Kevin's Blog - 13th September 2009

Time out in Bangkok

What to do when I've got a few hours respite from teacher training

OK, time to calm down – take a deep breath – teacher training in Bangkok is very challenging and rewarding - and it's only 4 weeks in duration. But what do you do outside of study time? Well, you won't have much time if you're committed to the course but, as the saying goes, 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. So what do you do with yourself?

Within Bangkok itself there is a heap of stuff to do – and if I start to note them down here, I'll go on for pages. So I won't. But let's look at what's on offer near the training centre.

The training centre is based on Ratchadaphisek Road, one of Bangkok's main north-south routes. It's busy! The centre is conveniently situated near Suttisan MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station on Bangkok's underground/metro rail line. Hop on a train and pop up at Thailand Cultural Centre station (2 stops going south). Here you'll find Esplanade, a very new addition to Bangkok's every-growing entertainment/shopping scene. It's a mall, it's a cinema, it's a theatre, it's got.....wait for it.....an ice-skating rink and.....McDonalds, KFC, Baskin & Robbins, Auntie Annie, Yamazaki, Sizzler, Swensen's, Mister Donut, Famous AmousGreyhound Cafe, Starbucks, Coffee World, Iberry ice cream, Au Bon Pain, S&P, MK Restaurants, Fuji, Ootaya, Whittard of Chelsea Tea Room, Miki Ojisan, Gindago Takoyaki, Hachiban Ramen, Bar-B-Q Plaza, Lee Cafe, Kaldi Coffee, Viet Cuisine, Spice Road Japanese Restaurant, Anna Cafe, Le Vandome French Restaurant and the Bua Thai food restaurant, plus a host of other shopping outlets....is that enough for starters? Next to Esplanade is the Robinson department store, where you'll find clothes to fit the western physique and Carrefour supermarket.

One stop further down on the MRT at Phra Ram 9 station you'll find Fortune Town – an arcade spread over 5 floors sandwiched between Tesco Lotus supermarket and the Grand Mercure Fortune hotel. If you need a phone, computer, camera, electronics, software, hardware, peripherals, blah, blah, blah, this is the place to go. There's a very cheap food hall, too, serving Thai food for as little as 25 Baht a dish.

Within walking distance of the training centre, you'll find a host of Thai restaurants to suit a very meager budget. Walk south down Ratchadapeisek towards Soi 14 and you'll come across BBQ Plaza – a very Thai experience. It's a very social way to spend an evening – and it's cheap. Just 99 Baht and eat all you want! Sit at a table and leisurely soak up the warm, balmy Thai atmosphere whilst cooking your own food at your table-top BBQ. It's a great way to bond with your course mates.

Five stops south from Suttisan on the MRT and you find Sukhumvit station – and it's from here you can interchange with the overhead rail line known as the BTS or Skytrain. There's too little space here to go on about what happens from here after, but once you find your feet – and you will very quickly – Bangkok is out there just waiting to be discovered and experienced.

I've been teaching here for three years, am I happy? Oh yes. Is Bangkok a great place to do a TESOL course? Oh yes. Any regrets? Yes – I should have done this years ago. But I'm here doing it, and I'm the envy of all my friends stuck back home, far, far away....

4th March 2010

Using drama to teach English.

27th November 2009

Getting involved and staying sane

31st October 2009

Get our your scissors and glue - it's time to get creative

6th June 2009

The show isn't over 'till the class bell rings