Bangkok can be a paradoxical city. Everyone pretty much takes it easy and everything is sabai sabai and though that's mostly a good thing, there are times you want some excitement. On the other hand, sometimes you walk out of the office after a gruelling day only to be met by the headache-inducing commute of a crowded train or heavy traffic. So how do you get your dose of excitement and at the same time let off some steam? Perhaps you go to the gym. Perhaps you and your friends gather for one or two friendly matches of football. Perhaps going to the bar for drinks is exciting and de-stressing enough for you. But this week, we've compiled a list of places and things you can do that are a little out of the norm. Time to get your blood pumping.
Archery Thai
Saha Kan Pramun Alley, Wang Thonglang
http://archerythai.com, http://fb.com/ArcheryThaiRange
If you've ever imagined offering yourself as tribute and battling a dictatorial government with a bow and arrow, or perhaps being an elf standing alongside your best dwarf buddy and shooting down orcs from the wall of Helm's Deep, or maybe being an Avenger, then Archery Thai is the place where you can get at least a tiny taste of your dream. Aside from being archery range, they also sell a whole lot of archery equipment if you really want to get into it. Plus, they also have an archery school. If you're new to the whole thing, fret not. An Archery Discovery Course is available for noobs, which gives you a 30-minute session on Archery 101. And no, no matter how much you plead, you're not allowed to shoot an apple off someone's head.
Range fee: B60/hour before 6pm, B80/hour from 6pm-10pm. B200/hour for equipment rental. B250 per person for the Archery Discovery Course, equipment included.
Impact Speed Park
Tiwanon-Pakkred 36 Road, Banmai Sub-district, Pakkred
http://fb.com/impactspeedpark, http://impactspeedpark.com
We feel the need, the need for speed -- and Impact Speed Park is the perfect place to satisfy it. The 800m outdoor track located near Impact Arena is a little ways away from the city centre, but it's worth the trip especially if you're planning on dedicating one full day of speeding around. When you want to take a break from being a speed devil, there's a couple of choices for you to dine at nearby and a beautiful lake view to relax you before you head on back for another heat at the track. The karts are electronic from Sodi Kart, a world-leading manufacturer in karts and the track was also constructed in collaboration with them to make sure the design is up to standards. A membership, which costs B100 and lasts a year, is required for you to book sessions.
B600 per session for adults, B480 per session for kids (between the ages of 7-13, above 120cm in height).
Bangkok Roller Derby
http://fb.com/BangkokRollerDerby
If you're not familiar with roller derby, we don't blame you. The sport is still growing and we're glad that Bangkok is one of the first cities in Asia to have a team. Bangkok Roller Derby is the first and only team in the country and is a mixed-gender international team so everyone over the age of 18 is welcome to play. This isn't a game where you simply roller skate around. Players have certain roles: Blockers are in charge of, well blocking, while the Jammer attempts to pass opposing players to gain points. There are more rules to the game, but you've got two choices to learn more about roller derby: you can either go the usual lazy route and type away on Google or watch videos on YouTube, or you can get off your butt and actually join the Bangkok Roller Derby team at the Roller Dome in Emporium shopping mall on Sundays at 6pm.
Whether you've skated before or not, they're always welcoming new people to the team, and if you decide to join the team officially, you may compete in internationally. But the coolest part about it is getting your very own derby name like Apple iBad and Chemic Al. Their head coach goes by Jean Claude Van Slam. In the tone of Chandler Bing, "Could you be more badass?"
Golden Axe Throw Club
Lat Phrao Wang Hin 67 Alley
http://axethrowingbangkok.com, http://fb.com/axethrowingbangkok
Yes, you read that right -- there's an axe throwing club right here in the city. The first in Southeast Asia, the Golden Axe Throw Club recently opened a few weeks ago. And no, it's not just some sort of gimmick where you throw axes like an insane lumberjack. It's an actual sport (a simple Google search and you'll see what we mean) with two players playing three rounds with five throws each. Hitting various parts of the target garners different points, the bullseye being five points, although you could hit those tiny green dots for seven points on your final throw while yelling "Clutch!".
To further prove they're not just fooling around, the whole game follows NATF-regulated rules (that's National Axe Throwing Federation for us axe-noobs) and the wood they use to make the target is imported from Sweden. There's a coach on site for your group who teaches you safety rules and how to throw properly. Shoes are a must when playing to protect your toes from... you know, accidentally getting lobbed off. Aside from walk-ins and reservations, you can also book the place for private events.
Their Grand Opening special prices are B350 per person for 1-5 players for one hour; B550 per person for 6+ players for 2-3 hours private group booking.
VRX
Siam Square One, 3rd floor
http://fb.com/vrxnow 085-789-5009
There have been a number of VR places popping up around the city but none offer a variety like VRX does. Located smack in the middle of the city at Siam Square One, VRX offers guests the usual VR games where you walk around tethered by a wire with two HTC Vive controllers. They've got 50 handpicked games, which the team considers the best from Steam. But they've got more than just the typical VR you've already seen. If you're in the mood to go on a roller-coaster ride and don't want to be bothered going to the outskirts of Bangkok, VRX has got a 4DX VR ride, which means moving chairs, that you can enjoy. You can also opt to go for a virtual snowboard ride complete with an actual moving snowboard.
If driving's your shtick, they've got two driving simulators for you (take note, that's "driving simulator", so this isn't some easy peasy Need For Speed game). Both are equipped with realistic seats that move and react to the track. The same goes for the steering wheel. You can play the simulator in VR where it really feels as if you're in the driver's seat or you can play the three-screened driving sim whose controls are set up to be as really close to actually racing a car.
But it's no question that the main attraction is the Omni VR, which is fully-immersive VR gaming because you are able to actually walk around. Yes, you read that right. You wear shoes with sensors and you're strapped into a platform, which enables you to actually walk instead of just pressing forward on a joystick. They've got a special promotion this February for a B600 all-in-one ticket where you're able to have one go each at all they're offering.
B990 for VIP Day Pass, B180 for 4DX VR, B200 for VR Snowboard, B250 for 30 mins play of VR Racing, B400 for 60 mins play of VR Racing, B800 for 60 mins play of Standard Omni VR, B450 for 30 mins play of Standard Omni VR, B550 for 30 mins play of Premium Omni VR, B600 for 60 mins play of HTC Vive VR, B350 for 30 mins play of HTC Vive VR.
