I left Siam Ocean World and walked to Siam Discovery. It was still raining, but I still made my way to the top of Siam Discovery, where Madame Tussauds was situated.
This was inside the elevator upMadame Tussauds is on the 6th floorHello MBKVarious photos of King Bhumibol lined the entranceYou begin with the History zone of great leadersMahatma Gandhi is the very first wax figureChairman MaoThe much beloved Princess DianaYou then have a selection of world leaders
Singapore’s PM Lee Hsien Loong and China’s former leader Hu Jintao (to the left)Queen Elizabeth, not sitting in her throne — so you can sit in itAmazing detailAung Suu Kyi and Dalai LamaYou can call off another invasion from Obama’s desk if you wantClearly I’m much shorter than Obama — who seems to have lost a lot of weight since taking officePablo PicassoYou have these interactive gimmicks in between the wax figuresI was now in the sports zone. Steven Gerrard looked amazing! Christiano Ronaldo, not so much.Whoever worked on Steven Gerrard did an incredible job!David Beckham. Doing sit-ups… with that face.This was a virtual penalty shootout simTiger WoodsCassius Clay/Mohammed Ali and a legendary Thai boxer named Khaosai GalaxyNever realized Yao Ming is THIS tall!I was now in the music section. The King of Pop – Michael Jackson – both young and olderThe whole point of visiting Madame Tussauds is to have posing with the figures (without being too disrespectful)Poor Nichkhun. The “Thai Prince” looks like this was made locally and they forgot to give him a haircut. (For those who don’t know, Nichkhun is a member of the popular K-pop boyband 2PM)The BiebsMadonna, looking fairly wrinkle-freeMando-pop superstar Jay ChouNow we’re in Hollywood territory. Anthony Hopkins in his most famous role.Johnny DeppThis isn’t a wax figure of a steel frame. Spider Man is supposed to be here.(L) Martial arts legend Bruce Lee (R) Thailand’s greatest martial arts export Tony JaaYou have quite a few Thai celebrities as wellNaomi Campbell and OprahJim CarreyMore Hollywood celebrities. Kate Winslet and Nicholas Cage.Nicole Kidman and Lady GagaA not-so-perfect George ClooneyMid-90s Mel GibsonBrangelina look awesome!(L-R) Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Michelle YeohThe closest I’ll get to meeting one of my favourite stars, Jackie Chan (and winning an Oscar)With that, I was done. This was a museum showcasing the history of Madame TussaudsMadame Tussauds’ first wax model was created in 1780, in ParisMadame Tussauds’ death certificate (probably a copy)That’s the skeletal frame
Some triviaYou can get a wax model made of your hand here (costs extra). The staff are smiling like this because they asked me for a photo.This was the gift shop.And I was done. Madame Tussauds Bangkok isn’t too big and I was honestly done in half an hour.
Mind you, I didn’t upload every wax figure I saw. There are a few Thai celebrities as well, along with other popular faces like Serena Williams and a few other historical figures I left out. That said, I felt seeing both Siam Ocean World and Madame Tussauds for ฿1350 was worth the price of admission. You can get the same deal online in fact.
It was time to leave Siam DiscoveryChannel V’s Thailand studioOnce outside, I saw a huge crowd gather in front of MBK. It was a muay thai match.
The plan now was to go to Asiatique the Riverfront. I had seen an ad claiming TAT was hosting special Loi Krathong celebrations there, with special shows and fireworks by the river. Even though I have been to Thailand twice now during Loi Krathong, I have never experienced the celebrations in Bangkok.
To get to Asiatique, I took the BTS to Saphan Taksin station and then walked to the boat terminal.
I knew I was on the right path when I saw the many vendors selling paper lanterns and krathongsThese are krathongsBut my god — the crowds were huge. It took so long for the line of people to move and fill up the free shuttle boats to Asiatique.It took nearly an hour before I finally made it on board a boatI was worried the boat was filled with too many peopleWhen I finally got to Asiatique, the place was packed!Asiatique is built where Lumpini night market used to beThey said there would music and other performances, but little of what I saw was ‘traditional’.Chang had a nice-looking boat in the riverSelling obscenely expensive krathongs hereOtherwise, the rest of Asiatique was all shops and a few restaurantsConsidering the wait to get to Asiatique, I could say I was disappointed once I got here
I bought a few t-shirts, and that was it. Many of the shops were closing up for the day. The restaurants were either booked for guests or too expensive for one person to dine.
I thought these fancy lights were part of Asiatique, but it was closed off to the public. When I asked some of the foreign staff I came across, they told me this was a set designed for an upcoming wedding between a wealthy Indian man and a Thai girl. Seriously!I’m Indian, but this extravagance was… shocking!This was a ferris wheel being constructed to be a part of AsiatiqueThe podsVisitors were lighting and floating krathongs here too
But I was getting a bit annoyed by the insane crowds and decided to leave Asiatique early because the lines for the boats going back were just as long.
More waitingIt was hot and stuffy, and people started shoving from behindAfter 30 minutes of waiting, I was on another crowded boat going backI didn’t bother staying for the fireworks, and went back to Saphan TaksinBut just as the boat reached the jetty …Fireworks!
Talk about timing
Seeing the fireworks from here made me realize how much more of a time waster going to Asiatique wasStill, I’m glad I got to see thisCouldn’t think of a better celebratory way to end my last night in ThailandI didn’t stick around to light lanterns as it was getting late and I wanted to sit down and eat a good dinner. I was thirsty as well.I took the train from Saphan Taksin BTS back to Nana stationI had dinner at an Omani restaurant. Although this may not look like a lot on one plate, it was too much and I just couldn’t finish it with my beer. (Yes, they serve beer here)
This concludes my Thailand 2012 series. It was a good trip, and for once — no bad luck in Thailand. I finally experienced the big lantern festival in Chiang Mai and I attended my first SM Town concert. I stayed for more than one day in Phuket and realized Phuket island does offer some nice beauty. I couldn’t visit Maeklong Market due to bad weather, but it’s okay — something for next time.
The only major destinations left in Thailand on my to-do list is Koh Samui (that includes the Full Moon party) and Ayuthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand. This was my third big trip to Thailand (fourth if you include the one day stop-over). Thailand holds a special place in my heart as it was the first international destination I went to outside of India and Bahrain. I began my blog with my first Thailand trip, and I’m sure I will be back to this wonderful country.
I just bumped into your site while Googling images from Madame Tussauds museums around the world. I visited the one in Sydney, Australia yesterday and just posted a few photos of the sculptures on my site, and I wanted to see what other ones were like. Sounds like you really enjoyed the one in Thailand. It also seems a lot bigger than the Sydney one! Hopefully I’ll make it there one day.
Greg Chan
26/09/2013
Siam Discovery is a good class mall. The North Face store there? Not so good.
Cheap Flight to ACCRA
01/01/2016
Madame Tussauds is the ultimate celebrity fun day out.Sounds like you really enjoyed.
Gabriel Ponzanelli
15/09/2013I just bumped into your site while Googling images from Madame Tussauds museums around the world. I visited the one in Sydney, Australia yesterday and just posted a few photos of the sculptures on my site, and I wanted to see what other ones were like. Sounds like you really enjoyed the one in Thailand. It also seems a lot bigger than the Sydney one! Hopefully I’ll make it there one day.
Greg Chan
26/09/2013Siam Discovery is a good class mall. The North Face store there? Not so good.
Cheap Flight to ACCRA
01/01/2016Madame Tussauds is the ultimate celebrity fun day out.Sounds like you really enjoyed.