Stock photography picture of Authors Lounge in the luxurious historic Oriental Hotel Bangkok,Thailand

A991EK - Licenced Caption Authors Lounge in the luxurious historic Oriental Hotel Bangkok,Thailand Description In 1865 two Danish sea captains founded the Oriental Bangkok during the reign of King Rama IV when Thailand opened up to trade as a result of the Bowring Treaty signed ten years earlier. The founders saw the need for a hotel by the Chao Phraya to cater for the seafarers and traders who sailed upriver. They didn’t realize then that the hotel they started would one day be a celebrated luxury hotel graced by the rich and famous. Unfortunately the original building is no longer standing. The history of the Oriental Bangkok, the first hotel in the city, is taken from 1876 when the old wing was built. This building is still there. The tradition of famous writers dates back to 1888, when Konrad Korzeniowski, a Polish merchant navy officer, sailed up the Chao Phraya and docked next to the Oriental Hotel. Nicknamed "Polish Joe" by his shipmates, he later became known to the literary world as Joseph Conrad who wrote "Lord Jim" and "Heart of Darkness." Others were to follow in Conrad’s footsteps. In 1923, Somerset Maugham, an English writer stayed at the Oriental Bangkok and wrote the children’s tale, "Siamese Fairy Tale" while sitting in the river terrace gazing out at the Chao Phraya. Noel Coward, another English writer, stayed at the Oriental Hotel in 1929. Conrad, Maugham, Coward and the American, James Michener, four literary giants, became the founding fathers of the Authors’ Wing. The Oriental suffered damage, disrepair and looting during World War II, when it was taken over by the Japanese army. After the war, Allied officers waiting to return home made the hotel their living quarters. In 1945, another legendary figure entered the scene. Jim Thompson, the American who later made his name in Thai silk, became one of the owners of the Oriental and a resident as well. Keywords Norma, Joseph, Asia, ASEAN, Thailand, Bangkok, Oriental, Hotel, atmospheric, design, decor, rattan, furniture, palms, plants, greenery, beautiful, Author's, Lounge, literary, famous, historic, Jim, Thompson, celebrity, tourism, vacation, exotic, travel, traveller, tour, tourist, touring, visit, visitor, sightseeing, holiday, interest, journey, entertainment, sightseeing, sight, photogenic, photography, enriching, enrichment, people, lifestyle, experience, exciting