It's New Year's day in Bangkok. We were up late last night and up late this morning. Still, we aren't about to miss the hotel's fine breakfast.
Afterwards, we talk to the hotel concierge about places to visit. All the main tourist attractions are closed for the day, either because it is Sunday or because it's a holiday.
Instead we walk several blocks south to Lumpini park. Our hotel is in the embassy district of Bangkok, and we pass by the American embassy on the way. The wall enclosing it has been painted by local schools with themes of Thai-American cooperation.
In Lumpini park, we wander pleasantly by a band platform, lakes with paddle boats, and locals enjoying another hot, humid day. In one of the lakes we see something swimming. We can't see much of it, and it's a bit far off, but my best guess is that we have seen an alligator or its equivalent.
After a longish leisurely walk, we return to the hotel for a swim in the pool, and a discussion of possible New Year's resolutions. One of them is to do more walks together when we return home (a resolution we manage to more or less keep).
Afterwards, we talk to the hotel concierge about places to visit. All the main tourist attractions are closed for the day, either because it is Sunday or because it's a holiday.
Instead we walk several blocks south to Lumpini park. Our hotel is in the embassy district of Bangkok, and we pass by the American embassy on the way. The wall enclosing it has been painted by local schools with themes of Thai-American cooperation.
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| detail showing American heroes |
In Lumpini park, we wander pleasantly by a band platform, lakes with paddle boats, and locals enjoying another hot, humid day. In one of the lakes we see something swimming. We can't see much of it, and it's a bit far off, but my best guess is that we have seen an alligator or its equivalent.
After a longish leisurely walk, we return to the hotel for a swim in the pool, and a discussion of possible New Year's resolutions. One of them is to do more walks together when we return home (a resolution we manage to more or less keep).
I did a little Google search, and found out that we had seen a Monitor Lizard, not an alligator. Some are as big as an alligator, about six feet long. Here is one of many videos of them (a little bit gruesome):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cazM0KMpqII