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Ferris wheel pulls in visitors Since the beginning of this month, a giant ferris wheel from France is operating in Suan Lum Night Bazaar on Rama IV Road offering visitors a bird's eye view of Bangkok and its sky line. Roue de Paris, as it is called, was created in 2000 to celebrate the ushering in of the new millennium. The wheel is 60 metres high, the same height as the one featured at the Muang Thong Thani housing estate last year. But its height is almost half of the largest observation wheel - the London Eye - that stands 135 metres on the south bank of the Thames River. The Roue de Paris doesn't have a permanent foundation, but a stable platform in the form of ballast tanks that hold 40,000 litres of water, which make the wheel extremely portable. As such the wheel, before arriving in Bangkok, has featured in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Amsterdam. It took around a month to set up the giant wheel that will remain in place until February next year. The Roue de Paris can carry a maximum 252 people in its 42 cars, six persons to a car. The wheel operates starting in the evening until midnight. The cost is 100 baht for a 10-minute ride. The wheel spins gently. From the highest point in the car you can see the traffic on Wireless and Sathorn roads, the green patch next door which is Lumpini Park, as well as skyscrapers and lights in buildings in Sukhumvit area. Next to the ferris wheel, there is an open-air beer garden offering live music and broadcast of World Cup football matches being played in Germany on two big TV screens. There is another beer garden, this one with a sliding roof just in case rain interrupts your fun. For those who love shopping, the Suan Lum Night Bazaar is a dream come true. The place is packed with 3,700 shops selling gift items, dry food, sa paper, ceramics, silk clothes, home decoration and souvenirs, as well as a choice of restaurants, coffee shops and puppet show at Joe Louis Theatre. The night bazaar opened in 2001 but only began attracting visitors about two years ago. The 120-rai plot on which it sits was formerly the Armed Forces Academy Preparatory School. And next year the property will see another major transformation; it's earmarked for commercial development. Most of the current shop owners there are hanging in with the hope that they can continue to operate their business even though the land right will change hands. "Our future is uncertain, but we hope we can continue operating here because business is just beginning to look good," said the owner of an apparel shop. "This is an alternative to the Chatuchak weekend market," said shopper Tipwan, noting that the night bazaar provides a cooler atmosphere and more walking space, although Chatuchak offers more choice of goods. The Crown Property Bureau is looking for a new property developer to turn Suan Lum Night Bazaar into a commercial and residential hub. MORE INFO The easiest way is to take the MRT subway and get off at Lumpini station and take Exit 3 to the bazaar. Another option is the BTS Skytrain: get off at Saladaeng or Ploenchit stations and from there it is a 10-minute walk to the bazaar. A number of city buses ply the route: 13, 17, 50, 62, 76 and 106 ply the Wireless Road, while Rama IV Road is served by buses number 13,14, 22, 45, 46, 47, 74, 109, 115 and 116. For more information, call 02-252-4776 or 02-252-4876. |