Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 796

Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical & Massage School
( 0 2622 3551; www.watpomassage.com ; 392/25-28 Soi Phen Phat; lessons from 2500B; lessons
9am-4pm; Tha Tien) Associated with the nearby temple of the same name, this pint-sized
institute offers basic and advanced courses in traditional massage. The school is outside
the temple compound in a restored Bangkok shophouse at the end of unmarked Soi Phen
Phat; look for Coconut Palm restaurant.

THAI MASSAGE

Sor Vorapin Gym
MAP GOOGLE MAP

THAI BOXING

( 0 2282 3551; www.thaiboxings.com ; 13 Th Kasab; per session/month 500/9000B; lessons
7.30-9.30am & 3-5pm; Tha Phra Athit (Banglamphu)) Specialising in training foreign students
of both genders, this gym is sweating distance from Th Khao San.

Wat Mahathat
MAP GOOGLE MAP
(3 Th Maha Rat; Tha Chang) This temple is home to two independently operating medita-
tion centres. The International Buddhist Meditation Center MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 0 2222 6011;
Section 5, Wat Mahathat, Th Maha Rat; donations accepted; lessons 7am, 1pm & 6pm; Tha Chang)
offers three hour-long daily meditation classes at 7am, 1pm and 6pm, taught by English-
speaking Prasuputh Chainikom (Kosalo). The Meditation Study and Retreat Center MAP
GOOGLE MAP ( 0 2623 6326; www.mcu.ac.th/IBMC / ; Wat Mahathat, Th Maha Rat; donations accepted;
Tha Chang) offers a regimented program of meditation.

MEDITATION

Festivals & Events
In addition to the national holidays, there's always something going on in Bangkok.
Check the website of TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand; www.tourismthailand.org ) or the
Bangkok Information Center ( Click here ) for exact dates.

Chinese New Year
( Jan or Feb) Thai-Chinese celebrate the lunar New Year with a week of housecleaning,
lion dances and fireworks. Most festivities centre on Chinatown. Dates vary.

NEW YEAR

Songkran
( 13-15 Apr) The Thai New Year has morphed into a water war.

NEW YEAR