Another view of Bangkok

For the final day in Thailand we joined the busy river traffic to get an alternative view of life in Bangkok.

 Getting back on dry land we set off to explore the Grand Palace. 

 

By early evening we had to head off to the airport for the flight home.

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.