Monsters in the Park

Lumpini Park, central Bangkok, provides a large, lush, refuge from the Bangkok traffic. All but empty of people during the week this haven has wide-open lawns, rivers and a lake, orchids, palms, statues and... monsters!

OK, so there aren't really any monsters but if one of these fellows scuttled past whilst lazing on the river bank you will move as if you have seen one!

These water monitor lizards can grow nearly ten-feet long and can approach the weight of a front-row forward. So if your first thought upon seeing one isn't 'monster,' it's at least likely to be 'alligator!' You wouldn't think that water lizards of this size could be found in the city though, would you? They would all be about the size of this Bangkok specimen, surely?

But look at the size of this fella below as he scuttles down his Lumpini park bolt-hole. It would make you wary, wouldn't it? And I know of at least one person who regularly blogs here who leapt to their feet in fright at first sight of one of these.