Life in Lumpini Park …

I wanted to take you on a little tour of my local park here in Bangkok, it’s perhaps the best piece of calm in this energetic town. Lonely Planet describes the 142-acre Lumphini 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 mostly charming.

The weather is heating up and before we get to the unbearable months of March to June, 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. 

It’s a far cry from the walks of my childhood wrapped in scarves and anoraks, wearing wellies amidst the soggy British countryside. Or our recent years, with the Crazy Poodle at our heels, walking in our sometimes drought-stricken local Melbourne parks. It was a lovely way to combine exercise, connect with our neighbourhood, be amongst nature, yes even in Melbourne, and be amongst the passing seasons. 

These are the very same reasons I am enjoying these Thai park mornings. The flowers, park buildings and shrines are exotic to my eyes and it was a big woah moment when I thought I’d spotted something akin to a Queensland croc when the giant monitor lizards came out of the water. S’pose you can’t blame the ducks for being in scarce supply…

I have written previously about the park clear up of these monitor lizards who were terrifying the tourists. It became a step too far when the authorities decided that the cat population was becoming too numerous and many cats were removed to be ‘rehoused”  You can read more here:

Cat lovers in uproar at Lumpini Park

I now smile at every surviving cat in the park, and I’m a dog person!

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, Lumphini 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. I’ve been told 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. 

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!