Asiatique

A few Thai friends took me to the Asiatique, a pier/warehouse transformed into a shopping and eating district. To add to the atmosphere, we took a free boat there. You know you're getting close when you can see the ferris wheel.

I thought this bit of history about the shopping area:

"Back in the 1900s, during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Asian countries were under threat of invasion from the European superpowers. With great foresight, King Chulalongkorn took the initiative to raise Siam to the level of leading countries of the world and decided to establish relations with Denmark. Included in this process was the construction of a pier belonging to the East Asiatic Company, a business dedicated to the export of teak wood and owned by Mr. Hans Nille Andersen, a Danish national.

This pier signaled the beginning of international trade between the Kingdom of Siam (the former name of Thailand) and European nations and was the key to Siam maintaining the sovereignty and independence it enjoys to this day.

Today, that same area which the East Asiatic pier occupies is being restored to its original glory under the name "ASIATIQUE The Riverfront," the first and the biggest lifestyle project in Asia on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, and soon to become Bangkok's trendiest landmark."

I don't know about "Bangkok's trendiest landmark," but it is popular. Many people were out enjoying the evening.