Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are public access paths to the beach off Th Naebkehardt. On weekends, Th Naeb-
kehardt is the preferred getaway for Bangkok Thais, some of whom still summer in the
old-fashioned residences while others come to dine in the houses that have been converted
into restaurants (
Click here
)
.
Plearn Wan
( 0 3252 0311;
www.plearnwan.com
;
Th Phetkasem btwn Soi 38 & Soi 40; 9am-9pm)
As much
an art installation as a commercial enterprise, Plearn Wan is a vintage village containing
stylised versions of the old-fashioned shophouses which once occupied the Thai-Chinese
districts of Bangkok and Hua Hin. There's a pharmacy selling (well actually displaying)
roots, powders and other concoctions that Thai grandmothers once used, as well as music
and clothes stores.
It would be a tourist trap if it charged an admission fee but the mostly Thai visitors just
wander the grounds snapping photos without making any impulse purchases. If you want
to support this bit of nostalgia, there are retro souvenirs and snack shops.
NOTABLE BUILDING
Phra Ratchaniwet
Mrigadayavan
( 0 3250 8443; admission 30B; 8.30am-4pm)
With a breezy seaside location 12km north of
Hua Hin, this summer palace was built in 1923 during the reign of Rama VI. Set in a
beautiful garden with statuesque trees and stunning sea views, it's a series of interlinked
teak houses with tall shuttered windows and patterned fretwork built upon stilts forming a
shaded ground-level boardwalk.
The functional but elegant style of the palace was a result of Rama VI suffering from
rheumatoid arthritis; the court's Italian architect designed it to maximise air circulation
and make the most of the seaside location. There's not a huge amount to see (a small se-
lection of royal photos is on display), but it's a tranquil spot and Thais flock here to pay
their respects.
The palace is within the grounds of Camp Rama VI, a military base, and you may need
to show ID. It is easiest to get here with private transport but you can also catch a Hua Hin
to Cha-am bus and ask to be dropped off opposite the camp's front gate. Motor-cycle taxis
are sometimes waiting to take you the remaining 2km. As this is a royal palace, legs and
arms should be covered, otherwise you'll be given a sarong-like garment to hide your
limbs.
HISTORICAL SITE
