Sport & Leisure

Spectator Sports

MUAY THAI (Thai Boxing)
Thai boxing or Muay Thai is very popular in Bangkok with most major bouts held at either the Lumphini or Ratchadamnoen Stadiums. This brutal but graceful martial art has been practiced in Thailand for centuries. Past Kings are reported to have been champion fighters and one, King Naresuan, introduced the sport as part of military training in the 16th century. Due to the high incidence of deaths during combat, the sport was banned in the 1920s but reintroduced soon afterunderthe more safety conscious Queensbury rules. Bouts consist of three fiveminute rounds during which the fighters use every part of the body (except the head) to bludgeon the opponent into defeat. Before the bout begins, a graceful and mesmerising ritual dance named ram muay is performed by both fighters to placate the spirits and show respect to the art and its teachers. Bouts are extremely boisterous, noisy affairs and should be witnessed for the spectacle alone. Be warned though, this isn't the WWF and the blows are hard hitting and real.

TAKRAW (Kick Volleyball)
Go to the Lumphini Park on any given Sunday and watch sweaty Thais combine the skills of volleyball, football and gymnastics. As many as two dozen men pair off to leap and dive through the air with one objective in mind: without using their hands, keep a rattan ball from hitting the ground on their net side. The diverse mix of players - tuk-tuk drivers, security guards and students -- says much about the widespread Thai love oftakraw, the most beautiful Asian game. Played since the 11th century, it has spread throughout the region, but nowhere is it played with as much relish as here, where it fills stadiums. The sport's killer move, the somersault scissor kick, can send the ball hurtling back over the net at amazing speeds. Watch in awe.

AEROBICS
It might be hard to imagine, but every day, busy Bangkokians find the time for some energising aerobics - out in the open. Head to any park in the city around 5pm-6pm, and you'll be able to spot large groups of office workers, kids and the elderly following the instructions of an enthusiastic coach to blaring disco dance songs. The best places for the free classes are the centrally located Lumphini Park and the smaller Benjasiri Park (next to The Emporium, Sukhumvit Rd, BTS Phrom Phong). Others, a bit off the beaten path, include Rommaninat Park (Siriphong Rd, near the Giant Swing), Saranrom Park (Thaiwang Rd) near The Grand Palace and Chatuchak Park. Never mind the possibility of fainting - simply join in!

Active Sports

BADMINTON

RACQUET CLUB
Sukhumvit 49/9 02-714-7200

YEN AKAT COURT
Soi Yen Akat 02-249-6935-6

A family favourite in Thailand is Badminton which is played by both young and old. A big reason for it being it being popular is the relative ease of setting up a game. All you need is a racquet, a shuttlecock, someone to watch out for cars, and you're ready to go. It's often played in neighbourhoods, in front of houses, whether hitting over fences or just simply on the street. Many moo baan's will have courts available for rent or even free of charge. Some centrally located courts include the youth centre in Lumphini park, Racquet Club and Yen Akart Court.

BOWLING
A favourite past time among Thais to do with friends and family is Bowling. Most shopping malls have top of the line ten-pin alleys on-site and many of these teeter dangerously close to being a nightclub with many having full bars and closing times after midnight. During afterhours bowling alleys often have a DJ blasting thumping tunes, and they'll often kill the lights and flood the halls with black light for a particularly psychedelic experience. Great spots to get your bowl on include trendy Blu-O at Siam Paragon and Esplanade which also has platinum rooms for rent to have your own private area and lane for your party. Also worth mentioning is the Major Bowl atop posh J-Avenue in Thonglor, and also SF Strike bowl in good of MBK.

CYCLING

GRASSHOPPER ADVENTURES
www.grosshopperadventures.com
Sun Bkk I daily Chao Phraya I Sat & Thur barge

This down-to-earth company runs inexpensive cycling tours around Southeast Asia as well as some 101 unique cycling tours in and around Bangkok. A 3-day tour takes in villages and Chao Phraya River islands (US$200); while another travels from Bangkok to Ayutthaya on 2 to 3-day sojourns combining cycling with travelling and living aboard a converted rice barge (US$180 - US$215). The best is a leisurely ride around historic Bangkok. For half a day, you'll ride through Rattanakosin along quiet back lanes and through leafy parks (Sundays, 15kms, US$20) - an imaginative and relaxing way to see the city's biggest sights. All trips are with a local guide and at a relaxed pace on flat easy roads. Bookings require a minimum of two. Customised trips are available.

ICE SKATING

SUB-ZERO ICE SKATE CLUB
Rachadapisek Rd, Esplanade 4th Fl [ MRT Thailand Cultural Centre ]
02354-2134

This isn't a boring sterile rink, more like a nightclub on ice. Popular among youngsters, its 682 square meters of fluorescent ice, which lights up at night when Sub Zero morphs into an "Ice Bar" with DJs and strobe lights blasting the floor. For the novice, there are pros on hand with lessons ranging from speed skating, figure skating, ice skating and even hockey. Lessons are B700-1500 and the complex has a fully stocked pro shop if you want brand new blades of glory. Even if you just want to have a look there are bars ringside, and of course they are made of ice! And this is Thailand so of course there's karaoke on-site.

TENNIS

LUMPHINI PARK YOUTH CENTER

SOI KLANG RACQUET CLUB
Sukhumvit Soi 49-9

THE NATIONAL STADIUM
Rama1 Rd Smash it down the line as tennis has become one of the most popular sports in all of Thailand, with Thai Ace Paradorn Srichaphan, who became the first Asian player to achieve a top ten ranking just a couple of years ago, bearing much of the responsibility for inducing hordes of Thais to pick up the racquet and start practicing their serves. Many of the leading hotels will offer an in-house court for you but if you'd like to get out among the people a little, there are quite a few public courts around town that you can use for free or for a small fee.Also towards the end of their respective seasons Bangkok hosts two tournaments, the ATP's Thailand Open and the WTA's Bangkok Open.