Honeymoon in Hua Hin
When we wake up in the morning, we have two simple choices, to go back to sleep and dream or wake up and chase those dreams. The choice is yours…”
I have always opted to chase my wanderlust in order to keep up with it. This journey aboard the luxurious Thai Airways Royal Silk Class took me to Bangkok, the “City of Angels.” No matter how many times I travel here, it always seems like the first time simply because I look forward to every single detail of the sojourn with great anticipation and excitement. It all begins with the gracious service from the warm and loving flight attendants onboard, the delightful meals and in-flight entertainment as well as surrendering to the sweet arms of slumber on the immaculately spacious seat that reclines so comfortably into a heavenly bed. Even as we land gracefully in the Suvarnabhumi Airport, I am still in dreamland. Truly, the experience is as smooth as silk.
From Bangkok, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Khun Porntip Makornpan and TAT Philippines head Dave de Jesus led me and my traveling group, composed of Marbee Go, Liza Ilarde, Amor Baldovino and Carmita Custodio, to a comfortable two-hour drive to the seaside paradise of Hua Hin. The scenery in this town is so romantic we readily agreed that, indeed, Hua Hin is a honeymoon destination.
The dreamy place is replete with vineyards, sprawling fields of sun-kissed grape vines, neatly arranged orchards of sweet produce swaying to the rhythm of the wind. We know that the best wines are grown in lovely places like the slate slopes of Germany, the tawny hills of Tuscany, the hardscrabble terraces of Portugal, the lush length of Bordeaux and France’s castle-lined Loire, the verdant valleys of California’s Napa and Sonoma. Hua Hin, however, is truly a priceless find to experience Thailand’s own wineries as this part of the country is fast becoming known as a region defined by the land and glorious bounty it produces.
A hearty lunch of fresh salads, perfectly grilled steaks, seafood and a feast of Thailand’s sweetest fruits at the Hua Hin Hills Vineyard and Wine Cellar was delightful. Khun Porntip proposed a toast in commemoration of the 60 years of solidarity and friendship between Thailand and the Philippines. We recalled the message of Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya. “We have maintained our long and close relationship with the Philippines. Some 50 to 60 years ago, the Thai people came to the Philippines to study and benefit from its advanced educational system,” declared the well-decorated ambassador, latest of whose decorations include The Chakrabarti Mala Medal (2006) and the Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand.
The crisp wind kissed our faces as the sun was beginning to set. I wandered through the vineyards and picked some fresh grapes, the fruit of the earth. Soon, we savored choice wines from merlot, shiraz and lychee-flavored Muscat wine harvested from the vines in front of us. It was an exhilarating moment.
Inevitably, the pace of life is set by the agrarian rhythms of the farms that cover the landscape. Hua Hin is a quaint place with many hidden treasures. You can’t step into this haven of beautiful hotels, resorts, luxury boutique and lush golf courses without becoming enchanted by the magic of the vines aptly called nectar of the gods.
It is interesting to note that, after World War I, the Southern Railroad was created to allow people the opportunity to travel comfortably the route towards the Malaysian border. As a result, the pristine beaches of Hua Hin have earned the moniker “the famous seaside resort of Siam” where visitors may relish the experience not only of swimming and fishing but also golfing in the country’s first standard course.
Hua Hin’s rise came with the opening of the Victorian-inspired Railway Hotel, built by Prince Purachatra, the director general of the State Railways, after the Southern line was completed. 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. Today, the most beautiful, highly recommended golf courses include the Black Mountain Golf Club and the Banyan Golf Club.
Soon afterwards the elite of Bangkok society began flocking to Hua Hin. Today, progress and development dominate Hua Hin’s pleasures and treasures, not all that different from those enjoyed by the aristocratic visitors of its past. Hua Hin continues to be known as the charming resort town with a sense of history and a peaceful but scenic atmosphere.
Like butterflies flitting from one beautiful flower to another, we inspected beautiful resorts from the big brand names to the inn-timate ones, hardly discerning how much lovelier one was from the other. I assure you each discriminating visitor will find his own favored property among the many. Nestled in the Gulf of Siam, just off the newly constructed main highway to Bangkok, is one of the newest beachside resorts in Thailand: Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa. A synergy of progressive Hua Hin and distinct Thai hospitality epitomizes this pristine paradise in five-star comfort. You may enjoy a cocktail or two in the privacy of your own balcony in any of 56 direct lagoon pool access rooms, swim the expanse of their 560-meter circumference lagoon-style swimming pool that meanders through tropical landscape, or succumb to the sheer comfort of the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed in all 240 spacious guest rooms. There are also huge ballroom and conference facilities that house more than 500 people and are perfect choices for your next meeting or event.
At Asara Villa & Suite, we found an oasis inspired to mesmerize the senses. Surround yourself in uncompromising elegance of lush tropical gardens, lagoons, a private beach that stretches endlessly. The ultimate in beachfront luxury, a very stylish contemporary Thai design prevails in this sanctuary. The Asara Spa offers tantalizing treatments and their stunning spa chambers and suites are the epitome of indulgent relaxation and rejuvenation. Their Thai Bistro offers delectable modern Thai cuisine.
Our home away from home in Hua Hin was the fabulous Yai Ya resort. An interesting fusion of Balinese architecture and modern flare, the Yai Yas shows a strong commitment to the environment and the community’s well being. Yai Ya offers 11 pool villas as well as the Yai Ya pavilion. Apart from the villas and the low-rise building perched on rich verdant landscaped gardens, every deluxe room has extra spacious verandas. The bar by the pool takes center stage as the azure waters run through the property. Their library has a wonderful assortment of books and magazines, their spa offers an array of treatments and a whim of refinement inside while the fragrance of the gardens outside await the renewed you. There is also a Yai Ya gourmet shop where guests are invited to fill their private bar with choices of wine and produce. Seaside grandeur is experienced at the Yai Ya, an eco-friendly resort that is stunning in its simplicity and authenticity.
The Barai at the Hyatt is truly a sight to behold. A feast for the senses, it is a modern sanctuary where harmony, bliss and delightful surprises beckon. Try the Barai’s calming tropical ritual where the body is enveloped in natural extracts of pineapple and tamarind. A soothing massage using lemongrass oil is applied to promote rejuvenation and relaxation. You can also be wrapped in an exhilarating blend of fruits and herbs known to detoxify and decongest the mind. The tropical detoxifying ritual includes an aromatherapy massage that will certainly leave you refreshed and restored.
Just a stone’s throw away from Hua Hin is the town of Petchanburi where the western seaboard palace of Phra Nakhon Khiri is yet another glorious discovery. Locally referred to as Khao Wang (or “celestial city of the mountain”), the palace was a royal summerhouse commissioned by King Mongkut (Rama VI). The drive from Bangkok is rather scenic, with lush limestone mountains and the log rows of large-leafed teak trees along the highway median that the King had ordered planted to reintroduce teak into the region. Phra Nakhon Khiri, and the nearby Tham Khao Luang, will also appeal to those looking for a touch of exotic wildlife, given the population of wild monkeys at both attractions.
I realize Hua Hin is the epitome of nature’s extravagant blessings as a brilliant abundance of the sprawling vineyards satisfies one’s senses. The mise en scène here spells romance; that explains why it is fast becoming a very popular wedding destination. Just imagine a beautiful wedding proposal, marriage ceremony or renewal of vows taking place in the fields of white, green and red grapes that burst in early spring acres of sun-ripened fruit breaking bud. The vibrant golds and vermillions against crystal-clear azure skies salute the vines and offer a witness to the ties that bind just like the organic, earth and rain-filled skies. Yes, the integral beauty that attracts me emanates from a deeper source — the valley’s rarity as a haven wherein people and nature flourish.
Visit Hua Hin. It is simply your living dream.
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Thai Airways flies from Manila to Bangkok every day. For more information, call 817-5442 or 812-4812. To contact Tourism Authority of Thailand, e-mail Dave de Jesus at tat_mnl@pacific.net.ph or call him at 911-1660. For visits to Hua Hin, call Khun Pong of Trikaya Tours at 662-5305383, 081-3117709 or e-mail pong@trikayatours.com.
E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.
