Rose Garden Riverside

Stepping Back in Time…

‘JJ’ Jeremy Johanson

Many nostalgically dream of that tranquil by-gone era of ‘Thai-style’ living in the middle of nature. Images from old films come to mind…. relaxing on the pillowed day-bed on the front-porch of an exquisitely well-polished Teak-wood home, enjoying the lush view from your privileged vantage point. Perched above on its stilted foundation, the world is reduced to simple ‘peace and quiet’, with neighbours being in walking distance, but out-of-view.

While this period in time might seem to be lost, one of the guardians of Thai culture nurtures a neighbourhood of serenity as beautifully as it cultivates the blossoms for which it is famous.

On the outskirts of Bangkok, only an hour’s drive away, many have heard of the famed ‘Rose Garden Riverside’ and its Thai Cultural Centre on the banks of the Ta Chine River. Most guests come to visit the Thai village area, hotel and restaurants just after the main entrance. While this is a major part of the Rose Garden’s activities, it occupies just a minor part of the immense beautifully landscaped 70-acre park. Only for those ‘in-the-know’, one of Thailand’s hidden green treasures can be found just beyond this point where no one usually goes… on the shores of the central lake.

Beware of the next few steps, because upon taking them, you might never want to come back! Where the paths of the world seem to end, and prying eyes dare not enter, leads another path upon which our time travel begins.

Those who dare enter quickly fall under the charm of the invasive peacefulness that surrounds this village of six authentic antique Thai Teak-wood houses, restored so magnificently that they seem almost unreal, as if our perfectly shiny nostalgic image magically appeared, (of course, with every modern luxury and convenience within the walls of their interiors)!

This elegant artisanally built Thai hamlet is constructed in traditional Thai architectural style using only Teak-wood with no nails. Every component (walls, floors, doors, window-frames, etc…) is polished to perfection. Rectangular in design, their gracefulness emerges from a slight vertical slant in the walls extending to the steep tiled roofs as they rest upon sturdy posts raised above the ground.

This elegance in design is also reflected in the choice of interior furnishings, extending to small refined details such as the contours of beds and tables, and the ceiling-fans in the open-air areas.

Each of the different luxurious homes occupies its own private lakeshore garden space. There are two 1-bedroom, two 2-bedroom and two 4-bedroom homes to choose from; with of course, air-con, telephone/internet (Wi-Fi/ADSL), satellite TV and room service. (In addition, some have their own kitchen.)

Although hard to explain, the very ‘feeling’ of being within the surrounding calm environment and its warm-hearted inhabitants permeates the air, making time slow down to a point that the body remembers humanity and its original connection to nature, with an ensuing clarity of mind. The perfect remedy prescribed by the stress-doctor!

There is even something ‘very special’,(defying verbal description), in the simple act of walking barefoot upon the infinite smoothness of the gleaming Teak floors that, in itself, is somehow a ‘key’ unlocking ‘connections’ long forgotten.

The size of the homes makes them a perfect choice either for a secluded romantic getaway-for-2, or a private reunion of family, friends or colleagues. The Rose Garden’s private Thai houses offer a rare win/win solution of an authentically unique secluded green restorative haven, knowing that a hotel/cultural centre with its multitude of activities and numerous restaurants (Thai, Japanese, international) exist just beyond the boundaries of your hidden kingdom.

While lover’s enjoy the ‘total seclusion’, parents can enjoy ‘total seclusion’ while sending the kids off in total security within the confines of the Rose Garden’s estate to eat, swim and even learn at the Thai Cultural village where they would be well taken care of.

Upholding sustainable policies, the swimming pool is ozone-treated. Other activities include a fitness centre, tennis court, snooker, table-tennis, darts, air-rifle shooting range, games room, bike rental, elephant trekking, Thai cooking classes, as well as paddleboats on the lake, and even the possibility of sunset cruises, poolside barbeques or theme parties. The ‘golf-inclined’ can find their happiness at the well-ranked Rose Garden Golf Course (18 holes – par 72) and driving range, which has hosted several international golf championships and tournaments.

The Arusaya Spa housed in another of the Thai Houses is an authentic Thai spa with seven treatment rooms and three steam-rooms. It features a full spa menu including herbal compresses picked straight from the garden to help get rid of aches, pains and anxiety.

All aspects of life at The Rose Garden stem from the traditional Thai ‘key concept’ of community harmony and man’s sustainable connection with nature. They even maintain a 10-acre organic farm just across the Ta Chine River where vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown. Together with the Thai Agricultural University, the farm is also used for free training to neighbouring villagers and schools where they can learn about creating a more sustainable healthier life.

Guests can also visit the farm and learn first-hand about the advantages of Thai traditional cultivation. Helping ‘connect with nature’ you can collect fresh fruit to eat or make into juice, make ropes from dried banana leaf, pick fresh coconuts and even sample betel nuts straight from the tree. You can even take a botanical tour through the Rose Garden’s tropical flower, herb, spice and vegetable gardens.

At the Thai Village and Cultural Learning Centre local villagers share the age-old wisdom of their crafts with hands-on experience in silk-weaving, pottery-making, umbrella-painting, t-shirt painting, martial arts/Thai boxing, fruit & vegetable carving, garland-making, rice-pounding/cultivation and even teach how to make Thailand’s iconic spicy Som Tam Papaya Salad and ‘khanom’ sweet snacks. On weekends, many truly authentic Thai boat merchants stop along the Rose Garden canal plying their wares.

Every morning Monks from neighbouring temples pass by boat as they make their way down the river collecting daily alms. In the afternoon, the villagers come together to give a cultural show, complete with elephant education and rides. Besides the vast array of period Thai clothing and re-enactments of past daily life on display, what I truly found to be the best and most educative part of the show was the end, when, instead of the end, it was really the beginning.

Instead of the villagers/actors leaving to go back-stage with spectators heading directly towards the exits, there was an intuitive genuine ‘warmth’ created when villagers and guests came together in front of the stage with earnest sincerity. A spontaneous community of warm-hearts from all cultures and walks-of-life was formed, interacting, taking pictures together and talking with heartfelt interest. This was a truly educative moment.

I was also magnetically beckoned to approach closer from my surveillance point atop the theatre. I was there ‘working’ in ‘observation’ mode from afar, yet as a human who offers assistance freely, I was struck by the sight of a couple in the middle of the crowd, from a culture and background where ours paths would never have met. The wife shined with a smile of a ‘heart-of-gold’, and the husband, who had probably never seen nor made a ‘Thai Wai’ in his life, was desperately trying to copy the proper hand-positioning in a gesture of ‘thanks’ for whatever previously transpired.

We all have choices to make every moment of the day. Personally, my choice at that moment was either to turn my back and leave ‘minding-my-own-business’, or slightly ignore the time of my next scheduled meeting and descend towards the couple to offer a non-solicited courteous lesson on how to properly ‘Wai’ with beauty.

Traditional Thai Living is all about living together in harmony with ourselves and nature, ‘naturally’, thus ‘green’. Living together means going out of your way to help a fellow human being in distress without being asked, and asking nothing at all in return. It’s an innate human responsibility that keeps civilized society healthy, fueling the warmth that kindles kindness, consideration and respect.

Although I try to stay free of mass-media brainwashing, no one is totally immune to its profoundly negative psychological programming. But as in traditional Thai wisdom, as well as my own personal school education; all people of the Earth, no matter their culture and social background, are equal and deserve equal respect and consideration.

So with some apprehension I approached the couple, obviously of meager means and devout religious views as the wife wore a Hijab (headscarf) and the husband a full-beard in need of dental assistance. With a smile, I gently requested an invitation to invade their personal space shared with the villagers, and if they would be interested to learn more about a ‘Thai Wai’.

In a heart-warming moment, they both beamed their appreciation (literally warmth shined from their hearts), accepting my gesture. After the lesson, shared in appreciation and agreement with the villagers, we exited the theatre together and entered into deeper conversation. But they were in a ‘group’ that had already been waiting for them, and I had an appointment as well. As they boarded the bus, we said goodbye, each one enriched by our exchange of knowledge initiated by a common interest in non-aggressive Thai culture.

We all learn, and teach, every day of our lives.

I am sure that The Rose Garden is full of such seemingly small encounters that, although small, can be immensely personally enriching. This is one of the reasons school groups come here and many couples hold their weddings here, while international corporations make their events & team-buildings more meaningful by hosting them at the many meeting rooms, pavilions, gardens and lawns that can accommodate up to 3,800 people. Soft-adventure events can even be held across the river at the organic farm.

Truly upholding a genuine ‘green’ community spirit, the Rose Garden buys all of its fruits and vegetables at higher than market prices from surrounding bio-agriculture farms. This not only helps guarantee income to the local community, but also guarantees a quality product whose end-effect is a fresher deeper flavour of the food made at their restaurants.

These ongoing efforts, working together with students from Thailand’s University of Agriculture, include the search for new ways to grow food by minimizing or even stopping the use of chemicals, with the hope of turning the Ta Chine River area’s farms into a centre of organic agriculture.