Entertainment

Besides Siamese cats and a go-go bars, Thailand is also famous for its Muay Thai. This art of boxing, which is an on going self defense art form, was an element made compulsory for military training by King Naresuan, one of Thailand's greatest monarchs. These days it is a popular sport and is one of the few ways that a poor country boy can turn his rags into riches.
The fights are commonly fierce and furious though the best boxers display remarkable skills, as well as great fitness and a good contest is decided by application of technique rather than brute force.Often as entertaining as the action in the ring is, the reaction of the spectators who yell and shout encouragement to the boxers is greater as the excitement mounts.There are two boxing stadiums in Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Stadium and Lumphini Stadium. Between them, they offer professional bouts virtually eve No other city in Asia rivals Bangkok for a thrilling nightlife. Evening entertainment is also both plentiful and inexpensive. Most famous are the neon-lit bar districts (Bangkok's Pat Pong - the Suranwongse Road and Silom Road area - is the obvious haven for those seeking a good time), which are both more fun and much safer than their counterparts in other cities around the world. In fact, a visit to Pat Pong has become just another stop on the tourist circuit with some local firms offering all-inclusive night tours to the area, which has massage parlors, go-go bars and erotic shows all thrown in. If it is action you are looking for, Bangkok and others like Pattaya abound with discos. Some are small and intimate while others enormous and crowded, but all spin the latest dance music using the most modern sound systems, laser lights, videos, and all other hi-tech equipment that makes today's disco less of a place and more of an experience.For either pre-evening aperitifs or late evening drinks, Bangkok boasts of many sophisticated bars and cocktail lounges, some of the best being located in the top hotels. Here, one can relax in pleasant surroundings and enjoy live musical entertainment by the best local and regional entertainers.There is much more to Bangkok by night than just the glitter of pubs and bars. Exceptionally more popular among tourists are the cultural shows staged by various Thai restaurants. This would be the perfect introduction to Thailand's highly-styled classical dance, accompanied by music played on traditional instruments. Dressed in gorgeous costumes, dancers perform the slow graceful movements that make up the intricate language of classical Thai dance drama. Visually stunning, these shows are a must If you are looking for something a little more highbrow, you will not be disappointed. Although Bangkok does not have regular offerings of plays, operas or concerts, performances are nonetheless frequently staged by both local and international artists. The Thailand Cultural Centre and Thailand's National Theatre are the main venues, though leading hotels quite often host visiting artists and smaller theater groups. Theatrical events in Bangkok include Thai dance and puppet performances, English and Thai language dramas, concerts by visiting international artists, musical performance and infrequently imported mimes and plays. Visitors are advised to consult the English language newspapers, particularly the weekly or daily calendar of events, to confirm the times and dates of current performances. In the north, the KAD Performing Arts Centre in Chiang Mai includes the lavishly equipped KAD Theatre with a seating capacity of 1,550 and the KAD Playhouse with a seating capacity of 500. The KAD Performing Arts Centre is geared towards staging imported full scale theatrical and musical productions from abroad, performed in the original language, and original Thai dramatic and musical productions.To most visitors, Thailand is best known for its ancient temples and beautiful scenery, but there are those who might want to balance their Thai experience with entertainment of a more novel, innovative kind. For those fun seekers, a growing number of world class theme parks offer all kinds of excitement for the whole family.Many of Thailand's larger and more sophisticated parks are within easy reach of Bangkok, while others are located in popular tourist spots like Pattaya and Chiang Mai. The bigger parks, like their counterparts in the West are entire cities by themselves, combining world class water parks, amusement parks, and cultural attractions on sprawling premises of several hundred thousand square meters.Magic land at Lat Phrao, just northeast of Bangkok's Central Plaza Hotel, is the capital's major amusement park. The complex offers a wide range of exciting rides and other amusements including haunted houses and side shows.Similar facilities are found in the eastern suburb of Minburi at the Siam Water Park. This water theme park features an artificial sea replete with authentic waves, waterfalls, water slides, whirlpools, and other numerous water related activities.The adjacent Safari World features a collection of African and Asian mammals, including lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, and bears, who live in natural surroundings. The sprawling complex also contains Asia's largest aviary with over 4,000 birds.