Lumpini Park

We hadn't planned on being back in Bangkok for our last Sunday, but decided that today was the perfect time to visit Lumpini Park, often referred to as Bangkok's "green lung" in the heart of the city. There were some run down areas but the green spaces and the shade was an oasis from the hot and smelly streets outside. The park was full of joggers and cyclists taking advantage of the paved roads and trails.

One of the children's parks we came across in our wanderings. I only included this photo so I could show the next one.

A park sponsored by Michelin - who knew tires could be so much fun!

Are you seeing this Sam? That's a water monitor, they grow to be the size of a young crocodile and the park is home to hundreds of them. I knew they were here but didn't say anything to the kids. Accordingly, they were pretty surprised when we were entering the park and one of these guys appeared from under the bridge we were on, swimming lazily through the water.

After that, we stayed near the edges of the ponds, counting how many monitors we could see and trying to find the biggest one. There were a couple times that we almost stepped on one before noticing it. The presence of these lizards made something as simple as a park feel exotic and exciting, and is exactly what I would expect from this amazing city.

Another distinctly Thai experience is drinking pop out of a plastic bag. During my mission, this was the most common way for a street vender to serve a soda or a shake, but for some reason, we hadn't seen it yet this trip. Fortunately, we found this lady at one of the entrances to the park, and the cold drink with ice cubes was a perfect remedy to the afternoon heat. The green Fanta is supposed to be pineapple, orange, and banana flavour but the only flavour in the world it resembles is... green Fanta.

I had a surprise planned before we left. After finding a quiet place to sit near the clock tower, I explained that usually a country is dedicated by Priesthood authority when it is first opened for missionary work. I then took out a copy of the dedicatory prayer that was pronounced on Thailand, something that I read once a week during the course of my mission. I shared the introduction which explained that the dedicatory prayer was offered by Elder Gordon B. Hinkley at 6:30 in the morning on November 2, 1966 with a small group of people who "met in a quiet area of Lumpini Park in the heart of Bangkok".

After that, I had to ask Heather to read the prayer. I have always loved it and have always felt the spirit of it, but today was a special experience to visit the actual site where then, Elder Hinkley said, "And now, Father, in the authority of the Holy Priesthood, even the authority of the Apostleship in us vested, we dedicate and consecrate this land of Thailand, this ancient Kingdom of Siam, to the preaching of the everlasting gospel, even the Restored Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Through the benefit of years we were able to look back and see how those blessings that were asked for, have been fulfilled. And I am forever grateful for how the work started that morning in 1962 came to bless my life as well.

- C