"Bangkok is the ultimate concrete jungle, and most of its green spaces have long been gobbled up by developers adding condominium towers to the skyline. But smack dab in the center of the city is leafy Lumphini Park; often called the "Central Park of Bangkok" and named after the Nepali birthplace of Buddha, this an urban respite for many Bangkokians. The geographical heart of the park is an artificial lake where you can rent swan-shaped paddle boats; a jogging track, which fills up early in the morning and around sunset, encircles the lake. There are a few playgrounds and vendors selling water and fresh fruit. On Sunday evenings in the cooler months, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra plays free concerts. The park’s best-known commodity is its resident population of giant (mostly harmless) monitor lizards, which slither in and out of the lake." - Diana Hubbell, Katie Lockhart
