Our most famous sport Thai kick boxing is a very exciting spectator sport. The agility of the contestants is simply amazing. In Thailand we call it Muay Thai. Its popularity has spread world wide and many young foreign men come to Thailand to train under Thai coaches. Some of these have gone on to become world champions.
Muay Thai is thought to have originated in the early part of the Ayutthaya period as a form of unarmed combat. Competitions were usually staged at temple fairs and were accompanied by a small 3-piece traditional music ensemble.
Each contest starts with the contestants paying respects to their trainers to the accompaniment of the ensemble. When the bout begins, the tempo of the music increases adding an aural enhancement to the frantic action in the ring.
Today it is a professional sport with training camps located in just about every province. For many poor country boys, it is the road from rags to riches. Many professional fighters take on the names of their sponsors. So you will see fighters with the same name as products such as a can of paint. It is all part of the uniqueness of this sport.
Some of the Thai beach resort areas have training camps specifically for foreigners who want to learn the techniques. These camps usually arrange contests between their foreign students and Thai exponents of the sport.
Where to see:
Lumpini Stadium Rama IV Road Tel: 0 2252 8765 Tuesday, Friday Saturday nights at 6.30 pm. and Saturday afternoon at 5.00 pm. Ticket prices Baht 500, 800 and 1,500 for ringside.
How to get there: Subway to Lumpini Station.
Bus routes4, 13, 22, 45, 47, 74, 141
Ratchadamnoen Stadium Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue Tel: 0 2281 4205 Monday, Wednesday Thursday and Sunday nights at 6.30 pm. Ticket prices Baht 500, 800 and 1,500 for ringside. Discount on Sunday nights.
How to get there: Bus routes 70, 503, 509
Channel 7 Stadium Behind old Mo Chit Bus Terminal near Chatuchak Park Tel: 0 2272 0210 Ext. 205 Sunday 1.45 pm. Admission Fee: Free
How to get there: BTS Skytrain to Mo Chit Staion and Subway to Chatuchak Station
Bus routes 3, 26, 27, 29, 34, 59, 77, 96, 112, 134, 136, 138, 145, 502, 503, 509, 510, 512, 513
Bangkok Boxing Staduim Nearby Thailand Cultural Center Tel: 0 2618 5314-6 Website: www.OneSongchai.com
How to get there: 1,200 metres from MRT Thailand Cultural Center Station
Bus routes 137, 517,136, 206, 514, 36, 54, 73ก
Traning Courses:
Fairtex Muaythai Sportclub & Resort
Jaroenthong Kiatbanchong Thai Boxing School
Muaythai Institute
One Songchai Co., Ltd.
Muaythai
Cooking
Thai cuisine is a favorite of many, and many cooking schools provide half-day classes that provide a nice break from the day-to-day sightseeing monotony.
BaiPai Cooking School. Tel. 02-294-9029 info@baipai.com. A nice casual cooking school with a nice modern design in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Their van will pick you up from your hotel or Bangkok location, because it's not easy to find. Instructors are fun and informative, and you get a souvenir printed photo and one is even emailed to you. Class run from 9:30am to about 1:30pm, closed Mondays.
Blue Elephant. Tel. 02-673-9353 cooking.school@blueelephant.com . Take classes from one of the most famous chains of Thai restaurants in the world. While the price is substantially higher than others in Bangkok, class takes place in the historic Blue Elephant restaurant, and while dining on your creations, wine, extra dishes and dessert are served. And they give you a Blue Elephant apron as well.
Buddhism
The International Buddhist Meditation Centre. Wat Mahathat, 3 Maharat Road, Phraborommaharatchawang, tel. 2623-6325, . Meditation classes in English are held at 7-10AM, 1-4PM and 6-8PM everyday in section 5 of the temple. Attendance is free of charge, but donations are welcome. Getting there: Take the river taxi to Chang Pier (between Silpakorn University and the Thammasat University). From there the center is a short walk.
The World Fellowship of Buddhists. 2nd Floor, No.616 Benjasiri Park, Soi Medhinivet (off Soi Sukhumvit 24), tel:2661-1284(-90), . Offers meditation classes in English from 2 to 5:30PM on the first Sunday of every month. The office also provides information on places to learn and practice meditation in Thailand. Classes and information are free.
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