If you’re going to be around for a while, why not embark on one of the many available courses in Bangkok? Taking a course can be a lot of fun, as well as providing you with knowledge that you can take back home with you. Plus, these courses provide you with a great way of getting in touch with Thai culture and traditions, and of course connecting with the Thai people.
Cooking Courses in Bangkok
A cooking course is often the first idea that springs to mind when thinking about taking a course in Bangkok. You’re sure to be eating plenty of delicious Thai food during your time in Bangkok and food will be at the forefront of most peoples’ holiday here. Therefore, it seems logical to try to take some of this home with you, and it’s 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 most are conducted over either half a day or a full day, or sometimes considerably longer. A visit to the market is included, which often proves to be the highlight of the course, plus 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 could almost guarantee that you’ll be amazed at how tasty the food you’ve made is!
Some of the places that offer cooking courses include hotels, such as The Oriental, the Dusit Thani and the Landmark. As well as hotels, places such as Jim Thompson’s House offers courses, and there are also private cooking schools, such as the Wandee Culinary School For a really thorough and professional course, get in touch with the UFM Food Centre.
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) courses in Bangkok
Whereas Muay Thai courses in other parts of Thailand involve some light sparring and a bit of fitness training, Bangkok courses are a different matter altogether.
Here you need to be 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 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 rule though, and Jitti Gym on Soi Ratchadapisek 19 (Tel: (089) 069 5026), specialises in taking on foreign students. The Muay Thai institute also takes on foreigners and is located in the Rangsit boxing stadium near Don Muang Airport.
Thai Language courses in Bangkok
Although many Thais in Bangkok speak good English and it’s easy to get by without speaking the local lingo, Thai people really appreciate it when a foreigner makes an effort to speak their language and it can make a considerable difference to your stay here. Plus, there are always the occasional taxi drivers and shopkeepers who don’t speak English, so having a little Thai knowledge can often get you out of some sticky situations!
For Thai language courses, look to the Union Language School in the Christ Church Thailand Building, Surawong Road. It offers a very thorough course. BIS Christian International School or PRO Language in the Times Square Building, are also good.
Some Bangkok universities also offer courses, such as Thamassat University, or Chulalongkorn University.
Massage courses in Bangkok
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 massaged 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 Pho Massage School. Based outside the temple compound, the courses from this school are the benchmark to which all other massage courses are set.
Also worth a mention is the Phussapa Thai Massage School on Sukhumvit Road.
