First Ever Little Bangkok Sangha Annual Picnic

Posted byPandit 39 Comments on First Ever Little Bangkok Sangha Annual Picnic

Popular decision is to start early (when it is still cool) so 9:15 is the new gathering time at Mor Chit BTS, on the platform under the railway.

Well, after much deliberation and procrastination it looks like Saturday 19th December is the ideal date for the first annual Christmas  picnic. It is the only event we are planning for December.

The temples in England all have a picnic each year – so we should too. Of course there is nowhere quite like England for a picnic outdoors. But where the UK has only about 4 1/2 days of Summer, so Bangkok has about that many days of cool.

Yogi Bears in the woods

Why? Well, because it’s nice. We don’t just want to be about emptiness, meditation, and aching backs and knees. It is always good to hang out a bit with other meditators,  meet a few new people, share some info on different things etc.. Don’t feel you don’t know anyone – None of us know everyone. The idea is, if you have an interest in meditation or meditators, yoga or just picnic food,  come by yourself and mingle a bit.

Picnics!

Trouble is – how does the food aspect work ?

The only option that seems feasible is to provide all the hot ricey stuff from a couple of those cooler/keep-warm boxes, and also some water. Perhaps then we can leave it to individuals to bring cakes and fruit. But this means that you have to book your spot so that we can estimate how much food to bring.

So I (Pandit) will provide veggie fried rice, and veggie noodles for everyone, and take some ice or cold water. I guess spoons and forks also (or some of those ubiquitous ‘sporks’). There should be some shops not too far away to buy other drinks and stuff. If everyone else bring some fruit or cake/cookies it should work out. It is something of an experiment anyway …

Place

Terry recommends the park near Chatuchak. It apparently has some nice spots, both quite and busy, as well as handy bathrooms. There are some shops not far off, for supply runs. And the Santi Asoke vegetarian food court is in the area so he and I might hit there for some group supplies beforehand. There is no charge for the food, but you will have to book so we know how many portions to provide.

So … its not certain if there will be just a few of us or many, but it should be fun anyway.

WE will meet at Mor Chit BTS, on the park (West) side at 9:15 am and aim to eat around midday once we’ve picked a spot and laid out our towels. Oh yes, bring your own towel.

BUT, you must leave a note in the comments box below if you are going to join. Also any suggestions (I never arranged a picnic before in my life, so bound to be some details missed).

Talking of sporks : a great graph from Graph Jam

The Park :

Rod Fai Park (Railway Park) is located in Chatuchak area in Bangkok, next to Chaktuchak park. Rodfai Park has an area of 148 acre, which used to be golf course of Railway club. The park is open everyday, however, some parts are close on Monday for maintainance. In the car park area there are bicycle rental services which bicycle can be rented from 20 Baht for all day long.

Rodfai Park is an ideal place for picnic. Visitors can enjoy their picnic anywhere in the park, bringing foods and drinks from the outside the park. However, Alcohol drinks are not permited to be brought into the park. Moreover, there is arround 2 acre picnic location which has desk and bench provided for visitors just next to a lake.

Bangkok Butterfly Garden also in Rod Fai Park located on the east side of the park. Visitors can enjoy walk with colorful free-flying butterflies in Butterfly Dome. many species of butterflies can be found in Bangkok Butterfly Garden. In addition, the park is one of the an ideal place for bird watching lovers

Note : Butterfly Garden is open everyday except Monday.

39 replies on “First Ever Little Bangkok Sangha Annual Picnic”

  14. Wow! A new tradition. How great! And I’ll be back by then. And hopefully not as jetlagged as I was flying to London.

    I do have one suggestion, however. Why not just call it a potluck picnic and your contribution could be the rice/noodles. Perhaps you could bring enough for ~10 people (which is actually a lot). Then everyone else can bring something they’d like to eat. (Which most of the respondents are doing anyhow.)

    That way you don’t need an exact headcount because there’s bound to be enough for everyone. And then you get to let go and enjoy yourself!

    I’ll bring something for sure but whether it’ll be a homemade brown rice salad or just fruit will depend on jetlag.

    What a lovely treat to look forward to upon returning to the warmth and smiles of Bkk!

  16. Oh, I will be late, cant make it for the lunch. Will join later as I have to teach saturdays. Tanya

  17. I just love all these get-togethers before Christmas, so I will be there for sure.:-)
    I will bring some cake, candy, biscuit or anything with a lot of bad sugar.
    See you then,

  20. Fruit is always good. As for ‘potluck’ picnic, some of the men are pretty useless at things like that, So I’ll provide enough rice/noodle things, and then potluck add to that.
    Also there is no wine or beer allowed in the park – so there won’t be any precept breaking !

  21. I will bring a frisbee, cha cha cha and salsa tapes in case there is dancin’ in da picnic park

  22. No work after all – so count me in!

    “Shariputra, in that Buddha-land there are heavenly musical instruments always played on; gold is spread on the ground; and six times every day and night it showers Mandarava blossoms. Usually in the serene morning all those who live in that land fill their plates with those wonderful blossoms, and make offerings to a hundred thousand kotis of Buddhas of other regions; and at the time of the meal they come back to their own country, and take their meal and have a walk. Shariputra, the Sukhavati land is arrayed with such good qualities and adornments.” (The Smaller Amida Sutra)

    🙂

  23. Suddenly there’s a lot going on this Saturday and taking it easy on Saturday morning after flying in late Friday afternoon seem like a more sensible plan. So it’s looking increasingly unlike that I’ll be one of the Little Bangkok Sangha Picnic charter members after all. Sorry about that. Enjoy yourselves!

  26. Don’t forget to count me and Nat, another friend of mine in na ka. I’ll bring my home made thai food and something to nibble, she’ll bring mixed vegetable and fruit shake. I’m up for cha cha cha and salsa or even frisbee in the park. They even provide bicycle rental for only 20 baht so you can roam around the park(but most of them are bright pink and have a basket at the front.)

    Everybody seems so excited. Cool!!

  27. I’ll be there…and having chatted with Venerable, I’ll be bringing the plates, cups and forks/spoons along with something to eat. But does anyone have a cooler that we might use??

    Metta,
    David

  28. Cool. Glad you are all in! I will mail everyone tomorrow, but I think its all organised – at the very least there are shops and places nearby so we can go over to buy things if needed. Many of you don’t know each other, but thats normal – just come along and join in. You are all part of the LB Sangha even if you don’t know it. Should be fun.

  29. Does any one have a sound system? I will bring cha cha cha & salsa CDs. With a mini-sound system we can dance in da picnic park. Thank you soooooo much.

  30. PLAN TO ATTEND WILL BRING PEANUT BUTTER AND HONEY PLUS A COUPLE OF LOAVES OF BREAD…..MY MOT HERS OLD TRICK TO KEEP MY M OUTH SHUT AT SUCH GATHERINGS THANKS PHRA

  36. Great event!!! Thank you, Bante, for the inspiration & other Bangers for the enthusiastic participation. For the First Ever Annual Picnic, it was a great start. Can’t remember when I ate so much. Ooof! Next year, more egg salad.
    Thanks Everyone!
    With metta,
    Holly

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