Things For My Mom To Do

[Valjean]

My 81 year old mother will be coming to Bangkok to stay with me for a month or so. I’ll take some holiday time and we’ll go upcountry and maybe over to Vietnam or Laos however, during the week I will be working some and was looking for ideas for things she could do. She gets around OK but I need to think about the heat and go slow. My Thai GF will take her wherever she wants so getting around and having a personal local guide is taken care of. Outside of the normal tourist attractions I’m looking for some activities that might be interesting for her. For instance I’ve checked out the Siam Society for instance and they have lectures. Any suggestions that include a air conditioned location a plus.

• Lectures on Thai culture, travel, books or Buddhism
  
• Special tours of houses or gardens
  
• Thai cooking lessons – any recommendations?
  
• Maybe Thai craft lessons of some kind?
  
• My mom likes to knit – any knitting groups?
  
• Expat groups for seniors?
  

Thanks for the help,

[chownah]

If she likes to sit and read the news then you might find a good airconditioned library that carries newspapers from around the world....I think the AUA library fits that bill and there may be others.

At 80+ many people like to do stuff that involves sitting in a public place and watching the people pass by....like mall walking.....which is mostly sitting and watching while perhaps eating a small snack....maybe some coffee....but mostly sitting and watching people go by.....of course this is not for everyone.

Maybe you should ask her what activities she thinks she might like to do and then you can try to arrange them for her.

Chownah

[leisurely]

Jim Thompsons is a must. Leisurely stroll around the house, then left to look at the gardens on your own and lunch in the excellent cafe there.

[MickeyM]

Vimanmek Palace - often overlooked, but very worthwhile. Beautiful park like setting.

Edited March 11, 2007 by MickeyM

[leisurely]

Just had another thought, depending on where you live there may be 'ladies' groups. I know that Samut Prakan has a very active one (SILC) and there is a group of general Bangkok ladies, maybe based at the british club. These sorts of groups are not my cup of tea at all, but I know many women who belong to them.

[bkkmei]

Hallo

- as well as Jim Thompson's and Vimanmek, there's also Suan Pakkard Palace and Kukrit House (the latter has volunteer English speaking guides I think)

- if your mum likes politics / travel, the FCC sometimes has evening events, guest speakers, debates, usually very interesting topics. http://www.fccthai.com/index.html

- a night trip (cooler and busier) to Pak Khlong talaat (flower market)

- a day trip - maybe rent a taxi for the day - to Ancient City is well worth it. The car can go into the park so you can nip in and out for air con! http://www.ancientcity.com/muangboran/index.htm

- a day trip to Ayutthaya, again maybe arrange your own transport. Nice to get out of Bangkok sometimes!

- I've heard the puppet theatre in Suan Lum is supposed to be good, but haven't been

- why not arrange some casual Thai language lessons for her? It might help her feel more independent and ...sometimes you need a bit of time to yourselves...

More ideas on TAT:

http://www.tourismthailand.org/destination...=1&typeid=7

And I've always though the Nancy Chandler map was excellent for getting around and further suggestions.

My dad is over 80 and came to visit. He liked it very much (he loves taking photos) but the heat did get to him.

Hope your mum has loads of fun!

[think_too_mut]

I just told a friend who wanted to make an extra effort and make a 1 week stop over in BKK - it's not worth it. If already in BKK on business, that may work.

He's not interested in nightlife and, after joining a 1 day tour from some hotel, he will have (as other posters suggested) to travel outside of BKK to see something worthwhile (Ayuthaya, Kanchanaburi...).

He could not believe that place with more people than Sweden could be like that. In fact it is not, it has plenty of world class shopping malls but that is not what someone who comes from the countries that invented them would have to travel to experience.

Also, I am not going through traffic hel_l to show him sporadic and little known places like Jim Thompson's house, rusty barges on muddy Chaopraya or mediocre far away rose garden.

I told him to make first and last night in BKK if he really has to and to go to sea resorts for the rest.

Edited March 11, 2007 by think_too_mut

[PeaceBlondie]

think too mutt has a point: every traveler's preferences are unique, and some people will just go ga-ga walking through their 19th wat, whereas other people like me will compare Angkor Wat with the Mayan ruins at Palenque, Mexico. One person's perfect beach is another person's hated sand, sun and polluted water. My only house guest found Thailand incredibly filthy, and he didn't even come in the dustiest season!

[Valjean]

Thanks all for good suggestions. Some very good ones for day trips and things around Bangkok. We have cars so it's easy for me and/or my GF to drive here as needed.

We will use the weekends to get out of Bangkok. Sometimes up country and I think maybe a short trip to Laung Prabang and maybe a 4-5 day trip to Vietnam. So there will be some balance.

Thanks again

[ThaiGoon]

One person's perfect beach is another person's hated sand, sun and polluted water.

Pattaya is not the only town in Thailand that has a beach. You ought to try to travel down South sometimes, and you might learn something.

My only house guest found Thailand incredibly filthy, and he didn't even come in the dustiest season!

That might have had a lot to do with his/her host.

Edited March 12, 2007 by ThaiGoon

[Prakanong]

"My only house guest found Thailand incredibly filthy, and he didn't even come in the dustiest season!

That might have had a lot to do with his/her host. "

I know your specatacles are truly rose tinted but Thailand is quite scruffy. Every Thai guest I have had doen here comments on how clean it is compared to Thailand and Bangkok in particular

Mumbai is dirtier though!

You really have to stop seeing any comment as a personal insult and trying to defend the indefensible - it detracts from any sensible argument (and you have some) you make.

[ThaiGoon]

"My only house guest found Thailand incredibly filthy, and he didn't even come in the dustiest season!

That might have had a lot to do with his/her host. "

I know your specatacles are truly rose tinted but Thailand is quite scruffy. Every Thai guest I have had doen here comments on how clean it is compared to Thailand and Bangkok in particular

Mumbai is dirtier though!

You really have to stop seeing any comment as a personal insult and trying to defend the indefensible - it detracts from any sensible argument (and you have some) you make.

I don't deny that parts of Thailand, especially some crowded and touristy places are a bit dirty, but to say that Thailand is "incredibly filthy" (as a whole) is just extrememly ignorant and stupid. There are many other places of Thailand that are incredibly clean and free of pollution (in the South especially).

It's the same thing that Asian people couldn't and shouldn't generalize all farangs that they are all extremely filthy human beings because they rarely take a shower (and tend to think that their cultures are always superior to the rest of the world.) It's the same thing. I've been in the US, and seen several fat, filthy, ignorant Americans who eat like pigs at times, but I don't hold a view that all Americans are like that. I just know that generalization is not the right thing for any sensible and considertae person to do. That was my point, and no my glasses are not always rose tinted. I tend to see things what they are and don't gerenalize people and countries.

[lannarebirth]

Thanks all for good suggestions. Some very good ones for day trips and things around Bangkok. We have cars so it's easy for me and/or my GF to drive here as needed.

We will use the weekends to get out of Bangkok. Sometimes up country and I think maybe a short trip to Laung Prabang and maybe a 4-5 day trip to Vietnam. So there will be some balance.

Thanks again

A short drive north to the Queen's Project at Bangsai might be nice:

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/7153/bangsai9.htm