Celebrating a centenary

Visit Sichang next week and enjoy a sweet nostalgia.

Imagine stepping on to an island to be welcomed by hundreds of residents in traditional costumes dating back a century.

Visitors to Koh Sichang, a small island in Chon Buri's Si Racha district, will be able to enjoy such an experience next week as it celebrates "100 Years of Koh Sichang" to commemorate King Rama V, who first visited the island exactly one century ago.

The event takes place next Friday and Saturday around Pra Jutaturatchtan, the summer palace on Koh Sichang and an island landmark.

Damrong Petra, head of Koh Sichang Municipality, says the event is modelled on an oldstyle Thai fair.

"Every festivalgoer has to wear a Thai costume as their ticket to enter the fairground. The highlights are costume competitions for both children and adults," he says.

He adds that men can dress villagestyle - in a traditional sarong without a top. "But those who want to dress up in full traditional costumes are welcome to do so; they will be on sale too," he adds.

The 100 Years of Koh Sichang festival has been celebrated on September 20 for the last five years to mark the birthday of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the monarch who put the island on the map.

Three kings of the Chakri Dynasty spent short summer holidays on Koh Sichang. King Rama IV was the first to come but despite making occasional trips, he did not build a residence. The palace was constructed during the reign of King Rama V and named Chudadhuj in 1892 after Prince Chudadhuj Daradilok was born to Queen Sri Bajarindra in the Chudadhuj Throne Hall.

Many years later King Rama V sent his young son Prince Vajiravudh, later King Rama VI, to stay on the island to recover from an illness.

The summer palace compound boasts four mansions, 14 halls and a pavilion and is surrounded by ponds, brooks, cliffs and caves. Although King Rama V dismantled some of the building and later reassembled them at the Vimanmek Palace in Bangkok, much of the charm of the seaside palace remains, and today it is under the care of conservationists from Chulalongkorn University.

During the festival, visitors are encouraged to enjoy the island's scenery and beaches during the day and stay on to enjoy the lightandsound presentation, which will be staged at the seaside pavilion in the palace on Saturday at 7.30pm. Those who wish to return to the mainland can take one of the free boats that will depart Sichang at 11pm, midnight and 1am.

For details, contact Sichang Municipality office at (02) 821 6532 or the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Pattaya office at (038) 428 750.