4 Weird Museums in Bangkok

Bangkok Forensic Museum ranks high in the race for the most disturbing attraction in Bangkok. Not only is the display of countless human parts seriously eerie, but the old, dusty, creaky building in which this huge collection is displayed also adds to the sinister atmosphere.

Located in Siriraj Hospital opposite the Grand Palace, 6 rooms display gruesome scenes, the creepiest being the anatomy room with bodies of adults and babies preserved in yellowish formaldehyde. Some are regularly shaped and others seriously deformed. There’s a room sheltering a gruesome collection of organs infected by parasites, while another showing a full collection of abnormal fetuses.

The Thai Labour Museum, located next to Makkasan Train Station, was originally the Railway Police Station. In this discreet, single-storey building, a very important story is told, one that is often sad or shocking. Before becoming the easy-going country it is today, and just like most developing countries, workers only had basic rights, if any, and Thailand went through several tumultuous and violent episodes in which workers revolted. Each of the 6 rooms in the museum depicts the evolution of the labour movement and their fight to obtain fair treatment.

The Batcat Museum is comic book geek paradise, displaying thousands of action figures of the superheroes we all know, from the very first Batman and other Captain Americas to the super high-tech Iron Man in his improbable suit. A large room is entirely dedicated to the iconic Batman, exhibiting such a staggering amount of merchandising it makes Batman movies look like 'supporting commercials' for action figures, toys, costumes, books, board games and other silly accessories. There is something for every child in us: a Spiderman collection, several full-size monsters, a full set of the Japanese characters Masked Rider and Ultraman, as well as a Star Wars corner.  

The House of Museums is a fun and eclectic display of objects from the 1960s. If you are Thai and happened to be born in this era, all the objects on display will certainly bring back nostalgic memories.  Each floor has its own little speciality: an old pharmacy, an electronics shop with bulky TV sets and laughable 'portable' phones, a classroom, and a scaled-down movie theatre. An exhibit worth checking out is the complete antique dentist cabinet with the chair, light and basin attached, and the comprehensive array of torture tools your dentist used at the time. It's usually accompanied by the ritual line, “This won't hurt a bit, trust me, I'm a dentist”.