Photography Thailand Forum

[jimmyz]

Date : 4 Sep 2006 - 10 Sep 2006
Place : Chiang Rai
Free for Spectators.

Does anyone know how to get there from Bangkok.

[jimmyz]

The Elephant Polo Field
Somdej Phra Suriyothai military camp (16th Infantry Division) Hua Hin

Getting There
Hua Hin is about 280km (170 miles) south of Bangkok. It can be reached by rail, road and air Rail: the train takes just under four hours from Bangkok Road: Highway 35 (Thonburi–Pak Tho) and Highway 4 from Bangkok Bus: regular services from Bangkok’s southern terminal complete the journey in around four hours, cars slightly less Air: SGA Scenic Airline operates up to four flights a day. Flying time around 45 minutes

Hopefully that Helps.. See you guys there.

[Chris Savery]

Just a comment on what appears to be a bit confusing here...

your first post mentions that the elephant polo is in Chiang Rai and then the second mentions Hua Hin. Not sure which you meant it is really at? Chiang Rai is in the far North near Chiang Mai and takes overnight by train from Bangkok and then some further travel probably by bus from Chiang Mai. Hua Hin is much closer to Bangkok and is south as you mention but I would say it's likely about a 5 hour train ride rather than under 4 - they're being optimistic, though it can depend just which train you take as many go through there.

It sounds like it may be an interesting event to take photo's. There is one that is well known in November in Surin.

Chris :)

[hughden]

The Siam Polo Club website says it is in Chiang Mai, then directs you to a website for Anantara Resorts for further info, a site that has their Hua Hin resort as the default location; kinda confusing!
I have taken photos at the Polo Club near Pattaya. Fun but a bit scary because horses have no regards for the touchline and you have to be prepared to run; and the ball, or whatever they call it, can come whistling past your ear at very short notice.

http://www.pbase.com/hughden/image/55958584/large

[hughden]

It's Chiang Rai:
http://thailand.prd.go.th/what_on.php?year=2006&month=9

[Chris Savery]

Nice polo action shot.

Somehow I imagine it must be somewhat more awkward and slower with elephants. I've never seen them so I could be wrong. Chiang Rai is too far for me at this time. I'm off next week to Penang for my visa and will see what I can shoot down there.

Chris :)

[hughden]

What was strange about that shot was that I walked into my local framing shop several months later to see a painting of the photo hanging on the wall!!

http://www.pbase.com/hughden/image/63701458

I have no idea how the artisit got hold of the photo, presumably from a member of the polo club who had asked for a copy of my photos. They did offer to sell me the painting for 6,000 baht however!

[Chris Savery]

Unbelievable! You must have just about fallen over when you saw that.
I know if I had taken the shot I would have. I don't suppose it would have done any good at all to talk about copyright or anything, so better to just have a chuckle over it. 6000 baht! Did you show them your photo?
Gives me an idea about having my photos converted into paintings at these paint shops you see around Thailand. I wonder how many copies they painted of yours?
Chris :)

[hughden]

The shop had previously framed the photo for me, so maybe they made a copy. Being Thailand, seemed pointless raising copyright issues! Next time I went in I took an A6 print of the photo, slipped it into the frame next to the painting, and gave them a knowing smile!