Thailand’s capital city has the unique allure of being an urban jungle peppered with cultural treasures, culinary delights, and creative outlets. No wonder one of the most famous Americans in Asia in the 60s, entrepreneur and architect Jim Thompson, made Bangkok his home.
But, like you, not everyone who passes through this famous city stay for good, although the prospect can be tempting the more you get to know the place. You can make your visit one for the books, though. And that doesn’t mean visiting all of the magnificent temples until you’re so steeped in Thai culture and architecture you’d probably see the Grand Palace in your dreams when you tuck in for the night. There are other ways to get your creativity going on a Thai holiday.
Go WOW at Siam Niramit
Watching Siam Niramit’s show is an experience to remember. That alone can satisfy your culture vulture side as the compound houses a miniature Thai village, a souvenir shop, and a restaurant that serves the best known dishes from the nation’s cuisine. Then, there’s the famed stage production to cap off the entire visit with a bang.
Siam Niramit’s Ratchada Theater boasts of having the world’s highest stage, which has the Guinness World of Record’s official stamp. It gives you a clue to the panoramic scale of the amazing cultural spectacle showcased in three acts: Journey Back into History, Journey Beyond Imagination: The Three Realms, and Journey Through Joyous Festivals. You will leave the place with stars in your eyes and an imagination brimming over with art and music.
Learn Coffee Roasting 101
Thailand’s presence in the coffee industry is growing, thanks in part to the fact that it has been cultivating its own beans for decades now. The coffee culture in Bangkok is also vibrant, with coffee cafes and carts that can be found virtually anywhere in the city. There is also the unique coffee tradition of grinding coffee beans by hand.
If you’re a coffee lover or involved in the industry yourself, learn more about Bangkok’s coffee treasure trove by taking a coffee roasting course, or even a cup tasting class, at FABB Academy of Coffee. You’ll not only get to taste cups of the aromatic beverage, you also get to learn a new skill that you can take back home with you and even share with your friends and loved ones.
Sketch Bangkok Sights with Locals
Are you into creating art? You can hang out with someone from Urban Sketchers Thailand and do a sketch or watercolor of a famed landmark. Or you can ask someone from the group to teach you the basics while basking in the magnificence of a well-known edifice. You can also check Bangkok-based meetups at Meetup.com for other similarly artistic opportunities.
Take a Quick Thai Cooking Workshop
The country’s cuisine is famous all over the world for its well-balanced flavors and spicy kick. Why don’t you learn to prepare one Thai dish or two? There are half-day courses that end with a sumptuous meal shared among fellow learners that you can sign up for. You’ll also learn more about Thai ingredients and even score a visit to the fresh market.
Whichever option you take among these 4, you’re sure to end your Bangkok adventure on a creative note!