Places to visit in Bangkok/Phuket for my nieces

[simon43]

For the past couple of months, I have been a 'foster father' to my 2 Thai nieces (12 and 14 years old) . This is because their parents (brother of one of my ex-wives) lead a rather dysfunctional life, unsure of when the next baht is going to be earned to feed the kids or to send them to school. They have apparently little interest to care for their kids and as a result, both nieces have been disappearing off at night after dark on the back of the teenage Thai boy's motorbikes.

Having seem their older sister with 2 unwanted pregnancies at the age of 15, I want to at least try to get the girls on a better path in life, (even though I have no legal or moral responsibility to do so).

I have known both girls since their birth and I speak fluent Thai with them. Now that they are living with me, (just a few hundred metres from their parent's 'shack', they are going to school regularly and staying at home after dark on a more regular basis than before.

I would class them as 'Candy Crush' kids, glued to their mobile phones most of the time.

I might be completely wasting my time, money and effort, but I want to try to stimulate them to have interest in something other than Samsung.

As a child, I was lucky enough to visit the museums in London ==> The British Museum, Natural History Museum and especially The Science Museum.

I live in Phuket, but trips to Bangkok are easy.

Can anyone suggest places to visit in either location which might prove interesting to teenage girls? (and I'll exclude MBK from the choices).

Some of you might say that Thai teenage girls are only interested in mobile phones, clothes and boys. That may be true for some, perhaps for many. But I should at least try to show my nieces the opportunities and experiences that exist outside the online/mobile environment. (For example, visiting a fashion museum or fashion show).

Apologies in advance if my suggestions for teenage activities sound as if they come from the last century, because they do!

I hope others more in touch with the youth of today can help me out with ideas.

[slapout]

I have yet to see a teenager who does not enjoy a good buffet with a wide selection. they can spend a couple hours just sampling, and watching the going on around them. other than that, sorry i can not help, i tried with my daughters and they were only impressed with buffet.

[simon43]

i tried with my daughters and they were only impressed with buffet.

Oh dear, that is not what I wanted to hear... eating a buffet is hardly the sort of 'educational' or 'finding out about something' experience that I had in mind.

As I am finding out, my ex BIL and his wife have not bothered much to follow their daughters' progress at school etc. The older girl told me tonight that she stopped telling her parents about parents' evening because she would only get hit by them when the teachers reported on her poor progress

There is also a degree of discrimination against girls getting educated - only boys need an education.

I won't pass judgement on them. My niece has asked me to attend a meeting next week at school with her teachers to discuss her progress (or lack of it). I get the feeling that she wants to learn, but is not getting much encouragement from her family members - hence my interest to stir up her brain cells.

Additionally, it transpires that the school doctor told her parents many months ago that she was short-sighted and needed prescription glasses - they cannot afford to buy these and so she has been enduring headaches whilst trying to read the board. I can sort this problem out immediately when the school doctor presents me with the bill for the glasses (only about 2,500 baht).

I'll do some Googling to see what might be worth visiting for her and her sister.

[kingstonkid]

A few suggestions.

1. Sea world and Siam Paragon

2. the palace

3. the Bangkok art gallery

4. I would take them to Asoke during the day ( idea is to show them that if they have an education and get a good job what they could look like and where they could work

5. If you have any Thai friends in BKK maybe get them to show them around their office

6. Take them to a university and let them look around.

7. BTS hey it is an experience on it's own

8. I would give them a day where you buy them good stylish clothes and let them get the full treatment of hair, nails and makeup. All girls like this and it will also teach them how to properly do their makeup and to look. Take lots of pictures of them after so that they can be put around the house for them to look at and remember what it was like.

I did number 8 with my daughter in Canada 14 years old and it did wonders for her as it opened her eyes and really taught her how to look and dress.

[simon43]

@Kingstonkid, thanks very much for your helpful suggestions!

I want to show these kids that there is a better life available to them if they want it, as opposed to ending up 'on the scrap heap' as their parents have successfully managed to do.

I cannot force them to do anything - only to open their eyes to what is possible if they put their mind to it

[SOTIRIOS]

...a buffet IS educational.....

...as would be most 'everyday' situations.....like walking down the street....or going to a mall.....if they have been so deprived as described.....

....besides that......provide them with opportunity....but give them choices....

Edited February 3, 2016 by SOTIRIOS

[farang95]

try to send them to Chatuchak Market...its a huge place in bangkok..thai people love it so much !!!!

I guess its not properly a museum..but it certainly amaze your mind of how creative thai people are...hard worker too....and very independant..... they have the sense of doing good business....and the place is really interesting .... ( (only open on saturday and sunday )

What you should try is to ask them to make a plan of the trip to bangkok..... ( i knew many thaie don't know much.about geography....( very easy to travel point A to Point B in thailand without doing much ..... (taxi , mini van Train , bus ...etc etc so that would be interesting for you to talk about the trip and to see how imaginative they can be ......

[csabo]

If you are already in Phuket why not give them some kite surfing lessons. Every time I see the kites up I wanna try but afraid I might need multiple kites to hold me up. There are some schools on Viset road in Rawai and I often see them out having a blast. There is also a surf shop near Rawai beach that might offer some regular surfing training. Nothing cooler then a surfer girl. They also have horse stables here that may offer some riding experiences. Don't all girls love horses?? How about cooking classes but not Thai so its something new for them. They do classes for Thai fruit carving which is incredible but by no means easy. Have they done Muay Thai? No pain no gain! I have a daughter myself and never know what she wants or wants to do. Then I ask her and she doesn't either so it's not always easy but keep trying. I would say stay away from a shopping experience as the thrill is gone 5 minutes after the purchase.

[khunPer]

I appreciate your efforts...

I've done Bangkok with my Luk khrueng daughter – however only 9-10 years old – she loved places like Dream World, and especially Snow Town (they had a full day package for 1200 baht incl. all fees, lunch, and minibus tranfer from/to hotel inside BKK, booked by Internet/eMail); Siam Paragon and Aquarium (Sea World, I think), and some of the cinemas there (they both have Imax and 4DX, the last our favorit), and there is also Madame Tussaud's Vax Museum on the top floor; furthermore Grand Palace and Wat Po for some cultural input; any show or other exciting performance may also have interest (we've done theater and circus and classical concert); and also Dusit Zoo.

Our young maid (about 20) joined us in the trips up to Bangkok, and she seemed to enjoy it as much as my daughter and myself – however, be prepared for selfies and mobile Facebook and Line updates...

There might be a lot of other options I don't know about – but on my future list are: Asiatique market with a 40m high ferris wheel; the reopened Bangkok Planetarium; and ice-skating (you can rent skates).

By the way, we use to stay at Bayoke Sky, which is an event by itself, and located next to the fashion market and walking distance from Platinum, and close to Siam Paragon and Central World. I book well in advance and get a very good rate, so we can afford to stay in Space Zone with a glass wall and an undisturbed view above the other towers from 65th+ floor. Excellent buffet at top-floor restaurants, where they also serve the breakfast buffet; and free entrance to top-view with revolving floor; furthermore golf driving range at 17th floor, which is also fun to try, and you don't need to be a golf-player to enjoy shooting balls at the opposite towers (teaser photo attached). I paid around 3500 baht for a junior suite incl. breakfast for 3 guests; if booked for 3-nites it includes free pick-up at a/p. Bayoke also have a suite in Sky Zone, with an outstanding balcony view (about same price at Space zone, but larger room. Photo attached).

Golf driving rage at 17th floor.

Balcony View in Sky Zone.

[simon43]

Thanks for all the suggestions. As I am in north Phuket, some of the island activities are a little too far away, (terrible traffic nowadays).

However, Thanyapura Sports Centre is very nearby and they offer kids tennis lessons and training. That could be a sporting option, especially as there is also the airforce tennis courts right next to the airport which I might be able to 'swing' access to for them.