Courses in Bangkok
If you’re going to be around for a while, why not embark on one of the many available courses in Bangkok? These can be great fun, as well as providing you with expert knowledge which you can take home with you. Plus they provide you with a great way of getting in touch with Thai culture and traditions, and of connecting with the Thai people.
Cooking Courses
A cooking course if often the first idea that springs to mind when thinking about taking courses in Bangkok – you’ll be eating plenty of delicious Thai food during your time in Bangkok and food will be at the forefront of most people’s holiday here. Therefore it seems logical to try to take some of this home with you, and you’ll have a lot of fun impressing your friends by whipping up a Thai feast with surprising ease.
You can choose the length of your course, and they are usually taken over half a day or a full day, or sometimes longer for the real enthusiasts. A visit to the market is included, which often proves to be a real highlight of the course, and you will learn all about each of the ingredients you purchase. The course itself usually focuses on cooking a few dishes per session, and of course you get to eat everything you prepare. We can guarantee that you’ll be amazed at how tasty food you’ve made is!
A few places to enroll on a cooking course include hotels such as The Oriental(near Saphan Thaksin BTS, 48 Oriental Rd., 02 659 9000), the Dusit Thani (Rama IV Road, Sala Daeng BTS Tel +66 (0) 2 236 0450) or the Landmark (138 Sukhumvit Rd., 02 254 0404). As well as hotels, places such as Jim Thompson’s House Museum (6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Rd., 02 216 7368) offers courses, and there are private cooking schools such as the Wandee Culinary School (294/16-17 Padiphat Rd., Phayathai, 02 279 9844-5) and for a really thorough and professional course, get in touch with the UFM Food Centre (593/29-39 Sukhumvit 33/1, North Klongton, 02 259 0620-30)
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) courses
Whereas in other parts of Thailand, a Muay Thai course involves some light sparring and a bit of fitness training. Muay Thai courses in Bangkok are a different matter though – here you have to be very committed to the cause and the training is rigorous and very tough. Many training centres won’t accept foreigners unless you can prove that you are very dedicated and can conform to the intense training and dietary requirements, and you’ll probably have to be able to speak Thai too.
There are exceptions to this though, and Jitti’s Gym on Soi Krasab, Chakraphong, Banglamphu (not too far from Khao San Road – 12 Soi Chokchairuammit yak 29, Ratchadapisek Rd., 02 691 4238) specialises in taking on foreign students. As does the Muay Thai institute in the Rangsit boxing stadium near Don Muang Airport,(317 Prahonyothin 119, Vipravadee Rd., 02 992 0096-99)
Thai Language courses
Although many Thais in Bangkok speak English, and it’s easy to get by without speaking the local lingo, but Thai people really appreciate it when a foreigner makes an effort to speak Thai and it can make a considerable difference to your stay here. Plus there are always the occasional taxi drivers and shop keepers who don’t speak English, so having some Thai knowledge can get you out of some sticky situations sometimes!
For Thai language courses, look to the Union Language School in the Christ Church Thailand Building, Surawong Road, The Church Of Christ In Thailand Bldg. 7th Fl., Payathai Rd., 02 214 6033-4, union_lang@yahoo.com) which offers a very thorough course; BIS International School (53 Pattanakarm Soi 44, Suanlaung, 02 322 1979) or PRO Language in the Times Square Building, 10th Fl., Times Square Building, 246 Sukhumvit Rd., Some Bangkok universities also offer courses, such as Thamassat University, English Language Center, Phrachan Rd., Phranakorn, 02 223 3758-9) or Chulalongkorn University, (254 Phayathai Rd., Pathumwan, 02 215 0871-3).
Massage
Having a Thai massage should be high on the list of activities for any visitor to Thailand, but why not get really immersed in the art of Thai massage by taking a course? As well as getting massage plenty of times during the course, you can also learn just how it is that Bangkok’s many masseuses and masseurs acquired their magic fingers.
The best place to take a massage course in Bangkok is at the Wat Po massage school. Based outside the temple compound, the courses from this school are the benchmark to which all other massage courses are set. (392/25-28 Soi Penpat 1, Maharat Rd., Pranakorn, 02 622 3551)
Also worth a mention is the Phussapa Thai Massage School on Sukkumvit Road, (25/8 Soi 26, Sukhumvit Rd., Klongtan, 02 204 2922-3). Also try BKK Massage, which is slightly out the way, but does good courses. (133/204 Romklao Rd., Ladkabang, 02 907 6476)/
Updated: January 2010
on sale widely
