Father’s Day this year happens to fall on a Friday, which means it’s a long weekend, hooray! But let’s not forget that the precious 24 extra hours that have been added to our usually short weekend are not meant to be spent curled up in bed or glued to the TV — they’re meant for spending quality time with your dad. We’ve put together some complete packages of what to do and where to dine depending on the archetype of your dad, as he too needs to be spoiled and pampered.
CLASSIC DAD
The man is all about reading the newspaper, red wine and golf.
DO: If you’ve never tested out your golfing skills for fear of sandbanks, sunburn or just simply being worse than your dad, Bangkok Golf Centre is where you can putt and swing in an air-conditioned room. Their golf simulator provides more than just beautiful graphics — it also calculates performance data so you’ll both get to see how you can improve your game. There is also a drinking lounge to relax and watch golf channels after you’ve worked up a sweat. (Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-9pm. 5/F, RSU Building, Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-259-6086, www.bkkgolfcentre.com)
DINE: Summer Palace is offering a fun feast for the whole family with a “come five, pay four” deal, giving fathers the opportunity to eat with their families for free. The five-course menu includes Simmered roasted duck, Fried tofu with XO sauce and Chilled doubled-boiled sun-dried longan. (Dec 5, 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm, B988++ per person) InterContinental Bangkok, 973 Phloenchit Road, 02-656-0444 ext 6434.
TECH-SAVVY DAD
Gadgets and gizmos are his thing; he’s probably ordering the iPhone 6 right now.
DO: Even dads need a break from technology, so take him and the family to experience an interactive crime-solving game, Escape Hunt. You’ll be playing detectives (yes, Sherlock Holmes costumes are provided) and have your wits tested with riddles and puzzles.
See if you can make it out alive without using a smartphone and Google. Prices start from B600 per person when you book online. (10am-8pm. Interchange Building, Sukhumvit Soi 21, 02-611-2828, fb.com/EscapeHunt)
DINE: For a simple and comforting meal, ramen-lovers can take their fathers to enjoy a special Father’s Day set at Ippudo that includes three ramen, two appetisers and three green teas. (Through Dec 31, Fri-Sun 10:30am-10pm, B888++) 3/F, Central Embassy, Phloenchit Road, 02-160-5672.
DAPPER DAD
Stylish and smart, dapper dads look great even when they wake up.
DO: He may shave his beard and cut his nails himself but why not spoil him with a complete grooming treat at Truefitt & Hill. On offer are a variety of grooming services including The Royal Haircut (B1,100), which includes shampoo, cut and styling; refreshing hot-towel shave (B1,000); manicure (B550); and pedicure (B1,100). (10am-10pm. 4/F, Central Embassy, Phloenchit Road, fb.com/truefittandhillbkk)
DINE: For an ultra-luxe dinner, Yamazato is inviting guests to indulge in a seven-course set menu that comes with grilled oyster and tomato soup, grilled cod, sashimi, grilled snowfish, beef steak, rice and dessert. (Through Dec 7, 6-10:30pm, B3,000++ per person)
The Okura Prestige Bangkok, 57 Witthayu Road, 02-687-9000.
SPORTY DAD
Goes jogging every day while you’re still fast asleep.
DO: This Father’s Day weekend is the perfect opportunity to get up early and get active with your old man. Take him to Bangkok’s newest baseball batting ground, Bangkok Batting Center, where your eyesight and reflexes will be tested.
Automatic machines will pitch 25 balls per round (B100) at a speed of 80-130km/hour so don’t forget to do some stretching beforehand. (10:30am-9:30pm.
108/1 Sukhumvit Soi 31, 02-262-0699,
www.fb.com/BangkokBattingCenter)
DINE: The Atrium will set up a big international buffet for lunch and dinner with a “come four, pay two” promotion for the whole family to enjoy fresh seafood, foie gras, dim sum, sushi and desserts. (Dec 5, 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm, B2,800 per person) The Landmark Bangkok,
138 Sukhumvit Road, 02-254-0404.
NEW DAD
The newbs of the dad world; currently dreading the day they’ll have to perform CPR on their Lego-swallowing baby.
DO: New dads have it tough, but fear not as the Mantastic Escape spa treatment (B13,500) at Spa Botanica is designed to revitalise and restore their well-being before getting back to the kids. The four hour, 55 minutes programme includes a pebble foot bath, body scrub, body wrap, signature massage, facial treatment, manicure and, to top it all off, a two-course healthy spa cuisine created by Exec Chef Antony Scholtmeyer. (9am-10pm. The Sukhothai Bangkok, 13/3 Sathon Tai Road, 02-344-8900)
DINE: Enjoy a sumptuous French buffet at La Vie and you will have the chance to win fantastic prizes including a 2D1N stay in a pool villa at V Villas Hua Hin with Champagne breakfast for two. (Dec 5, 11:30am-3pm, B1,100++ per person) Vie Hotel, 117/39-40 Phaya Thai Road, 02-309-3939.
Stories of our fathers
Bangkokians’ favourite accounts and tales of their dad
My older brother and I constantly bully our youngest brother (out of love, of course); stealing his phone, teasing him about the photos he and his Korean girlfriend have taken together, causing him to delete them whenever we were near. One day he mistakenly sent a photo of them kissing to our dad. Being a good father, he decided there should be no secrets within the family, so he shared it in the family group on Line with the caption “saranghae”, which means I love you in Korean. He’s got a sense of humour my old man.” — Peeranat Larpwongmetee
When I was around nine years old, I was playing by myself behind a Buddha display at our local Thai temple in Chicago when I accidentally knocked over a giant carved candle, which broke in half. My dad found me and asked what was wrong because I was so scared my whole body was trembling uncontrollably. He calmed me down and told me everything would be alright. I confessed what I did and he knew I was wracked with guilt already, so he put a donation in the box that more than covered the candle. When someone else asked what happened to it, he said it might have been a ghost. Since we are all Thai, that was a pretty reasonable alibi.” — Prinya R
They say dads think of us, their daughters, as little girls, no matter how tall we’ve grown or how many wrinkles we’ve collected over the years. Last month, my dad asked me to sign an important document for him because he was travelling abroad and couldn’t be there himself. He had to write a formal letter that would grant me the permission to sign the document. It stated my full name, address and age, which he wrote as “20”. The only problem was, I am actually 25. As you can imagine, I had a hard time convincing the officials that it was really me, his daughter.” — Ploy S
My father was the one who gave me my nickname, ‘Puff’. When I asked about the meaning behind it, he said because I was born in the year of the dragon I should be known as ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’, or ‘Puff’. He had no idea about the real meaning behind the famous song by Peter, Paul and Mary nor did he realise that people thought I had marijuana-smoking parents.” — Puff Saruta
