Lumpini Park
Named
after the Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, this is Bangkok's largest and most
popular park. The park is bordered by Rama IV Road to the South, Sarasin Road to
the North, Witthayu Road to the East and Ratchadamri Road to the West, with
entrance gates on all sides. A large artificial lake in the center is
surrounded by broad, well-tended lawns, wooded areas and walking paths. In other
words, it is the best outdoor escape from Bangkok without leaving town.
One
of the best times to visit the park is in the early morning. Suan (Park) Lumpini
is a place of moods rather than sights. In the morning it is full of
people exercising. More striking and graceful than the joggers are Chinese
Tai Chi groups, making slow movements to music. The
practitioners of Tai Chi who can be seen in Lumpini Park every early
morning (around 5 AM-7:AM) put less strain on their bodies' circulation. Tai
Chi is a rather soft Chinese form of exercise, healthy not only for the body
but allegedly also for the mind.
Along the gates, vendors set up tables to dispense fresh snake blood and bile considered a health tonic by many Thais and Chinese. Rowing boats and puddle boats can be rented at the lake.
A
weight-lifting area in one section becomes a miniature " music beach"
on the weekends. Other facilities include a snack bar, several areas with
tables and benches for picnics and a couple of tables where ladies serve
Chinese tea. Rest rooms are placed at intervals throughout the park.
Musical shows are sometimes held in this spacious park. The park which is enclosed by a high wall and locked overnight.. It can be argued whether the joggers serve their health by doing their practice there as the surrounding part of town is heavily polluted. Nevertheless, the elaborate jogging track, complete with stops for weight lifting and special gymnastics, is in use all day, especially in the early mornings and late afternoons.
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