As peaceful and orderly as Bangkok may be compared to other cities throughout the world, it’s still a busy metropolis of more than ten million people. To quote the Eagles, sometimes you just want that “peaceful, easy feeling,” and you can find it in Bangkok.
Situated in the heart of Bangkok’s “Green Belt,” (not to be confused with its “Green Mile,”) [See BANGKOK’S GREEN MILE OFFERS A BREAK FROM THE BIG CITY] Benjasiri may be one reason why this district is so named. It certainly provides a welcome quiet and a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of this cosmopolitan city. As I almost always stay in this part of town, I’ve come to appreciate the relief it affords. (So does Glenn Murray Cohen, the protagonist of my NJA Club series.)
Benjasiri is sometimes spelled “Benchasiri” because in most instances of transliteration from Thai to English, the letter “j” is pronounced as “ch.” Whichever way you spell or pronounce it, everyone knows what you mean.
You couldn’t ask for a more convenient location, right next to the Emporium Shopping Mall, across the street from the even more upscale EM Quartier, and best of all, right at the foot of the Phrom Phrong BTS stop.
It’s not clear to me whether the above gold landmark is a coin or a medal or something else but I’ve been calling it a coin for twenty years and have no plans to change the designation.
On the above left is a look at the urban forest inside the park; on the right, a stone pathway allowing a pleasant stroll through the cool green section.
(Photos by Stephen Shaiken)
A manmade lake affords more calm and cool. (I’ve been there at times when the park is also cooled down by a misting system.)
The park is home to some interesting modern sculpture.
(Photos by Stephen Shaiken)
Of course, no park is complete without a playground for children.
So if you’re in town and looking for a break from the big city, you know where to go!