Escape from the city in Bangkok

I prefer the tranquillity of rural life to the busy traffic and high rise buildings in cities.  

But we found a wonderful place where the people of Bangkok go to relax.  Wandering around Lumphini Park one feels far removed from life in the fast lane.  There is a large lake for boating, playgrounds where kids can play and extensive winding paths for walkers and joggers.  Whilst some get twisted in a knot doing yoga, 

others sip tea playing board games.  

 I was puzzled by the sign on one tree 

above an area paved with pebbles until I saw some ladies taking off their shoes and walking around on it.  Of course!  It’s an outdoor reflexology facility.  

 I had to have a go at it myself but found it wasn’t really designed for donkey hooves.  

But the biggest surprise was yet to come.  Out of nowhere a real live monster appeared and sauntered across the path.  At first I thought I was seeing things but then someone explained that there are many of these water monitors roaming freely around the park and they serve a useful purpose as scavengers to clean up any leftover food.  Well, I wasn’t taking any chances by getting too close but just had to have a photo taken to prove I’d really seen one.