Thais are a convivial race. After work or during weekends or on public holidays, they love going to places for recreation or participating in leisure. activities. The capital has a wealth of entertainment places: restaurants, sport centres, golf courses, bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, boxing stadiums, museums, public and private parks, zoos, art galleries, cinemas, theatres, concert halls,
beer gardens, karaoke clubs, discotheques, and night-clubs. From the above, it is obvious that there is virtually every type of entertainment to suit everyones taste or budget in Bangkok.
 THAI DANCE
Thai classical dance is considered one of the most graceful forms of artistic expression. Dancers wear beautiful, brightly-coloured costumes fully decorated with jewels. They do not speak but use eye contact and body movements, particularly hands and fingers, to convey messages, and to indicate subtle changes of mood and feeling. Themes of the dance drama are based on the ancient Hindu Ramayana epic (widely known as Ramakien in Thailand)
which depicts the fight between King Rama (a reincarnation of Vishnu) and Demon King Ravana. The dance is accompanied by percussion instruments and Pi Phat, a type of woodwind.
 Two of the most popular classical dances are the Khan, performed by men wearing ferocious masks, and the Lahhon, performed by women who play
both male and female roles. Originally, dance performances could last for days. In modern times, only a few selected scenes are presented at
dinner shows (Khan Thk).
There are also other styles of Thai dance, ranging from simple. regional fiilk dances to elegant palace dances. These are usually performcd iii revue during Khan Tok dinners with several small pieces from each style.
Many hotels and restaurants in Bangkok offer a classical dance show with dinner. The traditional dance performances are also regularly held at the National Theatre (near Sanam Luang) on weekends.
 CONCERTS AND MUSIC PERFORMANCES
The main venues fin-concerts and music performances are Thailand Cultural Centre (Ratchadaphisck Road); the National Theatre (next to) Sanam Luang); Chulalongkorn University's auditorium; Alliance Francaise Auditorium (Sathon Tai Road); Goethe Institute (Soi tthakanprasit, off Sathon Tai Road); AUA Language Centre Auditorium (Ratchadamri Road); British Council Centre (Siam Square); Chalermkrung Royal Theatre (New Road, near the Old Siam shopping mall).
During December and January, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), is sponsoring the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for live performances (concerts-inihe-park programmes) at Lumphini Park almost every Sunday evening. The concerts are financially supported by Beer Singha House and admission is free.
SPORTS
Bangkokians enjoy the excitement many sports and game. Though sports in the west like Snooker, soccer, golf, :American football, tennis and Badminton are very popular, traditional sports, pastimes and games still play an important role in their these include Thai boxing, talirato, kite floing and lighting, and cock, fish, and insect lighting. Since most Thais are inveterate gamblers, during many sporting events, there is usually as much activity on the sidelines as on the fiend. Wagers could be on boxer, a cricket, a kite.
 THAI BOXING (MUAY THAI OR SIAMESE KICK BOXING)
Is not uncommon for foreign visitors to Bangkok to come across a group of Thais crowding around television sets at night watching the latest boxing match. Thai boxing, or Muay Thai, attracts the most attention of the Thai people.
Your visit to Bangkok will not be completed if you do not see at least one Thai boxing match. Although boxing matches are regularly televised, attending the live event is a thing not to he missed. Thai boxing is almost universally regarded as today's most exciting ring sport. It is considered by many to be the most violent martial art compared with Japanese Karate, Korean Taekwando, and Chinese Kung Fu.
 A boxing stadium is normally a noisy crowded arena, full of spectators cheering and screaming support for their favourites. Each fight starts with both corners performing a ritual, honouring and paying homage to their teachers (Roam Muav Thai). A match consists of five rounds, each of which lasts three minutes with a two-minute break between rounds. The
bunt is normally accompanied by the music ola three-instrument orchestra (drums, cymbals and flute). The music rises and falls with the action taking placed in the roped ring. Apart from using their gloves, boxers are allowed to use their feet, legs, knees, elbows, shoulders, or any other part of the body, except the head, to overcome their opponent. A winner is awarded for a knock-out or a points decision given by a panel of judges.
There are two boxing stadiums in the city: Ratchadanmocn Stadium oil Ratchadaimmen Nok Road
(near the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Office), and Lumphini Stadium on Rama IV Road (near Sathon Road). Events take place at Ratchadamnoen Stadium on NIondays, Wednesdays. Thursdays, and Sundays, and at Lumphini Stadium on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. However, interested visitors are advised to check in advance for information on venues, times and ticket prices.
TAKRAO
 Visitors will probably encounter a small group of young men, kicking a small loosely-woven rattan ball back and forth.
They are playing takraw which is one of the most popular Thai games. It is an ancient Thai sport which probably dates back to the early 17th century. The game represents an amazing demonstration of body coordination on the part of the players.
There are two types of takraw games. The first type features a six-member team, standing in a circle beneath a netted basket which stands about five meters above ground. Players mainly use their legs, and sometimes their heads, to bounce the hollow, rattan ball into the net to score as many points as possible
KITE FLYING AND FIGHTING
 Kite flying is another popular traditional Thai pastime. It was reportedly introduced during the Ayuthaya period to spur the rains. Between February and May, particularly during most weekends, at Sanam Luang (next to Temple of the Emerald Buddha ), visitors can witness many spectacular kite-fighting event. Kite flyers often hold kite-fighting contests with aim of capturing the line of an enemy kite, using their own lines, to pull their opponent's kite across aline marked on the ground. The most popular battle is between two types off kites are used in a symbolic fight between the two opposite sexes. The star-shaped male kite Chula (about two metres tall) manoeuvres to catch the much smaller diamond-shaped female kite Pakpao to pull it down into his territory. Pakpao seems to be at a great disadvantage because of her size, hut, in fact, she has a slightly better chance of winning because of her agility!
FISH, COCK, AND CRICKET FIGHTING
 Fish-fighting is favorite traditional pastime in Bangkok. Fish, known as Pia Kai instinctively fight one another whenever they meet. Watching fish-fighting can be very exciting. Two brightly-coloured male fish are put into a big bottle or a jar in which they attack one another. The battle ends when one fish swims away or dies. However, since this sport is illegal, the event is usually confined to small, private groups.
Another popular gambling sport is cock-fighting but it is also outlawed in Bangkok. Since only a few people know where the action is taking place, visitors who are interested will have to travel up-country to Visitors may still occasionaly find cricket-lighting in some areas of Bangkok. It is a game for children. Two crickets are laced into a box and the children tickle the insects' leads with straws, stimulating them to fight one another. During the battle, the crickets often produce sounds by ebbing their wings together.
GOLF
 Golf has become increasingly popular among well-to-do Thais and can be enjoyed year-round. There are several golf courses located in and around Bangkok, many of which compare with the best courses in the world.
TRADIIIONAL THAI MASSAGE
 Visitors to Thailand should include traditional Thai massage, also called "ancient massage" ( Nual Phaen Boran in Thai ), on their things-to-do list. However, those having sensitive muscles may prefer to abstain. A massage helps release
blocked channels of energy and alleviates jet lag experienced by newly-arrived
travellers.
Be aware that not every place advertising massage services offer a traditional Thai massage. Massages in Bangkok come in many variations, ranging from traditional massage to the "modern" or "physical" massages with lots of soap-suds and seductive body contact. They also range from joint-breaking pulls and pushes to gentle muscle kneading. According to Thai massage aficionados, blind masseurs give the best traditional massage.
Wat Pho, Bangkok's oldest temple, is most renowned for its traditional massage. A massage here costs 90 baht for half an hour or 150 baht per hour. Visitors can also get similarservices at the highly-praised Oriental Hotel but at a much higher price tag. Many hotels in Bangkok also offer legitimate massage services.
If time permits, visitors may also want to learn about traditional Thai massage at the Traditional Medical Practitioners Association Centre (at Wat Pho) which offers a thirty-hour Thai massage course.
  
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