Thailand travel news - Bangkok

Picking up the pieces in Soi Aree

The Public Relations Department in Soi Aree of Phaya Thai district is the place to be for those interested in learning about the history of broadcasting in Thailand .

It recently opened a museum that is a mine of information about the growth and evolution of the broadcast industry in Thailand , complete with important dates and milestones, and the people who shaped it _ and how it in turn shaped society _ from its formative years to the present day.

Starting with radio to the advent of the age of television, the museum recounts at length the role broadcasting played in shaping the destiny of the people and the country, through times good and bad, and how it led to the setting up of the Public Relations Department itself.

The broadcast museum is the latest addition to the growing number of museums that have sprouted around Bangkok following the city government's decision last year to open one in every district to preserve the roots and history of local people and promote cultural tourism.

Barring the one in Soi Aree, most other city museums are based in schools and temples.

" Bangkok has been the capital of Thailand for over two centuries. But despite its long history, we don't have a place where we can go and learn about our cultural roots in a systematic manner.

"The city museum project aims to preserve our history and culture so that the younger and coming generations can learn about old values and wisdom," said Apirak Kosayodhin, the Bangkok governor, at the official opening of the broadcast museum.

The project took off early last year with the opening of museums in the districts of Bang Rak, Samphanthawong, Bangkok Noi and Bang Khun Thien. Since then their number has swelled to 23. In the meantime, the city government has set up a so-called Office of Culture, Sports and Tourism to oversee the project.

Under the scheme, every Bangkok district will have its own museum by 2007, taking their total number to 50.

"It's our policy to preserve the local culture and wisdom and we will create related activities to generate popular interest in the museums," Apirak said.

To underscore the point, the city government recently gave the green light to build the "Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre" at Pathumwan intersection, an undertaking that was put on the sidelines by the previous city administration.

All city museums open 9am-4pm. To learn more about them visit www.bmalocalmuseum.com or www.bkkmuseum.com (available only in Thai).