Getting out of the rut of Silom and Sukhumvit roads is essential every few weeks.
Just a few minutes away one can find the unlikely named “Taco Lake,” which despite being just outside Bang Na, feels like an escape to nature. That is if you ignore the jets screaming up and down from neighboring Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Most people head to this artificial lake for the wakeboarding, but it’s also a lovely a spot for swimming, drinking beers and watching people.
Rather than boats, the wakeboarding uses a counter-clockwise pulley system to pull boarders around the lake. It all looked like easy fun until a shaken looking girl nearby exlaimed “I’m never doing that ever again as long as I live!”
I had a beer for Dutch courage while my friends recounted their injuries sustained in previous attempts. “You won’t be able to move your arms properly for three days,” said one. “If you feel the rope go slack, let go or the rope will yank your arms off when you go round the corner,” warned another.
To make matters worse, the lake was full of pros performing impressive jumps. Therefore I was the only person on the lake to opt for “kneeboarding.” Sitting on the board on your knees helps you to get used to how the rope tension changes throughout the circuit and helps one avoid that whole arm-ripping-off experience. Of course I still managed to fall off the kneeboard time and again before the circuit even began, leading to a swim of shame back to the start. A recommend maintaining a jolly expression so as to not betray your wounded pride. The first time I made it onto the actual circuit, I was joyous. I could almost forget that everyone else was flipping over jumps while I merely bopped over the waves on my knees. That is until I hit the first corner which, unfortunately, I never made it beyond.
The problem with corners is that if you don’t take them wide enough, the rope runs slack and then eventually yanks you with a great force around the corner. Maybe your arms won’t leave your torso, but it’s painful enough to feel like it. This simple mistake can cause some very achy shoulders and bruises. As for my group, all five of us were soon out of commission due to a combination of pain, aches, weariness and fear. Thankfully the on-site restaurant is well-stocked with ice buckets, painkillers and large bottles of beer.
One hour of being tugged around a lake on my knees was more than enough, but somehow we managed to while away an entire afternoon eating, drinking and being bitter and jealous about other people’s successes. The perfect way to spend a lazy weekend.
Wakeboarding or kneeboarding is THB300 baht for two hours or THB500 baht.
FIND IT:
If you’re still not sure what this wake boarding business is all aboat, here’s a promotional video from TacoLake.com, which demonstrates their authority for the sport, but not how to use a microphone:
