Due to the park’s location, it’s easily accessible to most people.
The park is split into 2 halves with Park Avenue South running between the east and west sides. But, whatever side you wander around, it’s a peaceful and calming place to hang out. Photos taken Sept-Oct 2019 by Gill Morris.
The Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is beautiful.
The band stand sees regular events with local bands playing during the summer months.
At certain times of the year, the gardens are full of fabulous flowers…
During these COVID times, we are all restricted in what we can do! But, nothing is stopping you doing some of things I did in Australia! These experiences made me feel good – I hope they make you feel good too!
Byron Bay, New South Wales
For those who live close to Byron Bay, it’s easy to enjoy this beautiful spot with long golden sands, stretching for miles and crystal clear blue water lapping the shoreline. And to those people, I am slightly envious!
Take a walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse with stunning views out to sea. The walk from town will blow the cobwebs away and, if you’re lucky, you might just see dolphins and turtles from your vantage point – a magical experience and one that’s guaranteed to make you smile! Or, experience the thrill of horseriding on the beach. It’s a fabulous activity to do, especially when you can ride along the beach with the wind in your hair, the pounding of the hooves in your ears and the salty air bringing happy tears to your eyes! If neither of those things appeal to you, simply wandering along the beach feeling the sand under your feet can beat the blues any day!
Only 13 km from Adelaide’s city centre, Belair National Park is a place of natural beauty – that in itself may keep your stress levels at bay! There is lots to do here – biking, walking, horseriding or orienteering. You could do what I did and take a picnic and spend time with your family – the kids will love the play areas! Belair is also a photographer’s candy shop with plenty of opportunities for you to snap away! You’ll find a wide variety of flowers and trees and lots of wildlife too – if you’re walking you might come across kangaroos and emus. And, look out for koalas resting in the trees above.
Not far from Adelaide, Cleland Wildlife Park is probably the best wildlife park I have ever been to in Australia. Over 35 hectares of bush-land, you’ll have the company of kangaroos, emus and wombats which roam freely around the park. It’s a relaxed environment with animals all around you. You can get quite close the animals, as they are adapted to the park setting, which means you can feed them too! It’s said that petting animals releases feel-good hormones! Visiting Cleland makes for a lovely day out – take your time exploring and enjoy the animals and the calm surroundings.
Dandenong Ranges, Melbourne
After a very sober New Year’s Eve, surrounded by thousands of people in Melbourne, I took a welcome trip to the Dandenong Ranges. If you love nature, you’ll love this place! Tall Mountain Ash trees form the forest all around you and, apart from the odd walker or runner, it feels like you have it all to yourself. It’s so peaceful there with only the sounds of nature to accompany you, it’s such a nice feeling away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Another natural beauty is the town of 1770, so called because it was in the year 1770 that Captain James Cook and the crew of HM Bark Endeavour made their second landing on the eastern shores of Australia. A perfect beach for running, walking or just chilling out. Do some surfing, have a picnic, or go on a boat trip, but if you just want to relax, 1770 is a great place to take in the views and just be – something we all could benefit from now and again.
These were only a few of the places I visited when I was in Australia and I remember every one made me feel good. Just being out in the fresh air, walking among the trees or along the beach put a smile on my face. 🙂
For more travels around Australia, check out these posts..
When I was in Chiang Rai, I hired a bicycle and explored the gorgeous countryside. What surprised me was the lack of people, there was hardly anyone around, even the people who lived there seemed to be missing. So, I had no problems cycling on the roads, I wouldn’t have dared in Bangkok!
First stop was Wat Huay Pla Kang and an enormous statue on the hill, which is so large, I could see the top of its head from my accommodation, some 2 kilometres away. Locally known as the Big Buddha, it’s not a Buddha at all. This impressive hillside statue is a depiction of the Goddess of Mercy from Chinese Buddhism – Guan Yin also known as Kuan Eim (กวนอิม) or Prah Mae Kuan Eim in Thailand.
As you approach the temple complex, the huge statue looms over the countryside.
There are several buildings there and this 9-tier pagoda is guarded by a couple of golden lions at the base of the staircase leading up to the entrance.
The day I visited it was delightfully empty of tourists, so I happily scampered around the grounds taking photos of all the temples. This white temple is reminiscent of the more famous Wat Rong Khun, also in Chiang Rai.
It’s the statue of Guan Yin that takes your breath away. It’s colossal, standing at 90 metres high with 23 storeys. If you want, you can take the lift up inside the statue where you get spectacular views of the countryside.
I didn’t, I just walked up the stairs, flanked by white dragons,
and strolled around the base of the statue.
The views of this green and mountainous region of Chiang Rai, even from the top of staircase, are just as impressive.
You can also get a good view of the other temples from up on the hill.
Smaller Buddha statues surround Guan Yin.
It’s free to visit Wat Huay Pla Kang. However, if you want to go inside the statue of Guan Yin there is a small fee of 40 Baht (Just over 1 GBP) – a small price to pay to experience this fabulous attraction.
Next stop was Wat Rong Suea Ten or the Blue Temple, a gorgeous, blue building with ornately carved gold decoration.
It is quite simply, stunning! I have never seen anything like it in Thailand before.
Part of the temple was under construction, but you can still see how beautiful it is.
There are many statues around the complex too – all a fabulous shade of blue.
The gold decoration is lovely!
There are other interesting elements to the temple. The tiger refers to a time when tigers could be found in the area. The name of the temple – Suea Ten – means “dancing tiger.”
I actually preferred it to the White Temple, if only for the lack of tourists!
I only wish I’d have gone inside because it’s arguably more beautiful than the outside – if that is at all possible. There’s always next time!
Onward on my trusty steed, I cycled away from the Blue Temple towards my next destination of the day. Bypassing glorious countryside on the way.
I was heading to Wat Tham Phra (Buddha Images Cave). Along the way, I spotted a small golden chedi and a gateway with lions standing on stone plinths on either side.
I cycled a little further and saw a huge Buddha carved into the rock and steps leading up to a cave. This wasn’t the one I was heading towards, according to the map I was still two clicks away. I turned around and went to investigate.
I parked my bike and tentatively walked up the steps taking care not to slip on the moss. At the top was a door leading into the cave. This was Wat Tham Tu Pu.
My heart was thudding. I half expected to see some poor soul, who had made their home there, or a snake in the shadows, none to happy that I had disturbed it. I saw neither, but I still felt a litle spooked. In the darkness, I was met with a pair of eyes staring back at me – it was a Buddha statue – but that only became apparent as my eyes got used to the darkness.
It was really eerie in the cave, so I didn’t hang around very long. I was happy to be outside in the light again!
Still feeling a bit unnerved, I cycled away as quickly as I could! Before long, I arrived at the last port of call – Wat Tham Phra (Buddha Images Cave).
A larger cave and not as scary with a number of Buddhist statues and altars inside.
The people there were preparing for some kind of celebration, so I had a quick look inside and then left to go back to the homestay. More gorgeous views along the way.
I arrived back at the homestay after cycling some 10 kilometres around Chiang Rai. I spent the evening with a cold beer or two and relished in the quiet surround sound!
In June 2018, I spent a wonderful 4 days in the north of Thailand, I went to Chiang Rai.
I’d wanted to go to Chiang Rai for ages, not only to visit the White Temple, but also to see Phu Chi Fah (the Sea of Mist.) I later realised that I was going at the wrong time of year to see the mist, the best time is around February. So, apart from the White Temple, there wasn’t much else I planned to do. For this reason, I wondered whether it would be best to stay in the town or somewhere in the countryside. In the end, I chose to stay at Ban Lom Jen Homestay which is about 12 kilometres outside of the city.
It was the best decision I could have made. I found myself in such beautiful surroundings.
With not a soul in sight.
When I arrived, the owner, Son, greeted me and showed me to my room. She told me that this was the first day of the season and I was the only guest. Could this day get any better?
I dumped my bags and took a short walk to explore my surroundings.
The Kok River was nearby, so I walked along the path taking in the beauty of the place. It was so peaceful.
To add to the serenity, this huge, white Buddha statue was a lovely sight.
The lovely colours of the countryside – all different shades of greens and browns.
This was my first time in Chiang Rai and I was amazed at how beautiful it was – and I hadn’t gone any further than across the road from my accommodation. I couldn’t wait to see more. I returned to my room and ate satay chicken and drank a couple of bottles of Singha beer. After dinner, I sat outside and wrote for a while before picking up my book. It was so peaceful sitting there as day turned to night. All I could hear was the sounds of the insects. It was a really good start to my trip.
I was so taken aback at just how stunning Chiang Rai was, it inspired me to write a couple of posts about what I saw.
Jardines de Turia or the Gardens of Turia in Valencia is a must see when you visit the city.
The River Turia has its source in the Montes Universales in the Iberian System of mountain ranges in Spain and it ran right through the city of Valencia into the Med up until 1957 when there was a massive flood which destroyed much of Valencia. To prevent from future floods, the river was diverted around the city. The old course of the river has since dried up and its been turned into a recreational space for everyone to enjoy. (Source: Wikipedia)
The sunken park is around 9 km long and it’s possible to walk (if you’re so inclined) or cycle all of it.
In Valencia at the beginning of this year, I took a walk from my hotel to the City of Arts and Sciences to meet my friend and I decided to walk the 3 km along the dried river bed.
It may be a dried river bed, but it’s actually very beautiful with many species of flowers and trees, fountains and ponds, and attractive bridges which give easy access to the many parts of the city and the wonderful attractions on offer in Valencia.
The Flower Bridge
As I walked along on that crisp January day with the perfectly blue sky above, there were lots of people around.
Some were cycling..
Many were walking, like me…
There were others engaging in a spot of aerobics…
And some, sitting and watching the world go by…
It is such a lovely place to do all these things. It’s so close to the bustling city, but it’s so peaceful and relaxing. Mind you I went in January, so I can imagine there would be hundreds more people around in the high season.
Even so, when in Valencia, you should take a walk through the Gardens of Turia – you’ll be glad you did! 😉
When you think of Bangkok, you might imagine high-rise buildings, long traffic jams, millions of people all going about their day, and noise on every corner. And you’re right – it’s all of these things. What if I were to tell you that there are places, not at all far from all the commotion, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet, away from the madding crowds, the gorgeous trees and flowers, and the resident wildlife? Let’s see where the nature is in Bangkok.
Bang Pu Nature Reserve
Located in Samut Prakan, lies Bang Pu Nature Reserve – a great little spot where you can go bird-watching and where the locals go to feed the huge flocks of seagulls at the end of the pier.
It’s fun to walk along the elevated walkways through the mangroves with great views of the mudflats and out over the Gulf of Thailand. There’s even a birding hide where you can sit and wait for all the different species that can be found there.
Bang Pu Nature Reserve
Bang Pu Nature Reserve
Bang Pu Nature Reserve
Bang Pu Nature Reserve
Bang Pu Nature Reserve, Bangkok
Bang Pu Nature Reserve, Bangkok
Ancient City
Also in Samut Prakan is Muang Boran – or Ancient City, an open-air museum in the shape of Thailand and covering some 200 acres. The park is full of trees, plants, lakes, decorative bridges, and statues of buildings that can be found all over Thailand, some of which no longer exist.
The best way to see it is to hire a golf buggy or you can cycle round it but, be warned, it is very hot, so you need to take lots of water and wear sunscreen. There are places to buy refreshments in different parts of the park. It’s a really fabulous place to get out into the fresh air where you can learn about some of Thailand’s history.
The Ancient City – Bangkok
The Ancient City – Bangkok
The Ancient City – Bangkok
The Ancient City – Bangkok
The Ancient City – Bangkok
The Ancient City – Bangkok
Chulachomklao Fort
Chulachomklao Fort is in Phra Samut Chedi District, around 29 km south of Bangkok. It’s a bit of a trek getting there, but it’s fun trying to find your own way there!
There’s lots to explore – a gun park and a bunker with disappearing guns. There’s a statue of King Rama V which stands at the front of the fort and you can also board the huge military ship – H.T.M.S Maeklong – which was used during WWII. Nearby, there is a mangrove forest where you can see the mudflats and critters that live there. You can also meet the resident monkeys who pay no attention to you whatsoever as they chase each other along the boardwalks.
Chulachomklao Fort, Bangkok
Chulachomklao Fort, Bangkok
Chulachomklao Fort, Bangkok
Chulachomklao Fort, Bangkok
Chulachomklao Fort, Bangkok
Chulachomklao Fort, Bangkok
Green Lung of Bangkok
The green lung of Bangkok is the nickname for Bang Krachao, a conservation area located in Phra Pradaeng district, located just across the river from Bangna.
There are orchards, gardens, and forests to explore and the best way to see it all is by bicycle. You can cycle to Bang Nampueng floating market where you can buy and try traditional Thai food. Not too far away is Sri Nakhon Khuankhan botanical gardens, full of tropical trees and flowers, a large pond and several walking and cycling paths. Many people go there to enjoy the nature and relaxed surroundings.
Bangkok’s Green Lung
Bangkok’s Green Lung
Bangkok’s Green Lung
Bangkok’s Green Lung
Bangkok’s Green Lung
Bangkok’s Green Lung
Forest in the City
Pa Nai Krung or forest in the city, is located near Suvarnabhumi airport. It’s a beautiful area created to raise awareness of how important the preservation of forest areas is to the environment and where you can learn about forest ecosystems.
There are some 250 native trees, plants and shrubs and a sky-walk and observation tower where you can get fabulous views of the surrounding area.
Forest in the City, Bangkok
Forest in the City, Bangkok
Forest in the City, Bangkok
Forest in the city, Bangkok
Forest in the city, Bangkok
Forest in the city, Bangkok
King Rama 9 Park
There are plenty of parks in Bangkok, but King Rama 9 park is the biggest, covering around 200 acres and there are 2,300 plant species and loads of trees for shade on a sunny day. There is plenty of wildlife to encounter too and many photographic opportunities to be had.
The park is split into six different areas, all with different varieties of plants and trees. Many people go to this park as the sun goes down to enjoy the fresh air and the greenery.
King Rama 9 Park, Bangkok
King Rama 9 Park, Bangkok
King Rama 9 Park, Bangkok
King Rama 9 Park, Bangkok
King Rama 9 Park, Bangkok
King Rama 9 Park, Bangkok
Lumpini Park
Right in the middle of the city, Lumpini Park is a wonderful place to relax if you are out and about. It has a lake, many species of trees and flowers and around 30 species of birds.
This is another popular place for people to go in the evenings to relax after work or to do their daily exercise.
Lumpini Park, Bangkok
Lumpini Park, Bangkok
Lumpini Park, Bangkok
Lumpini Park, Bangkok
Lumpini Park, Bangkok
Lumpini Park, Bangkok
So, if you happen to be in Bangkok, I thoroughly recommend any of these places, especially King Rama 9 park – that was my favourite place to go when I lived there.
Let’s face it, there are plenty of things you can do to have fun. You can go to a concert, go on holiday, go shopping or arrange a party for friends, but everything is so expensive these days. The cost shouldn’t stop you in your quest to have fun, but if most of your salary is spent on bills what can you do? It’s important to have fun though. Having fun makes your life that much happier and more memorable, so don’t worry about a thing, here are 9 ways to have fun without spending money.
Draw a
picture
There are
endless subject materials in the world around us, you don’t even have to leave
the comfort of your home in order to draw. Grab a pencil and paper, look around
for something interesting and create your own drawing. It doesn’t matter if
your artistry skills aren’t up to scratch, the fun is in creating your own
masterpiece.
My Art
Write
Ever wanted
to put pen to paper and write something? Do it! Write about what you’ve done
that day, write about a favourite book or movie or simply write down your
thoughts. Start a blog and really get those creative juices flowing. You never
know, it might be something that you continue with and make it part of your
life.
Write something
Go for a walk
in the park
Leave the car at home and take a walk around your local park. Not only is it good exercise, but the sheer joy of walking, surrounded by trees and ponds, as you listen to the chirping birds and watch the squirrels scampering around is one of the simplest pleasures in life. And it’s completely free. Being outside in the fresh air makes you feel better too.
Beautiful nature – right on your doorstep
Bird
watching
This might not be an obvious choice, but bird-watching is another way to make the most of the great outdoors and have fun at the same time. You don’t have to go far, birds are everywhere! Remember to take your camera because half the fun is taking a photograph, but the other half is finding your subjects!
Backyard birds
Photography
challenge
Get out and about with your camera. You don’t have to have the latest model, you’re phone will do. Set yourself a challenge for the day and go out and see what you can find. Look for the small details, choose a colour or photograph one subject in different places, like doors or windows. It’s amazing what your eyes can see when you really open them and take in your surroundings.
Photographing the details
Listen to
music
Listen to
your favourite music and play tunes that you haven’t heard before – the shuffle
option on your playlist is good for that. Music has a way of lifting our
spirits, so kick off your shoes and dance around your living room like no one
is watching. As the song goes – the best things in life are free!
Listen to music – Source: Max Pixel
Learn
something new
Ever wanted to learn something new? A language? History? Philosophy? Learning doesn’t cost a penny, not if you take advantage of the wealth of information on the internet. It’s all right there at your fingertips and it’s free, so choose a subject and educate yourself. Not only will you develop your own knowledge, but you’ll be exercising your brain too!
Learning is fun – Source: Pixabay
Go on a
walking tour of your hometown
There’s no better way to learn about your hometown than to walk around it. When you go abroad, you’re a tourist and you spend time learning about your destination and taking lots of photographs, so why not do this in your own back yard and discover something you didn’t know.
Walking tour of your hometown
Do some
exercise
Exercise makes us feel good, but all that sweating and hard work might seem far from fun. To combat this, try hula-hoop dancing, belly-dancing or some other exercise that is upbeat and makes you smile. It feels a lot less like exercise, but it’s still great for your body and mind.
I had this title written down for ages, but it wasn’t until I went to Chiang Rai in June that I finally got round to thinking about it and it wasn’t hard to find something that inspired me.
The countryside in the north of Thailand is just beautiful and, living in Bangkok, I sometimes forget just how beautiful it really is.
Beautiful Chiang Rai
I was just awe struck at the nature around me in Chiang Rai. The greens and browns of the open fields…
Colours of Nature
…mountains…
Kok River running through the mountains
…rice paddies…
Rice paddies-not quite lush green
…trees proudly sporting their sweet and fleshy bananas and mangoes…
Fresh mangoes
Flowers- purple, yellow, white, red, all manner of gorgeous bright colours in every shape and form you could imagine.
Periwinkle Pinks
The blue skies with white fluffy clouds, clear and bright sunny days followed by the grey of a threatening storm before the clouds burst and the earth drowned under a barrage of rain.
Blue Skies
Grey skies and rainbows
Birds-swooping and diving looking for their next meal or chattering to one another in the branch of a nearby tree.
On the wing
A resting sparrow
It was the beginning of the season and the land around me was brown and dying because of the lack of rain, but the changing face of nature will soon transform the environment into brilliant green and lush landscapes once more.
Brown fields, soon to be sprouting with new rice shoots
Harvesting!
Green is my favourite colour and you can see it all around. Chlorophyll, responsible for all manner of greens; brilliant, emerald, forest, moss and jungle-all green, all different hues and values, in varying amounts, different forms, different shapes and sizes and all combine to form something that should be appreciated.
It wasn’t only the colours of nature that inspired me, the sounds of nature both inspired and impressed me. I sat outside my room in the evening and became aware of insects playing their nightly song, all in sync. Midges buzzing, singing cicadas, croaking frogs and, then, silence! A second later, their chorus of pulsating buzzes was back again. I was distracted by the local cat calling in the distance, but I chuckled to myself because it added to the free music festival I was enjoying.
Friendly cat who was all too vocal in the evenings!
Then, fireflies attracting mates or prey with their cool trick of bioluminescence. I sat and listened and watched. It’s not often I experience these sounds, but it was an immense pleasure to just stop what I was doing and listen along. It really was amazing.
Dragonfly obsession!
Nature is nothing less than wonderful, just the sheer diversity of it is mind-blowing. I was well and truly blown away. If you ever get the chance to visit the north of Thailand, I recommend Chiang Rai wholeheartedly! 🙂
Kok River
If you would like to share some of things that inspire you, I’d love to hear from you 🙂
