CNBC European Business

Bangkok

Entertainment

COOKING LESSONS Thai Cooking School Almost everyone who comes to Thailand, at some point, considers learning how to prepare those sensuous Thai dishes. Think how impressed your friends will be! Many schools are less expensive than The Oriental, but none are more famous or have such incomparable chefs.
MEDITATION LESSONS Wat Mahathat Wat Mahathat is an important centre for the teaching of Buddhism and meditation. Monks from all over South-east Asia come here to study. English-speaking monks are usually available to teach Vipassana, or insight meditation.
SNAKES Red Cross Snake Farm This is where anti-venom is made, so it serves a serious purpose. But what good is a big collection of deadly snakes if you don’t let tourists have a look?
THAI BOXING Lumpini Stadium Assailants use feet, elbows, legs, knees and shoulders as weapons while being serenaded by traditional musicians and the caterwaul of gamblers. Fights are held here on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, then on other nights they take place at Rajadamnoen Stadium on Rajadamnoen Nok Avenue (Tel: 281 4205).
THAI MASSAGE Wat Pho This is the home of Thai massage. Your hotel can arrange a splendid massage in cool surroundings, but those fingers were probably trained at Wat Pho, Thailand’s oldest wat. Enjoy a massage in an [open]-air pavilion on the temple grounds.
TRADITIONAL DANCE Chalermkrung Royal Theatre This restored theatre features khon, the ancient Thai masked dance in which all dancers are male, which is enhanced by state-of-the-art audio and visual systems. Performances usually take place weekly, but check for times. Dress respectably.
TRANSVESTITE SHOW Calypso Cabaret For almost two decades, this dance troupe has been dazzling audiences and leaving them laughing, often at the same time. The nightly shows borrow from Broadway and Parisian revues and Asian themes. Provocative and fun. Have your picture taken with a tranny celebrity lookalike!

COOKING LESSONS Thai Cooking School Almost everyone who comes to Thailand, at some point, considers learning how to prepare those sensuous Thai dishes. Think how impressed your friends will be! Many schools are less expensive than The Oriental, but none are more famous or have such incomparable chefs.

MEDITATION LESSONS Wat Mahathat Wat Mahathat is an important centre for the teaching of Buddhism and meditation. Monks from all over South-east Asia come here to study. English-speaking monks are usually available to teach Vipassana, or insight meditation.

SNAKES Red Cross Snake Farm This is where anti-venom is made, so it serves a serious purpose. But what good is a big collection of deadly snakes if you don’t let tourists have a look?

THAI BOXING Lumpini Stadium Assailants use feet, elbows, legs, knees and shoulders as weapons while being serenaded by traditional musicians and the caterwaul of gamblers. Fights are held here on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, then on other nights they take place at Rajadamnoen Stadium on Rajadamnoen Nok Avenue (Tel: 281 4205).

THAI MASSAGE Wat Pho This is the home of Thai massage. Your hotel can arrange a splendid massage in cool surroundings, but those fingers were probably trained at Wat Pho, Thailand’s oldest wat. Enjoy a massage in an [open]-air pavilion on the temple grounds.

TRADITIONAL DANCE Chalermkrung Royal Theatre This restored theatre features khon, the ancient Thai masked dance in which all dancers are male, which is enhanced by state-of-the-art audio and visual systems. Performances usually take place weekly, but check for times. Dress respectably.

TRANSVESTITE SHOW Calypso Cabaret For almost two decades, this dance troupe has been dazzling audiences and leaving them laughing, often at the same time. The nightly shows borrow from Broadway and Parisian revues and Asian themes. Provocative and fun. Have your picture taken with a tranny celebrity lookalike!