At Your Own Pace: From sunrise runs to twilight strolls, Benchakitti Park offers freedom, calm, and connection
Under the sprawling shade of “Grandpa Chamchuri”, a majestic rain tree whose branches spread wide as if to embrace every passer by, the heart of Bangkok slows to a gentler rhythm.
This is Benchakitti Park, an oasis of water, trees, and sky, where mornings arrive filled with promise and evenings settle into a glow of lights and laughter.
For some, it is the start of the day, full of energy, discovery, and connection. For others, it is a place to unwind, let go of the day’s rush, and breathe in serenity. Just ten minutes on foot from Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok, Benchakitti is more than a park. It is a sanctuary that quietly reshapes lives.
Fumiko’s Morning Dates
For Fumiko Kawasaki, a long stay resident at Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok for almost a year and a half, weekends often begin with what she fondly calls a ‘morning date’ with her husband.
“We walk together around the lake, take photos by the fountains, sometimes we try the paddle duck shaped boats,” she says with a laugh.
“And afterwards, we go for brunch at a café. It’s just us, no phones, no distractions. We really talk to each other, about his work, about my MBA, about little discoveries. I think it makes us closer.”
For her, these morning dates are about more than exercise. They are about being present and giving time and space to conversations that too often disappear within modern life. “In the park, we’re off our phones. We’re just walking and talking. Morning feels positive, and so do we.”
These moments have become part of a wider lifestyle shift.
“I used to be a night person,” Fumiko admits.
“But my husband changed me. At first it was a bit challenging. I liked staying up late. But now I love mornings. They feel healthier, better, and they make the day seem longer and more hopeful.”
Her husband’s early bird rhythm introduced her to new habits, from morning walks to joining the Sabai Run Club, a relaxed Sunday gathering of joggers and walkers.
The club divides into three groups: fast, medium, and slow. But even within these, there are smaller circles, the very fast runners, the steady runners, gentle joggers, and those who simply walk while chatting with new friends.
“Sabai means comfortable in Thai, and that’s exactly the feeling,” she says.
“There’s no pressure. You can go at your own pace. And that freedom is important, not just in running but in almost everything, from learning music and studying a new language to even starting a new job. If you push yourself too hard at the beginning, it becomes a negative experience. But if you move at your own pace, it stays enjoyable and becomes part of everyday life.”
It was this welcoming atmosphere that transformed her lifestyle.
“I wasn’t an exercise person,” she says. “But the group inspired me. Now I walk three kilometres every morning at Shama’s gym. It’s become a refreshing habit, grounding, energising, and good for my health.”
For Fumiko, mornings at Benchakitti Park are a balance of companionship and community. Sometimes she joins the crowd at dawn, and sometimes she simply strolls with her husband, but she always leaves feeling renewed.
Smile’s Evening Calm
When the sun sets and the demands of the day soften, Kanyaphat “Smile” Chootimakun finds her own rhythm at Benchakitti Park. An accounting staff member at Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok, she has spent seven years working across the road from this green escape. For her, the park is not about dawn but dusk.
“Every morning the BTS skytrain is always packed and chaotic,” she says. “So after work, I come here. It’s completely different, open, calm, peaceful. Like stepping into another world.”
Sometimes she invites a friend for what she calls their “sharing sessions”. They walk slowly around the vast lake, talking freely and releasing the day’s worries. “We listen to each other, we laugh, we take photos. It feels lighter afterwards.”
Other evenings, she comes alone with headphones, allowing music to guide her pace as the city’s noise fades quietly into the background.
The park, she explains, transforms at night. “They turn on the lights, and it becomes beautiful, almost magical. The fountain sparkles, the Skyline Bridge glows, and sometimes, if it has just rained, you see a rainbow in the sky. It’s perfect for photos, but it’s more than that. It’s a feeling of calm.”
When her walk is finished, Smile often treats herself at a nearby café.
“There’s a lovely % Arabica at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. I’ll have an iced latte with no sugar and a dessert, even at eight in the evening. It’s my little indulgence before heading home.”
For her, the park is a release.
“Life is full of things to think about, but here, I don’t have to think much. I can just be relaxed, calm, and myself.”
A Park for Every Mood
Morning or evening, together or alone, energetic or restful, Benchakitti Park proves that one place can hold many meanings. For Fumiko, it is a fresh start, a chance to build healthy habits and strengthen her bond with her husband. For Smile, it is a peaceful sanctuary where the day’s stress dissolves into laughter, light, and quiet reflection.
Both find more than exercise here. They find connection, with themselves, with others, and with the rhythms of a city that, even in its busiest moments, still knows how to pause.
And with Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok just across the road, guests can enjoy the same freedom to explore. It is only a ten minute walk away, or guests can take the shuttle to Queen Sirikit National Convention Center for even easier access.
Whether it is an energising run at sunrise or a peaceful stroll beneath the evening glow, Benchakitti is always within easy reach.
Here, beneath the generous branches of Grandpa Chamchuri, Bangkok offers something rare: the chance to feel refreshed, unhurried, and free.
Story: Sue Rattanamahattana • Photography: Poonsawat Sudtama
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