Friday, November 12, 2010

Nong Buak Hard Public Park

I'm trying to walk off all of the food I've been blogging about, by taking regular walks. 'Regular' they haven't been, the old sleep pattern has been out of whack.

But I was inspired last night when I discovered I'd lost a couple of kilos on one of those PUBLIC scales, that plays REALLY LOUD CARNIVAL MUSIC when you climb aboard and has a REALLY LARGE digital read out of your weight...for the WHOLE NEIGHBOURHOOD to see.

Today I woke up early enough to escape the heat of the day and wandered up to, around and back from Nong Buak Hard (or Hat) Public Park.
It's not a large, but it's pretty and peaceful. A path way winds around the parimeter and the central pond, which runs nearly the full length of the park.
The statue in the centre of the park is quite interesting due to her multiple faces, arms, legs, hands and swords.
Perhaps to represent 'movement'? Either way, I wouldn't like to run into her in a dark alley. *Post edit - maybe she's a wrathful deity?

You can hire a bamboo mat and legally take a nap under a tree or buy fish fodder to feed some of the locals..
...from here, if you like...

...and a play area for the kids.
The city moat just outside of the park.
Some of Chiang Mai's many elephant statues...
...part of an overgrown park or temple grounds on the way home.

All in all a enjoyable walk and best of all I can feel a little Pad Thai and Green Curry slowly melting off my thighs.

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai

11 comments:

Paul Garrigan said... Best Blogger Tips

I miss walking. It can take over an hour to drive to our nearest park even though it is only a few kilometres away - the traffic here is a killer. The dogs, speeding cars, and lack of a pavement make walking a bit of a nightmare where we live.

lanivcox said... Best Blogger Tips

Good for you! I've been trying to be better myself. And you captured some lovely pictures. I've been to the park a zillion times (yes) and you've captured some perspectives I've never seen. :D See you soon!

Catherine said... Best Blogger Tips

That's a nice park - great that you've found it. Walking in parks sure beats sucking in the fumes from cars and tuk tuks.

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

were I to stand on those scales an ooom pa pa band would let loose!Looks a pleasant place to take a walk, lots of fish, but where are all the people?

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Paul, I agree with you about the pavements and dogs. A couple of soi dogs had a go at me yesterday, so I won't be taking that route anymore.

...and, Catherine, yes, those car fumes ARE take their toll...I'll get that mask very soon.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Lani, it is a nice park, somehow I thought it would be bigger though. The statue has me beat...I asked a Thai person to translate the plaque, but it made no reference to who she is. The statue is dedicated to the queeen.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Anon...the people are just left, right or below my photos, or I cropped them out...but you already know that, now ;)

Martyn said... Best Blogger Tips

The bridge in your top photo is very similar to one which is an entrance to Udon Thani's Nongprajak public park. In fact when I saw the photo I had to look twice as I thought you had hit Udon.

The Nongprajak is a fairly large park and likewise as a lake in the middle with a track around it and is very popular with joggers. I have ran (very slowly) around it a couple of times myself.

I'm an enthusiastic walker myself and I think you see so many things you'd miss if travelling in a car. Walking is also a great opportunity to shoot a few photographs as well. Fresh air, scenic views and hopefully a few lost calories make walking a pleasurable pursuit. I really can't understand those people who have to drive 200 yards to go buy a newspaper.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

I'm looking forward to getting on the scales in a few days :) and have bought myself a face mask...the fumes can be a bit much out on the streets.

Martyn, do you have any idea of who the statue lady is? It's driving me nuts!

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

...or man statue. On second glance, I'm not sure if it's a woman.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Martyn I just google mapped Nongprajak park...it looks huge. I'll be passing through Udon Thani in December on my Ed Visa run and will try to stop in for a look see.