Bangkok is widely perceived as an adults’ playground, due to its booming nightlife, terrific shopping, elite spa scene and magnificent temples.
But over the past decade, while living in the Thai capital on and off, I’ve watched it evolve to become far more amenable to travelling families.
Granted, it still suffers from the traffic, pollution and crowds associated with being a gargantuan city of 12 million people. But my wife, four-year-old son and I have found plenty to do on recent visits. Here are a few of our favourites.
Indoor play centres galore
When I moved to Bangkok in 2013, friends bemoaned the city’s lack of indoor play centres where their children could shed energy, sheltered from Thailand’s sweltering heat.
Yet now I can take my boy to more than 20 such centres, including several that are far larger than any in our home city of Perth, Australia.
HarborLand alone has 14 branches across Bangkok, each charging between 390 baht ($11) and 684 baht for two-and-a-half hours.
These modern, air-conditioned play centres brim with slides, swings, climbing frames, zip lines, ball pits, go karts, basketball courts and rollerblading rinks.
All venues have a cafe for adults who are supervising, tight security and are based inside malls, which means one parent can go shopping, get a massage or have a meal while the other watches their child.
There are branches in the city's most popular malls, including Iconsiam, EmQuartier, Gateway Ekamai, Central Rama 9 and Mega Bangna.
At EmQuartier, our boy bounced on trampolines, swung from ropes, played indoor soccer and tried a digital Ninja game.
But he still raves about Mega HarborLand in Future Park Rangsit Mall, which covers 6,500 square metres and includes a massive playground, trampoline park, roller rink, inflatable world, mini race track and digital interactive playground.
Elsewhere, in another tourist shopping district of Central World, is Playmondo. This indoor centre, which has a second branch at Central EastVille mall, blends slides, trampolines and climbing walls with games and interactive exhibits that encourage learning.
Following a similar template is Kidzoona, with branches at Gateway Ekamai and Mega Bangna.
A family-friendly resort by the river
Many of Bangkok’s finest hotels have surprisingly limited facilities and space for children.
Parents who have holidayed overseas with their children will know the biggest challenge often is not ensuring they’re entertained during day trips, but preventing them from getting bored at your hotel.
This is why families will enjoy Anantara Riverside, a sprawling, resort-style property on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River.
This five-star resort has vast gardens and a huge swimming pool, and regularly hosts traditional music concerts, cooking classes, kickboxing lessons, dance exhibitions, river boat cruises and a daily monk ceremony.
Children can also play with toys and watch cartoons at Anantara Riverside’s supervised Chiang Noi Kids Club, while parents sneak away for a massage or healing therapy at the luxurious Anantara Spa.
Room rates start from about 11,000 baht a night for family suites, which are roomy, at 46 square metres, with king and queen beds, a Nespresso machine and a Nintendo Wii video game system. The rate includes a daily buffet breakfast.
Theme parks
In northern Bangkok there are two large theme parks – Dream World and Siam Amazing Park.
My son was delighted by Dream World’s water park, which is perfect for children aged two to 12 and shaped like a giant playground in the middle of a pool.
I was hot on my son's tail as he splashed about, before his mum took over supervising and I went to try Dream World’s more grown-up attractions.
While children will cherish the water park, animal zone and indoor snow simulator, parents can get an adrenalin rush from the sky coaster, hurricane roller coaster, haunted house and Alien invasion experience.
Dream World tickets start from 244 baht up to 977 baht for unlimited access to all rides.
Siam Amazing Park, meanwhile, offers a similarly appealing array of child-friendly attractions, thrill rides and a water park. Its unlimited rides tickets cost 977 baht for adults and 879 baht for children under 130cm tall.
Trampolines and picnics
A squeal pierced our hotel room when my son learnt there was a branch of Bounce trampoline centre in Bangkok, something he's familiar with from back home. It perfectly matches his ceaseless energy and daredevil attitude.
He had a deliriously fun time at the Thai capital's venue, which is on the fourth floor of ritzy EmQuartier mall.
This spacious centre has more than a dozen trampolines, which range in elasticity to suit everyone from adults to toddlers.
My son shot hoops at its two basketball rings, watched bigger boys scaling its free running wall and made daring leaps from a trampoline on to the soft landing area of a huge inflatable bag. A two-hour session costs 508 baht.
For fresh air, meanwhile, visit Bangkok’s biggest park, Lumpini.
Sandwiched between tourist districts Silom, Sukhumvit and Siam, this shady green space has walking trails, lush lawns for picnics and a large outdoor playground.
Visit in the early morning or evening for the most pleasant weather.
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The%20BaaS%20ecosystem
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ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Croatia v Hungary, Thursday, 10.45pm, UAE
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
SPECS
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