If you've been missing out on all the fun and staying active with outdoor activities -- it's the rainy season's fault -- fret no longer. Come rain or shine, Bangkok has a few places where you can be active while having fun indoors, weather permitting or not. Guru has places where you can boost your spirits on a gloomy day with physical activities.
Laser tag arenas
- Form a squad for an epic laser tag match at Gamesmith (fb.com/gamesmithTH). On Ratchaphruek Road, the spacious laser battlefield is filled with different types of barriers and objects, which are large enough for you to hide or ambush your enemies. As it's installed inside warehouses, the arena evokes a glimpse of action movie scenes, with all the props -- such as oil barrels, wooden cargo boxes, truck tires and camouflage nets -- lying around and boosting the vibes. Players can play in a deathmatch in a small group of five or go on a shooting spree in a large party of 15. Alternatively, opt for suicide-mission modes such as hostage rescue or bomb deactivation, or go into survival mode with a zombie apocalypse-themed battle. Gamesmith is also touting a co-gaming space where you can immerse yourself in a gaming experience both on-screen and off-screen. Think of arcade machines, console games, a pool table and more than 100 board games. An all-inclusive pass for a person costs B400 on weekdays and B500 on weekends.
- Siam Laser Games (fb.com/siamlasergames) is another laser-shooting arena worth checking out as it stands out in its futuristic theme. Tucked away in the basement of Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, the downtown laser tag arena features a blacklight battleground with a vivid light installation and an impressive surround-sound system. Shoot your way to victory by taking advantage of the surroundings, like illusive mural projection walls to sneak around your opponents or lurking behind neon panels waiting for a clear shot. The place allows players to role-play as different characters in different game modes. You can pretend to be Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games in "Last Man Standing" or be a swat or terrorist squad to defuse or protect a bomb in "Time Bomb Eliminate". One laser match costs B350 per person for adults and B300 for students, or you can opt for a buffet at B895 per person.
Immerse yourself in a virtual reality world
- Wondering what it feels like to immerse yourself in a virtual reality realm? Get a key or a VR headset in this case, to the world beyond reality at Total VR Arcade (totalvr.co). On the third floor of Gateway Ekamai on Sukhumvit Road, Total VR Arcade is self-claimed to be Bangkok's first VR club, offering more than 70 games, ranging from single to multiplayer, from kid-friendly to adventurous titles. The most popular category is the "escape room", where you get to sharpen your wits by solving riddles in nerve-racking situations. Don't worry about getting lost in cyberspace or the physical world because your headset is hooked up with a strap to limit your movement in your zone. Plus, there is a seating area where you can watch your friends walking and acting awkwardly with the VR goggles on for entertainment. An hour of immersion in a virtual reality world costs B550.
Practise your aiming
- Get ready for stress-relieving and adrenaline-filled experiences when visiting Bangkok Shooting Range (bangkokshootingrange.com) on Phahon Yothin Road. The site offers a 25m-indoor shooting range, where you can practise your aim and learn the proper posture for firing a real gun with well-trained instructors. Their arsenal is loaded with a wide array of guns, which you can choose based on your character. If you see yourself as a spy, get yourself a pistol with a silencer or go with a magnum gun if you want to be a cowboy while pretending to be in an old west gunfight. Heavy firearms like shotguns are available, too. The price depends on your desired gun and the number of bullets you prefer.
- If a gun is not your thing, practise your aim and concentration with something more serene like an arrow. Archery Thai (archerythai.com) on Lat Phrao 116 Alley provides an archery range of 25m with 16 shooting stations. They offer the "Archery Discovery" package (B380), which is an all-inclusive package for beginners that includes a one-on-one coaching session for an hour and equipment and archery range rental fees. If you want to take it seriously, book a "Basic Archery" course in which you get to learn the ins and outs of being an archer, from understanding the equipment to bow customisation, as well as tricks and tips from the pros.
Indoor golf course
- We know teeing off during this rainy season can be cumbersome, whether it'll be slippery golf clubs or annoying stray golf balls. So, we found you a golf course where you can throw a few swings indoors. Rak Screen Golf (rakscreengolf.com), which is at Baan Kampu@Asoke on Sukhumvit 21, offers an immersive golf experience through the Bravo golf simulator. It records and analyses your swings and a golf ball's trajectory using a high-speed vision camera sensor system while uploading your results to your smartphone. You can select not just one golf course but more than 150 renowned courses worldwide. The indoor golf club offers three golf simulators in a private room, each of which is named after a famous professional golfer. The rate starts at B800 per person per hour, which can be added to by an extra person or hour for B200.
Three, two, one, go-kart racing!
- If playing Mario Kart on your Switch console couldn't quench your thirst for an adrenaline rush, hop on a shifter kart and go for a lap on an indoor track at Easykart (easykart.net). Taking over the 2nd floor of the RCA Plaza building of Royal City Avenue on Phetchaburi Road is one of the largest indoor go-karting tracks in Asia, with a length of 283m. The track layout is modified regularly to keep it challenging for returning racers. Easykart offers three different go-kart models. Choose from a kid kart with a max speed of 25kph, a 160cc kart for adults, or those with a passion for speed, jump into a 200cc fast kart with a max speed of 55kph. Safety equipment, such as a crash helmet and a racing suit, is provided, while all racers are required to wear sports shoes, which are also available for rent on site. After the race, you can catch your breath and grab a bite at the lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the racetrack. The rate for a fast kart costs B999 per two races, while a race for kids and regular karts cost B399.
Rooms you'll want to escape from
- Set out an ingenious escape plan to crawl your way to freedom from Escape Room Thailand (escaperoomthailand.com) on the 7th floor of MBK Centre on Phaya Thai Road. Teams of two to six people will get 45 minutes to work through a scenario while racing against the clock. Prepare yourself to crack the codes and solve the clues using critical thinking and teamwork to make a bid for freedom from the six thrilling themes of the escape room. "Up Bon Voyage" was inspired by Disney's heart-warming animation, Up, yet their version will let you escape from a house before it floats away. If you're enjoying treasure hunting, go for "The Mummy Returns" and "The Mysterious Room", where scenarios are hidden with cursed and precious belongings that you may regret trying to find them. Pretend to be a detective to solve bloody mysteries in "Crime Scene: The Homicide Unit", or be the smartest group of prisoners to escape from a super-maximum security prison in the "Prison Break" room. "The Overlook Hotel: Room 13" touts the most difficult and eerie room, where you have to find your way out of a haunted hotel. Each game costs B550 per person.
