Elephants Stop Traffic in Hua Hin

by Roderick Eime in Hua Hin

The normally frenetic traffic of Hua Hin's main street had a new element to contend with this morning when a dozen elephants from the King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament paraded alongside peak hour motorists in a rowdy welcome ceremony.

With colourful costumed maidens and brass bands, the polo-playing pachyderms sauntered along the bitumen as hard-pressed traffic police tried to keep curious onlookers, photo opportunists and scrambling media at bay.

The leisurely procession made their way to Hua Hin's Suriyothai Army Base where the 11th staging of this now famous charity and fun event will take place.

The tournament was introduced to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas and has grown to become one of the biggest charitable events in Thailand that has raised almost US$500,000 for projects that better the lives of Thailand’s elephant population

The 2012 tournament will see the New Zealand All Black’s Robin Brooke, Olo Brown and Adrian Cashmore go head to head with European royals Prince Carl-Eugen Oettingen-Wallerstein and his wife Princess Anna and daughter Princess Joanna. Miss Tiffany Thailand will also be playing in the tournament for the first time adding a hint of fun and a lot of colour.

International and local celebrities, including US actress Isabelle Fuhrman, Former Thai PM Aphisit Vejjajiva, super models Cindy Bishop, Lukkade Methinee and Australian Marie Claire’s Editor in Chief Jackie Frank have donated their artistic talents by painting a piece of “The Big Picture” elephant-themed painting which will be on display throughout the event and which will be auctioned off for charity at the final gala dinner.

For more information on King’s Cup Elephant Polo, please visit www.anantaraelephantpolo.com.