Places of silence in Bangkok
It’s been a while since I last wrote here, and to be honest, I’ve missed it. I could say I’ve been busy—but the good kind of busy. I’ve been working on my next project (which will be out very soon), taking photos, and getting ready for my third consecutive year of adventures in Asia.
A week ago, I arrived in Bangkok. If you’ve never been, it’s a very noisy city. Construction, cars, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks roar through the streets like lions, making their way through the chaotic rhythm of a big city.
When you find a moment of silence here, you hold onto it like an old friend you’ve missed. You appreciate it as if it were oxygen and savor it with a big smile.
Coming from Córdoba to Bangkok, I’ve been searching for silence like water in the desert. That’s why today, I want to share four places that have brought me calm—places I’m sure will do the same for you if you ever visit this city.
The first one is none other than the park where I’m writing these lines right now. Benchakitti Park is a massive green space in the middle of Bangkok. People here move at a slower pace, and you can clearly see the benefits of a quieter environment: conversations without raising your voice, phone calls with family and friends, and the freedom to exercise outdoors in peace.
The second place is the entire area near the river. To find it, you can head to Wat Sriboonreung Pier or any of the different “ferry” stops along the river. It’s a peaceful walk and a great way to get a glimpse of what the houses in this city looked like before Bangkok’s skyline was taken over by towering skyscrapers.
While you can’t walk the entire stretch from end to end, there are sections where you can, and I especially like it because you come across small temples and houses where plants seem to be the true hosts of the space.
The small streets near the Jim Thompson House Museum are a haven of peace—a quiet area where you can walk without traffic. But the real gem here is the William Warren Library.
It’s a small library inside the Jim Thompson Art Center, a quiet spot to read or write in peace. The whole place feels like an escape from Bangkok’s constant buzz, as if the city’s thousands of passing cars don’t exist. The library has comfortable sofas, outlets to charge your devices, and an atmosphere of complete silence.
Lastly, I can’t leave without mentioning one of my favorite cafés in Bangkok. JEDI Café & Bar has been part of Creare from the beginning. Aside from its great coffee, the best part is the back area that overlooks the river. If you’re lucky and it’s not too crowded, you can sit there, read peacefully for a while, and enjoy the calm—until the mosquitoes have nearly devoured you. It’s a wonderful place to relax if you’re in the city center, and it’s always better to go early when they’ve just opened.
These are my four places. If you’ve been to any of them or have other recommendations, I’d be happy to hear them.