Big Time Family Fun in Bangkok |
 Fun-arium, the largest playground in Bangkok, where kids have boundless fun through the day Photo credit: http://women.sanook.com Discover Indoor Play Areas in Bangkok with Natthadol Patthamadilok, Residence Manager of Somerset Lake Point Bangkok and his familyI (Natthadol) was born in Bangkok and have been working as the Residence Manager of Somerset Lake Point since September 2010. My city is famous for many things – fantastic food, fabulous bargains, vibrant nightlife, historic landmarks and temples, just to name a few. But if you’re coming with your family, Bangkok also has some treasures for the tiny tots.  Premy enjoys grocery shopping at The Emporium at Sukhumvit 24 which is linked directly to Phrompong BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) station ensuring convenience for its shoppers Like the true locals that we are, my family and I love to shop. In fact, my four-year old daughter, Premy’s, favourite weekend activity is grocery shopping. Just 10 minutes by complimentary tuk-tuk service from the serviced residence I work at is a massive, sophisticated, seven-storey shoppers’ paradise called The Emporium Shopping Complex. From luxury brands to designer wear, electronics, sports, books, and music stores to entertainment options, gourmet eateries, food courts and supermarkets, it has everything my family and I need and more. Premy loves to explore the supermarket on the ground floor. Our excursion there always ends with a bar of chocolate for Premy. Maybe that’s why she enjoys doing the groceries! On the 3rd floor of The Emporium, is Jamboree Land, an indoor playground. Premy enjoys the rough and tumble play at the bouncy house there as well as the art and craft workshops and puppet shows. Go up another level and there’s an entire floor dedicated to children’s fashion and products. On the same floor is The Little Gym where children can sign up for gymnastics and fitness classes to expand their boundless energy.
Another place for indoor fun for kids is the Fun-arium, also 10 minutes by complimentary tuk-tuk service from my serviced apartment, Somerset Lake Point. Fun-arium is the largest play area for children in the heart of Bangkok and a great place to escape Bangkok’s punishing heat in the day. While the children romp in the indoor playground or go for craft and cooking classes, the adults can dine on international cuisine at the Fun Café or chill out at the parents’ room watching cable television and surfing the internet.  Daddy’s girl – Nowaratana and daughter, Amanda enjoy Nature and some fun in the sun Citadines Sukuhumvit 8 Residence Manager Nowaratana Yamdee recommends the Wet and Wild For ChildrenFor a nature lover like me (Nowaratana Yamdee), Siam Ocean World is one place I like to take my family to. It is also a place I always recommend the foreign residents at Citadines Sukhumvit 8 where I am Residence Manager. This 10,000 square metre aquarium is one of Southeast Asia’s largest. Located at the basement of another upmarket mall, Siam Paragon Shopping Centre, Siam Ocean World is home to over 30,000 marine animals from 400 species, exhibited in seven zones. My little five-year old, Amanda, loves going there to watch the sharks being fed. In addition, there are freshwater fish like the Chao Phraya River Stingray and Mekong Giant Catfish that can be hand fed. Shows like Penguin Feeding, Rainforest Zone Feeding and Otter Feeding are both entertaining and educational too. I also recommend a ride on the glass-bottom boat. With the whole marine world right under your feet, it is the closest thing to snorkeling without getting wet. For something even more up close to the sea animals, a walk on the ocean floor in a diving suit and 180-degree helmet is an option. Some weekends, my wife, Walailuk and I will take Amanda to the Benjakiti Park next to the Queen Sirikit International Convention Center. Amanda likes to ride her bicycle and play at the playground there. The park also offers boat and canoe rides. When the weather is mild, it makes a great place for evening walks around the large man-made lake. There are quite a few places to take the family outside of Bangkok for the more adventurous. Only 30 kilometres west of Bangkok, about an hour’s drive from Citadines Sukhumvit 8 where I work, is the Samphan Elephant Ground & Zoo. There are daily performances there: elephant shows, dances, races, football games and even an enactment of the great royal battle, Yutha Hathi, which was fought on elephant back in the Ayutthaya period.  Citadines Sukhumvit 8 offers convenient and tranquil residential comfort But don’t let its name fool you. There are more than elephants in this place. Watch the Crocodile Wrestling Show or take pictures with the Bengal tigers for posterity like I did with Amanda.  Nowaratana and Amanda going wild with a real live tiger at the Samphan Elephant Ground and Zoo Amanda loves to swim. So some weekends, we will go to the Siam Water Park, a giant water theme park. It has a 400-metre spiral water slide, tube rides, huge swimming areas, waterfalls, an artificial surf beach and even a dry play area, an aviary, an open zoo and botanical gardens. Talk about an all-in-one fun destination for the whole family! It’s certainly worth a day trip. Like most children, Amanda loves animals. Another place we like to take her to is Safari World. She enjoys the animal shows like the dolphin show, the orang utan show and the tiger and lion feeding show. At Safari World, a 45-minute ride through the park allows for a close encounter with the animals that roam free. Another ride not to be missed is a water flume ride through a tropical jungle where crocodiles and gorillas live.  This artificial waterfall with a wade pool is just one of the many wet play areas at the Siam Water Park on the outskirts of Bangkok Photo courtesy of Tan Wiratchada Bangkok may be a city in every sense of the word – built-up, crowded and modernised. But that doesn’t mean it has no place for children. Come and discover a Bangkok that offers all kinds of family fun. Stay with us in Bangkok at… Citadines Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok
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