Sporting Options for All

The opportunities for sport and recreation in Thailand are as diverse as the land itself. Thais take their fun seriously and believe it would be a dull world if it were all work and no play. Accordingly the longstay visitor is presented with a bountiful choice of sporting options, both as participant and spectator.

Naturally in a country where beaches and islands are a topic attraction, facilities for a host of watersports are widely available. At Pattaya, Phuket and other resort centers there are facilities for all sorts of activities to get you in, on, above and below the water from windsurfing to parasailing, from water-skiing to deep sea fishing. The fastest growing watersport, however, is scuba diving and , with crystal-clear water an abundance of marine life, Thailand boasts some of the world's best dive sites. Yachting is also becoming increasingly attractive, and there are facilities for both dinghy sailing and the chartering of larger yachts for live-aboard cruises.

Not only does Thailand provide the ideal facilities for watersports, it also in many cases offers expert tuition. In a few days or a week it is possible to learn how to windsurf, gain a scuba diving proficiency certificate or master the basics of how to handle a yacht.

On land, golf is undoubtedly the main sporting choice, with Thailand today regarded as one of the world's top golfing destinations. Not only does the Kingdom boasts some 200 golf courses, many of them of championship standard and designed by leading names in the game, it also promises exceptional facilities and services for players and their families. Virtually all of the golf courses are stunningly landscaped with an abundance of colourful flowering shrubs and lush topical greenery, while many also have exotic settings - imagine a hillside Buddhist temple overlooking the greens, or a sparkling turquoise sea glimpsed beyond the trees. Caddies are readily available, while clubhouse facilities are again excellent, at their best as luxurious as a five-star hotel.

If the wish is simply for a little exercise, most leading hotels in Bangkok and the main travel destinations have tennis court, fitness centres, and quite often, squash courts. At the other end of the activity scale, there are opportunities for extreme sports such as rock climbing or hang-gliding.

Nor is the sporting spectator neglected. Although soccer has become the most popular spectator sport for Thais, the most fascinating of the country's traditional sports, Muai Thai kick boxing, remains an exciting spectacle. Developed from an ancient style of martial art, Muai Thai differs from ordinary boxing in using the feet, knees and elbows as weapons in addition to gloved fists. At its best it is a fast and furious contest between two superbly fit athletes. Regular bouts are staged several nights a week at Bangkok's two boxing stadiums located, respectively, on Rama IV Road close by the intersection with Silom Road, and on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue.

Bangkok also has two horse-racing racks where meets are regularly held.