Lumpini Park

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

Lumpini Park recently reopened after being closed for a few months due to covid.  I took the opportunity to spend a few hours there.  The park covers 360 rai, on land donated by King Rama IV in 1925.  A statue of King Rama IV decorates the entrance in the southwest corner, facing the Sala Daeng BTS station.

 

Entrance required a temperature check, although few people were present mid-day.

 

 

 

An oasis in the heart of the city

 

 

An artificial lake covers much of the grounds, people like to feed the fish.

 

 

The grandstand previously hosted a free concert by the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Sunday evenings from December to February.  The concert was moved to Centenary Park on Chulalongkorn University for greater capacity and better acoustics three years ago, although currently suspended.  The concert is free to the public and I highly recommend it, it's really outstanding.

 

 

Although biking and jogging is allowed now, the exercise equipment is still off-limits.

 

 

There's some artwork on display

 

 

An abundance of wildlife

 

 

Lots of crows, and they make quite a racket

 

 

Mom here is feeding the young 'uns from a dead turtle

 

 

But I came into the park specifically to shoot these beasts, the water monitors.

 

 

They remind me a bit of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, if you've seen the movie, and they're everywhere.

 

 

 

This one looks like Nessie

 

 

Only found in SE Asia, they can scale a tree like a squirrel with their sharp claws.  Otherwise, they don't move very quickly on land, but they walk with a swagger, and they're great swimmers with the long tail.

 

 

Except for the Komodo Dragon, they're the biggest lizards on the planet, and carnivores, although primarily scavengers.

 

The first description of the monitor in English literature is credited to Robert Knox in 1681:

There is a Creature here called Kobberaguion, resembling an Alligator. The biggest may be five or six feet long, speckled black and white. He lives most upon the Land, but will take the water and dive under it: hath a long blue forked tongue like a sting, which he puts forth and hisseth and gapeth, but doth not bite nor sting, tho the appearance of him would scare those that knew not what he was. He is not afraid of people, but will lie gaping and hissing at them in the way, and will scarce stir out of it. He will come and eat Carrion with the Dogs and Jackals, and will not be scared away by them, but if they come near to bark or snap at him, with his tail, which is long like a whip, he will so slash them, that they will run away and howl.

They were aware of my presence but didn't seem particularly concerned.  The adults have few predators.

 

 

I thought this one was going to attack me

 

 

They usually stay near the water, but not always.  This guy went for a stroll.

 

 

I don't know if he liked the paparazzi following him around.

 

[Bullfrog 2,224]

Bloody fantastic.

I've been there a couple of times yonks ago. My main memory was that it was too bloody hot and not many places to sit but you've spotted a lot more than I ever did !!

[jacko 8,813]

I do not think I have been there since some of my earliest ever visits to Bangkok....and I really don't know why....

[maipenrai 473]

I used to walk from Soi Nana to Patpong in the afternoon occasionally, and would cut across the park along the way...

[misteregg 709]

I love a trip around Lumpini Park. It's main entrance (first picture) is opposite the hospital I visit from time to time. Glad to see it has reopened.

[awesum4 2,333]

I enjoyed walking there a few times.

Spent a couple of hours watching the old men playing the Thai version of Chinese chess. Their english was almost as bad as my thai but it was relaxing just watching.

Now I've reached old age myself.

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

It was certainly hot out there in the afternoon.  I walked over to Roadhouse BBQ at Rama IV and Surawong for a pint of Guinness afterward, which really hit the spot, can't recommend the food there.

 

FYI:  After 8 PM, freelancers congregate on Sarisin Road which boarders the north side of the park, but you need to speak some Thai to connect with them because none speak any English, they're there looking for Thai customers.

The last time I shot the monitors it was in the late afternoon, and I walked over to Patpong for some drinks.  After a few, I went into Pink Panther and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea.  The lineup was good, so I ordered another.  I figured they must be diluted because this was Patpong.   Being so dehydrated, I got so wasted that I left my camera bag in the bar with $5,000 worth of gear.  The waitress came running after me down the street waving my bag like I'd walked out without paying the check.  

[VPI78 11,494]

12 hours ago, RhinoTusk said:

It was certainly hot out there in the afternoon.  I walked over to Roadhouse BBQ at Rama IV and Surawong for a pint of Guinness afterward, which really hit the spot, can't recommend the food there.

 

FYI:  After 8 PM, freelancers congregate on Sarisin Road which boarders the north side of the park, but you need to speak some Thai to connect with them because none speak any English, they're there looking for Thai customers.

The last time I shot the monitors it was in the late afternoon, and I walked over to Patpong for some drinks.  After a few, I went into Pink Panther and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea.  The lineup was good, so I ordered another.  I figured they must be diluted because this was Patpong.   Being so dehydrated, I got so wasted that I left my camera bag in the bar with $5,000 worth of gear.  The waitress came running after me down the street waving my bag like I'd walked out without paying the check.  

You may have left PP before the show any way but did it look to you like they still have the boxing at PP these days?

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

2 hours ago, VPI78 said:

You may have left PP before the show any way but did it look to you like they still have the boxing at PP these days?

The boxing stadium was moved to a new location several years ago and implicated in an outbreak of COVID cases last year.  It’s set to reopen with events without spectators.

https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/lumpini-boxing-stadium-re-opens-tomorrow-for-online-and-tv-spectators-only

Don’t know if they still feature boxing at Pink Panther, that’s was at 11 PM, and I’m on the BTS back to Sukhumvit by then.

Edited March 12, 2021 by RhinoTusk

[VPI78 11,494]

2 hours ago, RhinoTusk said:

The boxing stadium was moved to a new location several years ago and implicated in an outbreak of COVID cases last year.  It’s set to reopen with events without spectators.

https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/lumpini-boxing-stadium-re-opens-tomorrow-for-online-and-tv-spectators-only

Don’t know if they still feature boxing at Pink Panther, that’s was at 11 PM, and I’m on the BTS back to Sukhumvit by then.

Thanks, that's what I meant, i.e., whether the show boxing was still on at Pink Panther.

We used to shuffle across the road to G's for some German food once the fisticuffs and kicking started.

[yorta2 693]

Great photos again. I remember one afternoon, just after the turn of the century, I was walking around the park, feeling quite seedy after a heavy session. I lay down on the grass, pulled my baseball cap over my eyes and dozed off, only to wake up when the sun had moved and my shade disappeared. I found that I was surrounded by four of those bloody big lizards and they were closing in on me. I reckon they thought I was dead. Frightened shit outta me! It took some time before I went back there, but my Thai 'wife' and I spent an hour or two in the park in early 2019. 

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

1 hour ago, yorta2 said:

Great photos again. I remember one afternoon, just after the turn of the century, I was walking around the park, feeling quite seedy after a heavy session. I lay down on the grass, pulled my baseball cap over my eyes and dozed off, only to wake up when the sun had moved and my shade disappeared. I found that I was surrounded by four of those bloody big lizards and they were closing in on me. I reckon they thought I was dead. Frightened shit outta me! It took some time before I went back there, but my Thai 'wife' and I spent an hour or two in the park in early 2019. 

It’s good you awoke in time.  You don’t want to turn your back on these guys, they have sharp claws, a keen sense of smell, powerful jaws, and serrated teeth for ripping flesh from carcasses.  I doubt you’ll find many homeless people sleeping in the park at night.

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

FYI: Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is reopening today   and tickets will only be sold to foreigners. How’s that for dual pricing?  I see an opportunity to become a scalper. ?
 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1209097-tickets-for-fights-at-lumpinee-boxing-stadium-will-only-be-sold-to-foreigners/

[jacko 8,813]

18 hours ago, RhinoTusk said:

FYI: Lumpinee Boxing Stadium is reopening today   and tickets will only be sold to foreigners. How’s that for dual pricing?  I see an opportunity to become a scalper. ?
 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1209097-tickets-for-fights-at-lumpinee-boxing-stadium-will-only-be-sold-to-foreigners/

Interesting...

The move will also prevent locals from gambling at the event as the venue seeks to move away from its association with gambling, Bangkok Biz News reported.

Or perhaps they don't want to infect their own and will test it out on foreigners?

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

They need to open up the bars. Here’s a water monitor in a 7-11 store looking for a 6-pack of Chang.
 

 

[Bullfrog 2,224]

28 minutes ago, RhinoTusk said:

They need to open up the bars. Here’s a water monitor in a 7-11 store looking for a 6-pack of Chang.

A bit like that old goat that used to hang around on the steps of 7/11s on Khao Talo and Khao Noi ... but enough of Jacko...move on..

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

It was unseasonably cool ❄️ yesterday, so I went for a walk in the park.  I took the Z6 ? with one lens, a 28-300 mm (for some reach) which I used through the FTZ adapter.  There were lots of people in the park, with food and crafts.

 

 

It was the Red Cross Fair ???????

 

 

I guess that explains the shooting range

 

 

This guy passed out from exhaustion ?

 

 

The children were playing

 

 

A lot was happening in the lake

 

 

The Monitor Monsters were out in full force

 

 

This guy kept laughing at me.  I don't know what was so funny.

 

 

This guy made the catch of the day ?

 

 

He started to get pissed off the birds were attempting to steal his meal as soon as he looked away.

 

 

But he was willing to share with his buddies

 

 

This one started to come after me, so I got the hell out.  You don't want to mess with these guys! ?

 

 

It was a nice afternoon to spend in the park.

 

 

After that, I tried a new fusion restaurant called "The Spotted Pig" ?, across the street between the MRT stations

 

 

Here are the salmon tacos ?

 

 

Quesidella  with a cold Corona.

 

 

It was a pleasant Sunday before heading over to Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy. Cheers.

Edited December 19, 2022 by RhinoTusk

[keyman 1,413]

Great pics, as always, RT. It looks like a lot of people still wearing masks. ?

There's also one pretty brave pussy!!!!  ?

 

KM

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

1 minute ago, keyman said:

Great pics, as always, RT. It looks like a lot of people still wearing masks. ?

There's also one pretty brave pussy!!!!  ?

 

KM

Lol.  Yes most in Bangkok wear masks voluntarily.  I do too, so I don’t look like a tourist. ?

[sailingbill 1,025]

Great post.  Good to know about the Symphony though not playing at present.   Growing up in Annapolis my parents would take me to free concerts in the evening at the Naval Academy band. It was good fun for a kid as they were held in the Field House so I came home pretty covered in sawdust. Nice memories.  

[RhinoTusk 4,901]

I have a theory that the Loch Ness monster was actually an Asian Water Moniter transplanted from Southeast Asia by a merchant seaman.  There was only one so it couldn’t reproduce, but people saw it and thought WTF?  Mystery Solved.  BTW,  I’ve been to Loch Ness in 1989, didn’t see any monitors.

Edited December 20, 2022 by RhinoTusk