Nights out here in the Big Mango seem to fall into the usual trio of possibilities: dinner, a movie, or dinner and a movie. So we were excited about the opportunity to spice things up a bit when Matt and Si invited us over for board games.
Where have board games gone in my life? I loved board games as a child and played them even through university. But somewhere in my adult life I left board games behind, forgetting how exciting, competitive and inexpensive a night with a board game can be.
After drinks and appetizers at Matt and Si’s condo on Soi Lang Suan and a casual dinner at a Thai restaurant down the street, we returned for several rounds of Aggravation. They have the classic version of the game which has a dark board and a symmetrical, asterisk-shaped path. This is the same version I played for hours on end with my paternal grandparents.
Making things particularly interesting, they have two house rules: When you roll a four, you have to go backwards by that many spaces; and you play in pairs with your rolls helping your partner after you have won.
It was a fun, low-key evening and something we need to do more often.
christao408 
Oh, I played this game before! Very fun and Aggravated!
My grandparents played regularly with friends (and I got to play on occassion). They had started with a cardboard game but it got so worn out, one of my Grandfather’s friends made a wooden board. It had at one time been painted to match the original. After years of play the paint had been chipped off in places – especially “Home” when the winner would slam the last marble into the spot ont the board !
I love board games too! My friends and I used to play ‘Life’ and ‘Scotland Yard’ in the summer of 2007, but we stopped after a while. Don’t know why! I think we should start it again- it is such a entertainer!
@murisopsis – I was thinking that it should be pretty easy to create a custom-made version of this game. Pretty much just get a board and drill the holes. That would make a nice gift.
I love board games. We play all the time still. I’ve never heard of Aggravation before. My favourite is Taboo.
I really enjoyed playing Scrabble. There was one with marbles in a star pattern – can’t remember that one. We always lost our marbles (uhm… no pun intended). Risk was also fun.
I have never seen this game before@ElusiveWords – I challenge you to a game of scrabble!
My friends and I have recently returned to board games such as Taboo and Cranium. It’s actually become very competitive with me losing only two games and a few friends not talking to each other.
Just wait until you visit. The girls will have you playing many different board games. We have G’ma’s old Aggravation that you can play with Emily and Ava loves to play Candyland!
Oh yes! I am especially fond of monopoly. And of course, Sorry. My guys were playing Sorry at a very young age.
I definitely miss playing board games!
oh hvn’t played this game b4…..sounds not that complicated to play….
@agmhkg – Not complicated at all. It is a bit like the Indian game Parchisi.
@Wangium – you’re on… but you can’t use those fancy medical terms. hee hee…
@ElusiveWords – I long suspected you had lost your marbles… =P Risk was a junior high school favorite. Brad, Creighton, John and I would spend hours trying to conquer the world.
@brooklyn2028 – @minhaners – Taboo is a lot of fun, but I find when we’re playing in a crowd where some people are not fully fluent at English, some of the language games (including Scrabble) are more frustrating than fun.