Late in the morning I took a tour of Jim Thompson's house -- considered an Ideal Home in elegant Thai style.

Thompson was quite a character. Trained as an architect, he worked for a while in New York City. During WWII he joined the OSS (the predecessor of the CIA). This brought him to Bangkok after the war.

He fell in love with the city and ended up living here. He's credited with turning traditional silk-weaving from a dying art into a highly successful international industry.

His big breakthrough was when his silk products were used for the costumes of "The King and I," bringing its beauty to the attention of the American public.