I wanted to take you on a little tour of my local park here in Bangkok, it’s perhaps the finest piece of calm in my energetic town. Lonely Planet describes the 142-acre Lumpini Park as:
‘the best way to escape Bangkok without leaving town‘
Moving to a new city makes even a simple walk around a lake an adventure. It’s reminiscent of the excitement of going out to feed the ducks as a kid, without the ducks! I’m sure in the months to come I won’t look twice at what I’m seeing, but for now, everything is most charming.
We are right in the middle of the unbearably hot months of March to June, so I’m making the most of being dropped at the park gates in the early hours of the day on Mr Wren’s way into work.
I used to hate it if I went for a walk and we were surrounded by loads of people. In Lumpini Park you are rarely alone, and if you are you take a photo!
I love being in amongst all the frenetic activity of the park and relatively fresh air. Thais seem to live to eat and exercise and there is plenty of this happening.
In fact, Lumpini Park is really just one huge alfresco open-air dining room and breakfast is served!
It’s pretty civilised too. We’re not talking a cookout Aussie style of bring-your-esky, rug and find a barbecue. Here there are plenty of picnic tables amongst the trees, with electrical sockets and it’s BYO your own kettle and rice cooker and concoct a delicious brekkie to be served on colourful plastic plates and bowls.
Looking from a distance the women are chattering and laughing, they are so engrossed I am invisible. I stand silently confused on the sidelines. You see it’s 7.58 am and music blares out. This is the national anthem played twice a day and respect dictates a motionless response. The women seemingly obvious continue talking at nine to the dozen.
Thinking I’ve got this wrong but bemused as the knife-wielding tai-chi women on the road ahead have stopped. The yellow tassels on their swords dangle still. I continue standing, until bang on 8 am, the music changes and in unison, the women arise, silent. The air thick with the smells of breakfast. Sweat trickles down my back, but I daren’t move… until the lead from the women who in unison sit and carry on their conversations, laughing…
There is a walking, jogging and cycling track around the perimeter of the park. The time I am there no bicycles are allowed, I walk on the road because the path like all in Bangkok is rough and uneven. I’m not quite sure I’m dressed right for the park…
I’ve bought new shoes, they wouldn’t pass the girl about town fashion test in London or Melbourne, but boy are they great for Bangkok! I must admit, I look at them in our room wondering whose they are… but needs must.
On Sunday I took Mr Wren there for a run, he ran like Usain Bolt and came past me walking looking puce in the face. He reckons Bangkok jogging is good for morale as the majority take a common sense approach to the heat and take it at a sedentary pace. Spot the newbie in town! I can’t say we will be back there much again, apparently, it’s too difficult running and dodging all the people.
There are two artificial lakes and you can take out boats and swan pedalos, but I’m thinking that might be for the tourists. As I’m now a local, I walk on by.
