A native of Ban Hua Thanon-Takiab has told her story from 1957, when she helped His Majesty King Bhumibol to rescue a small jeep.
Mrs. Thub Khongleua, 98, the former housekeeper of Chom Khleun Resort at Ban Hua Thanong-Takiab in Nong Kae, Hua Hin, told Hua Hin Today that years ago, she took care of Mr. Phuang Tanthana’s house. He was a business owner of a gold and jewelry shop at Thien Kua Thien. Mr. Phung’s house was located next to the old house of General Praphas Charusatien; both houses were on the beach in Hua Hin. The old woman said that she could not remember clearly the month, but in 1957 an unforgettable situation occurred.
“Maybe it was February or April,” she mumbled, “on that day, the sea water receded around 100 metres from the beach. While I was collecting some shells on the beach in front of the Chom Khleun Resort, I saw a small grey and green jeep travelling along the beach from the southern part Khao Takiab. When it arrived at Lang Sa sand mound where the sea water was whirling, the car’s wheels plunged into the mound.” Realising that he could not go any further, the driver, wearing a shirt and a pair of grey trousers, waved his right hand to the woman. When she approached the car, she realised that the driver was King Bhumibol. The King asked her for help to pull the car out of the sand mound.
No matter how hard both of them tried, the car did not move and was stuck in the mound. Even in this difficult situation, His Majesty still kept smiling. Both of them tried again, with the King shouting, “Hui Leh Hui!”, an utterance equivalent to Heave Ho! but in vain. Mrs. Thub then decided to ask for her husband’s help. She then went to where her husband was working with 6 others nearby. When they came back to the scene, they saw military staff helping His Majesty to move the small jeep out of the mound. Before leaving, His Majesty thanked her for her assistance. The old woman will always remember the words used by His Majesty when they were pulling the car out of the sand mound. The utterance, “Hui Leh Hui!”, is always used by a group of 10 to 15 local fishermen in Hua Hin when they want to pull their boat out or in to the sea.
The utterance implies unity and power to all the fishermen. The old woman is still surprised that the King knew how to use such words. She also remembers that even though he was tired, the King did not complain but kept smiling until the military staff came to help him. Mrs. Thub said that she was very sad that His Majesty had passed away. She is certain that the King’s spirit is now in heaven, protecting all Thai people. That is why she will always be a citizen of the King. The woman is now almost 100 years old and is staying with her son and grandchildren in Ban Nongkrached Community in Hua Hin. She remembers the day when she met His Majesty so clearly as if it happened just yesterday.