Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [100]
Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School (Map; 0 2622 3533; www.watpomassage.com; 392/25-28 Soi Phen Phat; tuition from 6500B; 8am-6pm; river ferry Tha Tien) Offers basic and advanced courses in traditional massage; basic courses offer 30 hours spread out over five-days and cover either general massage or foot massage. The advanced level spans 60 hours, requires the basic course as a prerequisite, and covers therapeutic and healing massage. Other advanced courses include oil massage and aromatherapy, and infant and child massage. The school is outside the temple compound in a restored Bangkok shophouse near Tha Tien, and now has branches in northern and eastern Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
BANGKOK FOR CHILDREN
There 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 www.bambiweb.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; 0 2245 3008; 85 Soi Ratchataphan/Mo Leng; admission free; 8am-5pm Mon-Sat). The downside is that it can be really hard to find: approach via Th Si Ayuthaya heading east. Cross under the expressway past the intersection with Th Ratchaprarop and take the soi to the right of the post office. Follow this windy street until you start seeing signs.
Disguising learning as kid’s play, most activities at the Children’s Discovery Museum (Map; 0 2618 6509; www.bkkchildrenmuseum.com; Queen Sirikit Park, Th Kamphaeng Phet 4; adult/child 70/50B; 9am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun) are geared to early elementary-aged children. There is also a toddler-aged playground at the back of the main building. Opposite Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Although not specifically child-targeted, the Museum of Siam (Click here) has lots of interactive exhibits that will appeal to children.
Dusit Zoo (Map; 0 2281 9027; www.zoothailand.org; Th Ratchawithi; adult/child 100/50B; 8am-6pm Mon-Thu, to 9pm Fri-Sun; bus 18, 510) 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, a small children’s playground, and a Night Zoo (open 6pm to 9pm Friday to Sunday).
A massive underwater world has been re-created at the Siam Ocean World (Map; 0 2687 2000; www.siamoceanworld.co.th; basement, Siam Paragon, Th Phra Ram I; adult/child 350/250B; 10am-7pm; Skytrain Siam) shopping-centre aquarium. Gaze into the glass-enclosed deep-reef zone or view the daily feeding of penguins and sharks.
Lumphini Park (Map; Th Phra Ram IV, btwn Th Withayu/Wireless Rd & Th Ratchadamri; admission free; 5am-8pm; bus 13, 505, Skytrain Sala Daeng, Metro Lumphini) is a trusty ally in the cool hours of the morning and evening for kite-flying (in season) as well as stretching of the legs and lungs. Kids can view lethal snakes become reluctant altruists at the adjacent antivenin-producing Snake Farm (Click here).
Join the novice monks and other children as they sprinkle tiny pellets of fish food (which are sold on the pier) into the river at Tha Thewet (Map; Th Samsen; 7am-7pm), transforming the muddy river into a brisk boil of flapping bodies.
Near the old Portuguese quarter in Thonburi, Wat Prayoon (Map; 24 Th Prachathipok, cnr Thetsaban Soi 1; admission free; 8am-6pm; cross-river ferry from Tha Pak Talaat/Atsadang) is an artificial hill cluttered with miniature shrines and a winding path encircling a turtle pond. Vendors sell cut fruit for feeding to the resident turtles. It’s near Memorial Bridge.