Khut Sornnimul find out if monkey business  is worth human’s investment of time and money.

What interested me the most were a pair of rings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and a pair of watches. They were so cool.

Can you imagine how young children behave when they are playing with their peers? Most of the time they are very cunning and don’t stay in one place. They normally go back and forth, left and right and jump up and down, just like a monkey. Because of this behaviour, Monkey Business has been established for young children.

Established on March 8, Monkey Business is on the second floor of the Paragon Department Store. It is the largest indoor party venue dedicated to babies and toddlers. It is open from 9am until 8pm. Parents can bring their children there and let them enjoy their time in the colourful playground and with the various games. What makes it extra special and different from other places with playgrounds is that they are hot, while the whole Monkey Business area is air-conditioned, which gives children a more friendly environment to play in.

But I think the admission fee is a bit expensive which middle class Cambodian parents could not afford. They charge US$3 for those under two years old and US$6 for those at two and above. This price excludes meals, ice-cream and beverages, which you have to pay if you want your children to have something before or after playing. So you have to pay more.

What surprised me the most about Monkey Business is that before entering the inner part, I had to take off my shoes and wear a pair of socks, otherwise I  would not have been allowed in. If I didn’t have socks, I could buy some there for US$1 per pair. So if you want to take your children there and you don’t want to waste your money on what is not important, you should be well-prepared.

What I had not expected to see was the cautions, rules and instructions. They are written in English, not Khmer. So it seems that their target audience are foreigners and some high class Cambodian families.

Besides the playground, there are rows of tables and chairs for parents and children to sit on and eat. They have ice-cream for children and for adults there is Asian food, Western food like salads and pasta, tom yam soup, pad Thai with prawns, pizzas, egg sandwiches and other things. But the prices are a bit expensive compared with other places. I ate ice-cream with topping and it cost me US$2.5o. However, I thought it was very delicious.

You can still come to this place if you don’t have children. You still can come and enjoy yourself. You can bring your laptop and enjoy surfing the internet through the wi-fi system. You and your friends can even enjoy discussing your assignments if you like this kind of environment.

Can I bring my children and celebrate their birthdays or have any parties there?  The answer is yes. They have rooms for you to celebrate any kind party. The only thing you have to do is to book in advance. They will prepare with food, gifts, balloons and business invitations to your guests, as well as give you a free party group photo. They will ensure that the party runs smoothly. The only thing that you have to care about is money. It was expensive for me.

So I would like to recommend that if you have some money and you want to make your children and your family happy, Monkey Business is the best place to go. If you are not well-off, I would recommend you not go. It will cost you an arm and a leg.