Your time in the Big Mango proving more squelch than sauce? If you’re in Bangkok between July and October, chances are you’re gonna get caught in a seasonal downpour – or few. Fret not, as the city has plenty of wet-weather distractions; here are a few to tuck up your (waterproof) sleeve.
CULTURE
Forget selfies – remind yourself what proper photography looks like at box-fresh photography space House of Lucie, sitting pretty in trend spot Ekamai. HoL has a three-pronged mission: to promote the appreciation of photography, to honour master photographers, and to discover and cultivate emerging talent. Admire the latest exhibition, and pick up a Lucie Limited Edition print for your own living room wall.
Closer to the river, Charoenkrung continues to cement its position as Bangkok’s creative district as the renowned TCDC (Thailand Creative & Design Center) recently took up its new home in the impressive, 30s edifice the Grand Postal Building. Hot-foot it over to admire the archi and rub shoulders with the city’s design crew at one of TCDC’s envelope-pushing exhibits, which currently include: Creative Seating: From Conceptualization to Production and Creativity Onwards. (Geek-chic glasses, black duds and artfully puzzled expression: highly recommended.)
Equally boundary-prodding is Warehouse 30, the latest multi-concept project by Duangrit Bunnag of Jam Factory fame. This art, retail, events and co-working space sprawls across seven WWII-era warehouses, with lures including foodie pop-ups, new-trend labels (including Bunnag’s own streamlined Lonely Two Legged Creature), coffee bar, bookshop, events and exhibitions. Catnip for millennials.
KIDS
Looking for something that’ll keep the rain-addled nippers from whining? You’ll hear zero cries of ‘I’m bored’ at KidZania, a mini kid-city housed inside Siam Paragon. Designed for 4- to 14-year-olds, progressive KidZania gives little ‘uns a chance to test-drive future careers, with loads of real life ‘jobs’ to choose from, plus the chance to develop handy life skills like teamwork, decision-making, and money-management. It’s all done in the spirit of fun, we promise.
SHOPPING
You can’t come to Bangkok without hitting the retail, and although we aren’t usually a fan of malls, they do offer the perfect respite from a downpour. Long-standing landmark Emporium is home to upscale souvie market Exotique Thai and silk stalwart Jim Thompson, while adjoining EmQuartier is a one-stop for hot-right-now Thai fashion, including Asv by Asava and concept crib Another Story. Swoop in quick and you may bag some fab deals courtesy of Amazing Thailand Grand Sale. Both centres are da bomb for food too.
PAMPER
If all of this sounds like far too much effort, check into the sumptuous The Peninsula Spa for some well-earned me-time. This dim-lit colonial-style riverside bunker of zen offers every pamper and pummel imaginable, from Himalayan crystal salt scrub and Royal Thai massage with herb compress to skin-brightening facials and bod-firming treats. Spa-aaah.
An original version of this article was written by LUXE for PenCities.
Hero image: courtesy of Shutterstock.
For more tips on what to do in the Big Mango, order a copy of the LUXE Guide to Bangkok…
