| Bicycle House: A Penchant For Pedal Power | |||
| UPDATE : 31 May 2010 | |||
The high price of oil and genuine threat posed by global warming means there’s never been a better time to choose pedal power as an environmentally-friendly and affordable means of transport. And while interest in the bicycle as a meaningful alternative to engine-driven vehicles has certainly grown in the kingdom over recent years, you would be hard pushed to find anyone quite as dedicated to bikes as Tawee Borriboon. A Comprehensive Display Located in Bangkok’s Bang Phlat district, Tawee’s home, which is open to the public, is filled with over 100 bicycles, which he first began collecting in 1997. Tawee had already begun developing a huge collection of various household objects by the 1980s, which are also on display at the Bicycle House. By 1999, Tawee had been invited to showcase about 100 of his bikes at an exhibition at the Peninsular Hotel. The attention this event received gave way to the Bicycle House name, which it has retained to this day. Signs of Life On entering the house, I discover a collection of thousands of everyday items on display in rooms that lead through to the back of the building. On my way through I examine a collection of about 50 hammers and various other tools.
Further inside, I discovered a large collection of various powders, soda bottles, postcards, posters, and textbooks, among other things. The garden nearby is decorated with imaginatively designed pottery that features a humorous touch. Some of these humorously themed pots resemble pants, while others have faces. Even the wash room includes a large number of ornaments and other decorative items.
Tawee’s main collection of bicycles from various eras is based in a huge storehouse area located towards the back of the wooden building. One of the most interesting individual exhibits is a Dayton bicycle, produced by the Davis Company, which dates back to the reign of King Chulalongkorn the Great (1868-1910 [Rama V]). There is also a tandem-like vehicle on display in this area, which was once used in the circus. However, unlike a regular tandem, this unique early form has peddles that are fixed to the front and rear hubs. There are several eye catching cars and motorcycles to be found here, too. Among the cars, I was particularly impressed with was a Morris Ten Four (circa 1933-1935), which features a heat gage on its hood. Workshop Space At the back of the storehouse is a workshop area, which Tawee uses to carry our repairs, restore and maintain his collection of bikes. You’ll see plenty of bicycle parts and other bits and pieces in the space and the another fun thing about a visit to Bicycle House is that everything on display at the museum is also for sale, making it a great place to visit whether you’re an enthusiast or a collector. Bicycle House opens daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Admission is free. For further information, contact Tel: +66(0)2 424 6464 or +66 (0)2 424 4705. Transport Connections: Car: From Phutthamonthon 1 Road, take Borommaratchachonnani Road and head towards Bang Phlat district. Before the road splits into two (one heads towards Somdeh Phra Pinklao Bridge and the other Krung Thonburi Bridge), take a left into Chaiyapruk Road. When you reach the next T-junction, turn left again into Suan Phak Road. You will see the Bicycle House after driving for about 30 meters down the road on your right. POI: 13.79483, 100.4567 | |||
วันอังคารที่ 1 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2553
Bicycle House: A Penchant For Pedal Power
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