February 2003 86th Issue

Hua Hin Silk

It is rumoured that 4,700 years ago, or there abouts, a young Chinese princess, Xilling Shi, wife of the semi mythical emperor Huanghi, was sitting enjoying a cup of hot tea under a Mulberry tree, when a cocoon fell from a leaf above her and landed in her tea. She tried to pick out the offending object and ended up pulling out strands of fibre, the more she pulled the more the fibre kept coming. She had discovered silk!
How long it took her to work out a method of transforming this fibre into fine silken thread we don’t know, we do know that the discovery was kept within the family for many years, before the secret was let out of the fine silk bag.
To continue our tale, the silk industry did originate in China. The cultivation of mulberry trees was encouraged and some basic equipment for gathering the thread from the cocoon and weaving looms was invented at that time.
Silk was highly valued in Asia Minor and the trade road to China became known as the Silk Road. Literally, silk became worth its weight in gold.
Sericulture (the craft of producing silk and its cloth) gradually spread through western Asia and Europe. By the 15th century, France and Italy were the leading manufacturers of silk in Europe. Due to religious persecution, large groups of skilled Flemish and French weavers fled to England and an industrial complex for silk weaving developed in Spitalfields in the1620s.
Silk has many properties which contribute to its reputation as a luxury fiber. It has a beautiful natural luster and will take dye readily. Almost as strong as cotton, it is more elastic than either cotton or linen. It will absorb up to one third of its own weight in water without feeling wet to the touch, and is a warm fabric despite its lightness. Silk has some negative attributes as well. It is easily harmed by sunlight and certain chemicals, including the salts in human perspiration. It is a poor conductor of electricity, which contributes to its reputation for “static cling” in dry atmospheric conditions.
Producing silk is a complex and skilled operation which has taken centuries to refine. The silkworm moth (Bombyx mori) has been domesticated for centuries, and the result is a creature which is bred and raised on farms, with wings too weak to fly and legs unable to crawl more than a foot or so. Silkworms are totally reliant on humans and thus a very labour-intensive prospect.
Although most silkworms raised for the industry are killed before they undergo metamorphosis and emerge as adults, the powdery white moths which do emerge from their cocoons have one primary function in the few weeks they remain alive: to produce the next generation of silkworms. In the wild, pheromones secreted by the female help guide the male to her; in captivity, the same odours exert the same fascination. After mating, the female lays 500 yellow eggs, each the size of a pin head, which are attached to any surface by the sticky substance accompanying them. Eggs can be stored in cool conditions by farmers until it is time to hatch them, then they are transferred to incubators.
The larvae which emerge from the eggs about 20 days later are an eighth of an inch long. Feeding is the primary activity of the larval stage, which lasts about 25 days. During this period, the worm moults four times, becoming much larger each time it sheds its skin. at the last moult the larvae will have grown to 10,000 times its hatching weight. The worm eats continuously, fed on the leaves of mulberry trees brought to them by the farmers. As the worm grows, its special silk glands grow as well, eventually comprising one quarter of the larva’s mass.
At the end of the fifth moult the worm stops eating. That is the signal for the farmers to transfer larvae to specially constructed frames which will provide support for the worm’s construction of its protective and valuable cocoon.
By this time, the worm’s two silk glands are fully developed, and it begins to exude silk from both at the same time, as well as a sticky substance called sericin to bind the two threads together. The silk is liquid in the worm’s body, but hardens into a thread in contact with the air as the larva moves it’s head in a characteristic figure eight pattern.
After constructing a support system composed of short threads, the worm begins spinning it’s cocoon of a single, continuous thread of silk over a mile long. Constructed from the outside in, the cocoon takes over two days to complete. The worm then enters its pupae stage, which, if allowed to continue, will result in an adult moth in about three weeks.
To transform cocoons into cloth, workers boil them to release the sticky sericin on the outside. Next, since an individual silk thread is too fine to handle, the threads of as many as ten cocoons are wound together onto a reel, sticking together to form one long, strong thread. From then on, the silk can be treated as any ordinary fibre, either woven or knitted with the possibility of a wide range of textures and quality.

Thai silk is usually soft but has a relatively coarse texture with uneven slightly knotty threads, this quality makes it extremely suitable for weaving by hand. Thai silk has a magnificent, rich exotic beauty and, with proper care can last for a century or more.
Caring for Thai Silk
Dry cleaning is the best way to keep Thai silk in good condition and maintain it’s original beauty, luster and texture. You can also hand wash it in lukewarm water using the mildest soap. Add a table spoonful of clear white vinegar to the final rinse.
Never wring your Thai silk. Dry it in the shade, preferably where there’s a mild breeze, and be sure it’s well supported.
Iron Thai silk on the inside of the garment while it is still slightly damp. If already dry, apply a damp cloth on the outside and iron through the cloth.
Mudmee (Ikat) Thai silk
Hand woven Mudmee silk comes originally from the North East of Thailand (Isarn). The intricate traditional geometric and zoomorphic motifs of mudmee silk have been handed down for centuries. The designs and patterns in mudmee are created primarily by using various colours in the weft (left to right threads) of the fabric.
Mudmee fabric is usually half a solid or two tone colour and the other half the mudmee pattern.
Traditionally, every day dress was practical and usually quite plain. However, a great deal of time and expense was spent to weave the fabric for weddings, temple ceremonies, funerals, meeting high ranking officials, and spirit appeasing ceremonies, resulting in spectacular quality as well as complex techniques and designs.

How to recognise Thai Silk
There are four basic methods for determining true silk
1) Consider the price
2) Look at the weave
3) Check the luster
4) Burning

1) Pure silk costs maybe 10 times as much as imitation silk.
2)Real silk weave is completely hand made and the filament is a natural fibre with clearly visible flaws and joins in the thread along the warp and the weft. Imitation silk is a machine made fabric and has a perfect surface with no flaws or bumps.
3) Luster also shows whether a fabric is real or imitation. Pure silk is made with one colour for the warp and another for the weft. This produces the sheen and luster and creates the unique two tones and blends which change depending on the angle of light.
4) If you burn Thai silk with a flame, it leaves fine ash and smells like burning hair. When you take the flame away it stops burning. If you burn imitation silk with a flame, it drips, burns with black smoke, and continues to burn after the flame is taken away.

The Moth
The Mulberry feeding moth Bombyz Mori, which is
the principle source of silk is one of the largest and most handsome moths. The male is 1/2 inch in length and the female is a little shorter and stouter. The larva is ash grey or cream colour and about 3 to
3 1/2 inches long. There is a spine like horn
at the tail.

Part Three: The Personal Action Plan
Welcome back and thank you for all the positive comments we have received. The responses received have been very positive and, beginning with this article, we will begin to answer some of the questions that people have asked. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments at the numbers provided at the end of this article.
Khun A and Karen were both wondering why in the Guidelines to Better Thinking we go for quantity rather than quality. Remember at this stage of the thinking process, the purpose is to consider as many factors as possible to increase the number of options available to us. We are not making a decision nor committing to any course of action yet. This is the area in which we are still playing with the idea. As soon as you focus on "quality" ideas only (quality), you are censoring your own ideas or those of others, violating one of the other Guidelines to Better Thinking. We can always go back later on and prioritize, group and even eliminate or expand upon the factors we have collected at this stage. Right now, focus on amassing as many factors to work with as possible, This also follows the Law of Requisite Variety which states the more options from which I have to choose, the more likely I am to make a better choice. Make sense?
Now, on to this month's step. If you will notice, we have been building layers of knowledge. All this is necessary for establishing an understanding of the foundations of the thinking system we teach.
I want to share briefly with you three Lateral Thinking skills we have incorporated into every program. This is where we are heading. They can be used separately or together and in any order when dealing with any concept, problem, decision, etc. Remember that the key to skills is applying them. Information that is not applied or applicable in the real world amounts to nothing more than useless knowledge. Whereas we have always heard that knowledge is power, that is not quite true. It is the application of that knowledge that represents the real power, for that is where concepts are transformed into reality and that is what this is all about. That is why Transformational Thinking is a skill-based philosophy. This is how you get results and results should be our main form of measurement.
The three skills are called the CAF, the PMI and the OPV. I have been teaching these skills and using them for over twenty five years and am still amazed at their power. They are very simple and, like any other skills, the more one practices them, the better one becomes at them.
The CAF (Consider All Factors) is like brainstorming except that it is a more "shotgun" approach in which there is much more emphasis on speed and quantity. A CAF session is a rapid-fire thinking session in which as many factors are collected for later consideration. Believe it or not, we demonstrate this in every session, as you decrease the time, you actually increase the output but that is something you have to experience to believe, I think. It has to do with several factors that are not important to this discussion.
The PMI (Plus/Minus/Interesting) is a much more focussed thinking skill. Here, we devote equal time and energy to only the Plus factor, then only the Minus factors then the interesting. It is the addition of this last category that distinguishes it from linear thinking approaches and adds a creative dimension. This is where you begin to see your perception expanding immediately. This skill is key to developing broader parameters of perception necessary for better thinking.
The OPV (Other Points of View) takes the thinking process outside ourselves and expands it out to include others who will be affected by our choices or decisions. This is a very powerful skill in interpersonal relationships.
Before presenting the individual skills in toto, I want to take a moment and discuss a method of helping you transform the knowledge we are sharing in this series into action and that is through the Personal Action Plan. It is from the results of the Personal Action Plan that we are able to gauge our progress and measure the results of applying what we have learned and is a crucial step in incorporating what we are learning into our normal everyday thinking process and this is the goal.
There are four parts to a Personal Action Plan. One can be done on a single sheet of paper. Save them for later reference. We have a template available we can e-mail anyone interested.
Step One: Knowledge. What have I learned?
In this section, we consider and ponder the value and impact of what we have learned. How can applying this skill impact on my life? What did I learn that was interesting or what ideas did what I learned here spark? How can I use it? What new insights did I gain? Questions like these. Just a few minutes writing down your thoughts. This step helps the brain assimilate and anchor the information for easier recall at a later date and begins to make connections with previous knowledge within the different sections of the brain.
Step Two: I will share this skill with . . . Sharing the skill with another.
In this step, we commit to sharing this particular skill with this particular person at this particular time. (The more specific you are in actually writing these commitments down on paper, the more likely you are to complete them, by the way.) One cannot impart what one does not possess and sharing what you have learned with another human being, preferably alive and capable of providing some feedback, is beneficial to reinforcing the confidence that you know the skill well enough to share it. This stage serves a secondary purpose by giving you the opportunity to share the skill with someone within your personal sphere of reality, whether a spouse, co-worker, boss or friend. It also serves a tertiary purpose by establishing a system of positive reinforcement with people close to you and expanding what you know to include others, an important step when we are talking about improving our reality. (No man is an island and none of us lives or operates in a vacuum.) finally, the other person(s) will probably provide insights you didn't initially see, again expanding your perception.
Step Three: Skill Application. I will apply this particular skill on the following concept, idea, problem, decision.
In this step, we commit (in detail) how we are going to apply this skill to this decision or that problem or that concept. You establish a time and place and then do it. This is the Action part of the Plan. This is where transformation begins to take shape.
Step Four: Results. This is what happened when I applied this skill to this concept.
These results should be recorded. A written record allows us to go back and review our progress as well as serving to help us better chart our future course. In some cases, you may want to share the results with others and in other cases, you may want to keep the information private. Based on the results, you may decide to apply the other Lateral Thinking skills to the same idea or situation.
In the beginning, you should have several Action Plans per day until you become so familiar with them that they are part of your normal thinking process. I remember when I learned them in the Seventies, the first people I share them with were my wife, Gwen and our son, Erin who was only eight years old at the time. We still use these skills in our decision making today as a family. We also apply them in our organization.
Go back through this article or previous ones and pick out any concept or idea presented and make a Personal Action Plan. That will give you a good understanding as to how they work and you can find several concepts to work with here. It is good practice. For example, let's look at the Law of Requisite Variety. In step one, you would simply jot down a few thoughts about it. In step two, you would share it with another and record their input and perceptions. In step three, you would select an issue or situation in your life to apply it to. In step four, you would record the results of doing so. Each step is equally as important in this process. Do not leave any out. Each serves many purposes too detailed to list in this article. Apply the Personal Action Plan to other articles in the magazine. Start applying the Personal Action Plan now and you will be ready for the skills in the next article.
In the next article, we will provide the three Lateral Thinking skills in detail with examples. Practice the Personal Action Plan in the meantime. Keep thinking.
You can contact us with your comments or questions at (032) 514-417 or e-mail me at billgould2002@netscape.net. We can also provide you with e-mail copies of previous installments in case you missed them. Please indicate the word Observer in the subject section of your e-mail.

Some of Hua Hin's favourite restaurants face demolition

For many years the beachside restaurants in the fishing pier area of Hua Hin have been the subject of rumour and speculation as to their legality and longevity.
Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra has ordered a probe into reported encroachment on Hua Hin beach and at Khao Takiab, (better known locally as Monkey Mountain).
On Jan 14th 2003 the Bangkok Post ran a front page article which quoted Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Nor Matha, who said: "Any restaurant or building standing on public land would be demolished". One such premises has been removed already on the order of local authorities.
Governor Prasong Vithoonkijja vowed to get tough with investors who encroached on Hua Hin beach and Takiap Hill.
There was talk some years ago that not only the restaurant's extensions over the sea, but also the original beach front buildings would be knocked down to make a promenade. This would run the risk of destroying the charm of the fishing village.
But as the Bangkok Post said in its article: "During the last 10-15 years the peaceful beach community has been changed into a chaotic urban town."
An idea would be to make Naresdamri Road from the Hilton to the fishing pier a walking street lined with restaurants, souvenir and antique shops. Surely this would enhance rather than destroy the character of the old village area.

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Wishing you good fortune and happiness! The world's Chinese people like to make a good start to all ventures and the New Year bring a new hope and prosperity. New Year is the longest holiday of the year for Chinese businesses and for our local Chinese it's no different. - This year it falls on February 1st .
The date for Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the month of the lunar calendar, it usually arrives anywhere between Jan 19th and Feb 21st. New Year's Eve and the first three days of the new year are observed as a public holiday. In Thailand, employees working with companies owned by native Chinese usually expect an annual bonus. It has been a tradition that native Chinese bosses give cash gifts to their employees.
In the days before the celebrations, each family is busy cleaning and tidying their homes, sweeping away the dirt to make way for the incoming good fortune. Offering sweet white cakes called Kanom Kheng and Kanom Thian to the Gods, so they will report only good things about the family, while skipping the bad.
Be prepared as firecrackers will explode through the night!
Chinese families gather for a special dinner and the first thing to touch their lips must be a plain vegetable, this is then followed by far more exciting dishes. Another very important food at this time of year is an orange.
Happy year of the Goat to all our readers!

Another very important day in the Thai calendar is celebrated in February - Makha Bucha day is considered one of the most important Buddhist celebrations of the year. It refers to the worship that takes place on the full moon of the third lunar month to commemorate the day on which Lord Buddha recited the "Ovadha Patimokkha" (the Fundamental Teaching) to his disciples.
This day marks great events that took place during Buddha's lifetime, namely: 1,250 Buddhist monks from different places who all came to pay homage to the Lord Buddha at Veluwan Temple in Pajgaha city of Magaha State, without any appointment. The monks were all Arahants (enlightened) who had attained the Apinyas (six higher knowledges), all of them had been individually ordained by Lord Buddha himself.
Later the Makha Bucha ceremony was widely accepted and performed throughout the country.
It was declared a public holiday so everyone could go to the temple to make merit and perform other religious activities in the morning and to take part in the candlelit procession or "Wien Tien" in the evening.
A substitute holiday will be taken this year on the 17th as the 16th is a Sunday.

Hello to the world!

Congratulations to Walter and Phitsamai Camenisch on the birth of their beautiful baby daughter named Natalie.
She was born on January 3, 2003 at 6.30 pm.

Hearty Congratulations

Local girl Sunisa Mitchit won a national award recently which was presented by Prime Minister Taksin.
The twelve year old who loves to learn English and Thai has a dream to become a teacher. She was trained at the Hua Hin's Municipality School by teacher Khun Wattana Srikongyou (level 7).
Her prize was for student of the year. She was placed 2nd in the creative writing section, 1st in report writing and her team was first in the team quiz.

Sofitel a Big Part of Hua Hin's History

With thanks to the management at the hotel for providing the text and pictures.
Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort has played an important role over the years in the development of Thailand's highly respected tourism sector. This legacy dates back almost 80 years to the romantic days of "Old Siam", when railways were the primary mode of transportation and wild elephants ruled the jungles.
1834 - Hua Hin was inhabited since the reign of King Rama III when people seeking a better life settled in Bo Fai and Nongsakae aroung 1834, and named their seaside village Samoriang, which referred to large rock outcroppings scattered along the beach. The name was later changed to Hin riang, then Lam Hin, which means, 'stone cape'
Late 19th Century - The first steamer, the Siam Orasumphol, sailed along the Chao Phraya River to the Gulf of Thailand entailing numerous stops before reaching the Malay Peninsula and eventually Singapore. The route bypassed many small communities along the way including the area of Hua Hin. It provided the Royal Family with a level of comfort and convenience to travel.
1911 - Lam Hin was officially renamed Hua Hin, or 'stone head' in English. The railroad from Bangkok to Hua Hin was finished. It inspired members of the Royal Family, aristocrats, and Bangkok's elite to build bungalows here. The first person in the Thai Royal Family to recognise this unrivalled beauty was Prince Nares-the Minister of Public Works during the reign of HM King Rama V-who built a residence on the southern end of Lam Hin Village.
The Saen Samran Royal Residence was built on beachfront land, and not far away, bungalows named Ban Plub Pa were also built as a residence of Prince Tewawongworapakorn and his family.
1916 - Other members of the Royal family built a complex of houses around the same time over the scenic group of rocks at the northern end of the village.
Completion of the southern railway line connectiong Siam to British Malaya, during the reigns of King Rama V and VI
Before international trains were running between Bangkok, Butterworth and Singapore, the State Railways organised food and accommodation services for passengers who had to travel longer than three days. It was common thing to break a journey for a night or two at Hua Hin where very basic and uncomfortable puplic accommodation was available near the station.
1919 - The Hat Yai-Pedang Besar train started its service.
1922 - Prince Purachatra: 'It is time to provide holiday makers with more comfort and convenience than before since it is very costly and inconvenient for people to have to prepare their own lodgings, facilities and servants themselves. Hua Hin is ideally suited to become a seaside resort town because of its serene atmosphere, and because the State Railway has its own land there'.
To increase the standard of accommodation at Hua Hin the newly established hotel division of the Thai Royal State Railway decided to build the western style Railway Hotel.
Prince Purachatra personally oversaw the construction of the new hotel. Mr. A Rigazai-the State Railways' Italian architect designed the original building as a luxurious two-story European style resort hotel made of brick and wood- as per a Royal command. The hotel was constructed on State Railways land while existing retail bungalows were moved a short distance away.
King Rama VI commissioned road maintenance engineer A D Robins to build a golf course on land opposite the railway station, completing the original nine-hole, 3,000-yard Royal Hua-Hin Golf Course and tennis courts in time to welcome the first hotel guests on October 26, 1922
The hotel featured 14 bedrooms, a lobby lounge, bar, restaurant, billiards room, wine storeroom and large verandas costing a total of 128,366.75 baht, a staggering sum at the time. A verandah surrounded the building, cleverly designed to protect guests from the sun's heat and prevent rainwater from running back along the tiles. The building was remarkably similar in appearance to the Marukhatayawan Royal Residence in nearby Cha-am.

A European manager was placed in charge of the hotel's fine dining continental restaurant. Even room service, a rare luxury at that time, was available. Gourmet European food was served in the restaurant on elegant western-style china. The silverware with the State Railways emblem-now on display in the lobby museum was made to order in Europe.
Putra Intarmayura, whose father worked in the hotel gardens since it opened in 1923, recalled:'At first the staff uniform was khaki short sleeved shirt, khaki shorts and a sun helmet with the Garuda emblem. But this uniform changed to trousers instead of shorts after a manager had an excursion to Japan.
January 1923 - The hotel's official opening ceremony took place on January 1, 1923. It was the most luxurious and modern hotel in the region and an instant favorite among Thais and foreigners alike.
1924 - The Hua-Hin Railway Hotel's reputation spread quickly after the State Railways advertising division was established in 1924 to encourage foreigners and Thais to take holidays in Thailand by train.
The division printed posters, brochures and guide books for various tourist attractions including the original Guide Book of Siam which said: 'Hua Hin, a seaside resort, is soon reached and if one has the time it should be favoured with a visit. The sea is some 10 minutes quiet walk from the railway station, and situated right on the beach are furnished bungalows which can be rented by applying to the Traffic Superintendent at Bangkok.. Here, in addition to excellent sea bathing, one may shoot leopards, deer, hares and doves, but except for the latter, guides and permits must be obtained'
As the destinaiton and the Hua -Hin Railway Hotel grew in popularity, there soon arose a need for more guest rooms and bungalows; construction began on temporary lodges called Abbass House built near the railway station. This soon proved inadequate and the State Railways added 19 additional small bungalows to the north and another 13 rooms using the original plans.
1926 - Express trains were introduced with sleeping berths imported from Europe. This decreased travelling time and removed the necessity for passengers to change trains when going from Bangkok to Butterworth, the station of Penang, Malaya. The new service quickly lead to a four-fold increase in tickets sold. The Railway hotel more and more became the haunt of sun
and relaxation seeking tourists rather than of stressed railway passengers breaking the journey at various interesting points making it more advantageous to travel by rail.
Hua-Hin was certainly the top attraction, supported by Major Seidenfaden's opinion at the time: 'Hua-Hin on-the-sea in Siamese territory is one of the finest seaside resorts east of Suez
with swimming, shooting and fishing among the popular sporting activities to be found there. It possesses one of the best golf courses in the Orient. The Hua Hin Railway Hotel also maintains a stock of golf requisites and loans are often made to visiting golfers.'
1939 - During World War II, stories of tranquil and peaceful Hua Hin travelled far and wide. After Thailand joined the war the hotel was always full as many Bangkok-based foreigners and Thais fled Bangkok seeking refuge in Hua-Hin.
1945 - After the war Thailand changed quickly. New roads and bridges were constructed, with road transportation becoming increasingly popular. Train travel was no longer the primary mode of transportation. Bangkok residents could now easily cross the Tachin River to other resorts besides Hua Hin
1948 - More bungalows were built north of Damnernkasem Road, and six years later bungalows A, B and C were pulled down to construct a new building. It was connected to the old one on land occupied by the Saen Samran Sukhaves Royal Residence which had been purchased from the Royal Family, the resulting three-story building now stands adjoining the Museum coffee corner.
Thavorn Boonyaketu, the State Railway's architect, designed the new building, influenced by modern architecture. It had three restaurants, a bar downstairs, 23 rooms on the second and third floors, as well as a panoramic sea-view restaurant. A wide variety of modern construction materials were carefully selected, with the furniture and interior decoration designed with the guests's comfort and convenience in mind. Unfortunately the building was criticised however by those who said it did not harmonise well with the original structure.
1986 - In 1986 the State Railway of Thailand granted the Central Group of Hotels and Accor restoration rights to the grand hotel. The much-loved historical building was meticulously
preserved, with a new swimming pool and Thai Pavilion also added and completed in December 1986. The hotel began refurbishing the old bungalows and added new gardens, lawns and fountains.
Accor and the Central Hotels and Resorts re-launched the hotel as a Sofitel after two years of extensive refurbishment that emphasized the Edwardian architecture and colonial traditions.
The Architects Association of Thailand gave the hotel an award for "outstanding conservation" in a category decicated to preserving historic Thai buildings.
1988 - The hotel welcomed a new generation of guests under the name Hotel Sofitel Central Hua Hin in 1988.
1993 - A multi function conference and banqueting hall catering for up to 300 guests was added including of games room, library, night club, shops, a beauty salon, an elegant cocktail bar and the Railway Restaurant.
The Central Village, formerly the old bungalow site and "Villa Wing"-used since the 1970's as a recreational area for families was also upgraded in harmony with the Colonial Wing.
Shaded by many exotic varieties of plants, 22 villas were transformed from the original bungalows. They were beautifully decorated, each with two rooms, a living area, a pantry and a balcony. This area now includes 20 newly built villas and a central service area, Salathai Restaurant, swimming pool, large garden area, conference rooms, a charming open-air cocktail bar, and several attractively landscaped decorative fishponds.

Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort and the Central Village are spread over a total area 15.5 hectares (97 rai) of beautifully landscaped grounds and sculptured gardens. Additional facilities include the elegant Palm Pavilion Restaurant, an alfresco beach bar with terrace, three swimming pools for adults and three for children, two tennis courts, a giant chess board, putting greens, a maze, a fish pond, and the historical Musuem Coffee & Tea Corner.
The scale of the restoration and improvement of the two hotels reflects not only the needs of todays modern traveller, but also the building's rich history and heritage, standing as a testament amidst the beauty and tranquility of a bygone era.
1995 - The hotel's original bungalow D was then transformed into a Fitness Centre and Spa. The spa comprises two private treatment rooms with an en suite Jacuzzi that can accommodate two people comfortably . Two separate saunas are also connected to these rooms. In addition the spa offers three additional private aromatherapy treatment rooms, two of which are equipped for beauty treatments. Both the Fitness Centre and Spa command dramatic seaviews and are conveniently located next to the Railway Pool.
1998 - In January 1998 expansion of the property continued with the addition of the Garden Wing. Sixty rooms overlooking the newly designed gardens and swimming pool perfectly matched the original colonial architecture. A new swimming pool complex with children's pool, gigantic whirlpool and snack bar were added as well.
The fitness room was eventually upgraded in October 1998 and turned into a Thai traditional massage area with four private massage rooms.
August 2000 - Renovation of the Railway Wing, converted twenty-two standard rooms into larger superior rooms and converted another twelve standard rooms into six junior suites. In addition seventeen deluxe rooms and two executive suites were renovated completing the entire Railway Wing upgrade.
July 2001 - Renovations on the hotel's Railway Wing were completed in July 2001, with all bathrooms being enlarged and spacious showers added. Most of the existing colonial furniture was retained, while new furniture was made from teakwood to blend harmoniously with the teak parquet flooring, high ceilings and antique fans. New fabrics (curtains, soft furnishings) were created from the finest cotton, and bedspreads were replaced with white and airy duvets.
The Sofitel now comprises 207 rooms. The historical building was faithfully restored to preserve the valuable architecture, interior decoration and its old lobby in its original style.
October, 2002 - The first phase of the Colonial Wing renovation was completed in October 2002. Forty superior rooms, twelve deluxe rooms and five executive suites were meticulously renovated to preserve the hotel's unique historical heritage. The forty superior rooms feature new bathroom, comfortable furnishings and refinished woodwork and have received a new closet. All balconies offer a panoramic sea view where guests can enjoy Hua Hin's cool ocean breezes.
Twelve renovated deluxe rooms (including 4 superior rooms turned into the deluxe category) have enlarged bathrooms with separate shower stall and vintage style fittings. A sliding window panel between the bathroom and bedroom open to enhance the spacious interior. A
new walk-in closet provides greater storage space. Balconies have received comfortable Thai-style daybeds in addition to the existing "lounge chairs".
The five executive suites now offer a more spacious living room while the bedroom and the bathroom feature similar characteristics to the renovated deluxe rooms with an additional make up area.
May-August 2003 - The second phase of the Colonial Wing upgrade will be undertaken during the summer of 2003 with the renovation of thirty-two superior rooms, eight deluxe rooms and the hotel's famous Crystal Suite.

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