BANGKOK
Blue Elephant Thai Cooking
School COOKERY COURSE
(Map p 82 ; %0 2673 9353; http://www.blueelephant.com;
233 Th Sathon Tai; lessons 2943B; h8.45am-1pm
& 1.15-4.30pm Mon-Sat; BTS Surasak) Bangkok’s
most chi-chi Thai cooking school off ers two
lessons daily. The morning class squeezes in
a visit to a local market, while the afternoonsession includes a detailed introduction to
Thai ingredients.Silom Thai Cooking
School COOKERY COURSE
(Map p 82 ; %08 4726 5669; http://www.bangkokthai
cooking.com; 68 Soi 13/Trok Vaithi, Th Silom; les-
sons 1000B; h9.30am-1pm & 1.40-6pm; BTSBANGKOK FOR CHILDRENThere aren’t a whole lot of attractions in Bangkok meant directly to appeal to the little
ones, but there’s no lack of locals willing to provide attention. The website http://www.bambi
web.org is a useful resource for parents in Bangkok.
Housing a colourful selection of traditional Thai dolls, both new and antique, is the
Bangkok Doll Factory & Museum (Map p 97 ; %0 2245 3008; 85 Soi Ratchaphataphan/
Mo Leng; admission free; h8am-5pm Mon-Sat; BTS Ratchaprarop). The downside is that it can
be really hard to fi nd. Approach via Th Si Ayuthaya heading east. Cross under the ex-
pressway past the intersection with Th Ratchaprarop and take the soi to the right of the
post offi ce. Follow this windy street until you start seeing signs.
Disguising learning as kid’s play, most activities at the Children’s Discovery Mu-
seum (Map p 118 ; http://www.bkkchildrenmuseum.com; Queen Sirikit Park, Th Kamphaengphet 4;
adult/child 70/50B; h9am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun) are geared to early elemen-
tary–aged children. There is also a toddler-aged playground at the back of the main
building. Note that the museum was closed for revovations at the time of research, and
was scheduled to re-open in late 2011. It’s opposite Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Although not specifi cally child-targeted, the Museum of Siam (p 63 ) has lots of
interactive exhibits that will appeal to children.
Dusit Zoo (Map p 96 ; Th Ratchawithi; adult/child 100/50B; h8am-6pm; bus 18, 28, 515)
covers 19 hectares with caged exhibits of more than 300 mammals, 200 reptiles and
800 birds, including relatively rare indigenous species such as banteng, gaur, serow and
some rhinoceros. There are shady grounds plus a lake in the centre with paddleboats for
hire and a small children’s playground.
A massive underwater world has been re-created at the Siam Ocean World (Map
p 86 ; http://www.siamoceanworld.co.th; basement, Siam Paragon, Th Phra Ram I; adult/child 900/700B;
h10am-9pm; BTS Siam) shopping-centre aquarium. Gaze into the glass-enclosed deep-
reef zone or view the daily feeding of penguins and sharks.
Lumphini Park (p 85 ) is a trusty ally in the cool hours of the morning and evening for
kite-fl ying (in season) as well as for stretching the legs and lungs. Nearby, kids can view
lethal snakes become reluctant altruists at the adjacent antivenin-producing Queen
Saovabha Memorial Institute (p 79 ) snake farm.
Further Afi eld, Siam Park City (Map p 153 ; 203 Th Suansiam, Khannayao; %0 2919 7200;
http://www.siamparkcity.com; Th Ratchawithi; admission 100-600B; h10am-6pm) and Dream
World (Map p 153 ; %0 2533 1152; http://www.dreamworld-th.com; 62 Moo 1, Th Rangsit-Nakornnayok,
Patumthani; admission from 450B; h10am-6pm) are expansive amusement parks. Siam
Park City features more than 30 rides and a water park with the largest wave pool in the
world, while Dream World features a snow room. Both lie north of Bangkok and are
accessible by taxi from Mo Chit BTS station (Map p 118 ).
Join the novice monks and other children as they sprinkle tiny pellets of fi sh food
(which are sold on the pier) into the river at Tha Thewet (Map p 96 ; Th Samsen; h7am-
7pm, bus 32, 315, river ferry Tha Thewet), transforming the muddy river into a brisk boil of
fl apping bodies.
MBK Center (p 136 ) and Siam Paragon (p 137 ) both have bowling alleys to keep the
older ones occupied. Krung Sri IMAX (Map p 86 ; %0 2129 4631; http://www.imaxthai.com; Siam
Paragon, Th Phra Ram I; tickets 350-450B; BTS Siam) screens special-eff ects versions of
Hollywood action fl icks and nature features.