Summer Palace a Guilty Pleasure.

[TingTongJohn]

This should not get out but I do enjoy going to the Kings Summer Palace just to wander and take photos. I like the whole feel of the Palace and the lay of the land surrounding it. Soothing and not alot of trouts bugging you for buy this I am selling that either. The sea breeze keeps things cool. My biggest issue is I have alot of questions and most of the staff really do not have a lot of the answer about history and such of the area that I am seeking. Maybe it the english thing I do not know..Sanook Jing Jing

TTJ

[margaretcarnes]

The staff are no doubt not allowed to answer questions TTJ - plus it is no surprise that many Thai people don't know much about history anyway.
But there are plenty of English language publications available which can help to fill some of the gaps if you are really interested. One good book is 'Katya and the Prince of Siam' by Eileen Hunter and Narisa Chakrabongse. ISBN 0 904568 76 8. It touches on how HuaHin became a Royal destination but also some interesting family history.
Another book published very recently is 'King Bhumibol Adulyadez - A Lifes Work' by Nicholas Grossman and Dominic Faulder. I havent' got a copy yet - it sold out quickly - but the second print run is supposed to be in the shops next month.
Yet another new book has been mentioned in a recent thread on here about 2 weeks ago.
Post Publications might also be worth a try. The Bangkok Post does run very good supplements on certain Royal occassions. There was a good one about one of the senior princesses in late 2008 on the occassion of her cremation ceremony. Or just try Googling for info.
Unfortunately it does seem to me that a great deal of 'digging' into different books etc has to be done to try to piece together the picture you are looking for. I don't think for example that you would find anything specific to the HH palace in any detail - just references to it in other places. Royal palaces seem to be quite transient places - a new monarch will build a new palace kind of thing, and when they pass the palaces are just left empty. Unlike in Europe where they would be retained furnished in period as places of historical interest.

[TingTongJohn]

The staff are no doubt not allowed to answer questions TTJ - plus it is no surprise that many Thai people don't know much about history anyway.
But there are plenty of English language publications available which can help to fill some of the gaps if you are really interested. One good book is 'Katya and the Prince of Siam' by Eileen Hunter and Narisa Chakrabongse. ISBN 0 904568 76 8. It touches on how HuaHin became a Royal destination but also some interesting family history.
Another book published very recently is 'King Bhumibol Adulyadez - A Lifes Work' by Nicholas Grossman and Dominic Faulder. I havent' got a copy yet - it sold out quickly - but the second print run is supposed to be in the shops next month.
Yet another new book has been mentioned in a recent thread on here about 2 weeks ago.
Post Publications might also be worth a try. The Bangkok Post does run very good supplements on certain Royal occassions. There was a good one about one of the senior princesses in late 2008 on the occassion of her cremation ceremony. Or just try Googling for info.
Unfortunately it does seem to me that a great deal of 'digging' into different books etc has to be done to try to piece together the picture you are looking for. I don't think for example that you would find anything specific to the HH palace in any detail - just references to it in other places. Royal palaces seem to be quite transient places - a new monarch will build a new palace kind of thing, and when they pass the palaces are just left empty. Unlike in Europe where they would be retained furnished in period as places of historical interest.

Thank you for the Info..Wonder if I will be about to get the Eread for my Tablet?? Well worth checking out..I do like to know the lay of the land. As in the history gives me more of a connection and maybe some slight insight into it all and some kind of understanding.

Khop Khun Khrap.

[LolaBeltran]

Are you talking about Mareukathaiwan? ( Officially spelled about sixteen different ways in English including Mirigataiavan) We have been there countless times and you are right .. .no touts ( or trouts) to bother you. If you are talking about Klai Kang Wan, please explain how you managed to gain entry. We have wanted to tour that for years.

[Takiap]

You won't get entry into the palace itself, but you can explore the grounds to a certain extent. It seems to be quite popular with joggers in the late afternoon/early evening.

[LolaBeltran]

The jogging park does not allow you near the palace itself and in fact it is not even visible from anywhere in that park.
Still remember jogging there ( one and only time actually) and seeing the king in person. He was on the other side of the pond with his camera and his dog . .and at least two dozen attendants one carrying a large chair. We were enthralled!

[TingTongJohn]

Phra Ratchaniwet Maruekkhathaiyawan Palace, Hua Hin is the spot I was talking about as the Kings present Summer home is forbidden to visit as far as I know (enless you have a large chuck of change or status)

[LolaBeltran]

That's what I thought. ( Though it is actually in Cha Am)

Hey, you found yet another spelling of the name. Most Thai tourist places have settled on one to three different (official) English spellings of their name . .this place spells it differently every time they make a sign or print something. "Mirigadiavan" is another that is popular.

I have heard of ordinary people visiting Klai Kang Wan Palace, but noone has ever explained how to do so. You are right . .status most likely is the key. It is not on the typical list of sights to see. You need to know the right person.

[lomuamart]

http://www.tourismhuahin.com/royal-palaces-huahin.php

[LolaBeltran]

Yep. Only by invitation.
So not on the list for ordinary tourists .. .but I have heard of people being invited. Just never explains who does the inviting. ( Anyone here ever been in?

(Yet another spelling of Maruekatayawan. . .we are up to six now in just this short thread.)