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Entertainment
Guide to Entertainment, Events and Nightlife
in Bangkok
Bangkok by night has all the
entertainment you could want from traditional to the salacious.
Music
Thailand's biggest live music venue is Bangkok's IMPACT Arena. This
modern indoor arena has hosted international stars such as Robbie
Williams and Britney Spears have been recent visitors to the
stadium, while the largest acts in Japan and East Asia also pack it
out. IMPACT is also one of the city's most popular convention
centres. It is located towards the International Airport just off
the Western Expressway on Popular Rd. Tel: +66 (0)2-504-5050.
Western classical music is performed on occasion at the city's
largest hotels in their large hsopitality and conference suites.
Thai classical music often forms part of the various cultural
performances that you can see at the venues listed below. Pubs and
bars such as the Hard Rock Café often have live performers belting
out their versions of the latest hits from the European charts. This
entertainment is usually free and can be surprisingly high quality.
Cultural
Performance and Theatre
Thai classical dance is a highly evolved and cultured art form that,
at its best, can be a beguiling and beautiful site to behold. Some
tourist performances can be slightly less than you'd expect, and
there is no shortage of them.
Avoid this by either heading for the National Theatre on Na Phra
That Road next to the National Museum. Performances of traditional
dance are held regularly on the last weekend of each month and at
other times on occasion. Interspersed with this the theatre hosts
drama and musical performances both Thai and international. Tel: +66
(0)2-221-0174 for further details.
Siam Niramit is the latest and grandest cultural show to hit
Bangkok. Not just the usual classical dances and excerpts from the
Ramayana, this is a lavish production marrying the latest high-tech
with traditional values. A Thai buffet dinner is available before
the show, and a special Thai village displays regional domestic
architecture and demonstrates handicrafts such as weaving, pottery
and local foodstuffs. Located on Tiamruammit Rd, Huaykwang. Tel: +66
(0)2-649-9222 for more information.
The Chalerm Krung Royal Theatre is located on Charoen Krung (New)
Road. It is mainly used for performances of modern drama and
musicals, but at certain times of year it hosts masked dances and
traditional Thai theatre. Tel: +66 (0)2-225-8757 for further
details.
Finally the Bangkok Playhouse features the occasional traditional
khon performance among its programme of mainly modern Thai drama and
music. Located on New Phetchburi Rd, Tel: +66 (0)2-319-7641.
Nightlife
Bangkok has literally hundreds of bars and is steadily becoming a
lot more sophisticated a nightclub destination than it used to be.
There's a strong Western influence and although hotel clubs quite
often offer saccharine recorded pop music, the better establishments
are incresaingly offering excellent dance and house. Besides that of
course are the numerous bars and clubs of Patpong and the city's
other red light districts. Some of these are simply places for beers
and music, but the majority are not.
One of the most exclusive clubs is Narcissus (112 Sukhumvit Soi 23.
Tel: +66 (0)2-258-4805) which plays contemporary trance, techno and
hip-hop in a massive Art Deco palace. Make sure you're dressed up,
this is where Bangkok's seriously funky choose to spend their
evenings. Or try the super trendy Bed Supper Club which is now a
firm favourite on the Bangkok club scene, attracting the
international DJ set, playing the latest funky house, hip hop and
Asian fusion. (26 Soi Sukhumvit 11, Sukhumvit Rd. Tel: +66
(0)2-651-3537).
Alternatively you can try the slightly cheesier surroundings of
Concept CM2 (Basement of Novotel Siam Square, Siam Square Soi 6.
Tel: +66 (0)2-209-8888 ) with its disco dancefloor, karaoke evenings
and live acts. A fun place for a night out it's less pressured than
the more hardcore dance clubs. Somewhere in between falls Lucifer
(Radio City 76/1-3 Patpong Soi 1. Tel: +66 (0)2 234-6902), serious
dancers mix with more casual clubbers and you'll see locals and
tourists here enjoying hard house and techno beats.
Other nightclubs and lively bars around the city that are worth
visiting include Senor Pico's of Los Angeles (Rembrant Hotel,
Sukhumvit Soi 18. Tel: +66 (0)2-261-7100), Bamboo Bar (Oriental
Hotel, 48 Oriental Ave. Tel: +66 (0)2-659-9000), Forte (91 Sukhumvit
Soi 24. Tel: +66 (0)2-661-0346) and the Saxophone Pub & Restaurant
(3/8 Victory Monument, Phyathai Rd. Tel: +66 (0)2-246-5472).
Drugs are often offered for sale in the clubs of Bangkok - remember
that narcotics are not tolerated in Thailand and that possession is
a very serious offence that can carry the death penalty. Never let
yourself be put in a position where you may be suspected of carrying
drugs, and certainly never agree to hold or courier any item for
anyone else.
The ever popular go-go bars of Patpong offer an entirely different
style of entertainment.
Cinema
There are literally dozens of cinemas showing Thai, Chinese, Indian
and Western movies in their original language.
Cinemas are air-conditioned and quite reasonably priced (THB40-100).
Most films are preceded by the playing of the Royal anthem, often
accompanied by images of the King; all patrons are expected to
stand.
The best cinemas in terms of range and audio-visual quality can be
found at: The Emporium, Thanon Sukhumvit, Tel: +66 (0)2-664-8711-20;
Central Plaza, Thanon Ratchada-Rama III, Tel: +66 (0)2-673-6060-88;
World Trade Centre, Ratchadamri Rd, Tel: +66 (0)2-255-9500
Kickboxing
Kickboxing is known as muay thai and is highly popular among locals
as evening entertainment (as is the associated gambling). There are
regular bouts at two stadiums: Lumpini, Thanon Rama IV and
Ratchadamnoen, Thanon Ratchadamonoen Nok. An evening of fighting
consists of several fights (nine or ten) of five rounds apiece. The
top billed bout usually occurs around bout five or six but for the
uninitiated any fight appears equally skillful. The martial art is
very stylised, fighters wear a selection of charms during bouts, but
once the bell goes the fighters explode into action. It is
remarkably quick, and fighters as young as 15 or 16 display amazing
athleticism as they punch, kick, block and counter each other.
Westerners who aren't familiar with the sport will have a difficult
time seeing the difference between the relative skills of the
fighters, but the handy score-board has lights on it that will help
you keep track of the score round by round.
Betting on events is fevered and as much a part of the evening as
actually watching the fighters. If you go ringside someone will
usually help you make a bet at one of the counters under the stands.
In the cheap seats you're better off just watching as money changes
hands with extraordinary rapidity throughout the fight with
seemingly nobody keeping track of the odds. It's almost as
fascinating as the fight itself.
Admission prices vary according to proximity to the ring
(THB150-800). Most tourists will be ushered into the expensive
ringside seats, although whether you benefit so much from the
atmosphere is debatable. Although muay thai revolves around the art
of blocking and moving, and generally not getting hit, fights can be
rather violent on occasion with blood drawn. You shouldn't go if you
think you might be offended.
Special Events
April
Thai New Year, "Songkran" is perhaps the most well known and
enthusiastically celebrated festival in Thailand, making April a
wonderful time to visit Bangkok. "Songkran", meaning "move into" in
Sanskrit, marks the end of the twelve month Lunar cycle and the
beginning of a new year. New Year is traditionally celebrated with
water throwing, which ranges from a polite sprinkle or splash to a
full-blown water fight with pistols and garden hoses. For a thorough
soaking, head to Khao San Road, where much of the activity takes
place. For a more sedate celebration, go to the "Sanam Luang" (Royal
Ground) next to the Grand Palace, where you will see devotees
bathing the image of Phra Buddha Sihing.
May
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held each year in May. This major
state event has its origins in an ancient Brahmin rite, and even to
this day the Royal Family have to retain a Brahmin priest to perform
the ceremony each year. The event marks the start of the rice
planting season and dates back to the Sukhothai era (1257-1350 AD).
The ceremony is held in The Royal Ground, where the "Lord of the
Harvest", and two ceremonial bulls make predictions regarding the
coming rainfall, success of the harvest and particular crops.
Following the departure of the Royal Family, the barricades are
lifted and the crowds rush in to gather seed sown by the Lord of the
Harvest. Tourists and Thais alike are required to adhere to strict
regulations regarding dress code and photography, so you are advised
to contact the TAT office for more details. Tel: +66 (0)2-250-5500.
August
Great reverence is afforded to The Royal Family in Thailand and on
August 12, the entire country celebrates Queen Sirikit's birthday.
To mark the occasion there is a national holiday when glittering
lights adorn homes and public buildings throughout Thailand. For a
particularly extravagant display, head for Ratchadamnoen Avenue and
the area around the Grand Palace.
October-December
Numerous beer gardens scattered around the city celebrate the Thai
Beer Festival, which runs from October through December. As well as
enjoying the local brew, you can indulge in exotic Thai cuisine and
musical performances during the evenings. The city's largest beer
garden in The World Trade Centre is the perfect location to sink a
few drinks and enjoy the festival atmosphere.
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