Lumpini Park....

I have often taken a walk through Lumpini Park to reach home..Before I elaborate on beauty of this park..lemme give it a small introduction... !
Situated in the heart of Bangkok..This park was set up one of the kings of Thailand..It is midway between my office at Sathorn Road..and our home at Lang Suan..
Friday evenings-ideal time for me to walk back home...I don't need to hurry up..In any case, we dine out..So the only thing for me to do when I get home is take a swim..and freshen up before Deb comes in..

Coming back to the park..I always think whenever I take a walk around this green patch in the heart of Bangkok...Why don't we have more of these in India..?
"Lungs of Bangkok" is what I would call this place...The moment you are in ..you feel that it is another world in the city outside..the city that rumbles..and growls and zooms...

What is amazing about this place is the number of people you find in here..every Friday evening. Age no bar,caste no bar.... people are jogging, walking, reading...or just sitting on the benches staring at the lake..
There's so much peace..and so much tranquility...All you hear is the birds twittering..the cuckoos singing..and an occasional crow flying overhead....
Pigeons...! Most of them..around the lake...the surprise element here is the manner is which everyone..including us..the humans, blend in easily..as if part of this peaceful existence...
The pigeons don't fly off..when you walk by....They treat you very much a part of the natural surrounding.....Maybe even look upto you with respect....

The place is huge...takes me around half an hour..to cross over from one gate to the other...walking at my pace..which is not so bad:)
I do slow down occasionally...to stand by and watch..rather observe...What's so unique and difference about this place...

The other side of the Park has an open gymnasium...and Aerobic classes are held at times...
Now..we cannot do away with commercialism completely..can we?

But there are kids of all sizes...working it out...Sports people practicing...and sweating it out!

The lake is the quieter area...Often you find a couple or two boating in the middle of the lake..engaged in deep conversation...

Then there are the grandpas & grandmas as well....sitting often not-so-quietly on the park benches....watching their grand-children hop & skip in the kids' play area....

The park has it all..something for everyone...Maybe that's the reason it' s such a warm place... You come across all kinds of people here....Youngsters from college...Kids from school - sometimes still in their uniforms!

The park has it's share of vendors too..selling their ware... Spread out on the pavement...usually consisting of drinking water...colas...boiled corn salad....or fruit....

"Not bad!" I always think...People do get thirsty..and it will be quite be an effort to keep yourself away from spicy fruit salad the vendors have to offer....

The roads are flanked by pavements everywhere...and are very well-maintained..Ok..this can be said about the park as a whole..But visitors also make their contribution ..by refraining from dirtying the area...
The roads are broad enough for two SUVs to drive through parallel to each other..and it's a pleasure to see none of them inside at all!
At max you may see a couple of bicycles...with kids on them..and one or two trolleys which the vendors tow inside...
Feels great to walk on roads ..for once...without bothering about traffic...or the high speeding bikes....You have the road all to yourself...and believe me..it's a great feeling!

Maybe ...it's all these reasons why this place warms upto anyone and everyone...

Every time, I enter the first gate..I leave all my thoughts outside...

Inside, I am just the "Park person"..like everyone else....I try to blend in with the surroundings myself...Walk around..And return every smile that I come across....
Respond to the silent greetings of all around..and call upon the pigeons..to check if they remember me from last time..they always do..

No wonder...by the time I step out of the second gate..I am a much more relaxed and happier person...
couldn't have been a better way to start my weekend..!