Khlong Bang Luang Artist House (Baan Silapin) in Bangkok

The hustle and bustle of Bangkok can be completely overwhelming. I don’t do well in large crowds – they completely tire me out and I just shut down and my eyes glaze over. Can anyone relate?  LOL. So when we decided to explore Thonburi, I was mentally prepped for the crowds, only to discover that the Artist House area is a total hidden gem. It’s a little off the beaten path, but it’s well worth it. It was nearly empty – a stark contrast to nearby Wat Arun, which is totally mobbed on a good day.

This little excursion is also free and totally kid-friendly! The Artist House performance (shows start at 2pm every day except Wednesdays) is a puppet show and you can feed fish along the canal. It was a really nice change of pace from the rest of Bangkok! If you’re a fan of TripAdvisor, the Khlong Bang Luang Artist House (Baan Silapin) got a 4.5!

We traveled to Khlong Bang Luang Artist House (Baan Silapin) in Thonburi by motorbike. Do you like the little kitty cat ears on my helmet? 

Below is the exact location of Baan Silapin If you wanted to get there by public transit, you can take the BTS Skytrain to Bang Wa station and then take a cab. If you are traveling from Bangkok, I recommend that you download GrabTaxi . They do not have Uber or Lyft here in Bangkok!

We were pretty thirsty after the ride, so we grabbed a quick drink before heading to the Artist House! John got an iced coffee, and I got a passion fruit smoothie.

What’s really fun about this area is that it’s so much more than just the Artist House. There are little shops, food stands, and art galleries that line the canal. It’s also cool to see all of the traditional Thai wooden houses; they are rare in the more touristy areas of Bangkok!

You can also feed the fish in the canal! You’ll see brightly colored bags that look like popcorn, but buyer beware…it’s fish food! We saw both locals and tourists alike, pouring the bright bags (of fish-food popcorn?) into the water, mesmerized by the ferocity of the Bangkok canal catfishes.

I stepped out of my comfort zone with this brightly colored shirt.  What do you think?! It’s a huge change for me – I usually stick to neutrals!  It was fun to wear something a little different!

The Artist’s House is more than two hundred years old, dating all the way back to when the capital of Thailand was on this side of the river. The backdrop of the performance is a tall white chedi dating all the way back to the Ayutthaya period – so cool and unique! The puppet shows start every day (except Wednesday) at 2pm. Make sure to get there early and get a seat, and don’t be afraid to sit on the floor and get close to the action. Each day, a different story based on Thai folklore is narrated, often featuring the deity Hanuman, or the monkey god. Sometimes there are guest appearances by other deities, and on particularly auspicious occasions, a puppet version of Michael Jackson might come out to play! The Artist’s House is open every day, usually from 9am to 6pm. They also offer coffee and some light refreshments, and have a gift shop filled with unique handmade goods.

We caught the show right at 2pm, and it was so fun and different. I even got a selfie with the female lead!  The artists perform for free, however we recommend that you bring along an extra 50 or 100 baht bill as a donation to the performers. You might even get lucky, and Hanuman will give you a loving peck on the cheek…or try to impress you with a few one-armed pushups.

After the show, we were pretty hungry, so we set out for some food! There are plenty of food options along the canal. We found dessert before we found lunch, haha. My favorite Thai dessert is called Thong Yod (Golden Drops). It’s made out of egg yolk, jasmine scented water, sugar, and rice flour. We got a bag of those and sat by the canal and enjoyed them before we set out on our quest for some real lunch.

We ate lunch at an unsuspecting little place on the canal called Indy Pae TumZaap. We shared Vegetarian Fried Rice and Papaya Salad! It was delicious and I’ve been dreaming about it ever since 

You know what’s funny? I came to Thailand hating Papaya Salad (known here as som tum). I had it a few times back home and couldn’t stand it. But since being in Bangkok, I’ve had so many positive experiences with Papaya Salad. I think the Universe was trying to change my mind and it worked! I love Papaya Salad now. I can’t wait to try and make it on my own. I’d actually love to recreate this meal that I had at home!

We met a gorgeous stray cat. Look at those beautiful eyes! 

We walked along a street parallel to the canal boardwalk, and it was equally cute and quiet.

I found this street art really amusing. Cats in bowls. Lots of cats in bowls…

Overall, this has been one of my favorite days that we’ve spent in Bangkok. There is so much more to do in this area, for example you can take a canal tour aboard one of the yellow longtail boats. Apparently there’s a floating market…sounds like another adventure for another day!