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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Just shortly after World War I, the Southern Railroad was built to give people chances to travel overland in comfort all the way to the Malaysian border. Since then, the spacious beaches of Hua Hin have enjoyed a solid reputation as "the famous seaside resort of Siam" where visitors could enjoy not only swimming and fishing, but also golf on the country's first standard course.
Hua Hin's rise came with the opening of the Railway Hotel, built by Prince Purachatra, the Director General of the State Railways, after the Southern line was completed. It was an elegant Victorian structure on the shore with vast rooms, private verandah, fancy fretwork decoration and wickerwork chairs in the lounge. There was a formal garden containing topiary and sand; not far away, an excellent golf course with meticulously tended greens, awaited golf professionals and amateurs.
Soon afterwards the elite of Bangkok society began flocking to Hua Hin, at first to stay in the hotel and later in bungalows they built along the beach. One of them, Princess Chumbhot of Nakorn Sawan, recalls that the first of the holiday residences was called Saen Samran House and belonged to Prince Nares, a son of King Chulalongkorn. Not far down the shore was a sizeable compound belonging to the Prince of Chandaburi. Prince Chakrabongse built a complex of bungalows, together with a Victorian-style gazebo on a scenic group of rocks near Hua Hin Village and this place, later, was selected as a venue in the film "The Devil's Paradise", as well as the Railway Hotel, which portrayed Phnom Penh's leading hotel in the hectic days just before that city's fall in the film "The Killing Fields".
Princess Chumbhot was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Rambhai Barni and remembers being part of a royal party which spent several weeks at Prince Nares' palace in 1926. His Majesty King Prajadhipok was there to plan a summer palace on the beach, to be designed by one of Prince Nares' sons and completed shortly afterwards, the palace was named: Klai Kang Won, which means "Far From Worries."
Nowadays, among the changes and development of the world, Hua Hin's pleasures are still placid, not all that different, indeed, from those enjoyed by the aristocratic visitors of its past. That's Hua Hin - the charming resort town with a sense of history and a peaceful but scenic atmosphere. That's beloved Hua Hin - the Royal Land. |
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