|
|
|
|
Bangkok is a city in which boredom is never an option; so wide is the variety of entertainment on offer. Long famed for its legendary nightlife, there is actually a whole lot more to the Bangkok scene, catering for all groups and interests. Its worth checking both the Bangkok Post and Nation newspapers for a daily guide to events and happenings, particularly the Friday editions, which cover the weekend and the following week. Also, there are several monthly publications dedicated to entertainment listings, including Bangkok Metro, Bangkok Timeout, Gavroche (for French speakers), Guide of Bangkok, and Bangkok Lifestyle (the last two are free). Nightlife The variety of bars and clubs in Bangkok covers the full range from street-side drinking stalls where the beer and whiskey flow cheaply, to enormous, packed nightclubs where trendy Thais get dancing to a wide variety of music. Specific areas noted for their bar scenes include Silom Road, with a huge range of bars spanning almost every conceivable scene from expat theme pubs, gay/lesbian bars and clubs, street bars, and live bands. The Sukhumvit Road area is similar, if more spread out, and also features several enormous nightclubs such as Taurus and Narcissus. Another string of diverse bars can be found in the Sarasin and Lang Suan area offering good live bands ranging from jazz to heavy metal. Also worth a look is the crazy bar streets of Royal City Avenue (just off Phetburi Road) and Soi Inthamara in the Sutthisarn area, where the bright young things of the capital hang out in a long series of loud and lively pubs and clubs. Finally, the bars of the Khao San backpacker mecca are worth venturing to, if only for the fact most of them are open 24 hours, and in addition theres a series of art-student-type bars tucked away on Phra Athit, just behind Khao San, next to the river. Traditional Thai Dance and Drama, Contemporary Theatre and Cabaret For something a little more cultural, Bangkok features some excellent examples of traditional Thai dance and drama. Known as khon, these performances feature masked actors resembling heroes, heroines, monkeys and demons, reenacting scenes from the Ramakian (the Thai version of the Hindu Ramayana). Two of the best places to see these are at the National Theatre, near the Phra Pinklao bridge, and the Chalermkrung Royal Theatre on the edge of Yaowarat. In addition, Bangkok has many dinner theatres catering largely to tourists, where admission covers dinner and the performance itself. Sala Rim Nam, across the Chao Praya River from (and run by) the Oriental Hotel certainly has one of the more extravagant settings of any dinner theater, but others worth visiting include Baan Thai, in the Sukhumvit area, and the Maneeya Lotus Room, on Ploenchit Road. Lastly, a khon variant known as lakhon kae bon, featuring a dance troupe plus traditional band, can be seen for free at the Erawan and Lak Meuang shrines, commissioned by worshippers whose wishes have been granted by the spirits of these busy city shrines. Also of interest for the theatrically inclined is the Bangkok Playhouse, which features a wide range of contemporary Thai theater and performance art. Lastly, there are at least two big tourist-friendly transvestite cabaret shows worth seeing?Calypso Cabaret at the Asia Hotel, which is the most famous and possibly the best, and Mambo Cabaret down on Sukhumvit Road, an upstart newcomer that seems to be packing the tourists in. Thai Boxing Thai culture of another sort, though no less incredible, is the national sport of muay thai, better known overseas as Thai kick-boxing. With two major stadiums and many smaller ones scattered around Bangkok, there are ample opportunities to see muay thai in action, complete with all its ritual trappings. Both Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadiums feature some of the best fighters in the country, with the action alternating between the two over the course of the week. Apart from the action in the ring, theres the added entertainment of the musical accompaniment provided by a traditional ensemble based around the pii or Thai oboe, plus a big crowd enthusiastically betting their earnings away. Cinema Bangkok has been recently hit by the multiplex revolution, so almost every big shopping mall has an attached cineplex, showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters (and some downright turkeys), as well as a few Thai and Thai-dubbed Hong Kong films. In addition, Bangkok is now hosting at least three big film festivals a year, so its worth grabbing a listings guide to see whats on. Lastly, the French, German, and Japanese Embassies all have cultural centers showing selected films once a week for those interested in more the globally orientated cinema. A pick of some of Bangkoks better cinemas would have to include United Artists at the luxurious Emporium shopping mall, the Major Multiplex at the World Trade Center, right in the middle of modern Bangkok, and the Lido Multiplex, an older cinema in the heart of the Siam Square shopping district thats just as popular. Theme Parks Whether or not you're traveling with children, there are several big theme parks on the outskirts of Bangkok worth planning a day trip around. Dream World, just north of Don Muang airport, features a range of rides divided into different areas and proves a big hit with the kids on the weekend. If you prefer to cool down, though, then the Siam Water Park, on the road between Minburi and Bangkapi, will do just fine. With an enormous wave pool, lots of water slides, whirlpools and other aquatic chaos, it is justifiably crowded on weekends with families looking to escape the heat. Also in the Minburi area is Safari World, a drive through wild life park with a teeming array of beasts to gaze at through the windows of your car or coach. Museums, Galleries & Libraries Bangkoks many museums, galleries and libraries present an oasis of solitude in an otherwise hectic city. The National Museum is certainly the best worth visiting in Bangkok, with Thailands richest array of cultural treasures on display, and excellent guided tours to give you a sound understanding of Thai history. On the gallery front, whilst the National Gallery may be of interest to pure art fans, Bangkok is experiencing a surge in gallery/bar combinations, best typified by About Studio/Café, which succeeds admirably in presenting art in more relaxed surroundings. On to books, and borrowing them, the Neilson Hayes Library in the depths of downtown Bangkok on Surawong Road, has arguably the best collection of English literature available, in a stunning colonial building. However, for non-Anglophiles, most major foreign embassies, particularly those of Germany, France and Japan, also have a small library attached to their respective cultural centers. Massage/Meditation Finally, if all this activity leaves you completely drained, what better way to revive your spirits with a traditional Thai massage. Nowadays, particularly in tourist areas, everyone seems to be setting up a reflexology and massage shop, but probably the best value for money is at Wat Pho, Bangkoks oldest Buddhist temple. Meditation courses also represent a good way to experience a different side of Bangkok, and for non-Thai speakers, the best two temples are Wat Mahatat and Wat Pak Nam, both of which have had many foreigners study there. |
|
Entertainment - Cities Listing
Captain Cooks Casino,
Lady Dream Casino,
Poker Game Online, |
