Amidst the towering skyscrapers of Silom Road lies the Peranakans Cementry. It’s a poignant reminder of a bygone era. A time when Bangkok was a quieter, more spiritual place. The Peranakans Cementry, once part of a sprawling network of burial grounds known as the Alley of Graves, stands as a testament to the vibrant Chinese community that once thrived here. The year 1919 saw a group of Chinese migrants from Singapore and Penang establish this final resting place. Today, it sits rather incongruously across the street from a Buddy’s Bar and Grill, a stark contrast to its solemn purpose. The Peranakans Cementry, like the Hakka and Hokkien cemeteries nearby, became inactive in 1961 when Bangkok banned burials within city limits. The land, now incredibly valuable, is encircled by modern buildings. Khunying Amphon Sukhonthaman, a doctor who treated the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is a trustee of the Peranakans Cementry. She visits every Qingming, the Tomb-Sweeping Day. The cemetery’s gravekeeper, Uncle Bank, speculates on the land’s worth. Tens of millions of baht, he guesses. He also believes Khunying Amphon intends to keep the graves undisturbed. However, he wonders if her children will feel the same after her passing. This theme of generational change and the pressure of progress resonates throughout the Peranakans Cementry. The younger generations find the traditions expensive and time-consuming. Many prefer the air-conditioned comfort of a mall to the sweltering heat of the cemetery. The allure of modern life is slowly eclipsing the traditions of the past.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to