ALANGKARN
The
Extravaganza Show Pattaya
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Built from scratch in just under a year Alangkarn covers a huge 80 Rai site on the left going south just before Ambassador City on Sukhumvit Road South of Pattaya. Billed as a modern Thai Multi-Dimension Extravaganza Show it comes up to name with hi-tech lasers, surround sound that really works in the huge 2000 seat auditorium and a cast of over 150 perform for us the nine act show with enthusiasm and colourful costumes amongst the Elephants and flying trapeze artistes. Fire and water are all included as are indoor and outdoor fireworks in abundance. The outdoors background fireworks work as they open up the huge stage backdrop to the night sky giving the wonderful effect of real fireworks on stage. An official Gala Opening is planned for the 26th March and up to then the soft opening has been offering the Buffet Dinner and Show for a reduced price of 650 baht instead of the 1200 baht it will be after the Opening. I went along to see what it was like and I have to say I was impressed. Parking is no problem and more is still under construction all around the entrance where greeters meet you at the “Glittering Gateway” to this magic land. Inside the park opens out around the lake as you walk towards the “Bell Tower” in the shape of an A of course. This incorporates ‘good luck’ and ‘infinity’ symbols. On your left are a few shops for souvenirs and handicrafts which I am sure will be enlarged with a stage as the “Cultural Rostrum” is being finished. There is a lack of seating here and it will be open to the weather in the rainy season but we shall see what is done for that later on. On your right by the lake is the Restaurant, which seats over 1000 people, serving a very good Buffet Dinner with Thai Western and Chinese foods freshly cooked. Free soft drinks are available but I saw no Alcohol sales. OK only 200 were there on the night I went but it is open from 6 pm. After Dinner you move back into the courtyard area to wait before the huge mountain of Alangkarn with coloured flood lighting, search lights overhead and 9 doors one for each letter of the name. You are finally invited with fanfare and fireworks to enter this ‘magic land’ just before 7 40pm for the show start time of 8 pm. You enter the doors into a large Hall with Thai costumed people ready for the paid for photo calls also some small elephants performing. Your own cameras and bags have been left at the reception counter by now so No Show Pictures sorry! Eventually you are directed into the auditorium and it is huge, a stage of 70 meters in length with two huge screens 11 x 15 meters either side. Here the films and stills help to led you through the story with English and Chinese Subtitles. At times I found they distracted from the live show but certainly kept you in touch and some old footage of Thai events was a first for me. The Show is set in nine acts.
Act 1 covers the Sun Moon and Planet’s. Act 2 is Fire Life and Thai
Sites all over the country. Act 3 follows the Naga stories of
Thailand, Thai Ceremonies of Buddhism with effective Fireworks. Act
4 links the History of Thailand and Siraks Stone with an Elephant
procession through the seating area. Act 5 concentrates on the
hospitality of Thai people with cast members offering gifts of
flowers to the audience. Act 6 is the Elephant Battle of the two
Kings and it is very well done with lots of old film used as the
elephants on stage fight it out. Acts 7 and 8 cover the Cultural
Regions of Thailand, Art and The Mask Dancers. The grand finale Act
9 is the Golden Kingdom showing old and new Bangkok with a large
golden Royal Barge floating across the stage as all the cast and
trapeze artistes come back for the final bows applause and more
fireworks. I
splendid ending to a marvellous show. For those who have been,
comparisons have to be made to the Fantasea Show of Phuket. It is
similar in set up and size and I am sure will come up to the Phuket
quality very quickly but they have a few years start on Pattaya and
it is a different style of show. I enjoyed both very much and it is
a welcome added attraction on the 'must do' list for Pattaya.
Booking on 038 256000 |
