not a bad life decision, there, buddy.

Only about 8 years after moving there, he took a vacation to Malaysia.  Went out for a morning walk.... never to return again.  They have no clue what happened to him.




We're still deciding if we now cross Malaysia off our travel list..... or go sleuthing.... find some Thompson clues, and get our pictures put up in the Thai Thompson Museum.....

http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com/life/index.asp

Flowers outside the house

Just what we needed before the tour

Wall decorations