Water… is life.

Happy Holidays!

Welcome to a scorching March day,

but one filled with the desire to "learn."

Following the Footsteps of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great's "Sailing"

King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the ninth monarch of Thailand, was an avid enthusiast of sailing.

Demonstrating his ingenuity, His Majesty built several sailboats himself, including the royal yacht "Enterprise," which he named "Ratchaputan," and the OK-class sailboat "Nawaruk," which he used to compete in the 4th Southeast Asian Peninsular Games (now known as the SEA Games).

One memorable incident, recorded by General Witsit Dejkunjorn, recounts how His Majesty, shortly after leaving the shore, steered the boat back, expressing his surprise to those waiting for him that he had hit a buoy, which constituted a foul according to sailing rules, even though no one had witnessed it.

This anecdote exemplifies His Majesty's unwavering commitment to fair play and his desire to instill a love of sports in the hearts of the Thai people.

We ain't ever getting older

March is the month that marks the beginning of the summer season, with the arrival of winds, making it an ideal time for water sports.

For those interested in water sports such as sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing, here's another great location to consider:

The Nong Bon Lake Water Sports Center, located on Soi Chalermprakiet 43 in Prawet Subdistrict, Prawet District, Bangkok.

Opening hours:

  • Monday-Saturday: 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM
  • Sunday and Public Holidays: 10:30 AM - 7:30 PM
  • Boat launch times: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Bung Nong Bon: A Tranquil Oasis in the Heart of Bangkok

Bung Nong Bon, a sprawling 600-acre lake nestled adjacent to the expansive Rama IX Park on Srinakarin Road, has emerged as a revitalized green haven in the bustling metropolis of Bangkok. Following a comprehensive landscape rejuvenation project completed in August 2016, this urban oasis has become a cherished destination for leisure and recreation.

This place offers a variety of water sports to try, including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and rowing.

Additionally, there is a small cycling track for cyclists, with a circumference of approximately 4 kilometers.

You can apply for membership to use the services and borrow various sports equipment from the center.

Those who are interested in using the services must apply for membership by preparing the following documents:

1. Two 1-inch or 2-inch passport-sized photos

2. A certified copy of your national ID card

3. An annual membership fee of 10 baht/year for those aged 8-18 years old

and 40 baht/year for those aged 19 years and above

(This membership fee allows you to play everything, including bicycles, sailboats, kayaks, windsurfing, all included in the membership fee.)

Upon arrival, with your application documents prepared, proceed to the information counter and inform the staff of your interest in becoming a member to access and rent various sports equipment.

To register as a member, please fill out the registration form completely.

After completing the form, please make a payment. The staff will then issue a receipt, which you should keep to collect your membership card the following week.

This completes the membership registration process.

**Note:** After completing the registration, you will not yet receive your membership card. Therefore, you can use this receipt to temporarily borrow equipment. Once you receive your membership card, you can use it for future service requests.

** **

After registering as a member, if you are interested in water sports, there will be staff to teach you water sports.

Including learning to sail, windsurf, kayak, and row a boat.

We can learn 2 rounds in the time of 14.00 - 15.00 hrs. and 16.00 - 17.00 hrs.

If you are interested in learning, you must go before the time to prepare.

This area is where the instructors will teach water sports.

On the day we went, the instructors taught us about sailing and kayaking.

After finishing the lesson, it's time to go kayaking and sailing.

No worries if you need to store your belongings, bags, or clothes after playing sports.

The Sports Center provides lockers for rent at only 5 baht per day.

(A 100 baht key deposit is required, which will be refunded upon return of the key.

The deposit is necessary to ensure proper care of the key. If the key is lost, a penalty fee will be charged, and the deposit will not be refunded.)

The bathrooms and showers are spotless and well-maintained.

It is important to remove your shoes before entering the bathroom to maintain cleanliness.

At the back of this point is the boathouse where we can borrow life jackets, kayak paddles, or other equipment.

Before playing, if you don't understand anything, you can ask the staff.

The staff are very kind and will teach you everything you are interested in. They will be there for you and give you advice from before you start playing until you finish playing.

When we play, there will be staff members who will closely monitor our safety and guide us on how to play.

The first time I played, I was both excited and scared.

I was afraid of not being able to read the wind direction and drifting in the middle of the water. 5555

So I whispered to the officer, "If I disappear, will anyone know?" Hehe.

The officer said not to worry. If anyone can't get back to shore, there will be a boat to tow us in. (What a relief!)

In addition to water sports, there is also a cycling path around the lake.

For those who do not bring their own bicycles, you can borrow bicycles from the service center.

The park offers a running path around the Nong Bon Lake, allowing visitors to enjoy a refreshing jog.

The grassy field is equipped with various exercise equipment for your enjoyment.

You can bring your pets to run around or relax by the lake.


Featuring both outdoor sepak takraw and basketball courts,

each with 2 courts available. There's also a large football field situated on the water of Nong Bon Lake for those who want to compete.


After an exhausting workout,

head outside the sports center. Right in front, there's a drink shop where you can grab a bite to eat.

If you do not bring your car to the sports center entrance, there will be songthaews waiting. You can take a songthaew to connect to the bus/van in front of Suan Luang Rama 9.

Transportation to Nong Bon Lake

Bus:

  • Take bus route 206 to the entrance of Soi Chalermprakiet 43. From there, take a songthaew (shared taxi) to Nong Bon Lake. The lake is approximately 500 meters from the entrance of the soi.
  • Take the red bus from the entrance of Soi Udomsuk (Sukhumvit 103) to the entrance of Suan Luang Rama IX Park. Get off at the park entrance.

Car:

  • Drive along Srinakarin Road to Udomsuk intersection. Turn left towards Suan Luang Rama IX Park, Daw Ruang Gate. Soi Chalermprakiet 43 is located 200 meters from the park.

Taxi:

  • Take a taxi from Seacon Square Srinakarin to Nong Bon Lake Sports Center. The fare is approximately 70-90 baht.

BTS Skytrain:

  • Get off at Udomsuk Station. Walk into the soi and take the red bus from the entrance of Soi Udomsuk to the end of the line.

Return Trip:

  • White songthaews with the words "Suan Luang Rama IX / Ram 2 / Lotus" are parked in front of the lake. Take one of these songthaews to Big C in front of Suan Luang Rama IX Park. From there, take a van to the BTS Udomsuk Station.

Note:

Please forgive any errors or mistakes.

Thank you.

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