Lumpini Park is Bangkok's green lung — 142 acres of trees, artificial lakes, and walking paths in the middle of one of the densest urban environments in Southeast Asia. Early mornings see Thai people doing tai chi, aerobics, and jogging; the lake fills with paddle boats at weekends; food vendors line the perimeter paths.
The park's most famous residents are the water monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) that patrol the lakeside in impressive numbers, some reaching two metres in length. They are completely habituated to people and make for remarkable wildlife watching in an urban setting. In the late afternoon the whole park takes on a golden light as office workers spill out across the lawns.