August 24, 2008-Neilson Hays Library-Bangkok

We took a walk on Sunday and wound up on Surawong Road. Here we found a beautiful and historic building, the Neilson Hays Library. I knew this building was something special when it caught my eye at the corner on which it sits; the simple, classical, style marked it as one of Bangkok's older structures, but with the obviously well kept off-white exterior and dark window frames it was unusual. I wondered if it was an embassy? As we came to the entrance and could read the sign we saw it was a library. Set back only a few feet from the busy street, but peaceful within it's walled compound, this library was a gem to find. Inside are shelves lined with books, new and old, in English.

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Neilson Hays Library

From their web site, "The Neilson Hays Library was founded in 1869 by the Ladies' Bazaar Association, which formed the Bangkok Ladies' Library Association to serve the reading needs of the large English-speaking community in Bangkok. The building and property now occupied by the Library were part of an endowment received from Dr. Hayward Hays in 1922 in memory of his wife Jennie Neilson Hays who had served on the committee of the Library for at least 25 years. It is the oldest non-profit association in the Kingdom of Thailand."

Go to the library's web sitehere

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Neilson Hays Library, inside

Rich wood, cool air and quiet inside the library, and lots of nice books to look at and check out.

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Thai Boxer Statue

We walked across Naradiwas and saw this statue. Notice the elbow to the chin? Ouch!

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Chong Nonsi Station

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
"W" Hotel site

Another sky scaper going up

wingssail images-fredrick roswold
Samsung F480

This is my new 3G Touchscreen Samsung phone. Click on the image to read my mini review.
One area in which the Samsung shines is the 5mp camera. I took the photos on this page (except the last one) with it. I've already filled the 4gb memory with music too. What fun.

Fred & Judy, Bangkok