An Oasis

Lumpini Park is in the heart of Bangkok. It's Bangkok's version of Sydney's Centennial Park. Thousands of people walk, jog, roller blade, cycle (and just about anything else) in it. The running/ cycling track is a 2.5 km long circuit. It's not unusual to see 300 to 400 locals enjoying a session of aerobics before or after work.

Every morning at 8:00am and every evening at 6:00pm the park comes to a complete stand still. The park's police blow their whistles to signify the raising (and lowering) of the national flag whilst the public address system plays the national anthem. Thousands of people - locals, ex-pats and tourists - all over the park stand to attention, stopping dead in their tracks in complete silence. It's amazing to see so many people do this all at once.

Lumpini Park was Bangkok's first public park, given for community use by His Majesty, King Rama VI in 1925. His wish was to provide a park with plants and tress that his people could relax in and gain knowledge of. The name 'Lumpini' comes from a district in Nepal where Buddha was born.

Many people s***-can Bangkok as an over polluted, over populated smut-haven. In some cases they're right. But I have always loved it. The people are friendly, the street vendors are happy, the food is great and the energy levels abuzz. Can't ask for much more than that?!