You experience everything in Thailand (16)
Summer palace of the royal family in Hua Hin – Cha-am
In the series of stories that we post about something special, funny, curious, moving, strange or ordinary that readers have experienced in Thailand, today a nice story about a royal visit to Hua Hin.
Monique Dijkstra writes her "encounter" with a Thai princess and we are happy to take over the story with permission from the Facebook page Thailand Community
Your contribution is also very welcome, send it with any photos you have taken yourself, to the editors via the contact form..
This is the story of Monica Dijkstra.
A Thai princess
In 2013, my husband, Mike Lentink, and I went on holiday to Hua Hin. We stayed in a hotel near the Royal Palace. A large stage was built just next to it and it became more beautiful every day. We heard and saw people practicing for some kind of musical in passing. One day we came from the beach and were stopped by police, we were not allowed through. We explained that we wanted to go to our hotel and were allowed to continue. It was very busy at the festival site. Inside, throughout the hotel, there were suddenly many Thai people. They all had a surly look, there was something strange in the air.
Mike was eager to see what was happening on the festival grounds, so we went outside again. Suddenly there was a mass of police and military-looking men, in beautiful clothes with decorations. They all looked angry and I said: "Let's go back, they don't like it that we are going that way". Mike said, “Just keep walking. If it is really not allowed, they will stop us”. It was not the environment to make a fuss so I kept walking.
Suddenly we heard the Thai national anthem. We stopped at the side of the road and suddenly heard: "pssst". We looked back and saw soldiers standing in a garden. They told us to stand behind them. Out of nowhere, a car stopped right in front of that garden. A graceful woman got out and everyone lowered their heads, we followed faithfully. It was impossible to really look with your head upright. In my experience, it took quite a long time for us to stand still with bowed heads.
We were thanked by the military and allowed to continue our way. A young woman and a man walked next to us. They were completely happy and cheerful. In reasonable English, the woman asked if I knew how lucky I was. I said, "No, no idea". I understood what she meant when she said that we had just seen a real Thai Princess!
A “once in a lifetime” memory!
Nice story. Years ago I was in Carrefour in Pattaya. Who comes down the escalator? Princess Maha with her retinue. All Thais around me kneel, but not me. Nodded friendly in her direction, was looked at but the company continued their way without angry looks in my direction.
I was having dinner with my wife at Simonis in the harbor of Scheveningen, a Thai princess also came in with an entourage, wanted to take a photo, but my wife didn't like it, she was immediately nervous
nice memory
Very recognizable story.
I also experienced it once in Bangkok. It was several years ago. Sometime early May if I'm not mistaken. We walked to the royal palace and everything was dropped off there. We thought, something is going to happen here. It got busier and busier. At one point a man in uniform came to us and told us that we were not allowed to take pictures, my cap had to be taken off and we were not allowed to keep the sunglasses on. Think about waiting for an hour. Then a procession of 50-60 red cars passed by with the king in one of those cars. It was in one of those vans with a lot of glass. It must have been a special day because the best man was not so good anymore. It was a special experience.
Years ago we were in the royal palace, pouring rain. Everyone was sheltering when everything was suddenly cordoned off. Hope police. Banned from photos, it turned out that a princess had graduated and came to thank Budha. The funny thing was that the guards walked with very large umbrellas, but with stocking feet. And that because of the pouring rain.
I got to see four members of the royal family up close.
The current king and his son when visiting the city of Pasang already 17 years ago.
Several times the daughter of the king Bhumipol princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was the patron of a children's home for girls just outside the city of Pasang.
This children's home is also sponsored by the royal family.
My stepson received his diploma from CMU University from her, but we were not allowed to be there. Princess Uboiratana on a visit to the city of Lamphun and the SanBoon high school in connection with the to be number one project.
And a granddaughter of King Bhumipol whose name I don't remember for a visit to a restored temple and the adjacent Chedi at a village 2 km away from my home.
Whatever the case may be, a whole happening where photography is NOT allowed.
Jan Beute.
With the note that the son of the current king is not yet 17 years old…
You're right Hans, I just asked my wife what exactly happened. The reason he came here was that he once ran a marathon from Chiangmai with the finish at the intersection in the center of the town of Pasang.
The distance was 40 km.
Just to correct this, I'm getting a bit older.
Jan Beute.
Years ago we were with the whole family in a rented minivan van on our way from Cha Am back to Bangkok. Just finished refueling at the ring road of Cha Am, we were not allowed to drive away from a motorcycle cop and police cars and had to look with our heads to the ground, except for me. Someone from the royal family was on their way from the palace in Hua Hin to Bangkok in cream-colored Mercedes cars in an emergency corridor of at least 170-180 km. all flashing lights and situations. The road was reopened after 15 minutes.
Also once in Bangkok on Sukhumvit road the same. I don't think anyone from the royal family has ever seen a traffic jam in Bangkok. 55555
October 2019 there was a lot of fuss with the hashtag royalmotorcade because of the traffic jams. Not much later, it was better to implement the official instructions regarding columns where in practice they were carried out more strictly than required.
Last March I had 2 connections near Siam (thanon Phayathai). With the first column the road was cleared for traffic about 5 to 10 minutes before, but in the opposite direction it almost came to a complete standstill. Then a number of police cars, a motorcycle or 2, a few vans of yellow cream colored Mercedes and a van or 2, 3 more police cars or 1 or 2 behind them. 1 or 2 of the Mercedes had a yellow flag with a red border and a red garuda. The officer standing in the middle of the intersection facing the column looked ahead, no salute or anything. He was standing there quite loosely. The public on the sidewalk could also remain standing.
No idea who was in the cars, apparently not high enough in the tree to do a salute or show submission. I link the yellow flag with red garuda to the royal family, but then I expected more ritual. Since they did fly flags, someone must have been a resident, but who?
Source including: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1834564/bid-to-reduce-traffic-during-motorcades
A friend of mine runs a cafe in Mae Rim, just north of Chiang Mai. Members of the royal family occasionally cycle there. (The current monarch also likes cycling). Everything is cordoned off and police sound trucks call on everyone to stay in the house and close windows and doors.