My Life As A Book Wallapa Van Willenswaard Have you ever questioned if the life, people or places that you have experienced until adulthood have had any influence in molding the person you are today? For some, those memories may have faded slightly but for Wallapa Van Willenswaard, she recollects vividly a bookstore that has helped her become the woman she is today. “I studied in the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University in B.E.2519, during the time when the nation’s political situation was quite violent and a choice was to be made to judge whether you were right- or left-winged. Although I attended the various demonstrations, I always questioned myself where I stood. I didn’t fit in the left-winged group nor did I like the right-winged so it seemed as though I couldn’t find my place in the university.” “Until one day I came across Suksit Siam bookstore in the Sam Yan area across from Chulalongkorn University. I entered the store and found stories on peaceful means, non violence, teachings of Buddha, and books by Thich Nhat Hahn, Gandhi, Bhuddhathat Bikkhu, S.Siwarak, Prof.Puay Ungpakhorn, Komol Keemthong.” “It was an ambiance of “the middle path” and I felt a sudden warm feeling towards this store. Whenever I encountered a life crisis or felt stressed from a day’s work, I always returned to Suksit Siam bookstore and felt like the books were my friends who helpd me through the tough times.” Forty years ago, Suksit Siam was considered one of the first and most modern bookstores in Thailand. Not only were books sold but there were places for dialogue, discussion activities and a coffee corner. The bookshop was a meeting place for the educated society and leading writers of the country. Until one day, the rent at Sam Yan was terminated and the store moved its location to Fueng Nakorn Road, where it stands to this day. It was unimaginable but true when two regular customers of the old store location – Wallapa and her life partner, Hans Van Willenswaard – became one of the founders of Suan Ngern Mee Ma printing press, whose office was found above Suksit Siam bookstore. “When we established the printing company, we thought it was best to open a bookstore with a warm atmosphere alongside it – a place where people could exchange ideas and opinions. We asked that Khun Sulak Siwarak help manage Suksit Siam bookstore. (The sales had plummeted since its move to the new location) We improved and changed the selection of books, choosing inventive and thought-provoking ones and avoiding books on the market. There was a coffee corner and handicrafts products from the community sold. We brought back the Suksit Siam discussion forums and created a “feel at home” setting. Our bookstore is now recommended and listed in the Lonely Planet travel guide. We aim to add an organics corner where it would be a center of trading agriculture products directly from the farmers. It would be like one of those delightful bookstores you see overseas, like in Japan.” Wallapa just returned from a trip to Hanoi, saying she was homesick and missing the place, because she was truly impressed with how the country managed to preserve its rows of houses and buildings. (It’s sad to say that Thailand’s buildings and homes are just as beautiful but the conservation methods are not comparable.) “Charoen Krung, Bumroong Mueng and Fueng Nakorn are the first three roads built during the reign of King Rama IV and Fueng Nakorn had the first printing company. I organized a walk to observe the many interesting sights around Sutat Temple, Sao Ching Cha, Brahman temple, Rachaborpit Temple, Puthorn, Nara and Sanpasat Squares. (Prang-in Thai)” During lunch, we ate near Prang Puthorn, where there is a delicious tradiotional noodle place with soft noodles and shrimp and pork wontons. There are also many other places for tasty dishes, namely Chotijit with a la carte dishes, Udom Pochana with rice and roasted pork, Nattaporn Ice Cream with its coconut specialty – open for more than 60 years and Kor Panich with its famous dessert sticky rice, located at Prang Puthorn.” “These places are rare and hard to find in the New Town. I am blessed to be among these important and historical places, like a place for the soul, where my inner strength enables me to start a new day.” Suksit Siam Bookstore Fueng Nakorn Road (across Racha Borpit Temple) Tel. 0-2222-5698, 0-2622-0955