Is Lumpini Park open for jogging?

[Grawburg]

I realize Lumpini Park is a bit crowded these days, but during the day is it open for jogging or are the tents in the jogging path too?

[Costas2008]

Yes, it is open for jogging, but only for dumb people.

[Costas2008]

Double post

Edited March 14, 2014 by Costas2008

[Thainess]

Triple post

[Lumbini]

Lots of cars and motorcycles on jogging path going in both directions . If this persists then possibly putting in some lights at the different intersections on the jogging path would be in order . Pool , tennis courts and gym closed also . The little hut where the park guards use to sit has now been converted to a stand to buy cigarettes and lighters . Everything changes with nothing staying the same but change I guess .

What we think we become ...

[nzvic]

My son jogs there, after going to the gym, which is in big building opposite. Over five yrs of Lumpini visits, I've seen the number of joggers grow in the cooler temps of late arvo/early evening. I'd enjoy living within walking distance of there...an hotel closeby had a card re how to get there for exercise purposes.

They Bangkok Symphony free concerts (Jan/Feb 2014) were a pleasure with soloists getting "right into it"!

Chatuchak park also has joggers and cyclists.

[Torrens54]

Yes but make sure you wear Full Body Armour. The "men in black" may be lurking behind the bushes, doing whatever "men in black" do to each other while lurking behind bushes, and waiting for someone to take a pot-shot at.

Edited March 15, 2014 by Torrens54

[Andyfez]

Yes, maybe turn the jog into a sprint if the men-in-black come in your direction...

[ByblosYuNaiSoi]

Lumpini Park is not very nice for jogging right now - comments below sum it up. Maybe try Benjakiti, near Rama IV and Ratchadapisek, Queen Sirikit Metro. Very nice lake and paths. BUT, watch out for speeding bicycles.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/parks-gardens/benjakiti-park

[smileydude]

Not exactly the best timing to do so unless you enjoy testing your instinctive survival skills.

But if you must PLEASE don't wear a MUFC/Liverpool FC shirt unless you want the ""You'll Never Walk (Jog) Alone" motto to come true and literally be chased by a mob!

Edited March 15, 2014 by smileydude

[HUAHIN62]

If you are a PDRC guard, one of the PDRC leaders or promminent members or if you if you are stupid, yes its open for jogging. If you wear anything red, like a redshirt, your innitials are TS or YS, your surname sounds anything like Shin, if you are an international journalist or if your IQ is higher than 50 its closed for jogging, due to the number of tents in the park and the danger of you tripping over a tent, falling on a M79 grenade, falling into knive or running into a bullet.

[mikemac]

Got news for you, it is not the men in black lurking behind the bushes that should be feared, it is the men in black suits and red underwear at PTP headquarters who are the main danger.

[socksy01]

Try it - you may qualify for the 100m at the next Olympics

[mikemac]

If you see this pickup coming towards you while jogging I suggest you change to a brisk sprint !

[geminiman]

Took my longboard to Lumpini last week. It sucked, no hostility but too many people. It was like the JJ weekend market on a Saturday afternoon. Left after one lap went to Benjakiti instead. There is an elevated path that connects Lumpini and Benjakiti that is nice to run/skate on too. The cycle lane and running lane are separate at Benjakiti so you don't have to worry about cyclist as was stated above.

[Lumbini]

After walking through park yesterday not really understand ( even a little ) how state of emergency could be lifted after what I witnessed and what is possible now with so many living in this lawless new village that was once one if the most stellar parks on earth . Even walking around that whole area outside of park passing soldiers walking everywhere and searching people and cars I could not believe government is lifting emergency decree . Seems stage is set for same thing that brought the setting or much worse . My guess it's a quick fix for tourism but this lawless park situation just increased possibilities by having all protestors in one place where they seem to have more power ? Hey , I guess I seem to know almost nothing but miss the park I moved to be close to once oasis in heart of big city and start running and getting fit in great place . It was magic for awhile with lap pool, air conditioned gym ( for 40 bhat membership a year ! ) and 2.5 mile jogging path . I just walked over there yesterday to see if even safe to start running again as emergency conditions lifted by government but nothing changed there but foul smell of toilets stronger and even more trash floating in pond with crowd looking like they found new PERMEANT HOME ( how will they ever get people to leave ?? ( free food electricity , water and place to put tent . Everything changes ...

What we think we become ...

[farang1979]

I realize Lumpini Park is a bit crowded these days, but during the day is it open for jogging or are the tents in the jogging path too?

Yes you can jog there. There are ALOT of tents but no one bothers you and it's still a peaceful place. There is always Benjakiti Park near Sukhumvit which is a magnet for joggers and is very beautiful.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[ricklev]

It's a sad and disturbing place for now. I miss it a lot.

[Lumbini]

Well said Ricklev , and feel same way . Today as I walked across park to get to MRT the cars and motorcycles we're zooming in both directions and cigarette smoking everywhere . So many other things I could comment on but your reply sums it up and I feel like the island in the storm of this busy and at times smoggy city is now no longer the getaway but the place to stay away from if one wants to run because jogging path is now just another busy street . Said too much already and want to keep describing conditions but your post says it all , thanks . I wish them all well and remind myself it's not my country and very much belongs to Thai people so I work just being grateful for what we all had not what has been lost .

What we think we become ...

[Lumbini]

RichardBarrow wrote on Twitter ) have you seen Lumpini Park lately? All the grass is dead & shrubs & other nature following suit. It will take yrs to heal "

We are loosing a wonderful park and one of the few retreats in this crowded and often dirty city . Even if protestors left today it would be years for this once oasis to heal .

What we think we become ...

[Lumbini]

Looks like this weekend park going to become even more of a hub for the protestors . I see them setting up many new stalls, speakers ( that blast through the night ) and bringing in more tour busses and groups . Full on city in a city in there now and hard to estimate how many live in there now as almost nowhere to even set up tent and getting full up . At one point I was still running and just stayed to one side of park where there were not so many cars , people and smoking but now those areas are also filled up today . Possibly something big planned for this weekend ?

What we think we become ...

[Lumbini]

does this mean we do not get park back for long time ??

--------------------------------------------

Thailand’s government and the state Election Commission have agreed to hold new general polls on July 20.

The Commission announced the date after meeting on Wednesday with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other officials.

Thailand held a general election on February 2 after Ms. Yingluck dissolved Parliament’s Lower House in response to protests calling on her to step down. The Constitutional Court nullified the election in late March because it failed to be held according to law after the protesters disrupted the registration process and voting.

What we think we become ...

[Thainess]

After walking through park yesterday not really understand ( even a little ) how state of emergency could be lifted after what I witnessed and what is possible now with so many living in this lawless new village that was once one if the most stellar parks on earth . Even walking around that whole area outside of park passing soldiers walking everywhere and searching people and cars I could not believe government is lifting emergency decree . Seems stage is set for same thing that brought the setting or much worse . My guess it's a quick fix for tourism but this lawless park situation just increased possibilities by having all protestors in one place where they seem to have more power ? Hey , I guess I seem to know almost nothing but miss the park I moved to be close to once oasis in heart of big city and start running and getting fit in great place . It was magic for awhile with lap pool, air conditioned gym ( for 40 bhat membership a year ! ) and 2.5 mile jogging path . I just walked over there yesterday to see if even safe to start running again as emergency conditions lifted by government but nothing changed there but foul smell of toilets stronger and even more trash floating in pond with crowd looking like they found new PERMEANT HOME ( how will they ever get people to leave ?? ( free food electricity , water and place to put tent . Everything changes ...

What we think we become ...

One of the most stellar parks on earth? I don't think you've travelled much. London, New York, Tokyo, Paris to name but a few all have much more impressive parks than Lumpini ever was. Even Hong Kong and Singapore have far better parks. There are beautiful and huge parks in Barcelona (Parc Guell) and Mexico City (Chapultepec). Lumpini never impressed me much, but now it's an unmitigated disaster.

[ricklev]

It's a nice park!

I read they will be moving out of Lumpini and back to Democracy Monument this weekend. I hope so.....

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1398851210&typecate=06&section=

Edited April 30, 2014 by ricklev

[Lumbini]

"One of the most stellar parks on earth? I don't think you've travelled much. London, New York, Tokyo, Paris to name but a few all have much more impressive parks than Lumpini ever was. Even Hong Kong and Singapore have far better parks. There are beautiful and huge parks in Barcelona (Parc Guell) and Mexico City (Chapultepec). Lumpini never impressed me much, but now it's an unmitigated disaster."

I have been to parks in most of cities you listed and preferred Lumpini as the people working out on track , pool and gym there were so committed to staying fit almost religiously showing up daily rain or heat . The mindset of so many there was really keeping physically fit where many other parks I have been to were places more to relax ( smoking and pets even prohibited with good security ) this park when I use to work out there had large groups of people dedicated to staying fit at all ages . Guess we all like different things and places but hope to start working out there again soon and meet up with the many who really pushed me in workout classes and on runs I miss . I live right across the street from park and would just cross one street to get to this island in the storm now it is ground zero in the storm with angry speeches blaring outside my window all night and day with even the birds quiet these days . I am fortunate to be on a high floor but still face this new village and am met with military every time I walk around this area . Everything changes .

What we think we become ...

[Rumblecat]

Yeah, I agree, Lumpini is one of my favourite parks in the world. It's the right size, got the right diversity in it- from the work out areas to the boating to the library- it's got water monitors, which is amazing in itself. Take London for example- it's got some lovely parks but I can't think of any I'd prefer, certainly not all year round.

I just hope these guys are ok.

[Lumbini]

Great shot ! I saw this tweet today below

@RichardBarrow: #Bangkok Protest Update: Anti-government protesters expected to leave Lumpini Park & go back to Democracy Monument http://t.co/BU4r5GYw1W

What a park !

What we think we become ...

[Lumbini]

Hope many will read this post

Bangkok concerned about state of Lumpini Park's ecosystem: PDRC occupation - Thailand News - Thailand Forum

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723018-bangkok-concerned-about-state-of-lumpini-parks-ecosystem-pdrc-occupation/?utm_source=newsletter-20140502-0801&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

The fact that the protestors can stay and do anything they want breaking all the rules is prof there are no real laws or enforcement in Thailand for many . Guess I should be grateful to see this now as I live here long time and seem to see things as I want them to be not as they are . My real thoughts are seldom true so this is wake up call to be safe and more awake and careful while living in Thailand . I will post this Rumi poem that's been a great help for me and thank you all for letting me share and vent .

THE GUEST HOUSE

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

( even protestors in the park I love )

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

Hope the ecosystem recovers in park !

What we think we become ...

Edited May 2, 2014 by Lumbini

[Water Buffalo]

If one jogs in there by night a dumb dumb will get it in the bum bum.................

[Lumbini]

Guess the talk of protestors moving and giving back park to Thai people and tourist while letting vegetation & wildlife heal and recover was just more talk ?

-----------------------------------------

They said simultaneously that they would fight on no matter how long it would take until the regime is eradicated and that this is a national reform.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/723962-pdrc-supporters-vow-to-get-rid-of-thaksin-regime/

What we think we become ...