Located just one-and-a-half hours from Bangkok in a small community located within Ratchaburi province’s Chet Samien district, Suan-Silp Baan Din offers a unique “stage of the art” homestay experience.
Manop Meejamrat, the owner and director of Suan-Silp Baan Din, is a classical Thai dance master and an internationally-renowned modern dancer.
Currently artistic director of
Pat ravadi Theater at Ratchaburi, one of Thailand’s most important centers for contemporary dance, Manop began his career with the theater in 1992. Since then has won a host of awards both at home and abroad. In 2005, for example, the Ministry of Culture honored Manop with an award for ‘Best Contemporary Performer’.
The objective of Suan-Silp Baan Din is to welcome guests looking to awaken or reawaken their artistic spirit.
Rooted in the arts
When translated into English, Baan Din means “a small home built from clay”, while Suan Silp is a “garden of the arts”. So Suan-Silp Baan Din refers to the main building, which was constructed in 2003 as a set for the Thai drama Tom, starring
Pat ravadi Meechuton. Over the past 15 years,
Pat ravadi, the founder of
Pat ravadi Theater, has passed on her rich experience and knowledge on to Manop.
When the production of Tom came to a close,
Pat ravadi and Manop came up with the idea of transforming a nearby mango orchard into a “platform” for providing children in the local community with the opportunity to learn about Thai drama, theater, and performance art. Since the school for the arts is a not-for-profit organization, the homestay operation helps provide a stream of financial support for the school’s activities.
The main building is currently used to house interesting personal exhibits, the main accommodation available being bamboo huts.
The huts, decorated in a traditional rural style, are located in a tranquil location, alongside a small rice paddy.
Small huts, which include two mattresses and a fan, cost 650 baht (US$22) per night, while the larger ones, containing four mattresses and a fan, cost 1,250 baht per night. Each hut includes a private bathroom.
If you simply can’t survive without air-conditioning, then you’ll have to pay for the privilege. A small air-conditioned room (with two mattresses) costs 850 baht per night.
Suan-Silp Baan Din also provides air-conditioned houses (1,850 baht per night), which closely resemble the main building. The interior design of these buildings is contemporary Thai style, providing an unfussy but comfortable feel. None of the accommodation on offer features flashy “add-ons” so guests can experience the community in a more “realistic” setting.
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 Get involved
Since Suan-Silp Baan Din has a theatrical background, it offers guests a unique opportunity to enjoy performances of traditional Thai arts and music. Workshops can also be provided on request, ranging from dance, drama, and drumming through to modern dance, physical theater, and Khon (a traditional Thai mask dance). It’s also possible for performances to be arranged to accompany dinner.
It’s worth noting that Suan-Silp Baan Din and
Pat ravadi Theater also work with the local community to arrange an ‘All About Arts’ festival on the last weekend of the month. This includes performances by troupes of younger and older members of the community along with the sale of local traditional handicrafts. The festival takes place just a short distance from the main site.
For further information or to make a reservation at Suan-Silp Baan Din, contact Tel: +66 (0)3 239 7668.
Transport Connections:
Car: The quickest way to reach Ratchaburi province by car is to take Highway 4 (Petchkasem Road). Turn right when you see the signpost for Chet Samien. After you cross a bridge over the canal, take the next right turn. After passing Chet Samien Hospital, take the next right turn at Klong (canal) Chonlapratarn. You’ll soon see Suan-Silp Baan Din on the left-hand side of the road. |
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