Monday May 13, 2013

A taste of pure luxury

By MUHD BASYAR MUSTAPHA
basyar@thestar.com.my

From another time: Hua Hin railway station connects the town to the rest of the world.

THAILAND needs no introduction to the world, especially to avid travellers.

Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai are some of the popular destinations of the kingdom and holidaymakers from around the globe flock to these places.

Its rich culture, exotic cuisine and stunning views are simply to die for.

If you talk to other travellers about these places, they most likely will tell you that they have been there before and can give you travel tips.

Generating similar level of enthusiasm is the idyllic seaside resort town of Hua Hin.

Located 200km south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is known as “The City of Nature” or “The Riviera of the Far East”.

What was once only a fishing village unknown to the rest of the world, Hua Hin today has become the premier seaside resort of the Thai elites and other travellers who seek respite.

It was the Thai royalty who were captivated by Hua Hin’s charm and who helped put the district in Prachuap Kiri Khan on the map.

Idyllic: Sunset at Hua Hin beach.

Back in 1921, on a trip along the coast, Rama VII was so taken with the fishing village that he built a palace there, named it Wang Klai Kang Won (Far from Worries), to escape the political intrigues of the capital.

While Hua Hin does not have the vibrant nightlife of Bangkok or Pattaya, it makes up for it with an interesting array of fine restaurants and bars.

The town offers many other interesting distractions, like its Plearnwan, which is a themed “village” that brings visitors back to the old days of prewar Thailand.

However, Hua Hin is most famous for its fine white sandy beaches which overlook the Gulf of Thailand.

Unlike the beaches of Phuket, Krabi or Pattaya, Hua Hin does not yet have the huge crowd of sunburnt tourists so you are more less left alone as you frolic on the beach.

Hua Hin also happens to be the home of one the few vineyards in South-East Asia, called Hua Hin Hills Vineyard.

Located 45 minutes from the centre, it offers spectacular views, a restaurant and tasting sessions of the local Monsoon Valley Wines. The vineyard also offers elephant rides.

During a media familiarisation trip organised by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), journalists had the chance to stay at the Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort, roughly a 10-minute drive from the centre of town.

Located at Petchkasem Road on a 1.8ha plot, the resort is best described as the crown jewel of Hua Hin, for its first-rate facilities, unique yet tasteful landscape and its friendly staff.

Prawns and such: Fresh seafood at the night market in Hua Hin. The night market is one of the main attractions in Hua Hin selling food and souvenirs.

Intercontinental sales and marketing director Nattapun Runyasewa said the resort had the best beachfront in Hua Hin.

“The concept for the resort’s design was to retain some of the most significant features of Hua Hin from the eras of King Rama V to King Rama VII.

“Both the exterior and interior incorporate modern Siamese design and carefully combine styles that are unique to Hua Hin with a touch of colonial influence,” she said.

The structures and placement of the rooms enable each guest to have the best possible view of the open sea.

One of the main attractions at the resort is its wide-open swimming pool, in the shape of a “fish in motion” with lights on the pool’s floor resembling the twinkling stars in the night sky.

The pool also features hot and cold Jacuzzi sections that overlook the open sea.

The media also had a special dinner with TAT personnel, resort owners and top management of the resort at the La Residence Royale Hua Hin, which was originally a bungalow belonging to an influential family in Hua Hin.

Besides Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort, visitors can opt for other resorts in the area such as the chic and contemporary Detail Hotel, the environmental-friendly Asara Villa and Suite or the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin that offers luxurious spa services for its guests.

Intrigued? Well, you can travel to Hua Hin from Malaysia by train or by air from Subang Skypark Terminal.