As cold as ice

THAILAND IS gearing up for winter with a range of chilly activities guaranteed to have its residents shivering with joy. Amusement park Dream World is home to a Snow Town that’s perfect for a family outing, Pattaya has its Ice Bar for adults who enjoy a drink while the southern province of Songkhla has once again turned part of the Municipality Park in Hat Yai into an Ice Dome.

Now the Harbin Ice Wonderland has arrived in suburban Bangkok and in the couple of weeks since it threw open its doors it has drawn both local youngsters and foreign visitors to admire its magnificent ice sculpture exhibition and have fun in its snowy playground.

Operated by Singapore-based construction company CIW, which made its debut on the entertainment business last year with the “2 Degree Ice Art” exhibition at Marina Bay, the newly-built Bt80-million ice wonderland is spread over 3,360 square metres in the Bearing area. The company also brought in a massive 600 tons of ice blocks, which have been carved into different shapes and themes by 25 skilled Chinese masters. 

“I love Thailand. I’m here at least 10 times every year and I long ago recognised the country’s investment potential,” says CTW’s Miow Seong Yao.

“Our success with the ice sculptures in ‘2 Degree Ice Art’ inspired us to bring a similar show in Bangkok. We knew Thais would enjoy subzero temperatures and learning about ice carving and ice dyeing. We’ve kept the admission fee reasonable too so everyone can come.”

The high-tech Ice Wonderland is designed to look like a miniature town and brings together the best-known landmarks from the Asean region and beyond.

Located within easy walking distance of the BTS Bearing station, the exhibition is divided into 10 zones and includes a coat and glove rental service for those who don’t have their own cold-weather wear.

Just past the entrance is a photo corner with a blue screen that allows you to put together your own background. Admission to this space is Bt120 and its entirely optional.

The cold hits the moment you step inside and it’s wise to wrap up warmly, especially if you are not used to an icy chill. 

Chinese and Thai architecture come together at the entrance in the form of a pair Thai giants standing guard outside Wat Phra Chetuphon and a towering arch decorated with lions. A Chinese-style chedi sits inside an ancient park while on the stage, Chinese girls play both Chinese harps and chess.

The next room is home to a traditional Thai temple and is a reminder of the day when His Majesty King Bhumibhol met Queen Sirikit at the Thai pavilion.

There’s something fishy about the Ocean Paradise, a space that’s home to several colourful sharks, dolphins, giant octopuses, turtles, starfish and clown fish 

“The Wat Pho giants and other traditional Thai carvings should make visitors feel at home. The marine creatures in the Ocean zone showcase the techniques for ice-dyeing,” says Miow. 

“However, we do put a limit on the number of visitors per round because their combined body heat risks raising the temperature to above the minus 8 degrees Celsius needed to prevent ice melt.” 

Kids will go wild for the Snow Park while teens and the older generation will probably lean more towards the grand castle slide and the snow cart.

One of the highlights is a three-metre-long ice wall boasting carvings of such iconic landmarks as London’s Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Kuala Lumpur’s famed Petronas Towers, a snow-capped Mount Fuji, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Taj Mahal.

The Ice Bar caters to those in need of a break. The 400sqm pub, furnished with chairs, couches and tables carved out of ice, can seat about 100 and serves soft drinks, cocktails and tea in cups made of ice. A DJ spins the grooves during the day and early evening and a live band takes over at night. 

“The terms of our lease say we can stay here for 18 months and we are planning to expand to Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen in the near future. We’re also in the planning phases of a new project and I can guarantee that it will be something that has never been seen in Thailand,” Miow says.

 

 

CHILLY DAY OUT

>>The Harbin Ice Wonderland is at 3776 Sukhumvit 70/4 Road, a sort walk from Bearing BTS station. 

>>It’s open daily from 9.30am to 9.30pm.

>>The Ice Bar operates from 10.30am to 2am. 

>>Tickets are priced at Bt250 for children, Bt350 for adults and Bt550 for foreigners. 

>>Find out more at www.Harbin-IceWonderland.com or call (091) 872 1268.