Chidlom Area

The Chidlom area is home to several hotels, and one major department store. The British embassy is also in the general area, but the Ploenchit Skytrain station is probably closer to the Embassy if you have business there. In addition to the Central Department Store, you'll find the Narai Phand handicrafts store in the back of the Intercontinental Hotel. One of Bangkok's more unusual shrines is also located in the area, the Chao Mae Tubtim shrine, which is surrounded by dozens of wooden phallic offerings.

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Chao Mae Tubtim Phallic Shrine

The tiny shrine dedicated to a Chinese goddess, Chao Mae Tubtim, is one of the more unusual sights of Bangkok. It's located in the grounds of the Nai Lert Hotel, which is now managed by Swissotel. The shrine was originally set up by "Nai Lert", one of Bangkok's first property developers who developed the area around the shrine in the early part of the twentieth century. Tubtim (or Tuptim) is a Chinese goddess usually prayed to for the protection of sailors.