For anyone who missed it last weekend, Bangkok hosted the 13th annual Elephant Polo games, sponsored by Anantara Hotels.
Elephant Polo is exactly what it sounds like: a polo game with elephants replacing the typical ponies. Players sit high off the ground on the backs of the elephants with a (very) long-handed mallet and try to hit a polo ball between two goal posts.
As those who have ever attended a traditional polo match may know, the sporting event is usually much more than just a sport to watch; it’s an entire day of outdoor enjoyment. White tents serving food and drinks lining the field, hundreds of spectators wearing their Sunday best, and many places to relax and enjoy the weather and the sporting event make for a lovely day of leisure.
Elephant Polo is always a great day for expats who live in Bangkok (or anywhere in Thailand for that matter) who are looking to spend some time outdoors while doing something different than the typical beach or mountain weekend.
What to expect
One of the most exciting things about Elephant Polo for many people, especially Western expatriates is that it’s a deviation from the norm; an unique spin on a familiar activity. So that being said, it’s kind of fun to not know what to expect, but do expe.ct to be able to get right up close and personal with a whole lot of elephants! You may be able to have a mahout (elephant rider/caretaker) take you for a spin behind the field, or feed them some fruit at the end of the match.
Expect to see a mixed crowd of Thai and Western spectators, many of whom are wearing high fashion or very sophisticated outfits. Expect to spend the entire days outdoors, so you may want to bring an umbrella, bug spray, and even a thick blanket/mat to sit on (if you have not reserved a spot in the tent). Since it’s a long day, you should expect to want to eat and drink something while you’re there, so you can either pack a picnic or buy a tasty snack from one of the sponsoring vendors. There are also many beverage vendors and bars serving cocktails, wine and beer.Expect to see a mixed crowd of Thai and Western spectators, many of whom are wearing very fashionable clothing.
What to wear
Charity events are typically classified as special events, and Elephant Polo is no exception. Polo in general tends to attract a well groomed and fashionable crowd where sundresses and big hats are the norm for women. Men often wear suit jackets in summer fabrics or, of course polo shirts. You can think of Elephant Polo as an excuse to wear your most fashionable/outrageous/impressive outfit, or simply wear anything you desire. The complimentary admission to the event means that there’s no real dress code, so you can wear whatever you are comfortable in.
Polo often gets muddy though, with so many people and large animals softening the grass beneath their feet. This means that high heels that can sink into the mud are not advisable, but any sort of shoe with a flat sole will work just fine.
Getting there
Polo matches require the largest field in organized sports, thus it is difficult to find a space to host a match that is nearby the city center. As this year’s match was hosted in Bangkok, the field (at VR Sports Club) was about an hour outside of the city center, but still accessible by a taxi.
As is true when you go anywhere outside of Bangkok and do not fluently speak the language, it is highly advised to plan ahead with directing your driver to the match. You can either print written directions in Thai, use a GPS device, have a map to show the driver, or have the phone number to the club handy so you can call and have someone translate directions. Go without any of these backup plans and you may end up getting very lost with a heavy taxi fare.
Getting back is almost equally as important to prepare for as getting there. Again, because the sports club is far out from the city centre, there are hardly any taxis driving by that you can hail. Arrange to have someone pick you up beforehand.
