| HEADING overseas for the holidays is overrated. Stay in Bangkok and you can fill your time with all kinds of weird, wonderful and interesting activities – albeit not festive in the slightest. Man or woman, young or old, single or married, parent or not, cast your eyes over the following suggestions and you’re bound to find something that tickles your fancy – even if that involves catching a cooked chicken on your head… |  |
Get lost in culture
DROP by Moca museum (Museum of Contemporary Art) for an update on Thailand’s thriving but often low profile and under-funded art scene. Each of the museum’s five floors are dedicated to a particular art form and various artists, including several highly acclaimed national artists. Themes range from social knowledge and Buddhism to fantasy, Thai literature and even paintings from Queen Victoria’s era.
Museum of Contempoary Art, 499 Moo 3 Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd. Tel: 02 953 1005-7 www.mocabangkok.com
DROP by Moca museum (Museum of Contemporary Art) for an update on Thailand’s thriving but often low profile and under-funded art scene. Each of the museum’s five floors are dedicated to a particular art form and various artists, including several highly acclaimed national artists. Themes range from social knowledge and Buddhism to fantasy, Thai literature and even paintings from Queen Victoria’s era.
Museum of Contempoary Art, 499 Moo 3 Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd. Tel: 02 953 1005-7 www.mocabangkok.com
Unleash your inner Spider-Man
TESTING your balance, agility, strength, endurance, and mental control, rock climbing is a great way to get fit fast. Physically and mentally demanding it may be, but put in the practice and you’ll soon be scaling cliffs faster than you can say “Spider-Man.” Well, almost. Popular venues for indoor climbing in Bangkok include Virgin Active (www.virginactive.co.th), Rock Domain Climbing Gym (www.rockdomaingym.com), Urban Playground at Racquet Club (www.urbanplaygroundclimbing.com) and Proclimber Thailand (www.facebook.com/ProclimberThailand).
TESTING your balance, agility, strength, endurance, and mental control, rock climbing is a great way to get fit fast. Physically and mentally demanding it may be, but put in the practice and you’ll soon be scaling cliffs faster than you can say “Spider-Man.” Well, almost. Popular venues for indoor climbing in Bangkok include Virgin Active (www.virginactive.co.th), Rock Domain Climbing Gym (www.rockdomaingym.com), Urban Playground at Racquet Club (www.urbanplaygroundclimbing.com) and Proclimber Thailand (www.facebook.com/ProclimberThailand).
Go paintballing
WAR. Uh. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Unless it’s a paintball war – then it’s great fun. One of our favourite spots for splattering each other is Combat Zone 62, on Soi Supaphong (off Srinakarin 40). This well-equipped center has several battlefields and is great value at just B400 (includes 100 balls).
Soi Supaphong. Open Mon-Fri 1pm-7pm; Sat-Sun 10am-7pm (closed Tues)
Tel: 082 631 5888/ 02 748 0238 www.combatzone62.net
WAR. Uh. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Unless it’s a paintball war – then it’s great fun. One of our favourite spots for splattering each other is Combat Zone 62, on Soi Supaphong (off Srinakarin 40). This well-equipped center has several battlefields and is great value at just B400 (includes 100 balls).
Soi Supaphong. Open Mon-Fri 1pm-7pm; Sat-Sun 10am-7pm (closed Tues)
Tel: 082 631 5888/ 02 748 0238 www.combatzone62.net
Surf in the city
SURF’S up every day at Flow House on Sukhumvit Soi 26. A ‘Double FlowRider’ machine creates a perpetual sheet wave that allows for both stand-up surfing and body-boarding. Priced just B750 per hour (walk in rates; includes all the equipment) it’s a great deal. The onsite restaurant and bar, meanwhile, offers loads of space for kids, adults and families to chill.
A-Square, Sukhumvit Soi 26. Open daily 10am-midnight
Tel: 02 108 5211 www.flowhousebangkok.com
SURF’S up every day at Flow House on Sukhumvit Soi 26. A ‘Double FlowRider’ machine creates a perpetual sheet wave that allows for both stand-up surfing and body-boarding. Priced just B750 per hour (walk in rates; includes all the equipment) it’s a great deal. The onsite restaurant and bar, meanwhile, offers loads of space for kids, adults and families to chill.
A-Square, Sukhumvit Soi 26. Open daily 10am-midnight
Tel: 02 108 5211 www.flowhousebangkok.com
Catch a cooked chicken – on your head
‘CLUCKING’ crazy in the most delightful of ways, Ka Tron is unlike any other restaurant in Bangkok. Specialising in ‘Flying chickens’ – that is, cooked chickens which are fired from a catapult and caught by a waiter riding a unicycle – it’s delightfully bonkers, and a great place to spend an evening with friends. Besides the “Flying chicken” (B120), which is a must order, the restaurant also serves a wide selection of Thai dishes in beef, crab, seafood, duck, frog, and ostrich categories. Most dishes are around the B120 mark, portions are generous, and the quality is good. At 8.30pm a live show ups the ante with flaming chickens being fired at a waiter in quick succession. Diners are then invited to go on stage to don a helmet and attempt to catch a cooked chicken themselves. The prize? A rubber shrieking chicken. Brilliant.
Ka-Tron Restaurant, Bangna-Trad Road Km1 (opposite BITEC)
Tel: 02 399 5202
‘CLUCKING’ crazy in the most delightful of ways, Ka Tron is unlike any other restaurant in Bangkok. Specialising in ‘Flying chickens’ – that is, cooked chickens which are fired from a catapult and caught by a waiter riding a unicycle – it’s delightfully bonkers, and a great place to spend an evening with friends. Besides the “Flying chicken” (B120), which is a must order, the restaurant also serves a wide selection of Thai dishes in beef, crab, seafood, duck, frog, and ostrich categories. Most dishes are around the B120 mark, portions are generous, and the quality is good. At 8.30pm a live show ups the ante with flaming chickens being fired at a waiter in quick succession. Diners are then invited to go on stage to don a helmet and attempt to catch a cooked chicken themselves. The prize? A rubber shrieking chicken. Brilliant.
Ka-Tron Restaurant, Bangna-Trad Road Km1 (opposite BITEC)
Tel: 02 399 5202
Learn how to make craft beer
SSSSSH! Ok. So murky waters here – home-brewing isn’t strictly legal in Thailand. But the owners of local craft brewery Chit Beer in Koh Kret have found a loophole they’re currently trying to exploit, and claim that soon they’ll have a facility where you can legally learn to make your own delicious amber, IPA or wheat beer. At time of writing Chit Beer’s new website (www.chitbeer.com) was still under construction. Keep checking in though, because for around B1,000 per head (minimum 10 persons per group. Includes one session of brewing, and one bottling) you can expect to take home some brewing knowledge and a horde of at least six bottles of decent beer each – available to pick up from Chit Beer three weeks after the initial brew date.
SSSSSH! Ok. So murky waters here – home-brewing isn’t strictly legal in Thailand. But the owners of local craft brewery Chit Beer in Koh Kret have found a loophole they’re currently trying to exploit, and claim that soon they’ll have a facility where you can legally learn to make your own delicious amber, IPA or wheat beer. At time of writing Chit Beer’s new website (www.chitbeer.com) was still under construction. Keep checking in though, because for around B1,000 per head (minimum 10 persons per group. Includes one session of brewing, and one bottling) you can expect to take home some brewing knowledge and a horde of at least six bottles of decent beer each – available to pick up from Chit Beer three weeks after the initial brew date.
Have a crazy night out
THE best nights out are always unplanned. For a planned – yet unplanned – night to remember, simply hop in a taxi with your friends and say to the driver: “Take us to a fun place where there are no foreigners” (Pai tee nai tee sanook lat mai me farang). While at first they’ll probably suggest somewhere dodgy, stress you want no women/men (“Mai ow, pom me mia/sarmee laew” – “No thanks. I have a wife/husband already) and then see where the night takes you. From singing karaoke with old crooners, and catching impromptu gigs by popular Thai bands, to feasting on unpronounceable dishes in hard-to-find backstreets, you might not have the classiest night out, but it’ll certainly be a memorable night full of local flavour.
THE best nights out are always unplanned. For a planned – yet unplanned – night to remember, simply hop in a taxi with your friends and say to the driver: “Take us to a fun place where there are no foreigners” (Pai tee nai tee sanook lat mai me farang). While at first they’ll probably suggest somewhere dodgy, stress you want no women/men (“Mai ow, pom me mia/sarmee laew” – “No thanks. I have a wife/husband already) and then see where the night takes you. From singing karaoke with old crooners, and catching impromptu gigs by popular Thai bands, to feasting on unpronounceable dishes in hard-to-find backstreets, you might not have the classiest night out, but it’ll certainly be a memorable night full of local flavour.
| Explore Bangkok’s hottest neighbourhoods FROM trendy coffee shops and bustling pizza parlors, to art galleries and vintage stores, Bangkok’s hottest neighborhoods are well worth visiting this month. Check out our back issues for extensive round ups of the following hip ‘hoods: Ari (September. www.bit.ly/1K1z4I8), Ruamrudee (July. www.bit.ly/1JQQxkO), Sukhumvit Soi 31 (August. www. bit.ly/1JL8RxM), and Sukhumvit Sois 8, 11, 16, 20, 55 & 33 (February. www. bit.ly/1KtznYO). And don’t forget to hit bustling Chinatown for streetside eats and hip new bars (which we’ll cover in detail in next month’s issue). |  |
_Ride rollercoasters
PART water park, part theme park, Siam City is packed with rides and rollercoasters for adrenaline junkies of all ages. Build up a sweat dashing between hair-raising rides like the Vortex and Grand Canyon Express, then head to the water park to cool down by zipping down the Speed Slide into the Wave Pool. A great day out for the whole family.
203 Suan Siam Rd. Day pass is 30 US Dollars (roughly B1,000) for unlimited rides). Separate theme park and water park tickets are available. Tel: 02 919 7200 www.siamparkcity.com/en/main.php
PART water park, part theme park, Siam City is packed with rides and rollercoasters for adrenaline junkies of all ages. Build up a sweat dashing between hair-raising rides like the Vortex and Grand Canyon Express, then head to the water park to cool down by zipping down the Speed Slide into the Wave Pool. A great day out for the whole family.
203 Suan Siam Rd. Day pass is 30 US Dollars (roughly B1,000) for unlimited rides). Separate theme park and water park tickets are available. Tel: 02 919 7200 www.siamparkcity.com/en/main.php
Zone out in a float tank
OFFERING a fast track to Theta (that meditative state somewhere between being awake and asleep, where anything and everything seems possible) Theta State Float Center on Sukhumvit 24 allows you to float on your own in a naturally sterile Epsom salt water solution in a pitch black, soundproofed pod or room. The buoyant solution is four times saltier than The Dead Sea (and full of skin-nourishing magnesium too) and kept at body temperature, so the results are akin to floating in an anti-gravity environment – a strange but wonderfully relaxing experience. B1,950 for one hour; B2,350 for 90 minutes.
88/1 24th Avenue Mall, First Floor, A4/A5/A6, Soi Sukhumvit 24 Tel: 083 775 2020 www.thetastatefloat.com
OFFERING a fast track to Theta (that meditative state somewhere between being awake and asleep, where anything and everything seems possible) Theta State Float Center on Sukhumvit 24 allows you to float on your own in a naturally sterile Epsom salt water solution in a pitch black, soundproofed pod or room. The buoyant solution is four times saltier than The Dead Sea (and full of skin-nourishing magnesium too) and kept at body temperature, so the results are akin to floating in an anti-gravity environment – a strange but wonderfully relaxing experience. B1,950 for one hour; B2,350 for 90 minutes.
88/1 24th Avenue Mall, First Floor, A4/A5/A6, Soi Sukhumvit 24 Tel: 083 775 2020 www.thetastatefloat.com
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Explore Bangkok’s green lung
WE’LL be surprised if your first visit to Bang Krachao in Phra Pradaeng doesn’t blow your mind. Located just a two minute boat ride across the river from Klong Toey Port (boats run daily from the pier next to Wat Klong Toey Nok), this green lung boasts quiet tree lined roads, a delightful park, a bustling weekend market, and a maze of raised narrow concrete cycle paths that head off into apparent jungle. It feels a million miles away from the din and commotion of the city. Rickety old bikes can be rented as soon as you arrive (B50 per hour, B100 for the day. Arrive early to avoid disappointment), but to get the best out of the experience we recommend going with a tour company like Spiceroads (spiceroads.com) which uses decent bikes and whose guides actually know their way around.
WE’LL be surprised if your first visit to Bang Krachao in Phra Pradaeng doesn’t blow your mind. Located just a two minute boat ride across the river from Klong Toey Port (boats run daily from the pier next to Wat Klong Toey Nok), this green lung boasts quiet tree lined roads, a delightful park, a bustling weekend market, and a maze of raised narrow concrete cycle paths that head off into apparent jungle. It feels a million miles away from the din and commotion of the city. Rickety old bikes can be rented as soon as you arrive (B50 per hour, B100 for the day. Arrive early to avoid disappointment), but to get the best out of the experience we recommend going with a tour company like Spiceroads (spiceroads.com) which uses decent bikes and whose guides actually know their way around.
Solve a mystery
ARE you a big fan of mysteries? Do you all enjoy a challenge? If yes, a visit to Escape Hunt is a must. Three unique mysteries set in four indoor rooms and two virtual “rooms” are on offer. Divided into teams of between two-five people, you’ll have to try and solve these mysteries by cracking clues and finding hidden messages– all while being up against the clock. B1,800-B3,000 for two-five people. If you’re a big fan of games, make sure to check out our round up of Bangkok’s best board game cafes at www.bit.ly/1Qevcnh.
Interchange 21 Building, Sukhumvit Soi 21. Open daily 9.30am-8.30pm Tel: 02 611 2828 www.bangkok.escapehunt.com
ARE you a big fan of mysteries? Do you all enjoy a challenge? If yes, a visit to Escape Hunt is a must. Three unique mysteries set in four indoor rooms and two virtual “rooms” are on offer. Divided into teams of between two-five people, you’ll have to try and solve these mysteries by cracking clues and finding hidden messages– all while being up against the clock. B1,800-B3,000 for two-five people. If you’re a big fan of games, make sure to check out our round up of Bangkok’s best board game cafes at www.bit.ly/1Qevcnh.
Interchange 21 Building, Sukhumvit Soi 21. Open daily 9.30am-8.30pm Tel: 02 611 2828 www.bangkok.escapehunt.com
Learn to dance
ACCORDING to RumPuree Dance School’s founder Apple Busakorn, anybody can dance, “the moves are there, you just have to have the patience and practice to unlock them, and that’s all part of the fun.” RumPuree, which teaches a wide variety of dances such as Salsa, Hip Hop and Tango, has several dance studios around town (rumpuree.com). Prefer Swing dance? Check out Bangkok Swing Community’s popular twice weekly dance sessions (Tuesday nights at Zaks Wine Pub, Sukhumvit Soi 11; and Saturday nights at The Hop, Silom). A full list of courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers can be found at
www.bangkokswing.com
ACCORDING to RumPuree Dance School’s founder Apple Busakorn, anybody can dance, “the moves are there, you just have to have the patience and practice to unlock them, and that’s all part of the fun.” RumPuree, which teaches a wide variety of dances such as Salsa, Hip Hop and Tango, has several dance studios around town (rumpuree.com). Prefer Swing dance? Check out Bangkok Swing Community’s popular twice weekly dance sessions (Tuesday nights at Zaks Wine Pub, Sukhumvit Soi 11; and Saturday nights at The Hop, Silom). A full list of courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers can be found at
www.bangkokswing.com
Splash out at Club Taco
BANGKOK’S ultimate wake-boarding park is perfect for hot days and offers something for the whole family. While the kids waterskii, parents can enjoy local eats at the Thai restaurant next to the lake – as well as cheer and embarrass their children, of course. B300 for two hours, B200 for one hour.
Wat Luang Pho To 175/1, km 13 Bangna-Trad Road. Tel: 02 316 7809
www.cablewake.com/club-taco-wakeboard-cable-park
BANGKOK’S ultimate wake-boarding park is perfect for hot days and offers something for the whole family. While the kids waterskii, parents can enjoy local eats at the Thai restaurant next to the lake – as well as cheer and embarrass their children, of course. B300 for two hours, B200 for one hour.
Wat Luang Pho To 175/1, km 13 Bangna-Trad Road. Tel: 02 316 7809
www.cablewake.com/club-taco-wakeboard-cable-park
| Cook a fabulous feast WITH more free time on your hands you have the perfect excuse for getting busy in the kitchen. First – the supplies. Head straight for Food Glorious Food on Sukhumvit 71 (see page 28 for full details). Not only does it offer some of the finest, best value meats in Bangkok, but you’ll also find all kinds of imported veggies and condiments, as well as some delicious homemade pies. Second – the cooking. Visit our round up of the best cooking schools in Bangkok at www.bit.ly/1YEOE1J. |  |
Bonus: Enjoy some peace and quiet
• Visit the 90-year-old Neilson Hays Library and enjoy quiet hours amongst 20,000 books (www.neilsonhayslibrary.com).
• Find a friend who is a member of the British Club and join them for a day at this delightful oasis in the heart of Bangkok (www.britishclubbangkok.org).
• Swap concrete and cacophony for grass and serenity by visiting one of the city’s best parks. Read our full round up at www.bit.ly/1r11E2U.
• Visit the 90-year-old Neilson Hays Library and enjoy quiet hours amongst 20,000 books (www.neilsonhayslibrary.com).
• Find a friend who is a member of the British Club and join them for a day at this delightful oasis in the heart of Bangkok (www.britishclubbangkok.org).
• Swap concrete and cacophony for grass and serenity by visiting one of the city’s best parks. Read our full round up at www.bit.ly/1r11E2U.
