GREEN LUNG, AN URBAN JUNGLE OASIS
Ever venture to a big, bustling city and wish there was a relaxing, little corner to escape the chaos? Well, look no further when you travel to Bangkok. This most visited city in the world features Bang Kachao (‘Green Lung’), a quite unexpected jungle amid the hustle of Thailand’s largest metropolis. The almost 5,000 acre lung-shaped plot of land has elevated pathways for walking and cycling, papaya groves and fallen coconuts, temples, water monitors and snakes slithering about. This tropical forest is sure to take your senses to new heights, forgetting the street food and exhaust fumes if only for a short time.
Green Lung, part of the Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district, was originally settled by the Mon people of Burma, who migrated to Thailand over 200 years ago. The area, mostly made up of marshland, is encircled by the Chao Phraya River, which is also the means of arriving on this jungle island. Low-riding and low-tech, little ferry boats take visitors and their bikes (if they already have them) from Klong Toey Port to Bang Kachao in just about 5 minutes. And so the journey continues…
There are bike rentals, maps and water bottles for purchase upon arrival, the basics needed for a leisurely jungle voyage. Bang Kachao is home to about 40,000 residents, though the streets are virtually empty and paths ready to explore. By government ordinance, no high-rise buildings or factories are allowed in the Green Lung as a way to preserve this magical, little pocket of Bangkok. Some houses and small shops line the main roads, many on stilts, for the area is prone to flooding. But some of the greatest treasures can be found on the more isolated paths.
“The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.”
The natural landscape of Bang Kachao is a true overgrown jungle with lush mangrove swamps and nipa palm thickets galore. There are over 600 different species of flora and fauna on the island, some of which can be seen on general paths, others more hidden, and still some within the Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Gardens. The park is just one of the lovely yet understated features of the area. Many visit for the birdwatching tower, but all can appreciate the quiet paths, diverse selection of flowers, and still waters that offer just the respite needed. Some other interesting things to enjoy on a visit include the Siamese Fighting Fish Gallery, the immense Ganesha statue at MahaDewali (the only Hindu temple on the island), and for a true Thai experience the floating market on the Chao Phraya River. And for those desiring a longer stay on the island, the Bangkok Treehouse is a well-designed, popular retreat with modern amenities and fine cuisine.
Bang Kachao reveals all the vibrant colors you would expect from a big city but in a simple unadulterated way, still enlivening our senses and speaking to the beauty of the nation’s lush environment. Colors can be appreciated in flowers and fruits, simple boats and temples rather than bright lights or city billboards. So whether it be a leisurely bike ride for a few hours or an overnight stay in a modern treehouse, Green Lung can definitely offer another side of Bangkok that is still true Thai.
