The Neilson Hays Library & Galleries, Bangkok

Garden entrance

 This is another of these local treasure troves. I had passed by the Neilson Hays Library many times before until I read in a magazine what to do or see during the weekend. There was a mention for a painting exhibition by a group of modern Burmese painters.]Great! So I went on the Net to know more about this library. I knew already it was classified as one of the city's European Heritage.

Being Sunday and having some time to spend, I took off early afternoon. I took the underground MRT system to the station after Silom. Then, I took the alley that goes past the Hotel Méridien to Suriwong Road and walked all the way to the library compound.

This is a fine 19^th century white building with dark green windows standing in a small tropical garden. They have added a nice coffee house to its left with large bay windows. The British Club is next door and apparently catering for the coffee house where you can also have lunch.

The Building.

This is reminiscent of an elegant era back in 1921. Expatriate life was very different in those days. No

Reading Room

airplanes. The Suez Canal was not opened yet. It took months before hearing from Europe or getting books or magazines to read. Jennie Neilson Hays's husband, Thomas, commissioned the construction of the building to commemorate his wife's life.

Today, the library has more than 20,000 books. It looks like a cosy corner from the Old World with its shelves and reading tables. Besides having regular exhibitions, they have many other social activities and offer cultural conferences from time to time.

The Neilson Hays Library official website

Current painting exhibition.

Rotunda Exhibition

A group of modern Burmese painters are being displayed in the library Rotunda and inside the coffee house in the garden.

The paintings are made in oil or acrylic on canvas. One of these painters is a well-known artist called Shwe Thein.

After viewing the artists' work, I sat inside the coffee shop to have a cappuccino and a hot apple pie with custard à l'anglaise. I felt a little bit British this afternoon! Somehow, it reminded me of my years in Ireland. Anyway, this is a nice and quiet place to come and rest once in a while.

Christian Sorand,

Bangkok

Garden coffee-shop