“My grandmother told me she once watched the Queen Mother play here!” You’ll have to excuse my grandma, though. Her stories can get a little outlandish from time to time. But in this case—the place she’s talking about—this pentanque court—that’s a true story. It’s right here in Bangkok, the second most popular place to enjoy the game of petanque in the entire world after France. Yes, pentanque, that iconic French game, has found a home in Thailand. The Queen Mother, mother of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), discovered petanque on a visit to the Côte d’Azur in the fifties. She was smitten with the sport. It wasn’t long before she started playing, a daily ritual for her. She loved it. She thought it was good for her health. And she wanted to share it with everyone in Thailand. She pushed to have petanque taught in schools and even included it in the Royal Thai Army’s training. And, well, the rest is history. Every day in Bangkok, you’ll find people of all ages playing. It’s truly a sight to behold. You can see the joy, the competition, and the sheer love of the game.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to